PS2 News
News As the Switch Closes in, Sony Confirms PS2 Sold 160 Million Units
Up from the 155 million previously assumed
For over a decade, the PS2’s official sales total sat at 155 million units, as Sony stopped reporting sales of the system in 2012. It was always assumed the final number was higher, as the console wasn’t officially discontinued until a year later, and there would have been leftover inventory that...
News Outstanding PS2 RPG Dragon Quest 8 Is Now 20 Years Old
Remaster, anyone?
At the time of writing this article, it just turned 12am in Japan — and that means Dragon Quest 8 is officially 20 years old. The PS2 RPG first launched on the 27th November, 2004 — but the West didn't get to experience this franchise-defining adventure until later. Dragon Quest 8 dropped the following year in the US, but us...
Random PS2's Iconic Operating System Becomes Survival Horror in Upcoming Indie
Please insert disc
For everyone reading this article, PS2’s operating system will be a source of nostalgia. It also could be quite a frightening place – especially when your favourite game failed to boot. Usually a quick breath over the back of the DVD and a rub on the shirt could fix even the most scratched copy of GTA: San Andreas, but it was...
News Sony's Porting PS2 Horror Siren to Its New PS5, PS4 Emulator
And that's actually huge news
Sony is adding Siren to PS Plus Premium from 15th October, which is potentially huge news. This is because the PS2 survival horror is actually already part of the subscription, as it was ported to the PS4 in 2016. The Japanese giant pulled the plug on its ill-fated PS2 on PS4 programme after fans complained of shoddy...
Mini Review Mister Mosquito (PS2) - Sony Classic Sucks in All the Right Ways
Buzzin'
You only need to press the start button to know Mister Mosquito graduated from an era of PlayStation that’s long been lost. As the camera pans around the densely detailed exterior of the Yamada family’s estate, a dramatic voice over does its best David Attenborough impression, describing the precarious lifecycle of a mosquito. Your goal...
News Don't Sleep on PS2 Secret Gem Sky Gunner, Coming to PS5, PS4 Next Week
Anime-style dogfighting sim
Your eyes may have glossed right over Sky Gunner when you looked at next week’s PS Plus update. That’s understandable, as big-ticket titles Mister Mosquito and Secret Agent Clank were always going to attract greater attention. But don’t write off this PS2 gem from PixelArts, as it’s absolutely worth your time...
News Zany PS Plus Oddity Mister Mosquito Is an Unmissable PS5, PS4 Addition
Sucking your subscription dry
There’s been much reminiscing among PS5 owners of late, as Astro Bot stirred fond memories of a bygone PlayStation era for fans. Well, if you’re the kind of person raised on a diet of Vib-Ribbon and Ape Escape, you absolutely should be playing Mister Mosquito, an outright barmy PS2 exclusive developed by Japanese...
Mini Review TimeSplitters (PS2) - A Fantastic Foundation with Flaws
Running out of time
Despite releasing just two years prior to TimeSplitters 2, TimeSplitters finds itself noticeably lacking in a number of key areas. It’s not dissimilar to how the gap between 2 and Future Perfect felt, though that was of course three years. Just as Future Perfect pulled a lot of content from its predecessor, 2 would in turn...
Future imperfect
Despite launching just three years later and on the same hardware as TimeSplitters 2, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect looks like a title from a completely different console generation. This is both a good and a bad thing. Visually, things are substantially better, with far cleaner textures, more complex environments, and so on...
News We're Already Mourning the GTA Tokyo Game on PS2 That Never Was
The Japanese dream
Did you know that Rockstar briefly considered releasing a Grand Theft Auto game set in Tokyo? Speculation about a Japanese edition of the crime sandbox caper has been rife for several years, especially after Take-Two famously filed trademarks for a game based in the city shortly after the release of GTA: San Andreas in 2004...
Make like a banana and split
The first-person shooter has gone through many changes over the years. It took a long time to perfect the formula on consoles; we didn’t receive Call of Duty right out of the gate, oh no. There were fundamental experiences that shaped the course of history for the genre, be it Wolfenstein 3D, GoldenEye, Halo, or...
Rob it Raccoon
Sly Cooper returns! Everyone's favourite kleptomaniac raccoon is finally here on PS5, albeit in port form rather than in a brand new title. Still, we'll take what we can get when it comes to Sly, and so it's a pleasure to see the first game in the series, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, as a PS2 Classic, available for a...
Review Ghosthunter (PS2) - Overlooked Supernatural Shooter Should Be a Cult Classic
The ghost with the most
What a difference a twenty years makes. When Ghosthunter released in 2004 for PS2 it was met with poor sales and mixed reviews from the critics of the time. Generally, reviewers thought it looked great, but it was too linear and at a mere ten hours or so in length it was far too brief. Today, Ghosthunter looks like a bag of...
