It's time I bit the bullet and buy a PSsomething

[G1Ravage]

I've been a Nintendo fanboy for my whole life, and am not really a fan of Sony's systems. But my love for Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy has finally driven me to take the plunge and purchase a Sony system. But I'm not sure which one to get.

The obviously cheaper method is to pick up a PS2, since they're relatively cheap and still easy find just about anywhere. They're backward compatible, so if I wanted to hit up eBay and pick up some old PS1 games, that'd be cool, right? I'm also pretty sure that the PS2 is not progressive scan compatible for HDTV's, but I've heard that it nonetheless has component cables available, just to make the picture look a little bit better. Is this true?

The more expensive option is to pick up a PS3, because I'll die if I don't play MGS4 when it comes out. Is the PS3 backward compatible as well? Will it play PS1 games? Should I buy it soon in case there's a holiday rush soon? Is it relatively easy to find because of how expensive it is?

I'll also hit up eBay...need to buy the original MGS, as well as MGS2 Substance, and the MGS 3 Subsistance Special Edition, if I can find it.

If you're curious why I have an MGS/FF obsession when I've never owned a Sony console, I got into them through my ex-girlfriend a few years back. I had always been curious about the MGS series through seeing it on the former GameSpot TV on TechTV, and reading reviews online. But I never played it until I found out my g/f had MGS2 for her PS2. I instantly became hooked, but I only played through the first small bit. MGS:TTS was released for the GCN a short while after, and I'd been drooling over it for months, because I'd finally get my first chance to play through a whole game, and it was a remake of the original to boot. Once I beat TTS, I went back to my g/f's place and beat MGS2. Loved every minute of both games.

Eventually, I went to eBay and purchased MGS for the PC, and MGS2 Substance for the PC. But sadly, after I upgraded my video card and system, both no longer work properly. So I'll need the originals for the console. I've never gotten a chance to play MGS3, and I'm looking forward to doing so very, very soon.

I'd appreciate any help you could give me. :crying:

[buttah]

The PS3 is backward compatible so you'll be able to play all the game you wanted , it'll have MSG4 and all the upcoming FF games and tons of other games in the future and if that's enough for you to buy the PS3 then I say do it. There's really no reason not to if it has what you want.

[Shawn Hopkins]

Wow, you didn't get to play Metal Gear Solid 3. That's the best one! At least my favorite (I cleared it with no kills and no alerts, I was like a ghost, man). Another drawback to being a console fanboy.

I can understand how you became a Metal Gear fan without owning a Sony system but not how you can still call yourself an FF fan. You missed VII, VIII, IX, X, X2 and XII, plus stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting.

I don't know what to tell you on what to buy. It depends on whether you have a 360. If those two games are worth the money to you, then you have to buy the PS3. If you just want to play all of the older ones right now and hope that at least Metal Gear IV gets an eventual 360 release, then buy a PS2.

[Charlie]

I'd personally stick with a PS2 for now. They're relatively cheap and theres quite a large selection of games that are absolute gems to play, and there are a few that support 480p.

[Frank Castle]

Get a PS2 for now and wait for another PS3 price drop or if MGS and FF go to 360. As others have stated above, there are many great PS2 games out there for 20 dollars or less and will provide you with countless hours of fun. Play it safe and get a PS2.

[Joe]

Buy a PS3 only if you have absolutely no reservations about paying $500 for a console. Otherwise pick up the much cheaper PS2.

[Zeonic Freak]

Wow, you didn't get to play Metal Gear Solid 3. That's the best one! At least my favorite (I cleared it with no kills and no alerts, I was like a ghost, man). Another drawback to being a console fanboy.

I can understand how you became a Metal Gear fan without owning a Sony system but not how you can still call yourself an FF fan. You missed VII, VIII, IX, X, X2 and XII, plus stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting.

I don't know what to tell you on what to buy. It depends on whether you have a 360. If those two games are worth the money to you, then you have to buy the PS3. If you just want to play all of the older ones right now and hope that at least Metal Gear IV gets an eventual 360 release, then buy a PS2.

I did that same thing for MGS3, but on Very Easy HAHA. Your a couple steps from being a god if you did that on Extreme and get Foxhound rank, but then again i havent touched the game the last 8 times ive beatin it.

Although, i gotta say the first MGS game is a gold one, MGS2 is just bad because you play Raidan the whole time, but its excellent regardless.

Hideo says the new one is PS3 exclusive, but i doubt that down the road, Konami cant just over look the demand for a game on another systems if its garganguan enough.

G1Ravage, your better off getting a PS2 for now to play the MGS game for PSX (i was lucky enough to get my copy for 10 bucks back when Gamestop made its way to my area, its an original copy, not the greatest hits crap in green), MGS 2 that it seems everywhere i go ,a used copy is 5 bucks ish (but your better off getting a copy of substance for the PS2), and of course you can get MGS 3 Subsistance, which includes the original 2 Metal Gear games, Metal Gear Online (that is about to cancel it servers, it had a good run i suppose), and a movie trailer to the whole game.

