Following up on the day after the Nintendo Switch celebrated its third year since release, another console is also celebrating its own significant anniversary. Turning 20 years old today is the PlayStation 2, a beloved system, and the most popular gaming console of all time. The PS2 was first released in Japan on March 4, 2000, with a launch lineup of games like Street Fighter EX3, Ridge Racer V, Kessen, and eight other titles. While the initial games available for release in Japan might seem underwhelming to some, the PlayStation 2 would go on to offer games that wowed audiences, and ones that defined the industry, such as Grand Theft Auto III, Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3, God of War, Devil May Cry, Kingdom Hearts, Shadow of the Colossus, Okami, Silent Hill 2, and so, so many more.

Retailing for ¥39,800, or $/£299.99 in the west, the PlayStation 2 drew attention for not only being a gaming system, but its ability to play DVDs, as well. Though it may not have been the most powerful console out of its sixth-generation rivals, it more than made up for it with its massive game library and media center capabilities. As was common at the time, in order to save your game progress, you'd need to have a memory card, and for those who wanted to be in on the cutting edge of online gaming at the time, you could pick up a network adapter, both sold separately.

So, happy 20th anniversary, PlayStation 2! What are your favorite memories with the console?

 

[Uiaad]

I remember playing Tekken Tag on PS2 in 1999

Did you have a time machine ?

 

[The Frenchman]

That's not the proper logo in the OP BTW.

 

[Nobody_Important4u]

I remember playing Tekken Tag on PS2 in 1999

You're memory is fucked.
It was realised in 2000.

 

[Uiaad]

You're memory is fucked.
It was realised in 2000.

Could have played it in arcades tho

 

[retrofan_k]

I remember getting my JP import with SF EX 3 on March 18th 2000 for £650 with the utility disc V1.0.0 that allowed DVD Region 1's.

Some places in London at the time were selling PS2 alone for a £1000 back then.

 

[zoogie]

So at 20 years young, the PS2 is finally and officially a retro console now.
At least according to my arbitrary definition of retro.

 

[DANTENDO]

So at 20 years young, the PS2 is finally and officially a retro console now.
At least according to my arbitrary definition of retro.

The PS2 was still havin big releases in 2006 so thts really the date tht should be looked at so add 20 years to tht

 

[weatMod]

and yet switch turning 3 still makes me feel older

 

[slaphappygamer]

I’m gonna celebrate by pressing the power button and looking at my hdloader, not sure what game to play. Then, 20 minutes later, turning it off and not playing anything.

 

[Pupp3t_31]

Heres my current PS2 slim
I recently installed a clear ghost case, has LED mods and PS2NetBox for OPL.

 

[The Catboy]

I remember my launch PS2! It was horrible but I loved it!

 

[VTAprentice]

Best console ever enough said. The creativity in the games was at it´s peak during this time. I was crazy about the graphics jump from the PS1 era. It was the cheapest DVD player at the time and has a huge catalog of games. Still have 5 of them in my room DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

 

[tommasi]

Did you have a time machine ?

lol I played it at a store that sells electronics in Baghdad in 1999. I don’t know how the guy at the store got a unit wasn’t released yet, but I’m 100% sure it was in 1999 not 2000

 

[Deleted member 397813]

thanks for the vietnam flashbacks asshole

 

[Dracari]

some of my fond memories was how long i played FFXI on it till i got a good enough PC, beyond that Deffo playing .hack //IMOQ and //GU

 

[D34DL1N3R]

I dont own PS2 console before because I was disappointed that there were few games that I really liked and I happened to played them on PCSX2 instead. However.. I want to share what I really liked about PS2 games. An awesome games for PS2:

God of War 1 and 2
Klonoa 2
Castlevania 1 and 2
Megaman X7 and MX8
Rockman Power Battle Fighters
Megaman X Command Mission
Devil May Cry 1-3 ( dont played it on PCSX2.. Not sure if I did)

Those were awesome games that I was after. I am aware of Final Fantasy series but PS4 will be fine for me with that. Anyway, I dont care about many other games, thought.

I'm not certain if you know just how large the PS2 library is.

 

[DarthDub]

Even as I get older I'm still a bit biased against the PS2 since I was a Sega fanboy growing up, but it does have some really good games regardless.

 

[Teletron1]

Damn 20 years already, and still so many gems that got left behind that I wish had HD remakes

Syphon Filter.. Poor Gabe got left behind !!!!
Rygar
Legacy of Kain
Castlevania games
Jax
Ico
Sly
Dark Cloud
Maximo
God Hand
I can go on and on

 

[playstays_shun]

Heres my current PS2 slim
I recently installed a clear ghost case, has LED mods and PS2NetBox for OPL.
View attachment 198553

hows that net box working out? I ended up going phat and SATA network adapter for nostalgia, but if I stuck with my silver slim 9000 I would've considered net box. a cheap usb mini router and SMB was slow as heck by comparison I got tired of it

I think netbox is supposed to mitigate SMB latency though and make it closer to the level of internal HD performance but I haven't heard a ton about it. I know its custom made by one guy

 

[spotanjo3]

I'm not certain if you know just how large the PS2 library is.

You are funny. I was around PS2 when I was late teenagers. No, those lists were what I was after. I don't care about the large games. I admit I might missed some good games but I was not heavy gamer of PS2 at the time, you know.