PS2 - Timeline
Friday1st Dec 2017
News Trio of Jak & Daxter Titles Launch on PS4 Next Week
Jak's back
They were spotted on the PlayStation Store a few days ago, and now they’ve been dated: Jak II, Jak 3, and Jak X: Combat Racing will complete the Jak & Daxter series on the PlayStation 4 from 6th December – well, assuming you ignore the handful of PSP spin-offs anyway. A
Tuesday28th Nov 2017
News Jak & Daxter's PS4 Re-Releases Can't Be Too Far Away Now
Team eco
There’s no way around it: Sony’s PS2 Classics initiative has been embarrassing. While the ports are generally pretty good – complete with Trophy functionality, upscaling, and integration with the PlayStation 4’s operating system – they’ve been slow to release, and so many essentials from the last-last-gen console’s catalogue...
Saturday7th Oct 2017
News Final Fantasy VII's Cloud Was Nearly the Guest Star in PS2 SoulCalibur II
Strife almighty
Console wars were once so different. They didn’t hinge on Digital Foundry face-offs or timed exclusives, but instead guest characters in Bandai Namco’s unforgettable fighter, SoulCalibur II. Those of a certain age may recall that battle lines were drawn over Link, Spawn, and Heihachi – but victory was almost within the...
Wednesday4th Oct 2017
News PS4 Exclusives Heavily Discounted in EU PlayStation Store Sale
Save on PS3, Vita, PS2, and PSone titles, too
Sony’s leading with PlayStation exclusives in the latest European PlayStation Store sale – and this promotion covers a lot of ground. Whether it’s new-ish blockbusters like Horizon: Zero Dawn (£24.99), Ratchet & Clank (£11.99), and WipEout Omega Collection (£12.99) or remasters such as...
Friday29th Sep 2017
News Two More Grand Theft Auto Games Are Coming to PS4
And more Max Payne on the way
Why is Rockstar the only publisher porting its PS2 Classics to the PlayStation 4? Clearly there’s money to be made with this initiative, and Sony should be trying much harder to encourage more companies to hop aboard. For now, though, we’re going to have to make do with Rockstar’s wares: Grand Theft Auto: Liberty...
Thursday24th Aug 2017
News Licensed PlayStation Hoodies Celebrate Two Iconic Consoles
Live in your world
If flaunting your PlayStation fandom is something you like to do, then Merchoid have a couple of new licensed hoodies designed for you. Inspired by the PSone and PlayStation 2, the £44.99 pullovers celebrate Sony’s classic consoles by reflecting their colour schemes and designs. The PSone top, for example, has a large circular...
Friday18th Aug 2017
Poll Is Persona 5 the Best Persona Game?
Now it's personal
Now that Persona 5 has been out for a good few months, we thought it was about time to ask the ultimate question: is it the best Persona game? Atlus' latest entry in the role-playing series was met with universal critical acclaim and it's safe to say that gamers went absolutely nuts for it. It quickly became the best selling title...
News Jak & Daxter's PS4 Trophies Go Live Ahead of Launch
Free with Uncharted: The Lost Legacy pre-orders
Jak & Daxter’s coming to the PlayStation 4 next week as a PS2 Classic, and its Trophies have hit Sony’s servers in preparation for the platformer’s release. This is the same list as on the PlayStation 3, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble gobbling up that Platinum in a single...
Tuesday4th Jul 2017
News Jak & Daxter Tetralogy Nearing PS4 Release
Jak box party pack
Jak & Daxter will make the leap of faith to the PlayStation 4 imminently it seems, as all four of Naughty Dog’s classic PlayStation 2 titles have been rated by American ratings board, the ESRB. The titles were confirmed for Sony’s new-gen console some time back – with the Precursor Legacy becoming a pre-order bonus for
Saturday20th May 2017
News One More PS2 Classic Confirmed for PS4 Next Week
Eternal Ring by From Software lined up
From Software wasn’t always a household name behind some of the biggest action role-playing games in the industry, y’know? Prior to the surprise success of Demon’s Souls, the Japanese developer was making niche titles like the King’s Field series and Eternal Ring. Speaking of which, the latter is set to...