Review Summoner (PS2) - Ambitious RPG Remains a Relic of the Past
They sure don't make 'em like this anymore
Summoner is a party-based CRPG that launched on PS2 in 2000, and it was recently given a new lease on life thanks to a re-release on PS5 and PS4 via PlayStation's Classics push. Developed by Volition (later Deep Silver, of Saint's Row fame), the studio's ambitious and expansive effort was marred by a lack...
News Cult PS2 Genre Blender Killer7 Could Be Resurrected for PS5, PS4
Make your voice heard
Killer7 is a game unlike any other. If you didn’t play the legendary PS2 shooter, then it’s almost impossible to introduce: it has elements of first-person shooter, rails shooter, and point-and-click gameplay. Developed by Grasshopper Manufacture in collaboration with Capcom, it perhaps deserves to be appreciated by a...
News One of the PS2's Most Overlooked Soundtracks Has Finally Arrived on Music Streaming Services
The Digital Devil Saga continues
The full soundtracks for Digital Devil Saga and Digital Devil Saga 2 are now on music streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. Both games are collected under one album called Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1&2 Original Soundtrack, which spans 139 songs. Search for...
News Forgotten PS2 Launch RPG Summoner Resurrected for PS5, PS4
You could say it's been summoned
What game did you get with your PS2? Tekken Tag Tournament, perhaps? Ridge Racer 5? FantaVision?! We’re going to go out on a limb and assume not many of you picked THQ’s Summoner, an ancient WRPG with a penchant for reams of text and some scruffy visuals. Developed by Volition, this is likely one of the forgotten...
News PS5, PS4's New PS2 Emulator Fails to Pass Tech Test
"A distinct lack of care"
Tech know-it-alls Digital Foundry are not impressed with the latest PS2 emulator on PS5 and PS4, which debuted earlier this month. It compares the experience to “someone booting up an emulator with default settings and handing you the controller”. The experts brutally conclude: “Sure, you can play the game, but...
News Sly Cooper PS2 Is PS Plus Premium's Biggest Classic Hit So Far
Really snuck in there
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus almost immediately became the most popular classic game released on PlayStation's PS Plus Premium service, quickly overtaking the previous PS1 champ, The Legend of Dragoon. Spotted by PSLS, Sucker Punch Production's 2002 action platformer took the top spot, according to gameplay analytics
News TimeSplitters PS5, PS4 Rated for Release, PS2 Classic Likely Slated for PS Plus Premium
Blast from the past
Free Radical Design's seminal shooter TimeSplitters looks like it's coming to PS5 and PS4, likely as part of the next phase of PS Plus Premium's classics push. Overnight, ratings for modern platforms appeared on the Taiwanese ratings board, which is good news for fans of the now-defunct developer.
News Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition Confirmed for Limited Run Games Showcase
Fancy that, a flying pig
We had a feeling Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition might rear its head soon (despite missing its anniversary year), reassured by the Trophy list that recently popped up online. Well, it's official now: Ubisoft has announced it will share news about the game during tomorrow's Limited Run Games showcase on 20th...
News Classic PS2, PSP Campaigns Ghosthunter, Daxter Add Platinum Trophies on PS5, PS4
The master of unlocking
As is commonly the case with first-party releases made available with Sony’s PS Plus Premium service, inventive PS2 shooter Ghosthunter and legendary PSP platformer Daxter will ship with Platinum Trophies. The former game will pack a total of 21 gongs, and will largely require you to beat a variety of bosses, and work your...
News Soon, All of the Main Jak and Daxter Games Will Be Playable on PS5, PS4
Eco-nomical
Platforming fans can rest assured knowing that from 18th June, you’ll be able to play every single mainline Jak and Daxter game on PS5 and PS4. The release of PSP platformer Daxter – arguably one of the best entries in the series – will round out the selection, with Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II, Jak 3, and Jak X:...
News One of PS2's Most Overlooked First-Party Games Is Coming to PS5, PS4
No longer ghosted
You probably never played Ghosthunter, but you should have done. Developed by Cambridge Studio – the UK-based team that would later renamed Guerrilla Cambridge, before being shutdown following the release of PS Vita’s excellent Killzone Mercenary – was published in the United States by Namco, such was the mistreatment of the...
News Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus PS4 Reportedly 'Runs Almost 10% Faster Than It Should'
Gotta go fast
We've never actually encountered a raccoon in reality, but we'd believe they're speedy little beasties. Perhaps the most famous raccoon of all just returned on PS5 and PS4, with Sly Cooper and the Thieivus Raccoonus being re-released on modern platforms, available for subscribers of PS Plus Premium. Like Tomb Raider Legend, however,...
