I\'m very close to buying a PS2, I just need to know...

What are the must haves right now.  Say I went and got one this week.  What game(s) should I get?

Sim Coaster looks very fun.  Is it like Theme Park?  Off Road Fury would be a definite.  I have Rayman 2 on DC, is there anything to set it apart besides better lighting?

What else is there.  Is Dark Cloud out yet?

I also wanted to know about the DVD playback.  Are there some movies it can\'t play? Choppiness, frame loss? My brother has an RCA dvd player,  I have to ask him permission to watch the movies I buy.  I\'m tired of it.  

Well, it depends on what you like.
Dynasty Warriors 2 is usually a fun game for every kind of player.
Timesplitters is amazingly fun.
Summoner is Much better than most people say.
Just get past the first hour and you wont be able to stop.
Those are my three favorites at the moment.
Oh yeah, and Starfighter comes out in like 10 days.
So that will most likely be a must have.

The Dvd playback for me so far has been excellent.
I have no complaints what so ever.
I would say it has the same quality as about a 200-250 dollar DVD player.

SSX is great as is TTT (although I\'m personally a DOA2 fan myself) as is Madden2k1 (I prefer NFL2K1 to that though) and finally Sky Oddysey, a flight sim that gets little to no recognition amongst the majority of PS2 owners, yet it is proclaimed by most sites to be one of the best flight sims of all time.  Come March, there will be Dark Cloud, ZOE w\\ MGS2 demo, Onimusha, and the Bouncer.  Seems like a worthy purchase especially since you can enjoy any PSX games that you want on it.

As for DVD playback, it\'s great.  It seems quiet at first, but you have to tweak the options just right if you are not using the optical out on the damn thing (reply to this thread and I\'ll throw you a small tutorial after you get your system).  The blacks are solid, there\'s no picture degredation.  It\'s easily as good as any $199 player on the market.  Good luck in getting one though (finding one that is, they are still in pretty high demand even after the Holiday rush).  Anyways, hope that helped.

I\'m not interested in Dynasty Warriors.

Timesplitters looks like fun. I\'ll have to rent it first cause not all FPS interest me.  Are there any platform games besides Rayman.  Oh wait, when is Klonoa 2 coming out?!?

Klonoa is a a couple of months away, it hasn\'t been released in japan yet

Dark Cloud has yet to be announced for the US

SSX is a must get, and Rayman 2 is alot of fun

March is loased

DVD playback has been flawless fo rme but I\'ve only played a few DVD\'s

Dark CLoud and ZOE in march?  I\'ll probably wait until then.  I\'ll start saving up now.  Perhaps PS2 will be more widely available by then.  

Thanx for the replies.  I\'ll definitely get one soon.  

Just one last question for ya,  When does FFX come out in the states?  Or any other high quality RPG?

FFX in US is coming out at the end of the year.  I\'m guessing it won\'t be here till either December or October.  November is a no go for FFX because a certain other blockbuster game by Mr. Kojima will be coming out that month

RENT timesplitters first!
The game (IMHO) blows!
The controls are terrible, and the game just makes you dizzy. There are many post on the bad controls in this game just look them up.
And Theme Park R.C. is just a new version of the old game for the ps. I loved the game for p.s. But I could not get into this game. Rent that one too.
As for must have:

- MADDEN 01 ! The best launch game out.
- Smugglers run is pretty cool
- SSX is pretty cool
- wild wild racing is ok
- DOA2 is Awsome!
- DW2 is good
- Avoid NHL 01 -too much slowdown
- Avoid Fifa 01 - same as above
- R.C. Racer SUCKS!
Thats about it

G.

well for me it is about what games you prefer...

i prefer fighting games/sport games/ and rpgs

so i recommend TTT,DOA2/Madden2001,SSX/there are no rpgs i want and i think dark cloud was pushed back till june - thats what an employee said at my Babbages

you know you could just wait and see what the big games are like , but then again if you will feal that way , you could always be waithing for the next big game to be release , before buying a PS2.

if you want my advice you should not rush buying one, becasue if you do rush buying one you might end up disaponted ( also try and buy your PS2 from a store that bundles games with it, in the UK you can buy a PS2 with 4 games for £400 in Dixons).

in other words shop around and see if you can find the best deal with the games you want, and not  the games they want you to have !