On the downside, the new PS2 has a few compatility issues with some pre-existing products. It doesn’t support the HDD peripheral that was released early last year. Sony promised some big things for the HDD and now it seems like those ideas may go unfulfilled. It also doesn’t support the old multi-tap and requires players to purchase the new multitap for four-player action. As you could probably imagine, the device doesn’t support the old vertical stand that was designed for the larger PS2. Also, the iLink port is still gone making linked play for titles such as
Time Crisis 2 impossible.
Side-by-side comparison of the old PS2 vs. the new PS2.If you were planning to purchase the new PS2 for use in a home entertainment setup you may want to think twice. While the old unit utilized an extendable DVD tray, the new unit is top loading. This makes it difficult to fit the unit into a small confined space because the tray pops up, making it hard to pull out the discs. This new loading method saves precious internal space for the unit, but makes it difficult for home theatre enthusiasts to enjoy. Perhaps a sucking solution (such as the kind found in most car head units) would have been better for the device. The device was built to sit on its horizontal footprint but an additional footstand is available if you prefer the vertical operation mode.
Functionally, it’s the exact same system as the old PS2. It won’t load games faster, it won’t make them prettier and it won’t make them better. It plays all of the same DVDs and PS2 games that you had before so you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues with previously released titles. It also does them at a much quieter decibel level which helps you stay in the game without being distracted by the noise of the system.
If you were an early adopter this redesign is right up your alley. There's a great chance that your system is giving you a ton of disc read errors and there's an even better chance that you're too lazy to take apart the system and fix the drive. This new release offers up all of the luxury of the PS2 in a small package that's much more convenient than the old unit. If you're in the market for a new PS2 or if you just need to replace an old one, make this updated PS2 your first choice. The original was already great, this one's even better.
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If you’ve lived in America for any significant amount of time you’ve probably heard the phrase “bigger is better.†It permeates every single aspect of our lifestyle. The Japanese, however, stand for the complete opposite and have a knack for putting huge amounts of technology into the tiniest of spaces. That’s exactly what the revamped PS2 is all about, providing the biggest amount of punch while utilizing the least amount of space as possible.
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