News Tomb Raider Legend Unearths 480p, 30fps Performance on PS5, PS4
PS Plus Premium bringing the heat
Tomb Raider Legend arrived on PS Plus Premium today for PS5 and PS4 users, or it can be purchased for $20 outright. While it's awesome to have PS2 games previously stranded playable on modern platforms, this title's performance reportedly leaves much to be desired, especially if you're paying upfront. On Twitter,...
Hands On They're Rough Around the Edges, But It's Awesome to Have PS2 Games Back on PS5, PS4
Retro revival
Let’s try this again, eh? Sony originally released a batch of PS2 games on the PS4, but they were buggy, performed poorly, and lacked quality of life features. Now, with its well-established PS1 and PSP emulator, it’s giving the strategy another go – and including the releases in its PS Plus Premium subscription. But how are its...
News Three New PS2 Games Now Available on PS5, PS4 with PS Plus Premium
Sly Cooper! Tomb Raider! Star Wars!
The exciting age of updated PS2 emulation on PS5 and PS4 is now upon us, potentially opening the door to an enormous catalogue of classics – assuming platform holder Sony is willing to put in the leg work. The first three titles – Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, Tomb Raider Legend, and Star Wars: The...
News PS2's Tomb Raider Legend Plunders an Unexpected PS5, PS4 Platinum Trophy
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, too
Generally speaking, the emulated third-party games made available as part of Sony’s retro PS Plus Premium push have skipped Trophies, simply due to the sheer amount of work involved adding them in. Classic PS2 platformer Tomb Raider Legend is bucking that trend, however, with a silvery-blue accolade available for...
News Legendary PS2 Platformer Sly Cooper Will Have a Platinum on PS5, PS4
We're hell Bentley on getting it
Sucker Punch’s iconic stealth action platformer Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus will have a Platinum Trophy when it re-releases on PS5 and PS4 later this week, as part of Sony’s expanded emulation offering. Up until now, the Japanese giant has only offered upgraded PS1 and PSP titles as part of its PS Plus...
News PS5, PS4's Brand New PS2 Emulator Features Up-Rendering, Rewind, Quick Saves, More
Quality of life
Sony’s already revisited a number of the classics from PS2’s catalogue on PS4, but the emulator was a bit of a disaster and the platform holder eventually pulled support. Following a successful string of PS1 and PSP re-releases, however, the Japanese giant is now bringing more PS2 titles to both the PS5 and PS4 – and it’s...
News Sly Cooper, Tomb Raider, Star Wars Revealed as Surprise PS2 Games on PS Plus Premium
Slyly does it
As part of its annual Days of Play promotion, PlayStation has revealed that three PS2 games are heading to PS Plus Premium next month — and one of them's bound to go down well with fans of a certain platforming franchise... That's right, Sly Cooper is finally coming to PS5, kind of. Sucker Punch's 2002 title Sly Cooper and the...
News New PS2 Emulator Appears to Be Imminent on PS5, PS4
Uprendering! Rewind! Quick saves!
Here’s some potentially huge news, unearthed by the eagle-eyed Gematsu: a new PS2 emulator appears to be imminent for PS5 and PS4. As many of you will already know, Sony has been gradually deploying PS1 and PSP titles on the PS Store as part of its PS Plus Premium subscription, with all releases boasting video...
Random Sydney Sweeney Reveals Which PS2 The Simpsons Game Was Her Favourite
And who she prefered playing as
Sydney Bernice Sweeney is an incredibly popular American actress best known for her performances in TV series like The White Lotus and Euphoria and films like Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Madame Web, and Anyone But You. She also recently sparked some intense (relatively speaking) speculation as...
News Outgoing PlayStation Exec Says Sony Must Continue to Entertain, Surprise, and Delight
"We're an entertainment business"
Jim Ryan is hanging up his DualSense and leaving PlayStation after a wildly successful 30-year career next month. While his misunderstood, deeply dry sense of humour has landed him in hot water with enthusiasts on numerous occasions, no one could criticise his achievements at the company, which has seen Sony become...
News PS2 Anthology Is a Set of Books Chronicling the Entire History of the Console and Its Games
Exclusive to Kickstarter backers
The PlayStation 2 is easily in contention for the title of best gaming system in history, so it makes sense to celebrate it in a suitably epic series of books. Simply titled PlayStation 2 Anthology, this upcoming tetralogy aims to tell the console's entire story across four volumes, and you can back it on Kickstarter...
Poll Which Persona Game Has the Best Opening?
