Is PS2 a good &/or the best Shmuppers upgrade choice?

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:16 pm

Im thinking of buying a refurb'd PS2 from GameStop for $80. It comes with everything but a memory card.

I only have experience ( & very little of that ) with SNES, N64, DC & Saturn.

So, is there a great selection of Shmups available for PS1 & PS2?
Ill look for a Shmup list for these specific consoles myself but wanted to get the forums view on the number of, availability of, cost of & ratings of the PS2 Shmups compared to the Shmups from DC, SS & SNES.

The Doofus at GameStop got a goofy look on his face when I asked him about PS2 Shmups & he started pointing out war games & such.

Also, when they get them in they sell Game Cubes for $30. Whats the GC got Shmup-wise & is it worth getting if I have the others?

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:28 pm

doodude wrote:Im thinking of buying a refurb'd PS2 from GameStop for $80. It comes with everything but a memory card.
So, is there a great selection of Shmups available for PS1 & PS2?
Ill look for a Shmup list for these specific consoles myself but wanted to get the forums view on the number of, availability of, cost of & ratings of the PS2 Shmups compared to the Shmups from DC, SS & SNES.

Are you buying it strictly to play shmups? If so, go with a Japanese PS2. It gives you a huge library of PS2 and PS1 shmups to choose from, many of which never got released outside Japan. Yeah, there's also mod chips and boot-up discs, if you feel like going those routes.

The selection for US PS1/2 shmups is fair (and some, like Shiki 2 are at a serious bargain price).

doodude wrote: Also, when they get them in they sell Game Cubes for $30. Whats the GC got Shmup-wise & is it worth getting if I have the others?

Very little (for the US, Chaos Field and Ikaruga) and No.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:35 pm

if you have the opportunity, i'd go for a japanese region system. i got mine bundled with 5 games (2 of which are really worth playing, but i digress). guaranteed compatibility, no fuss, no muss. and between the ps1/ps2 libraries there are dozens upon dozens of great games to be had.

i was going to link you to Venom's sale page, he had a matt-modded us ps2, but alas it has sold (if it was you, thumbs up

).

Ozymandiaz1260 · Post by **Ozymandiaz1260** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:49 pm

If it's just an unmodded US system it's not really worth it. Lot's of good PS2 games out in America, just not many good shooters. However, there are a lot of great Japanese PS2 shmups, and it's definitely worth a purchase. You could get a flip-top, but it won't let you play PS1 games. You could also get a mod chip, but it really isn't worth the money and hassle unless you want to pirate stuff.

Gamecube is a good system, but not for shmups. Ikaruga is pretty much it in America.

Mitsuho · Post by **Mitsuho** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:12 pm

Eh? Ikaruga PS2? Don't look at me but I've never seen Ikaruga for my PS2...(Edit: opps, sworry I see your GC note.)

Castle Shikigami 2, R-Type Final, Gradius III and IV, Gradius V, Heavenly Guardian.
Rez brought over from Dreamcast too but it never interested me...
That's about it though for English, US Region games.

Personally, for the money the #1 upgrader's choice is your PC right now. There are lots of good games for the windows that might not need a console's worth of GFX card upgrades. With web fulfillment a CC that support currency conversion is enough.

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:20 pm

radirgy precious
chaos field
shikigami no shiro 2
r type final
gradius 3 and 4 bundle
gradius 5
homura
ibara
do donpachi dai ou jou
mushihimesama
XII stag
raiden 3
psikyo shooting collections
strikers 1945 1 and 2
shienryu explosion

just the titles i can think of of the top of my head.....and if you have anybody who can mod your shit for you it is worth it.....you can just use backups and keep your originals in good condition.....

and if you are talking old fat ps2's you can always just soft mod em to run off an HDD and then you dont need to worry about region protection....although this method wont run PS1 games

but ya....well worth geeting just for the titles i listed

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:27 pm

If the GameCube comes with an official Nintendo controller, might be worth it just for that. People want them for their Wiis but they are not carried in retail stores anymore. I think they are available on Nintendo's online store though.

As for your original question about whether PS2 is a good choice, my answer is yes. Get a Swap Magic set while you are at it.

And never talk to game store employees about shooters unless you really want to feel like jumping in front of a speeding cement mixer afterwards.

Ozymandiaz1260 · Post by **Ozymandiaz1260** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:30 pm

Mitsuho wrote:Eh? Ikaruga PS2? Don't look at me but I've never seen Ikaruga for my PS2...

I was talking about the Gamecube.

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:36 pm

I have an import PS2...with its PS1 backwards compatibility, it has oodles of shmup titles available to it...it would definitely be to your advantage to get the import, but U.S. still will give you access to a few good ones, but you won't be able to play key titles like Zanac X Zanac (unless you mod...I hate modded PS2's).

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:15 pm

iatneH wrote:And never talk to game store employees about shooters unless you really want to feel like jumping in front of a speeding cement mixer afterwards.

sometimes you get lucky, let's ballpark it at 3%.

