Dodgy PS2 Gfx?

[buzz909]

Got a PS2 this last week. First impressions - reminds me a bit of the Spectrum - loads of games (including some great ones) available, but dodgy hardware design. I don't get why the graphics quality is so poor. Most games are blurred with indistinct textures and no proper anti-aliasing (jagged edges). Its really bugging me because as I just said there are some top games. I've been playing a fair bit of Dreamcast, and you'd expect the PS2 to have a lot better looking games, but in some ways the games look worse. The PS2 games may have more polygons but the overall quality is lower.
Anyway my favourite games so far are DMC3, Ico and Vice city. Ico is the best looking game so far - I've tried. I have to admit I am a graphics whore (I rate it almost as important as gameplay), but the soundtrack on Vice City is amazing and really adds to the game!
While I'm here - Can anyone help me with this? I also have God of War 2 and Gran Turismo 4, both of which I am desperate to play- but they won't load - nothing happens when I insert them in the drive - I just get the usual start up menu. Both discs look immaculate. Is this a problem with my PS2? its a second hand older style model (big one).
Thanks people.

[Ouenben]

Resi 4 and final fantasy XII are supposed to push the console to its lmiits.

I was never impressed by PS2 being spoilt by Xbox and gamecube. i dont know

[dvdmike]

Shame Resi 4 looked better on the cube but more than anything sounds better, as to the PS2 sounds if the laser is knackered

[Jei]

Either its a knackered laser or it's modded with a old-school modchip that doesn't support DVD9 based games....as both GT4 and GOW2 are DVD9 (Duel Layer)

[buzz909]

Yes I remembered that GT4 was a dual layer DVD. I've just tried both games on a slimline PS2, and they work fine. GT4 has amazing gfx!, but then I got the impression they spent ages and ages working on the engine (other developers don't have the money or luxury - PS2 is a awkward beast) God of war also has great Gfx,but the frame rate is a bit variable. I think with the PS2 that you have to spend a lot of time and effort to produce decent looking graphics (it is hard to do anti-aliasing and detailed textures beacuse of low Visual memory). Unlike the Xbox for example which is basically a PC, and makes it very easy to produce decent GFX, theoretically allowing developers to concentrate more on the gameplay.
What other dual layer games are on PS2? could anyone tell me if Burnout 3 on the Xbox has a replay option on race mode. I am enjoying the PS2 version but i would kill for a replay mode, I'd love to sit back after a hard fought race and watch the mayhem!
Thanks - Buzz

[JazzFunk]

OutRun 2:Coast to Coast looks amazing on PS2, as does Rygar.

[EvilBoris]

could anyone tell me if Burnout 3 on the Xbox has a replay option on race mode. I am enjoying the PS2 version but i would kill for a replay mode, I'd love to sit back after a hard fought race and watch the mayhem!
Thanks - Buzz

I don't think so, they versions were pretty much identical (they were made at the same time unlike Burnout 2)

[RagingAvatar]

Btw Shadow of the Colossus is a great looking game, Killzone had some awesome looking moments (not the whole game mind.. it had MOMENTS).. Black, Burnout Revenge, Metal Gear Solid 3.. oh and Transformers (not the movie game) were all great graphically.

[Sylar]

Even although the games don't look too good now, there's still excellent titles to be had on the system. The PS2 was easily my console of choice last gen.

I could easily name over 50 must haves for the system i.e. JPN/US/PAL releases.

The NGC and Xbox couldn't touch the system for the range of variety of genres one could get on the system.