Now it's personal
Atlus revealed the opening for Persona 3 Reload earlier this week, and it's so good that it got us wondering: which Persona game has the best title sequence? In case you don't know, each game in the series typically introduces itself with an animated opening, featuring a unique song and some gorgeous artwork. There's no doubt...
News Cancelled PS2 Game Daredevil: The Man Without Fear Surfaces Online
Blast from the past
It's not every day that you see an unreleased PS2 game emerge as playable almost two decades later, but that's precisely the case with 2004's Daredevil: The Man Without Fear. The Hidden Palace, which is a community dedicated to the preservation of rare and retro games, have published a playable prototype on PC. A third-person...
News Is Sony Working on a New PS2 Emulator for PS5, PS4?
Watch this space
With the frankly flabbergasting PS Plus price increases announced overnight, Sony is in need of a win for its subscriptions – and a big one at that! One way it could curry favour with long-time members is by upgrading its PS2 emulator, allowing it to bring back classics from the early noughties alongside the PS1 and PSP titles...
News Fans Vote Clive the Second Best Final Fantasy Protagonist
Guess the winner
Wow, people really like Clive Rosfield. The main character of the recently released Final Fantasy 16, the leather-clad hero seems to have really struck a chord with players, as he was voted the second best protagonist in Square Enix's mainline series. That's according to several thousand Final Fantasy fans, all of whom voted in our...
Poll Who's the Best Final Fantasy Protagonist?
There can only be one
Now that we've all had time to settle into a reality where Final Fantasy 16 exists, this is our chance to revisit a question that's reverberated around the Final Fantasy fandom for decades: just who is the series' best protagonist? Now, for the sake of this poll, we're going to streamline things and focus on mainline Final...
News Sony Will Celebrate Horror Series Siren's 20th Anniversary, Raising Hopes of a PS5 Revival
Back from the dead
Longtime PlayStation fans will recognise the name Siren, developed by a long-defunct offshoot of Japan Studio (Project Siren) and responsible for the three survival horror stealth games that comprise the trilogy. Sony is celebrating the series' 20th Anniversary, which has caused some to hold out hope for a revival. PlayStation...
Poll What's the Best PlayStation Startup Sequence?
PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5?
When you think of PlayStation, does a specific console startup come to mind? Sony's crafted some iconic system screens over the years — complete with some iconic sounds — but which one's the best? We know that's a potentially difficult question — and it might be wholly dependent on how old you are! — but it should...
News Capcom's Classic RPG Series Breath of Fire Is Now 30 Years Old
Come on, Capcom
Originating on the SNES all the way back in 1993, the Breath of Fire series is now 30 years old. It's one heck of a milestone, but then Capcom hasn't touched the franchise for what feels like an age. The Japanese company's last attempt at reviving the property came in 2016, when it launched the free-to-play, browser-based Breath of...
News Gran Turismo 4 Cheat Codes Discovered Almost 20 Years After Its PS2 Release
Pass the test
Gran Turismo 4 is one of the most iconic games in the PS2’s library, and it’s one of its best-selling too, topping over 11.5 million units throughout its lifetime. However, it’s taken almost 20 years for fans to find a bunch of secret cheat codes hidden in the game – but they really do exist. Originally posted by Nenkai on...
Feature ICO At 21 - Remembering Fumito Ueda's Seminal PS2 Classic
ICOnic
ICO is a video game that makes me feel things. Things that I can’t quite describe. Ever since I first stepped foot in the castle’s plundered hallways, heard Ico’s footsteps echo through the abandoned corridors, and practically felt the gentle breeze roll through its silent, long-forgotten courtyards, it’s a feeling I just haven’t...
News PS2's Best-Selling Console Crown in Jeopardy As Nintendo Switch Passes PS4
Only a matter of time
PS4 was a big success, right? Sure, but the Nintendo Switch is shaping up to be something else entirely. As part of its quarterly results, the House of Mario announced overnight that its hybrid console has now surpassed over 122.5 units sold worldwide, which actually puts it ahead of Sony’s previous platform. While the PS4 is...
News Soothe Your Yearning for The Simpsons Hit & Run Remake with Soundtrack on Spotify
A perfectly cromulent discovery
For some reason, Disney has seen fit to suddenly release a whole bunch of The Simpsons music on streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. To the surprise of loyal fans, this includes the full soundtrack to the groin-grabbingly good PS2 adventure, The Simpsons: Hit & Run. The beloved open world...
News Iconic PlayStation Franchise Gran Turismo Surpasses 90 Million Copies Sold
As series celebrates 25th anniversary
Gran Turismo, arguably the most iconic PlayStation franchise of all time, has surpassed 90 million units since its inception. As the series celebrates its 25th anniversary, creator Kazunori Yamauchi – who remains a force at developer Polyphony Digital – revealed the milestone in a reflective PS Blog post, in...