So id check those out before spending and arm and a leg to get a system that you didnt need to get in order to get a game that would probably make its way to Xbox 360...

[Vahn17]

If you're gonna buy a PS3, do it soon and go with the 60 gig version. The 80g doesn't have the emotion engine in it, and therefore, lacks full backward compatability. Do it soon, though, if you do it at all, because the 60 gig is no longer being produced -- once it's off store shelves, it's gone for good.

[G1Ravage]

Yeah, I don't have an XBox of any kind.

I really wouldn't mind paying for a PS3 if it'll allow me to play MGS4 when it comes out, and it'll take care of everything else as well. I could just get a cheap PS2 now, and then wait for a PS3 price drop down the road, but then I'll have two consoles, and I'll no longer need the PS2.

I'll soak in some more suggestions from the knowledgeable folks here.


I can understand how you became a Metal Gear fan without owning a Sony system but not how you can still call yourself an FF fan. You missed VII, VIII, IX, X, X2 and XII, plus stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting.


I've always been an RPG fan since Super Mario RPG, and I've always known how wildly popular Final Fantasy was from people and online sites. I was rummaging through my ex-step brother's game collection one day a number of years ago, and saw he had Final Fantasy VII. I didn't play it, but after looking it up online and learning how it was one of the most popular RPG's ever created, I decided to fire it up. I didn't make it very far with my limited playing time, but I enjoyed it a lot. My ex was also a huge FF fan, and I spent a lot of time watching her level up in FFX.

[Juu-kuchi]

Stick with the PS2 for the moment. Apart from MGS and FF you have a particularly huge backlog of games in the PS2 and PS1 library that will occupy you for a considerable amount of time. Plus to me it would be rather moot to buy a PS3 at this moment since it has yet to gather up speed as well as its still expensive price.

[Charlie]

You can get a PS2 for $50 if you look in the right places. $500/$600 for a system which will occupy your time with older games while you wait for newer games to come out for it seems too sketchy for my college money conservation personality.

Just get a PS3 when Metal Gear dose drop. There will be a bigger base of games to check out by then to occupy yourself, and who knows; there might be a permanent price drop by then.

[danreyes1]

Hah, I'll get the cheapest method: My girlfriend will bring her PS2 when she moves in next month.

Now, if I could get over my Nintendo fanboy nature and actually buy one myself, I would get a PS2. But then again, I have no interest in the Metal Gear Solid series, so the lack of a PS3 would not bother me in the least.

[Mynd Hed]

If you do decide to go the PS3 route, make sure to check Sony's backwards compatibility status list (http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus) for all the PS1 and PS2 games you're going to be wanting to play. The backwards compatibility is by most accounts pretty good, but not perfect: better than the 360 with the Xbox, not quite as good as the Wii's with the Gamecube. If you have a favorite game that you just plain won't be able to play on the PS3, then that might make up your mind for you.

But I'm with the crowd here: the most sensible route is to just buy a PS2 (which has excellent backwards-compatibility with the PS1) for now and think about getting a PS3 later when it has some games you want to play. The price difference between now and then might well go a ways toward recouping the money you spent on the PS2, which can be had for dirt cheap used.

[Conan-san]

The 80gig ps3 is being Euro-gimped? First I heard of that.

[G1Ravage]

If you do decide to go the PS3 route, make sure to check Sony's backwards compatibility status list (http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus) for all the PS1 and PS2 games you're going to be wanting to play. The backwards compatibility is by most accounts pretty good, but not perfect: better than the 360 with the Xbox, not quite as good as the Wii's with the Gamecube. If you have a favorite game that you just plain won't be able to play on the PS3, then that might make up your mind for you.

Thanks for that. I checked, and all of the Metal Gear Solid games right back to the original have no reported issues.


If you're gonna buy a PS3, do it soon and go with the 60 gig version. The 80g doesn't have the emotion engine in it, and therefore, lacks full backward compatability. Do it soon, though, if you do it at all, because the 60 gig is no longer being produced -- once it's off store shelves, it's gone for good.

Wow...that sucks. So all future PS3s will have backward-compatibility issues? Why would Sony do that?

I guess I'll pick up a PS2, and then hold my breath and pray that Kojima releases MGS4 on the PC as well.

[Conan-san]

Why would Sony do that? Clearly, Sony are Secret Comunists, sent by mother russia to destroy our fun Nintendo/Microsofty way of life and gameplay.

[mookie75]

Why would Sony do that?


So people will buy plenty of shiny new PS3 games and not get all their enjoyment from games that they already paid Sony for years ago? ;)

[Mynd Hed]

Wow...that sucks. So all future PS3s will have backward-compatibility issues? Why would Sony do that?

To save money; the versions of the PS3 without the emulation hardware are cheaper to produce than the versions without.

[Vahn17]

To save money; the versions of the PS3 without the emulation hardware are cheaper to produce than the versions without.

We have a winner! Even then, though, the PS3 is still gonna be pretty expensive for Sony to produce. Also, expect another price drop, but only for the 80 gig version. I'm guessing they'll drop its price once the 60 gig is fully phased-out. Thus, no one will be able to say the PS3 ever went back up in price; it will always be $500 or lower.

