By far the most frequent question I get here at GamerDad is:
“What console should I buy for my kids?”

Should You Buy a PlayStation 2?

Sadly, there’s no easy answer and that’s why one-by-one I’m going to be laying out the pros/cons, value, future, advantages and drawbacks for each of the 10 platforms we cover. Yes, 10. There are 10 gaming platforms. Omitted (because we cover 10 platforms) are platforms like the Leapster, Leap Pad, V-Smile, Cel Phone games, and other similar platforms not covered by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB). Over the course of the next couple weeks we’ll cover the: Game Boy Advance, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Dual Screen, Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation Portable, and the Computer (whew!).

Let’s talk about the PlayStation 2 (PS2).

Parental Controls? Yes! For games only.

Overview & Features:
The PlayStation 2 is still the 800lb gorilla of gaming. No other television-based system has as many games available, for such a wide variety of players, and at budget prices. PlayStation 2 is where most of the licensed games for kids ended up and it gave birth to popular franchises and GamerDad recommend series like Dance Dance Revolution, Eye Toy, and more recently, Guitar Hero. It plays movie DVDs and CDs fairly well (beware, used models sometimes have bad disc drives) and is available pretty cheap Used. It can go on the Internet for gaming, but it’s hard to find opponents unless the game is super-popular and very new.

Other Models?:
The original PS2 is a large black rectangle and it works equally well laying flat or on its side. It’s no longer sold new, but you can get one pretty cheap Used.

The Slimline PS2 is much sleeker and cooler looking and isn’t nearly as prone to breaking down as the original model. This is the one to get. (Just be warned that some peripherals (notably the “multi-tap” and hard-drive) don’t work with the Slimline.
 

Drawbacks:
The graphics aren’t as good as the other TV-based systems, there’s no unified multiplayer, and the unit only supports 2-player out of the box. You can buy an accessory that allows four-player gaming but games that support this feature are rare. Also, the original model has rampant disc drive problems. They aren’t making it any more, but be careful if you’re buying a Used model.

Kid Factor:
The PlayStation 2 is still the best overall value in family gaming. The only real drawback is that it only supports two controllers out of the box, but 4-player gaming is still pretty rare anyway. It has the widest range of titles available, and it even plays regular PlayStation games. So building a family-friendly library won’t break your budget. It can go online for Internet gaming, it plays DVDs and CDs. There are far more licensed kids games for PlayStation 2 than any other console. And you’ll find terrific games for any age group.
 

Value & Verdict:
The PlayStation 2 is one of the cheapest consoles you can buy, and it gets even more attractive when you price it Used. It’s got the largest library of games available and many of those games can be found in bargain bins or Used. There’s an estimated 1oo million PlayStation 2 owners out there (worldwide), so you better believe that new games are coming (despite the new PlayStation 3). Because of this, unlike the rival Xbox and GameCube, the PlayStation 2 is not outdated or outmoded yet. If you don’t have videogames in your life and you’re looking to get in on a budget, this is still the console you want.

Tags: GamerDad 101