Guide All Resident Evil Games Ranked and Best Places to Start
A comprehensive guide to Resident Evil
The Resident Evil series is one of gaming's most popular and recognisable franchises, dating back to the PlayStation 1 and encompassing more than 25 years of history. With a hardcore following across the globe that hotly anticipates all upcoming entries — no matter where it's a mainline instalment or spin-off...
Random Every American PS2 Manual Has Been Preserved on the Internet
Pamphlet perfection
Back when we were little and we were lucky enough to be bought a new PS1 game by our parents, we’d spend the entire car ride home reading through the manual, trying to get a taste of the action that awaited us once we were reunited with our console. Those days are long gone, and while there are things to appreciate about the...
News Mortal Kombat Celebrates 30 Years of Fatalities with Mind Blowing Montage
Get over here and watch it
Mortal Kombat is celebrating 30 years of brutality, and while fans had been hoping for a new game announcement – or, perhaps, a compilation of old ones – this montage trailer will have to suffice. To be fair, it’s impressive: it segues between classic retro footage of the old arcade Mortal Kombat games and modern...
Review Hot Shots Tennis (PS2) - Bare Bones and Bettered By Its PSP Successor
You cannot be serious
Having taken control of the Hot Shot Golf franchise from Camelot in 1999, developer Clap Hanz proceeded to create five different instalments in the series – six, in fact, if you include the Japan exclusive Hot Shots Golf Online, which was used as a means to help flog the PS2’s Network Adapter domestically. Thus, in 2006,...
Random Jak and Daxter Fans Are Porting The Precursor Legacy to PC
Precursor master race
Who needs professional game developers, right? Tech-savvy fans of the original Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy are taking matters into their own hands, porting the classic PS2 platformer to play on modern PCs. This isn't an emulation job; the group's aim is to get the game running natively on PC by basically retooling the...
News Shadow Hearts Trademark Spotted, Possibly for PS Plus Premium
Filed by Universal Entertainment
A new trademark has been filed by Universal Entertainment in Japan for the PlayStation 2 RPG series Shadow Hearts, potentially suggesting at least one of the three titles could be part of PS Plus Premium's launch lineup. Spotted by Gematsu, it's a possible indicator of
Rumour PS Plus Premium's PS1, PS2, PSP Games Have Started to Leak
Riiiiidge Racer!
Update #2: A further round of PS1 titles have been found on Sony's servers: Worms Armageddon and Worms World Party. That takes the total up to five leaked games thus far, but only PS1 and PSP are represented right now. Update #1: Assets for PS1 title Mr. Driller have now been discovered as well. That means we've got three Namco...
News Beloved Classics Will Comprise PS Plus Premium Catalogue
Emphasis on beloved
Sony will not be tossing random retro releases on its priciest PS Plus Premium subscription tier! New correspondence from the company confirms that the 340 additional games added to the most expensive membership will comprise a “catalogue of beloved classic games” from the PS1, PS2, and PSP era. These will be available to...
Poll What Do You Expect from Retro PlayStation Games on PS5, PS4?
Save states? Rewind? Trophies?
There was unexpected excitement during this desperately dull April earlier today when a bunch of classic Syphon Filter games were rated for release on the PlayStation 5 and PS4 in South Korea. The releases – expanding to pretty much every entry in the series, aside from its PS2 outing Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain...
Talking Point What PS1, PS2, and PSP Games Do You Want on PS Plus Premium?
Let's go retro
The big headline on Planet PlayStation right now is the overhaul of PS Plus. The subscription service is to be merged with PS Now, with three tiers providing more benefits the more you pay. We won't explain each PS Plus tier right here, but the most expensive option is PS Plus Premium. The most eye-catching addition is
News PS Plus Premium Brings PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP Games to PS5, PS4
Legacy platforms live again
In case you've somehow missed it, Sony has announced a huge overhaul to PlayStation Plus. It's transitioning to a multi-tiered system, with three subscriptions offering extra value the more you choose to pay. At the top of the pile is PS Plus Premium which, among other things, adds games from legacy PlayStation platforms...
Random This Is How PlayStation Consoles Would Look if They Rendered Themselves
Inception
This is brilliantly random: how would each PlayStation console look if it rendered itself? Electronics Hub sought to answer that exact question, and came up with this stunning infographic. Effectively what you’re seeing is each Sony system – from the PS1 all the way through to the PS5 – rendered within the boundaries of its own...
