What Console would you recommend?

[Jabba]

My brother is looking to buy a console game. He is the type that does not like to be on the bleeding edge of technology, so the new 360 is out. He wants to get something that is new, has lots of good games, and where a lot of good titles exists. He likes  the NHL hockey type of games, and games that you play head to head on.

He's thinking of a PS2. I have a PS2 but it broke (I'm thinking to see if I can fix it by realigning the laser).

Do you think the PS2 would be a good choice? Is it subject to breaking like mine did (now in defence, my younger children were playing it. Who know what they did to it, probably fell!!!)

Thanks in Advance!

[pointdablame]

This could easily turn into an all out war on whether PS2 or Xbox is better.

If he really wants to get a nice system with great games on a budget, tell him to get a Dreamcast.  The games still look great, there are awesome arcade ports, and he can have an all out system including a game library for under $100.

As for the PS2, it is (at least some models) a bit prone to laser problems.  They sometimes get a Dirty Disc error and will stop reading certain types of media.  At the same time though, the Xbox can have Dirty Disc errors as well... its a fault of the dvd laser, not really the system.  I'd say statistically (at least from what I've read), the PS2 is more prone to problems, but you're only going to have one system.. not a million of them to do statistical analyses on

IMO, the PS2 has a much better game library, but the Xbox has better graphics (as a general rule).  The Xbox is also a LOT more useful if you mod it compared to a PS2.

Ask him what exact games he wants to play, or types of games, and base the decision on that.  If he wants to play a lot of PS2 exclusives.... well.. get a PS2.  If he wants Xbox exclusives... get an Xbox.  They are both excellent systems.

[ChadTower]

Tell him to buy a Genesis.

Best sports games and they're cheap as hell.

[JONTHEBOMB]

I say flip a coin between the Xbox and PS2.  Both have great games and both are great consoles.

For the PS2 that you have, just try cleaning the laser. I had a friend that was having trouble with his PS2.  He took it apart, basically dusted the laser off, put it back together again and it worked just fine.

Here are two links that talk about each console briefly.

http://hardware.gamespot.com/Sony-PlayStation-2-Slimline-13232-O-4-4

http://hardware.gamespot.com/Microsoft-Xbox-9399-O-4-4

[versapak]

The PS2 has a MUCH larger library of games, though I have preferred my Xbox and its library more.

Primarily due to the fact that I do about 90% of my gaming online these days though, and the Xbox is by far the best console for such things.

Also, the Xbox has a considerably better mod scene. There are tons of high quality emulators, including Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Genesis, MAME and much more. It also functions excellently as a media center, storing or streaming all kinds of media formats of pics and movies.

[TurboC--]

I have a PS2 but it broke (I'm thinking to see if I can fix it by realigning the laser).

My niece's PS2 broke in a similar fashion and I spent a bunch of time trying to fix it, going to PS2 forums and doing all of the laser aligning things.  I was able to effect some change in it for short periods of time, but my advice is don't waste your time.  Try if you want but don't get your hopes up.  If it is an older model PS2 (they have had like 10 or 15 revisions or something) then likely it has succumbed to the slow failure of one of its critical laser/motor components, and isn't really worth fixing. 

[SirPoonga]

He likes  the NHL hockey type of games, and games that you play head to head on.

That's tough, a good NHL on a modern console system....
Frankly, NHL06 is the a great game.  Otherwise you have to go back to something like 93 to get something decent.

The best way to generalize the consoles:
PS2 and xbox are great with sports games.  However I give a little edge to ps3 because the controller layout is better for sports.  The plud for xbox with sport games is many upgraded the graphics.  The xbox controller isn't bad but I find the dual shoulder button layout is better for sports.
The cube is decent for sports but not graphically the same.  But it has the nintendo titles like super smash bros, mario party, etc that make great party games.
PS2 also has addicting titles like Katamari and guitar hero.  Xbox has better networking capabilities.

So, if he is more into the sport games and does't care about networking with other people go PS2.

Otherwise, if he could pick up a dreamcast I still think that is the 2nd best console ever made (1st being the NES).  I still play bomberman, nfl2k, nba2k, worms, gun games, soul caliber, rayman 2, MDK 2, Revolt, etc...

[nipsmg]

Xbox, hands down.

Especially if he's going for a non-bleeding edge system, the xbox can be EASILY modded (read: NO SOLDERING for many versions of it) and can be extended to play games from every classic console system, along with being a media center for music/movies, and even play MAME!.

