Sony Playstation 2 turns 10-years-old today

I still remember the media hype 10 years ago when Sony was getting ready to launch the system that would not only revolutionize home theaters (PS2 was, for many, the introduction of DVD technology into their homes) but also the way we experienced video games. I remember the much hyped story where word was going around that the technology in the system was the same as that found in nuclear weapons. Fabricated hype? Maybe, but that shit worked because it made me want an equivalent of a WMD under my television.

At this time, Nintendo was struggling to meet the needs of a grown-up generation of kids who no longer were on the same wavelength when they decided to stop catering to the segment and stuck to their guns with their cutesy mascots and simple gameplay. And then, someone else decided to get some action in the older demographic when Microsoft decided to enter the market with their XBox system. Each one had their strong point and exclusive first party AAA games but Microsoft was simply never able to get the market penetration Sony had (the system reportedly cost the compnay a $40 billion loss).

There are many games that I remember fondly playing on my PS2 like Grand Theft Auto III, Silent Hill 2, God Of War and Metal Gear Solid 2. But the one that stands out the most for me was towards the end of the system life and that was Shadow Of The Colossus. The argument of “Are video games art?” was instantly made null and void when the game from Team Ico dropped. To this day, very little games have moved me like that entry and I look forward to playing a game that does.

So here we are, 10 years later and with the PS3 about halfway through it’s proposed lifetime, who knows when we’ll get the PS4 or what next generation games will look like. Looking back and comparing the graphics are obviously vast improved but the key mechanics of gameplay, which ultimately makes a game and the experience, haven’t evolved too much. A bad thing, yes, but at least we have hope that the future will bring us some new experiences and hopefully we’ll be able to write glowingly about the current generation as we do about the past.

So what are some of your favorite games on the Sony Playstation 2? Which three titles would you take with you onto a deserted island? Let us know!