As easy as 1, 2, 3
Update: Just as we warned, it really wasn't worth getting excited over the PlayStation Japan tease — not unless you're a massive fan of popstar Kenshi Yonezu. The now infamous tweet was indeed teasing a new Japanese PlayStation advert — but it has absolutely nothing to do with backwards compatibility. The numbers 1, 2, and 3...
Guide PS5 Backwards Compatibility: Can You Play PS3, PS2, and PS1 Games on PlayStation 5?
Classics
Can you play PS3, PS2, and PS1 games on PS5? Sony has talked a lot about the importance of PS5 backwards compatibility, but is the PlayStation 5 backwards compatible with PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 1? As part of our PS5 guide, we’re going to tell you whether PS5 is backwards compatible with PS3, PS2, and PS1 games. You...
Weirdness These PlayStation Sound Effect Acapellas Are Oddly Awesome
Sounds good
Each PlayStation startup sound has defined a generation, so it’s bizarre to see them performed acapella by YouTube group Maytree. From the bowel rumbling bass of the PS1’s intro all the way through to the PSP’s upbeat jingle, this is both spot-on and strange. It’s particularly amusing to see just how much energy is being invested...
Soapbox GTA: San Andreas Is Still an Open World Classic
Aw sh*t, here we go again
The rumour that Rockstar is remastering the PlayStation 2’s trilogy of Grand Theft Auto games for PlayStation 5 and PS4 last week had a profound impact on me: I simply had to return to the fictional state of San Andreas. My history with the 2004 open world is both fortuitous and a little bit embarrassing actually: despite...
News Metal Gear Solid 2 Looks Better Than Ever in 4K Upscaled Trailer
Digital Foundry works its magic
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a special game, and part of what makes it so memorable is what came before fans could even play it. Prior to the big twist of Raiden actually being the main playable character, Konami introduced the PlayStation 2 sequel with the tanker mission starring Solid Snake. The game was...
News PS2, PS1 Wireless Pad Kickstarter Beats Pledge Goal with Time to Spare
Pick one up for $34
A Kickstarter for a wireless controller that hooks up to both a PlayStation 2 and PS1 console has flown past its pledge goal of $20,000 with one week to spare. Designed by a family-owned business named Retro Fighters, 1,875 backers have so far raised more than $125,000. Named the Wireless Defender, the pad connects to the two...
News This Portable PS2 Is the Handheld of Our Dreams
Play, beyond
Yeah, the Nintendo Switch is cool and all, but have you ever played a portable PlayStation 2? Probably not, because Sony never actually made one, and while both the PS Vita and PSP had plenty of PS2 ports on them – well, they couldn’t play GTA: San Andreas, could they? This hobby project named the PS2 Eclipse by GingerofOz can,...
Random PS2 Game Boxes Were Nearly Extremely Weird
Look at this thing
PlayStation games have always come in pretty ordinary boxes. The PS1 had its CD-like jewel cases, the PS2 kept things standard with a DVD box, PS3 shrunk things a little to match standard Blu-Ray releases, and it's been roughly the same since. Aside from its handheld machines, Sony's consoles have stuck to pretty regular game...
News The Still Excellent Persona 3 Is 15 Years Old Today
Style is permanent
Persona 3 celebrates its 15th anniversary today. It first released in Japan on the 13th July 2006 for the PlayStation 2, and its impact on the RPG landscape has been significant. With its supreme sense of style, outstanding soundtrack, and addictive gameplay mix of turn based dungeon crawling and social links, Persona 3 is really...
News Sony Celebrates the Evolution of Ratchet & Clank
Stunning trailer goes back in time
Sony’s released a stunning trailer celebrating the evolution of Ratchet & Clank across four generations. The clip, designed to promote the upcoming Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, shows various different titles from the series and their associated console. It also focuses on some of the televisions from the...
News Rockstar Marking Grand Theft Auto 3 20th Anniversary with 'Fun Surprises'
Many for GTA Online
Grand Theft Auto V will be coming to PlayStation 5 on 11th November 2021, but a few weeks before then, Rockstar has a big anniversary to celebrate. 22nd October 2021 marks 20 years since the launch of PS2 classic Grand Theft Auto III, and the studio is already putting plans together to commemorate the occasion. Some of them will...
Feature Resident Evil's Story So Far, Summed Up in 30 Mind-Twisting Minutes
Fasten your seatbelt
Are you picking up Resident Evil Village today? You should: our Resident Evil Village PS5 review already explained that it’s arguably the best instalment since the outstanding Resident Evil 4. But do you need some kind of story recap to get you up to speed? We can help, as we’ve put together a mammoth 30 minute video that...