Wednesday10th May 2017
Video How Does Resident Evil: Code Veronica X Look on PS4?
Claire almighty
A true classic has arrived as, er, a PS2 Classic on the PlayStation 4 today: Resident Evil: Code Veronica X. This is the first Capcom title to take advantage of Sony’s emulation technology, and it’ll hopefully pave the way for more in the future. In terms of features, it’s packing a Platinum Trophy and is compatible with all of...
Monday3rd Apr 2017
News Naughty Dog's Four Jak & Daxter Titles Are Coming to PS4
Precursor legacy
You can't have a platforming renaissance without Naughty Dog's numerous Jak & Daxter titles, can you? Sony seems to have remembered recently that it started a PS2 Classics initiative on the PlayStation 4 a few years back, and now we're beginning to see a steady trickle of up-rendered ports. Next up: four Jak & Daxter titles...
Saturday1st Apr 2017
News Star Ocean: Till the End of Time Is Looking Tasty on PS4
Out now in Japan
It looks like Sony has subtly reminded publishers that it launched a PS2 Classics program a few years back, as we're starting to see a steady trickle of enhanced ports arrive on the PlayStation 4 again. One that's just come out in Japan is Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, and you can see how it's made the transition courtesy of the...
Friday31st Mar 2017
Video Can Harvest Moon Still Promise a Wonderful Life on PS4?
The best barn none?
Poor old Harvest Moon's had its thunder stolen by Stardew Valley somewhat, hasn't it? A Wonderful Life launched as a PS2 Classic on the PlayStation 4 this week, and we captured the super slow first 15 minutes so that you can see how it looks on Sony's new-gen console. It's definitely dated, but it's got a certain charm don't you...
Tuesday28th Mar 2017
News Harvest Moon Sows a Wonderful Life on PS4
PS2 Classic arrives on PS4
Poor old Harvest Moon – we'd be doing cartwheels over the re-release of A Wonderful Life on the PlayStation 4 as a PlayStation 2 Classic if it hadn't been gazumped by Stardew Valley. As it happens, this isn't quite the hype-inducing release that Natsume perhaps may have been hoping for. Nevertheless,
Saturday11th Feb 2017
News Now's Your Chance to Catch Up on All the Yakuza Games
Feeling Japanese
At long last, the Yakuza series has stepped out of its underground mire and into the mainstream, which means that it's a perfect time for you to polish off Yakuza 0 and pick up every entry in the series. And here's the ideal opportunity: one quick-thinking retailer has ordered retail reprints of the entire series thus far, meaning...
Tuesday7th Feb 2017
News Stuntman: Ignition Is Driving Dangerously to PS4
Car crash entertainment
Surprisingly enjoyable Stuntman sequel Stuntman: Ignition looks like it's set to hit a jump ramp onto the PlayStation 4, as the game has popped up on European ratings firm PEGI's website. While the game did release on the PlayStation 3, it's likely that this is the PlayStation 2 version
Friday20th Jan 2017
Feature What Do You Mean You've Never Played... Dragon Quest VIII?
One of the PS2's very best games
Today marks the launch of Dragon Quest VIII on the Nintendo 3DS - an enhanced port of the original PlayStation 2 masterpiece. We're obviously not here to talk about the handheld reimagining, but we do think that its release gives us a good excuse to look back on the PS2 title. A joint effort from Square Enix and...
Sunday1st Jan 2017
News ESRB Digs Up a Couple of Harvest Moon PS4 Ratings
A wonderful life?
Natsume may be a little late bringing Harvest Moon to the PlayStation 4, as spiritual successor Stardew Valley is already out. That said, the ESRB has rated Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland and Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life Special Edition for Sony'
Sunday6th Nov 2016
Soapbox Gaming's Greatest Fireworks Display Still Resides Inside the PS2
Sky lights
Republished on Sunday, 6th November 2016: We're bringing this article back from the archives to celebrate Bonfire weekend. The original text follows. Originally published on Wednesday, 5th November 2014: It's currently Bonfire Night here in the UK, a bizarre annual event in which wooden figures are burnt at the stake in order acknowledge...