Granted, I do like xbox over PS2, but especially if he enjoys older console systems there really is no question as to which system to buy.  And xbox w/ a modchip and a larger hard drive is definitely the answer, hands down.

[SNAAKE]

modded xbox > everything else combined.

[shmokes]

Xbox, hands down.

Especially if he's going for a non-bleeding edge system, the xbox can be EASILY modded (read: NO SOLDERING for many versions of it) and can be extended to play games from every classic console system, along with being a media center for music/movies, and even play MAME!.

Granted, I do like xbox over PS2, but especially if he enjoys older console systems there really is no question as to which system to buy.  And xbox w/ a modchip and a larger hard drive is definitely the answer, hands down.

I agree on Xbox purely on the stength of the mod-scene.  But I want to add something to nipsmg's post.  When he said, "NO SOLDERING for many versions of it," he meant:  NO SOLDERING for ALL versions of it.  There is a solderless solution for every single Xbox in existence.  In fact, the Xenium Spice is a single solution that is solderless for EVERY version.  The Executer 3 has two solderless solutions, one for the newest version of Xbox motherboard, and one for all the others.  I'm pretty sure that SmartXX also has all the bases covered in solderless.  Xenium is the only one, though, where you buy a single chip and it can be attached to any version of Xbox without solder.

So, yeah, I'd go with Xbox.  However, if modding is out of the question, PS2.  It has a larger library of great games.  More exlusive titles, etc.

[TurboC--]

Everyone here hates Gamecube?  GC has lots of Nintendo-brand titles that aren't on other systems.  I certainly like it.  I played an NHL game on it, and it seemed good (but I don't really play sports games.)  If all your brother cares about is sports games, then I'm sure PS2 is a better choice, but I wouldn't give up my GC.  (I had originally planned to get PS2 as well but decided there was no point.)

[shmokes]

I love my Gamecube.  But I hardly ever turn it on.  I'm totally a Nintendo fanboy.  Revolution is the only system I plan to own on launch-day.  It's just not the best system of the three.  Or the second best.  Nintendo's first party titles are too few and far between.  Come to think of it, so are all the third-party titles.  I think Nintendo is the greatest game developer in history, and I own a Gamecube cos I'm not willing to miss out on those titles.  But I can also just about count the Nintendo masterpieces for Gamecube on one hand.  It's not enough.

[Frosty]

Sega Genesis.  Why? NHL '94.

[clanggedin]

Get a Dreamcast. You don't even have to mod it to play emulators or burned games. If  everywhere you go is sold out of these, then get an Xbox. It is almost as cool as a Dreamcast once it is modded. Plan on spending an extra $60 for a mod chip and adapter, plus and additional $100 for a 250GB HD if you want to ad one of those too.

[Scott84]

XBOX 1.

Its like a streamlined Xbox 360... and you can mod the system with a harddrive.

[Jabba]

WOW Guys, thanks for all the GREAT advice. Now ya got me thinking of buying one just so's I can mod one. Solderless mods sound so cool.

[elvis]

modded xbox > everything else combined.

Not for me, when it can't play Mushihime Sama, Ikaruga, etc, etc.

But I guess, if all you care about is US titles, then it's a winner.  Give me a Japanese PS/2 any day.  The average title being made in the US (and consequently the only things available in all English-speaking countries) are getting more and more rehashed-tripe by the year.

[Grasshopper]

Definitely consider getting a Dreamcast even if you buy something else as well. They were years ahead of their time and now they're dirt cheap.

I've yet to see anything either in the arcades or on another console that looks as good as Soul Calibur running on a VGA monitor.

[versapak]

Definitely consider getting a Dreamcast even if you buy something else as well. They were years ahead of their time and now they're dirt cheap.

I've yet to see anything either in the arcades or on another console that looks as good as Soul Calibur running on a VGA monitor.

Sould Calibur II running on HDTV.

[Otraotaku]

Everyone here hates Gamecube?  GC has lots of Nintendo-brand titles that aren't on other systems.  I certainly like it.  I played an NHL game on it, and it seemed good (but I don't really play sports games.)  If all your brother cares about is sports games, then I'm sure PS2 is a better choice, but I wouldn't give up my GC.  (I had originally planned to get PS2 as well but decided there was no point.)

like metroid Prime 1-2, pretty much every 3-D Zelda in Existance , Animal Crossing ,smash bros melee, Star fox , RogueSquadron, the original metal gear solid, (nothing beats shadow moses)