Random Alabama Cornerback Patrick Surtain II Swags Out NFL Draft with PS2 Bling
Play, beyond
Former Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II swagged out the NFL Draft last night with custom PlayStation 2 bling, before being selected by the Denver Broncos with the ninth overall pick. The Rose Bowl defensive MVP – and son of a former Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs player – commissioned a custom DualShock 2 pendant, which...
News Ace Infographic Is the Master of Unlocking 25 Years of Resident Evil X PlayStation History
As series celebrates 25 years
We’ve spoken to some of the biggest developers in gaming about what 25 years of Resident Evil means to them, but for PlayStation the survival horror is symbiotic with its brand. An awesome infographic produced by Sony and shared on social media details the key moments from the two-and-a-half-decade relationship, and...
Talking Point Would You Buy a PS1, PS2, or PS3 Emulator for PS5?
RetroStation
The topic of game preservation on PlayStation is a pertinent one right now. Whatever its plans for PlayStation 3’s – and, of course, PS Vita and PSP’s – storefront, Sony doesn’t make it as easy as some of its immediate competitors to enjoy its back catalogue of games. While the platform holder will point to blockbuster remakes...
News Cory Barlog Admits He Had 'No Idea' What He Was Doing When Directing God of War 2
Still one of the greatest ever games
In news that’s sure to make you feel old, God of War II is celebrating its 14th anniversary this weekend. The game – which launched on the PlayStation 2 after the release of the PS3 – is widely regarded as a classic, with its larger-than-life set-pieces and overall mastery of Sony’s hardware. It also saw...
Criterion's first-person shooter turns 15
Criterion Games was absolutely on fire in the early noughties. Having made an incredible arcade racing series — the brilliant Burnout, of course — it decided to turn its hand to a totally new genre. This is something that you don't see too much of; usually, a studio finds its comfort zone and sticks to...
Random Watch Someone Build an Awesome See-Through PlayStation 2 Console
Clear winner
Remember when console manufacturers had a thing for translucent tech? Whether it was controllers or the consoles themselves, having a sort-of see-through shell allowed you to get a peek under the hood — and it looked cool at the same time. Sony brought this back for PlayStation 4 with the dark blue 500 million edition PS4 Pro, and...
News PS2-Style PS5 Consoles Withdrawn From Sale After Company Receives 'Credible Threats'
"Our team began receiving credible threats to their safety"
Remember that awesome-looking PS2-style PlayStation 5 console we mentioned a few days ago? This custom system was being offered in a limited run of just 300 units by SUP3R5, and pre-orders went live recently. Sadly, the process didn't go according to plan. Demand was such that the stock...
News Xbox Series X|S Runs PS2 Games Better Than PS5
A sad reality
PlayStation 5 can, in fact, play a handful of PlayStation 2 titles – but only ones that were ported to the PlayStation 4, like Jak & Daxter and Grand Theft Auto 3. Bizarrely, the Xbox Series X|S can play retro PlayStation titles much better – at least, until the inevitable batch of cease and desist letters get posted out...
Poll Is the PS5 DualSense Sony's Best Controller Yet?
It's time to Dual
The PS5 has been out for at least a week now (depending on where you live), and we want to know what you think of the DualSense — the console's high-tech controller. Featuring advanced haptic feedback functionality, adaptive triggers, and a built-in microphone, it's a premium piece of kit, and a key PS5 selling point. Here at...
Talking Point Happy 20th Birthday, PlayStation 2
A toast to the most popular console ever
There's no other way to describe it: PlayStation 2 was an absolute beast. Sony followed up the popular (and industry-changing) PlayStation with a more capable console in the year 2000, and little did we know it would go on to become the best-selling gaming machine ever. It's a record the PS2 holds to this...
Feature The Joy of Painting PlayStation 2
Hearts For Hardware
Over the last few years US based artist Randy Gallegos has been painting his way through the history of video game hardware and has recently applied his brush to Sony's PlayStation 2. We interviewed Randy over on Nintendo Life back in 2016 about his Hearts For Hardware series but this time we'll be talking PlayStation. It's...
Quiz Can You Name These PlayStation Launch Games?
Day one
How well do you remember the launch of each PlayStation home console? The release of a brand new game-playing machine is always exciting, but at the same time, it can be easy to forget the software that arrived alongside the hardware. And so here we are, with a quiz that'll test your knowledge of PlayStation launch titles. Think you're a...
