The PlayStation 2 has stopped being sold in many regions, but its story isn't over until Sony Japan says so. Well... early this week, the Japanese giant confirmed that repair services for the PlayStation 2 will be discontinued next Friday, September 7. After that date, all official PS2 channels will be closed, ending 18 years of pure success and more than 150 million units sold.
The original PlayStation devoured the market as soon as it hit shelves, and most of us didn't believe Sony could repeat that success with a new version. We were wrong. The PlayStation 2 made its debut on March 4, 2000 in Japan, while Europe had to wait until November 24. Eighteen years later, we're still talking about that console, and we have plenty of reasons. More than 150 million units sold, thousands of games in its library, entire sagas born on its hardware, backward compatibility, mods... a true marvel. However, in 2013, it stopped being manufactured, and all PS2 consoles we find today are refurbished or distributed through second-hand channels. Only in Japan did it hold out to the end, the country where Sony offered official repairs. Yes, the word is 'offered'.
PlayStation 2: Saying goodbye to one of the best
In late June, Sony Japan had informed its customers that post-sales support requests for PlayStation 2 would only be accepted until August 31, while September 7 is the deadline to bring their consoles to the PlayStation Clinic. Even if they meet these conditions, customers are not guaranteed a repair due to the shortage of available parts (by far, the most common failure points are the optical drive and the controllers). Of course, that doesn't mean repairing a PlayStation 2 becomes impossible. For years there have been generic components and direct alternatives that help us keep our consoles running, but if someone in Japan was hoping for a Sony-approved repair, they'll be disappointed starting next Friday.
The adventure of the PlayStation 2 as an official product has come to an end. I imagine there are still sealed new old stock units in some lost warehouse, and honestly I hope enthusiasts manage to find them soon, but I can't help feeling a little sad. At the same time, Sony's attitude of offering repairs 18 years after launch is commendable and worthy of imitation by other companies. If you never had the chance to buy one, don't worry: emulators are always an option, and many of its games are available on other platforms. Speaking of games, how about remembering some of them? It would be madness to talk about "the best," but what we can do is explore the most popular ones:
GTA: San Andreas
With more than 12 million copies sold, GTA: San Andreas is the best-selling game in PlayStation 2 history. The graphics (for the time), the color, the violence, and a high degree of controversy made it irresistible, to such an extent that fans are still demanding a remaster with updated graphics.
Gran Turismo 4
If there's one saga that "grew up" with the PlayStation family, it's undoubtedly Gran Turismo, and not a few believe that Gran Turismo 4 (the last one to support the PS2) is the best of all. Only five titles are known to be capable of displaying 1080i graphics on the PlayStation 2, and one of them is Gran Turismo 4, revealing its technical quality.
Kingdom Hearts
The Kingdom Hearts saga proved that when done carefully, crossovers can produce incredible results. The world eagerly awaits the third installment (scheduled for release in January 2019), but if you want to know how it all began, you should play the first two titles on a PlayStation 2.
God of War
What can we say about God of War at this point? Everything seems to indicate that Kratos's latest adventure on the PS4 will become game of the year (five million copies sold in a month), yet the desire to explore its origins leads us back to the first two games on the PlayStation 2. If you have a PS3, you can always get a copy of God of War Saga, with the remastered versions.
Metal Gear Solid
The Metal Gear story is one of the most complex in the world of video games, combining sequels and prequels in an order that challenges us at every turn. Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater represent two critical points in the saga, and nothing is better than visiting them on the PlayStation 2. Don't forget that backward compatibility with the PS1 is there, so you can also play the original Metal Gear Solid.
Shadow of the Colossus
A game that inevitably appears on every list dedicated to the PlayStation 2. A mysterious plot, a magical world, 16 massive beings we must defeat... in short, Shadow of the Colossus is one of the best titles available on the console. Alternatives? You could play the PS4 remake with high-definition graphics, but if you have access to a PS2, don't hesitate.
No, the Final Fantasy games are not on the list. Neither are the Silent Hill games. Imagine when I would finish if I tried to name every saga and game worth playing on the PlayStation 2. I can't do it alone, and that's why the rest will depend on you. Leave a comment with those PS2 games that shouldn't be missing from any library. The console will no longer be with us, but its magic... is forever.