Monday31st Oct 2016
Push Scare The Thing About PS2 Horror The Thing
Who goes there?
Republished on Monday, 31st October 2016: We're bringing this article back from the archives to celebrate Hallowe'en today. The original text follows. Originally published on Thursday, 30th October 2014: Why do I love horror games? Well, I can tell you right now that the love didn't start with games – it started with films. More...
Push Scare The Resident Evil 4 Cabin Encounter That Totally Redefined Survival Horror
Inkredible
Republished on Monday, 31st October 2016: We're bringing this article back from the archives to celebrate Hallowe'en today. The original text follows. Originally published on Monday, 27th October 2014: My first taste of survival horror came courtesy of Trip Hawkins' ill-fated 3DO. Our family gaming room was one of approximately six...
Wednesday12th Oct 2016
Video Red Dead Revolver PS4 Readies Us for Redemption 2
Straight to the Wild Wild West
This author's last-last-gen Western of choice was Activision's cult classic GUN, so Red Dead Revolver kinda got lost in our boots. But Rockstar wasn't peddling snake oil back in 2004 – this game was clearly ahead of its time. Turning back the clocks with this PlayStation 4 port, the control scheme feels almost...
Wednesday14th Sep 2016
Video Is Hot Shots Tennis a Winner on PS4?
Everybody's arcade favourite
New Hot Shots Golf is really starting to shape up judging by its Tokyo Game Show trailers – it's just taking an eternity to tee off. (Okay, so maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but Clap-Hanz will have been working on its first PlayStation 4 instalment for almost half a decade when it deploys in Summer 2017. Insane.)...
Monday12th Sep 2016
News Hot Shots Tennis Aces Its Way to PS4 This Week
Arriving in Wawrinka an eye
PlayStation 2 smash Hot Shots Tennis will serve up some racquet action on the PlayStation 4 at last this week, with Clap Hanz's classic arcade sporting title hitting a winner on Sony's new-gen system. The title's currently only confirmed for North America as part of the platform holder's weekly 'The Drop' post on the...
Wednesday10th Aug 2016
Video Making a Murderer in Fahrenheit on PS4
Indigo prophecy
This author was running a different website when Fahrenheit (or Indigo Prophecy) released in 2005, and it really blew your humble host's mind. It kickstarted the soft spot that we have for French developer Quantic Dream; its games aren't perfect by any stretch, but it genuinely tries to push boundaries that so many others fear...
Saturday6th Aug 2016
Video Is PS2 Classic Ape Escape 2 Still Top Banana on PS4?
Do the monkey with us
Ape Escape 2 released on the PlayStation Store for the PS4 this week – and we've been monkeying around with it. The popular PlayStation 2 platformer definitely shows its age in the controls and presentation department, but it runs nicely on Sony's new-gen system, and the upscaled visuals actually hold up surprisingly well...
Thursday4th Aug 2016
News Quantic Dream Classic Fahrenheit Covers Up a Murder from 9th August
Knife to know
Want to witness the origins of Quantic Dream's innovative interactive drama? Fahrenheit (also known as Indigo Prophecy in the United States) will launch on the PlayStation 4 as a PlayStation 2 Classic starting 9th August in North America and 10th August in Europe. We've no idea why there's an additional day delay in the Old World, but...
Tuesday2nd Aug 2016
News PS2 Classic Ape Escape 2 Does the Monkey on PS4
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
As the great Gwen Stefani once sang: "This s*it is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S." And we suppose that Ape Escape 2 is a bit bananas, seeing as it sees you attempt to scoop up monkeys with a futuristic fishing net. The second game in the series launched on the PlayStation 4 last night as part of Sony's PS2 Classics initiative, where it will...
Thursday28th Jul 2016
News You'll Be Able To Catch Ape Escape 2 on PS4 Soon
Bananarama
Here's another game that has all but been confirmed to be releasing in the near future thanks to its Trophies leaking: Ape Escape 2 is coming to PlayStation 4 as part of the PS2 on PS4 program, which has recently brought the likes of Psychonauts and The Warriors to the system. Taking a look at the Trophies on Exophase, you'll be a