News The Dream Is Dead: PS5 Will Not Play PS3, PS2, or PS1 Games
Sony confirms
We’ve known all along that the PlayStation 5 won’t play PS3, PS2, and PS1 games – but apparently some needed it spelling out for them. So here we go: the PS5 won’t play PS3, PS2, and PS1 games. Confirmation comes courtesy of an interview with Sony chief Jim Ryan that was conducted by Japanese game bible
Random Here's Super Mario 64 Running on PS2
And on PS Vita
With the release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars looming large, we suppose a scrappy PlayStation 2 port of Super Mario 64 isn’t all that interesting in isolation. Except, from a pure curiosity perspective, it is. The gameplay footage embedded below is riddled with texture bugs that make the title almost unplayable, but the homemade port...
News PS5 Won't Play PS3, PS2, or PS1 Games
According to Ubisoft, anyway
In an unpredictable year, this is potentially the most expected article we’ll write in 2020, but the web is losing its collective mind all the same: the PlayStation 5 won’t play PS3, PS2, or PS1 games. The story comes courtesy of a Ubisoft FAQ page, and the information has since been removed. It’s unclear whether...
Quiz How Well Do You Know Naughty Dog?
Good boy
Naughty Dog is one of Sony's most prolific first-party studios, so much so that it can be considered one of the best game developers in the world right now. That's thanks to the likes of the Uncharted and The Last of Us franchises, but the team actually has a long history that stretches back more than 30 years. So, how well do you know the...
Quiz Can You Name These PS2 Games?
Say what you see
The PlayStation 2 -- what a machine. Sony's second gaming device was an absolute monster; it remains the best selling console in history, and has an absolutely gargantuan catalogue of software. Some of them are so iconic, you can tell which game they are by looking at a single image. But what about games that look kinda similar to...
Quiz How Well Do You Know Sony's First-Party Studios?
PlayStation knowledge
Sony's line-up of first-party developers consistently put out some of the very best experiences in the industry, to the point where it's sometimes tough to compete. Earlier this year, the Japanese giant brought every one of its teams under the same umbrella of PlayStation Studios, but how well do you know those developers? Have...
Feature Sony's Most Memorable E3 Moments
Hype machine
At this point in time, it looks as though Sony's relationship with E3 is over. The Electronic Entertainment Expo has been running since 1995, and PlayStation has been in attendance every year. That is, until 2019, when the Japanese giant broke its 24-year streak. It announced it would be absent at E3 2020 too, although it would later be...
Quiz How Well Do You Know Grand Theft Auto?
Gangster's paradise
Grand Theft Auto is one of the biggest franchises in all of entertainment, spanning four different generations of consoles, five numbered entries, and a whole host of spin-offs. Its popularity is simply unmatched, but how well do you actually know the series? We've put this quiz together to test your knowledge of all things Grand...
Guide Best Resident Evil Games Ranked
What're ya rankin?
Resident Evil is one of those classic franchises which will more than likely keep on going until either Capcom or the video game industry is no more. Starting life on Sony's PSone, it has gone through a number of changes and refinements throughout the decades, drastically switching perspectives, characters, and locations. Each and...
News Sony Celebrates 15 Years of MLB The Show with Retrospective
At bat
MLB The Show 20 launches exclusively on the PlayStation 4 today, marking 15 years of baseball simulation from developer Sony San Diego. But how has the series evolved since its humble origins on the PlayStation 2? This celebratory retrospective trailer shows gameplay from every iteration thus far, leading up to the latest release. Home run!
Feature As PS2 Turns 20, These Classics Must Come to PS4
Greatest hits
The PlayStation 2 is celebrating its 20th anniversary today, and while Sony’s commitment to its PS2 Classics program has been awful, we've been pondering which last-last-gen titles deserve the upscale-and-Trophies treatment on the company's current console. While we had planned to put together a short list, the Japanese giant's...
News No, PS5 Backwards Compatibility with PS3, PS2, and PS1 Games Has Not Been Confirmed
Only PS4
Will the PlayStation 5 be backwards compatible? Yes. Will it be backwards compatible with all PlayStation games? We don't know (and we have our doubts). This is a topic that's been bouncing back and forth around the web for months — maybe even years — and now it's blown up all over again. Perhaps it's to be expected with the PS5's...
News PS2 Fan Favourite Simpsons Hit and Run Almost Had a Sequel
D'oh
The Simpsons hasn't had too many great video games in its long history, but Hit and Run is arguably the best. The GTA-like adventure with open world areas was packed to the rafters with familiar characters, jokes, and references to the show. You could play as Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Apu, while accepting missions and side activities from...
Random Royal Mail Celebrates British Video Games with Awesome Retro Stamp Collection
Pixelated postage
If you're a lover of both retro video games and postage stamps, then we have some good news for you. The UK's Royal Mail has just announced a new collection of stamps featuring various titles from the 80s and 90s developed right here in Blighty, and it's honestly pretty cool. This special run of stamps includes games such as...
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