May 14, 2001 10:34 AM
4710 Views
I bought my PS2 almost a year before they hit the stores. Already a fan of the original PlayStation, I read a review of the souped up gaming machine in a popular magazine. The release date was written in bold, red letters on my calender, and days and weeks were marked off faithfully as I anxiously waited, occasionally tantalized by press releases about ultra 3D graphics, and missile launcher capabilities. (Ground to air, you blasted level 3 golem…take that!) I began to convert my video collection to DVD. I stockpiled them. I was going to experience the “complete home entertainment system” that Sony touted in print ads reminiscent of a Tron promo. I dusted and rearranged my television cabinet, leaving a place of prominence free for my new prize. Finally, October rolled around, and the big release was at hand.
The night before, I went to bed two hours early, so I wouldn’t be so cranky when I got up at 4:00 a.m. to wait outside the door of the store where I had ordered my system. I was not the first one there! At 7:00 a.m. the store employees showed up to meet the delivery truck and set up the store. The store didn’t open until 9:00 a.m., but the manager was apparently preparing for a full frontal assault. He marched out of his establishment and began handing out numbers to those of us that were already there, and informing us that there were not enough game systems for everyone that had pre-ordered, so it would be a first come, first serve operation. Strangely enough, this did not faze the crowd. There was an unexpected air of comraderie, almost like the final hours before planned combat.
People chatted and drank coffee in a friendly, albeit excited, fashion, and the word ‘stranger’ was never uttered. Some were there for their children, some for their grandchildren, and some were there for themselves, but everyone seemed to be enjoying the experience. Finally, though, the socializing was over and it was time to get down to business. I was the third in line to receive my game system, and when the clerk handed me the shiny box, I heard the celestial chorus “Hallelujah”, and felt a heady power from my fingertips (touching the box) to the top of my head. “Take me home—now,” I commanded my husband.
The PS2 more than lived up to my expectations. The graphics were great! The DVD quality was superb! I only had one small complaint: Where were all the great new games that would show off the PS2’s capabilities to perfection? The original PS2 game selection was pretty slim, unless you were into sports games. Being a role play fan myself (Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy, etc.), I was a bit disappointed. Not for long, however. PS2 allows you to play games for the original PlayStation platform, too, and with new titles in that category coming out daily, I found things to keep me busy. Now they are finally releasing some exciting new titles for the PS2 itself, and the world is right again. I know this because “The Bouncer” said so.
