PlayStation 2

An original PlayStation 2 & its slim model

The PlayStation 2, officially abbreviated PS2, was a family of sixth-generation DVD-ROM-based video game consoles manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment between 2000 and 2013.

Background

As the follow-up console to the original PlayStation, the PlayStation 2 boasted vastly improved technical specifications over the previous model, including an advanced processor dubbed the "Emotion Engine". Combined with its native support for DVD-ROM-based games, the PS2 offered a number of cinema-quality games at sharper resolutions than were previously possible. The onboard input/output (I/O) controller, however, was the same CPU as was used in the PSX, which meant that the entire PSX library as well as its accessories were compatible with the the PS2; only a few games had noticeable issues.

At a time when most DVD-Video players were selling for US$200 or more, the PlayStation 2 also represented a better value for the majority of consumers looking to purchase a player, leading to the system's rapid adoption worldwide. It became Sony's best-selling console after besting its predecessor by three years and nine months. In all, more than 150 million PlayStation 2s had been sold before production was discontinued in early 2013.

Since its Year 2000 debut, the PlayStation 2 had as many as five different hardware revisions, each with distinct modifications and improvements over previous models within the family. The first models in the SCPH-10000 series were only issued in Japan, and did not have native DVD-Video playback support. The next two series, 30000 and 50000, incorporated DVD video support in firmware. They were also the first in the PlayStation family to support online connectivity via accessories, allowing users to participate in massively multiplayer games such as Final Fantasy XI, and even to use as a basic computer via a unique Linux hardware kit. The last two series, the 70000 and 90000, were slimline units; and while they still had basic networking, they dropped support for storage expansion required by some online games.

As with the original PlayStation, only one game in the Mana series was released. Dawn of Mana shipped in 2006. Legend of Mana is compatible with the system.

Mana titles on PlayStation 2

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  Dawn of Mana