Sony PlayStation 2 New Edition > Reviews (1)

Compared to the original Playstation 2, this is absolutely tiny, with barely enough space on the front face to house the two sets of controller and USB ports. Much of the downsize is down to Sony moving the power-supply to a laptop-esque external unit. Another compromise is the top-loading disc drive. While this removes the risk of a failing tray, it does mean that the small form factor can be deceiving.

Unlike the Xbox or the Gamecube, the PS2 slim still requires a Multitap to use more than two controllers, and to add salt to the wound, the old Multitap is one of the few accessories that has trouble working with the new console.

The new PS2 has a built in network/modem port, but the downside is that the reduced size removes the ability to add a hard drive.

Apart from the network features and reduced form factor, the new PS2 is similar to its predecessor in almost every way (owned both). It still plays DVDs and audio CDs (I have not been able to play an SA-CD, and I can't find anywhere that says the PS2 can).

Is it worth upgrading to the new console? For owners of the First-Gen PS2: definitely not. Adding a network adaptor will suffice. For those looking for a way to enter the Sony brand, at a reasonable cost? I definitely think so. The Xbox does have more graphics grunt, but if Sony was to reduce the price, say to maybe 80pounds with a few included accessories or even 60pounds for the base product, this would be a real steal.

(Edit) Ideally, I would prefer the slim version, for its ability to play online out of the box. I already have an external USB hard drive, and if my PS2 was modded, I could easily connect the hard drive. I agree that a 4-star verdict seems a little high for my review. With plethora of games available, which, when combined with small form factor and removal of the disc scratching risk; makes it harsh to justify a 3-star verdict. (Thanks to exup35 for helping with the edit)