Ozymandiaz1260 · Post by **Ozymandiaz1260** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:15 pm

ROBOTRON wrote:I hate modded PS2's

May I ask why?

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:02 pm

As others have said, if you want to shmup on the PS2 it's got a great library (even without the PS1 stuff), but make sure the system is able to play imports, as most of the games never made it to the USA (some more of them did make it to Europe, but that probably doesn't help you much). I have a JPS2 myself and have no regrets about getting it, but can't speak from experience when it comes to modded systems.

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:11 pm

don't waste your money!

if you really love shmups, you need to bag yourself an atari jaguar (moderately priced, and available in all good branches of rumbelows). and don't settle for second-best, hook it up with the finest quality coax cable. to get the most out of the graphics (if you have the budget) invest in a colour television no less than 14".

yeah, get an import-friendly ps2

this post was brought to you in association with drugs

Square King · Post by **Square King** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:55 pm

jpj wrote:don't waste your money!

if you really love shmups, you need to bag yourself an atari jaguar (moderately priced, and available in all good branches of rumbelows). and don't settle for second-best, hook it up with the finest quality coax cable. to get the most out of the graphics (if you have the budget) invest in a colour television no less than 14".

yeah, get an import-friendly ps2

this post was brought to you in association with drugs

#1 candidate for Post of the Year 2008.

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:37 am

Ozymandiaz1260 wrote:
ROBOTRON wrote:I hate modded PS2's
May I ask why?

My friend modded his fat PS2 by monkeying around with the CD drawer with a paper clip and using a swap disc...this eventually ruined his PS2...since before the release of the PS3, he has been through 3 PS2 systems.

I never relished the thought of a modded PS2 ever since.

I bought an import PS2 prior to its release in the U.S. and it still works and has never failed me (Although recently it takes longer to load).

orange · Post by **orange** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:37 am

so your friend is a genius who thought it'd be a cool idea to force his disc tray open and didn't think it would harm his console

Rob79 · Post by **Rob79** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 5:37 am

PS2 is a great choice ! I just got it Fat PS2 modded !!
I had a guy locally install a Matrix Infinity chip for me ! This allows to play everything PS1, PS2 including PAL and NTSC-J games !!!
I'll only be playing originals, not backups/burned games.
This will save the laser.

Now Im gonna be buying all sorts of shooters.

So far I have:

- The Raiden Project (Long Box U.S Version)
- Strikers 1945 (US version) (supposedly its Strikers 1945 II)
- Strikers 1945 (Japan Version) on the way
- Raiden DX (Japan Version)
- Raiden III (U.S Version)

PS: Matrix Infinity chips are one of the best out there ! Always use original games.
Never run backup/copied games since this will reduce the life of the laster.

gojira · Post by **gojira** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 6:11 am

I'll only be playing originals, not backups/burned games.
This will save the laser.

facepalm.jpg

This is bullshit. backups and burned CDs do NOT damage or stress the laser or any part of the PS2 disc drive in any way! Please don't listen to this guy.

I recommend buying a PS2 with a modchip, Matrix Infinity is a good one. This way you can play all games of all regions, and you can also enjoy other things like the PS2 Reality Mediaplayer which is really great. Also, you can use an emulator to play Neo Geo CD games.

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:48 am

gojira wrote: I recommend buying a PS2 with a modchip, Matrix Infinity is a good one. This way you can play all games of all regions, and you can also enjoy other things like the PS2 Reality Mediaplayer which is really great. Also, you can use an emulator to play Neo Geo CD games.

I looked around & found a site selling Matrix Chips but shipping to the USA is illegal (?) I guess.
If I do this is there anyone willing to accept shipment & then reship to me. Preferably from Canada.

Those with JPS2's, do you agree this is as good an option as purchasing a JPS2?
It seems the cheaper way to go anyway...

Mortificator · Post by **Mortificator** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 1:55 pm

Maybe they don't ship to the U.S. because of that mod chip crackdown last year.

It depends on whether you'll be playing games other than shooters. The PS1 & 2 have a huge, huge library of great games in other genres, and if you're interested in those as well (and speak English) you should get a U.S. console. But if you only want shooters, you might as well get a Japanese system.

I'm slightly amazed that anyone who plays video games has gone this long without touching a Sony system.

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:05 pm

gojira wrote:
I'll only be playing originals, not backups/burned games.
This will save the laser.
facepalm.jpg

This is bullshit. backups and burned CDs do NOT damage or stress the laser or any part of the PS2 disc drive in any way! Please don't listen to this guy.

I recommend buying a PS2 with a modchip, Matrix Infinity is a good one. This way you can play all games of all regions, and you can also enjoy other things like the PS2 Reality Mediaplayer which is really great. Also, you can use an emulator to play Neo Geo CD games.

qft

whether using backups or original discs, the wear and tear on the laser is the same....the only way to avoid this is to run it of an HDD....which by passes the need of the laser.....

and you can transfer your original games onto the HDD and run em that way.....cuts load time to nothing and saves your laser....which are notoriously bad on fat ps2's....

if you are interested Rob. just drop me a PM....all i would have to do is meet ya and hand you a disc...the all you would need is an IDE HDD (any size) and a ps2 network adapter to connect it to the console....very simple...

but ya if the guy who modded it said backups kill your laser he was dumb....

