PS2 News (Page 4)
News The Simpsons: Hit & Run Dev Wants to Remake the PS2 Classic
Woohoo!
If you're talking to a bunch of people in their mid-twenties who only have a very vague, passing interest in video games, it's never too long before The Simpsons: Hit & Run is brought up. The PS2 classic has stood the test of time thanks to becoming a childhood memory for many, and while a full remake is probably never going to happen,...
News The Persona Series Hits 10 Million Copies Sold
That's a lot of inner selves
The Persona series, which began all the way back in 1996 on the original PlayStation, has reached ten million copies sold, no doubt much to the delight of Atlus. It's a big milestone for a franchise that started life as a Shin Megami Tensei spin-off title, and it's a property that has only recently found mainstream...
News 19 Years Later, the PS2 Is Officially Done, Dead, Finished as Sony Ends Customer Support
RIP
The PlayStation 2, the best selling console of all time, is officially dead. Obviously, Sony stopped producing the system a long time ago (in 2012, to be precise), but only now, in 2018, has it ended customer support for the platform in Japan. The final, final, final nail in the coffin, if you like. The PS2 originally launched in...
Guide Best Metal Gear Solid Games
Solid, Snake
Metal Gear Solid is one of the greatest video game franchises of all time, and so it’s a good job that it’s synonymous with PlayStation. With every single mainline release putting in an appearance on a Sony system, it’s hard not to associate the famous Solid Snake with the family of consoles, despite only one entry remaining an...
Feature Spider-Man 2 - Does It Still Hold Up Today?
"I lost my balloon!"
Insomniac's imminent superhero blockbuster, Spider-Man, has looked increasingly promising since its announcement all the way back at E3 2016. We've yet to try the game out for ourselves, but based on what the media has been saying after playing a demo at...
News Gran Turismo Sales Top 80 Million Units Across 20 Years
Va va voom
Racing games are nowhere near as popular as they once were, but Gran Turismo has managed to remain relevant over a 20 year period. Once the biggest brand in Sony’s stable – it’s probably been eclipsed by the likes of Uncharted, The Last of Us, and even Horizon in recent times – the series continues to be a steady seller, with the...
News PS2 Classics Join PlayStation Now Subscription Service
Retro revival
PlayStation Now was always billed as on-demand access to Sony’s archives, and while it has made great strides towards that goal in recent years, it’s still a long way off achieving what we suspect the platform holder envisions for it. Nevertheless, the company has added the first batch of PlayStation 2 Classics to the streaming...
Guide Best God of War Games Ranked
War games
In the pantheon of popular PlayStation intellectual properties, God of War occupies the throne room alongside other household names like Uncharted and Gran Turismo. But which is the best of Kratos’ bloody escapades to date? Ahead of the release of this year’s reimagining, we’ve returned to Ancient Greece in order to, er, order each...
Feature The Best and Worst Run Animations on PlayStation
Jog on
Animation is something we sort of take for granted in games, these days. Most of it is now pretty good, but do you remember a time in PlayStation's history when even a simple run animation was laughable? We certainly do. Not everyone can be Naughty Dog, but that's the beauty of it; games old and new have wildly different animation, some of it...
News The European Version of Jak II Looks Like a Disaster on PS4
But a fix is fortunately coming
As if being subjected to the downright dismal Jak II wasn’t punishment enough, the PAL version has launched in a sorry state. As has become infuriatingly frequent with these PS2 Classics emulations, Sony has opted to release the European edition in the Old World, which has resulted in some kind of weird slowdown...
Hands On Jak X Helps Plug a Hole in PS4's Library
Has it really come to this?
Jak X: Combat Racing has released on the PlayStation 4 as a PS2 Classic and it’s made us realise just how rubbish Sony’s new-gen console is for good ol’ arcade racers. They exist, of course: Trackmania Turbo’s fine; DriveClub’s decent (although it’s more simcade than, say, SEGA Rally). But where are the...
News Jak & Daxter's PS4 Re-Releases Will Delight Trophy Fans
Pricing's pretty decent, too
The trio of Jak & Daxter titles set to release on the PlayStation 4 this week as PS2 Classics will come with 118 Trophies in tow – and that’s ignoring Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, which launched earlier in the year. All of the titles include Platinum Trophies, with Jak X: Combat Racing receiving virtual...
News Retro PS2 Clock Theme Releases on PS4 Next Week
Wump
After the awesome PSone Anniversary Theme, we’re surprised that Sony hasn’t capitalised on its legacy with more throwback backgrounds. Fortunately, it’s announced this humdinger inspired by the PS2’s legendary clock. If you’re not sure what we’re referring to, here’s the last-last-gen console’s timepiece in all of its glory:...
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. All t
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 playthrough...
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
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,
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...
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, as THQ Nordic has been
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...
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'
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...
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...
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...
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.)...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
News Fahrenheit's PS4 Trophies May Raise Your Temperature
Cool
PlayStation 2 classic Fahrenheit – known as Indigo Prophecy in North America – was supposed to be out on the PlayStation 4 by now, but it hit a last-minute hitch. Fortunately, the Quantic Dream developed narrative-driven adventure doesn't appear to be too far away, as its Trophies have appeared online. You'll be fighting the Millennium bug...
Feature The Making of Cancelled PS2 Sci-Fi Shooter EXO
The story of Sheffield's most ambitious undertaking
Scheduled 60 years in the future where a ruthless corporation and its cyber terrorists hold a city to ransom, EXO pushed the creativity and technological innovation of a Sheffield company to the limit and promised to be a blockbusting, game-changer for the PlayStation 2. Creative supremo Glyn...
News New Documentary Will Depict How PlayStation Conquered the World
And you can help fund it
PlayStation's big business these days, but that wasn't always the case. Back in the early 90s, electronics giant Sony was rather reluctant to create its own console – with its board of directors voting against Ken Kutaragi's proposal. The firm's wily CEO Norio Ohga believed in the project so much, though, that he sent the...
News Rockstar's The Warriors Brawls to PS4
Can you dig it?
Rockstar's made some unexpected games over the years, with The Warriors being one of them. Based upon the 1979 movie of the same name – which itself was inspired by a 1965 novel – the game's essentially a beat-'em-up, which originally released all the way back in 2005 on the PlayStation 2. And now, via Sony's emulation...
News PS2 Compilation Metal Slug Anthology Runs 'n' Guns to PS4
Slug life
There's been a steady trickle of PlayStation 2 titles launching on the PlayStation 4 since Sony rolled out its PS2 Classics initiative, and it looks like Metal Slug Anthology will be next up if the PlayStation Blogcast is to be believed. As is the case with all of these emulated outings, you can expect upscaled 1080p presentation and full...
E3 2016 Fight the Internet in Quantic Dream's Fahrenheit on PS4 Next Month
Coming 18th July
Detroit: Become Human isn't expected to release until next year following the lack of a release date at E3 2016, but we'll still get our hands on some Quantic Dream action before 2017 in the form of a remaster of the PlayStation 2 title Fahrenheit - otherwise known as Indigo Prophecy to American readers. The game will receive a...
News PS2 Platformer Psychonauts Is Out on PS4 Now
Well, in North America
PlayStation 2 platformer Psychonauts is getting a sequel as well as a PlayStation VR spin-off, but you may be wondering what this series is all about. The original's a bit of a cult classic, launching to muted sales but real critical acclaim, and now it's getting another shot at success on the PlayStation 4, courtesy of Sony's...
