Sony PlayStation 2 fixing frenzy

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Accessing the Article

  • Original site was down (“hug of death”), so people shared multiple archive links (Wayback, archive.is).

Repairing PS2s and Devkits

  • For PS2 devkits, retail-style TEST units (DTL-H) can mostly follow standard PS2 teardown guides.
  • TOOL units (DTL-T10000/T15000) are more specialized; a detailed disassembly/maintenance guide was linked on archive.org.
  • The article’s refurb project apparently couldn’t even recoup parts and time at ~$150/unit, despite HDD mods.

Reliability: Consoles and Controllers

  • Mixed PS2 reliability reports: some fats/slims still work flawlessly; others had repeated optical drive or spindle failures, sometimes making PS2 their only dead console compared with still-working GameCube/Wii/Genesis.
  • DualShock 2 durability is debated: some report >10 years of use, others frequent failures, especially on thumbsticks; generic pads were seen as worse.
  • Newer hardware feels less robust to some: PS3 pads still fine vs multiple PS5 controllers with stick issues.
  • Sticky rubberized coatings on controllers/cases are a common age-related problem; people remove it with methanol or isopropyl alcohol. Some speculate it’s plasticizers/oils migrating, especially on items left in storage.

Analog Button, Pressure Buttons, and Adaptive Triggers

  • Several people asked what the PS2 “Analog” button does. Consensus:
    • It toggles the sticks between true analog and digital/D-pad emulation, mainly for PS1 backward compatibility.
  • Clarifications that this is separate from PS2/PS3 pressure‑sensitive face buttons (256–1024 levels), which a few racing and action games exploited.
  • Those analog face buttons caused some players to over-press and develop hand strain.
  • PS5 adaptive triggers are polarizing: some love the added tactility and buy games on PS5 for it; others report hand ache and reduce resistance in settings.

Controller Backward Compatibility and Lock-In

  • Debate over PS5 refusing PS4 pads for PS5 titles:
    • One side: justified because adaptive-trigger‑based mechanics wouldn’t translate well and would confuse players; Sony cert assumes DualSense.
    • Other side: it’s technically solvable via thresholds/remapping, and the restriction mainly encourages hardware sales and e‑waste.
  • Noted inconsistency: PS5 games streamed to PS4 do work with DualShock 4.
  • Comparisons with Xbox: newer Xbox consoles generally honor older controllers, but have their own BC gaps (e.g., Xbox 360 wired accessories).

Evolution of Dual-Stick Controls

  • Long subthread on when modern dual‑stick camera/aim controls became standard.
  • Early examples:
    • FPS: Alien Resurrection (PS1) and Turok (N64) had proto-modern dual-stick/d-pad + stick schemes that reviewers originally found awkward.
    • Third-person: Ico and other PS2 titles used the right stick for at least horizontal camera movement; debate over which game first offered fully “free” third-person camera rotation.
  • People contrast early “tank controls” (Tomb Raider, Mega Man Legends) with later movement-relative-to-camera and dual-stick FPS layouts.

Getting a Reliable PS2 Today vs Emulation

  • Suggestions for hardware:
    • Look for slim models; often considered more reliable.
    • Buy from tested/guarantee-oriented second-hand shops, game stores, or platforms like Etsy (for modded units).
    • Thrift/pawn shops can still be cheap if you can test or gamble.
    • Some recommend replacing the laser as routine maintenance or using HDD/SATA/SSD mods and running games from disk instead of the DVD drive.
  • Regional buying tips mentioned (Mercari + Buyee, EU stores), sometimes requiring reshippers.
  • Emulation (PCSX2) is widely recommended but not perfect:
    • Some games (Stuntman series, certain Ace Combat titles) are cited as still having physics or rendering issues that make original hardware preferable.

Video Output and Latency Issues

  • Hooking PS2 to modern HDMI TVs can introduce deinterlacing latency, making games feel laggy or nauseating.
  • Workarounds:
    • Component/RGB output plus upscalers like RetroTink or GBS-C for low-latency conversion (cost and import fees can exceed the console price).
    • For purists, a CRT is still ideal.

Storage Choices: HDD vs CF/SSD

  • Some question why the project used HDDs instead of CompactFlash/SSD:
    • CF is electrically IDE, but many cards present as “removable,” which may cause compatibility issues; industrial CF that behaves like fixed disks is expensive.
    • High-capacity CF historically suffered from stuttering and firmware quirks; some SSDs also boot too slowly for certain BIOSes.
    • HDDs remain cheaper per GB and “good enough” for console use, so likely chosen for cost and simplicity.

Miscellaneous Nostalgia and Details

  • Sticky PS2 controller coating is jokingly described as a “badge of honor” for 2000s gaming.
  • Some recall specific mod packs (like a “FHDB Noobie Package”) for HDD-based PS2 setups having tens of thousands of downloads, illustrating how big the PS2 modding scene became.