PlayStation 2: The Complete Buyer's Guide
Sony released the PlayStation 2 in North America on October 26, 2000. It doubled as a DVD player, played most PlayStation games and became the best-selling home console ever, with a library that includes Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Shadow of the Colossus and Final Fantasy X.
Quick facts
| North American launch | October 26, 2000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Media | DVD-ROM and CD-ROM |
| Controller ports | 2 |
| Best-selling game | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas |
| Worldwide sales | Over 160 million |
| Discontinued | 2013 |
Models and what changed
The original fat PS2 models (SCPH-30001 through SCPH-50001 in North America) have a front-loading tray and an expansion bay at the back for the network adapter and an internal hard drive. Disc read errors from worn lasers are the most common fault on these units.
The slim PS2 launched in 2004 (SCPH-70000 series) with a top-loading lid, built-in Ethernet and an external power brick. It has no expansion bay, so it cannot use the internal hard drive.
The final SCPH-90000 series slims moved the power supply back inside the console. A small number of PS1 and PS2 games have compatibility issues on some later slim revisions.
Tips for buying one today
- Test a few discs, including a blue-bottom CD-ROM game and a silver DVD-ROM game, to check for disc read errors.
- Get an 8 MB PS2 memory card. PS2 games save to memory cards, and PS1 games need a PS1 memory card.
- Component cables give the best picture on a modern TV, with 480p in games that support progressive scan. An HDMI adapter in the AV multi-out port is a simple alternative.
- Check controller analog sticks for drift and confirm the DualShock 2 pressure-sensitive buttons work, since some games rely on them.
- PS2 games and DVD movies are region locked, so North American consoles need North American discs.
Games to play first
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Shadow of the Colossus
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
- Kingdom Hearts
- Final Fantasy X
- God of War
- Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
- Persona 4
Shop by genre
PS2 Action & Adventure Games · PS2 Platformers · PS2 RPGs · PS2 Shooters · PS2 Fighting Games · PS2 Sports Games · PS2 Racing Games · PS2 Strategy Games · PS2 Simulation Games · PS2 Party & Family Games · PS2 Music & Rhythm Games · PS2 Arcade Games
Guides
- PS2 Fat vs. Slim: Which PlayStation 2 Should You Buy?
- Every GTA Game in Order: The Classics to Play Before GTA 6
- Games Like Resident Evil: 10 Survival Horror Games to Play Next
- Games Like Final Fantasy VII: 10 RPGs to Play Next
Frequently asked questions
Should I get a fat or slim PS2?
Choose a fat model if you want the expansion bay for a hard drive or network adapter. Choose a slim if you want a smaller console with built-in Ethernet. Both play nearly the entire library.
Can the PS2 play PS1 games?
Yes. The PS2 plays most PlayStation discs and works with PS1 memory cards and controllers.
Does the PS2 support HDMI?
No. Its best official output is component video. You can use a TV with component input or an HDMI adapter that plugs into the AV multi-out port.
Can a PS3 play PS2 games?
Only early PS3 models can play PS2 discs: the 20 GB and 60 GB launch models and the first 80 GB North American model. Later PS3s cannot.