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:21 pm

My advice: buy a used Jap PS2. You should be able to find one pretty cheap, unless you're looking for mint/new. I don't know what the going rate is, exactly, but look for one already here in the States to save on postage. I've gotten two this way and I'm super happy with them.

Ruldra · Post by **Ruldra** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:48 pm

On an unrelated note, what's the life expectancy of a PS2? I've had mine for over 2 years and I'm wondering how long it'll last...

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:08 pm

Ruldra wrote:On an unrelated note, what's the life expectancy of a PS2? I've had mine for over 2 years and I'm wondering how long it'll last...

It seems to vary greatly, at least from experiences I've become aware of...some people have had theirs die rather quickly, while others still have launch models which work as well as they ever did. I don't know how much difference the model type makes in terms of longevity, but offhand I'd figure that how the system is treated is more important.

ilike2game · Post by **ilike2game** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:32 pm

pretty much everyone has been giving you good advice, so I will try to throw in my two cents as well, as for getting a used/refurb ps2 from Gamestop, DON'T. I used to work there and I have seen many come back and have seen the condition of the ones we used to get it. Get a new one for 20 bucks more, slimmer version, and it should last you a long time. Second, if you can't get a Japanese PS2, which is the only way to go for SHMUPS, get yours modified to play imports, got mine done for 65 bucks and can now play my Namco X Capcom and much more and since SHMUPS aren't heavy on dialog, you will be ok. The list of games that someone listed here, forgot who, for the ps2 is an awesome start and list and worth checking out. As for the Gamecube, I know some people said no, but for 70-80 bucks you will have a Gamecube and Ikaruga and Chaos Field as well as now being able to play some none shmup gems, so if you have the EXTRA funds I say go for it but if you are running tight, save your money because the Japanese SHMUPS for PS2 are pricey. Hope this helps in your decision.

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:03 pm

i still disagree abou the backups wearing the laser more.....but whateva....

and if you wanna run hdloader with the independence exploit you can use any version of hd loader....you just need the elf files from that version.....i use 0.8b on mine.....mind you i have a matrix chip as well.....but ive done several ps2's with the exploit and use HD Loader 0.8b with no problems.....

the independence files come with the elf file for the original hdloader.....just get whatever newer version you want.....i suggest 0.8b.....and open the iso file and copy out the elf file....then just rename it to HDLOADER....and when you are configuring the exploit files to transfer to your memory card, just use that one instead of the one it comes with....works like a dream....only shit thing is you cant run ps1 games off an HDD....but other than it works flawlessly

and just to clarify.....even if you are modded, if you use the independence exploit it still needs a working laser....cuz the exploit is triggered by a retail ps1 game....when it goes to load it, it triggers the exploit....if the laser isnt working it will not be able to read the ps1 disc and will be unable to trigger the exploit

Shion · Post by **Shion** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:56 pm

Just get a harddrive in your PS2. Yeah, you need a network adapter and a HDD for it, but it's awesome. With a freeloader disc you can play region free games (and copies for that matter) off your HDD, and you actually do save the laser since it will only read on bootup. After that it reads directly off the harddrive, keeping your laser happy.

Ruldra · Post by **Ruldra** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:59 pm

Goongrave wrote:When you play burned Cd/Dvds on your modded ps2 you are in fact going to wear the laser faster than playing original Cd/Dvds.

I have a close friend of mine who bought a PS2 around the same time I did, and he exclusively use burned DVDs.

He does in fact use a good burner and high quality DVDs, but after 2 years of almost everyday use, he should've had problems already if they really damaged the lens/laser.

Ozymandiaz1260 · Post by **Ozymandiaz1260** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:36 pm

Ruldra wrote:
Goongrave wrote:When you play burned Cd/Dvds on your modded ps2 you are in fact going to wear the laser faster than playing original Cd/Dvds.
I have a close friend of mine who bought a PS2 around the same time I did, and he exclusively use burned DVDs.

He does in fact use a good burner and high quality DVDs, but after 2 years of almost everyday use, he should've had problems already if they really damaged the lens/laser.

I've been doing it for more like four years using good quality dvds and shitty ones too. I haven't had any problems so far...

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:42 pm

I dont see where the bargain is on a Jap model thats 2X the price of a US model & even with a mod chip of $50 a Jap PS2 is still far more $'s than the US & limited to only Jap games.

Is a JAP PS2 still worth 2X the price ( nearly ) of a properly modded US PS2? Why?

shmups.system11.org

Is PS2 a good &/or the best Shmuppers upgrade choice?

Is PS2 a good &/or the best Shmuppers upgrade choice?

Re: Is PS2 a good &/or the best Shmuppers upgrade choice