[G1Ravage]

Went searching through a number of electronics stores for a copy of MGS3, but couldn't find one anywhere. Has it been that long since it was released that it would no longer be on store shelves? Also saw plenty of available PS2s, but I'm not gonna pick one up until I can get the games I want at close to the same time.

Also saw a 60 GB PS3 at a Target, for $499.

Should I just use eBay to buy everything at once?

[Artimus Gigan]

Went searching through a number of electronics stores for a copy of MGS3, but couldn't find one anywhere. Has it been that long since it was released that it would no longer be on store shelves? Also saw plenty of available PS2s, but I'm not gonna pick one up until I can get the games I want at close to the same time.

Also saw a 60 GB PS3 at a Target, for $499.

Should I just use eBay to buy everything at once?
MGS3: Subsistence is MGS3 but comes with the first two Metal Gear 2D games as well you should be able to find it for 20-30 bucks

[G1Ravage]

MGS3: Subsistence is MGS3 but comes with the first two Metal Gear 2D games as well you should be able to find it for 20-30 bucks

Yeah. I'm definitely getting MGS3 Subsistance for the extras, but haven't been able to find a copy anywhere. I guess I'll end up ordering everything from eBay when I get the chance.

[G1Ravage]

Haven't ordered anything from eBay in years. Thought about trying to find MGS3 Subsistance Limited Edition, but the only place I could find it was on amazon.com for some ridiculous price of just under $500. Yeah, right.

A simple search for Metal Gear Solid brings up numerous auctions that almost all look identical to to the next, and for prices that all seem unnaturally low.

Here's a search results page for MGS:
http://video-games.search.ebay.com/Metal-Gear-Solid_Games_W0QQa14Z24232QQalistZa14QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQ curcatZtrueQQfgtpZQQfposZQ5AIPQ2fPostalQQfromZR2QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ2QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQgcsZ1135QQlopgZQQp fidZ1413QQsabfmtsZ1QQsacatZ62053QQsadisZ200QQsaobfmtsZinsifQQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsaslcZ2QQsbrftogZ1Q QsofocusZbs

Of these, for instance, what would a recommended purchase be? A lot of you guys must be more experienced at eBay than I am.

As I said earlier, I also want to pick up MGS2 Substance and MGS3 Subsistence (if I can't find it in stores...which I can't). Guess I need some eBay assistance more than anything else. lol

Tried signing up for PayPal, but their site doesn't seem to be working properly at the moment. *shrugs*

[Shawn Hopkins]

I found them both at Gamestop:

http://www.gamestop.com/search.asp?Ntk=TitleKeyword&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntt=metal+gear&N=0

[G1Ravage]

I found them both at Gamestop:

http://www.gamestop.com/search.asp?Ntk=TitleKeyword&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntt=metal+gear&N=0 (http://www.gamestop.com/search.asp?Ntk=TitleKeyword&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntt=metal+gear&N=0)

Excellent! Thanks. It shows some in stock at my local GameStop I haven't tried yet. Although I was hoping at least to be able buy MGS3 Subsistence new, instead of used. I never feel comfortable buying a used video game unless I don't have a choice.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and forgot to ask...if I plan on purchasing some old PS1 games for my PS2, I'll need a separate PS1-specific memory card, right? I heard that was the case.

[Swordfish_II]

EDIT: Oh yeah, and forgot to ask...if I plan on purchasing some old PS1 games for my PS2, I'll need a separate PS1-specific memory card, right? I heard that was the case.That's right.

[G1Ravage]

Phase 1 and...1.5 is complete.

Went to five different GameStops today.

GameStop #1:

-Asked for MGS2 Substance and MGS3 Subsistence. They had plenty of copies of the regular MGS2 and MGS3, but none of the later editions. Girl finally discovered they *did* have one copy of Subsistence, but no box...just the two DVD's in a sleeve. They looked kinda smudged, too.

-I asked her to check the computer to see if other GameStops in the area had what I wanted. She found that a GameStop on Queens Boulevard had one copy of Substance, and gave me their phone number so I could call them have them double check. I called, and the confirmed they had one copy.

-Since I was already at the first GameStop, bought my PS2, as well as a memory card, and some kind of multi-faceted compoment video cables, which are good for the PS1, PS2, X-Box, and X-Box 360.

-Drove to the second GameStop.

GameStop #2:

-Asked for Substance. Was given a crazy look as if I didn't know what I was talking about. They told me they didn't have it. I told them I just spoke to them on the phone. I showed them the phone number.

-I was in the wrong GameStop. There were two more, separate GameStops in the large mall across the street. Whoops. Was told the GameStop I needed would be on the lower first floor.

GameStop #3:

-Asked for Substance. The young guys working there all stared at me in awe, and told me they didn't have it. Showed them the phone number, and once again, I had the wrong store. The other GameStop was on the first floor on the opposite side of the mall. This GameStop was actually on the lower concourse level.

-Just for the hell of it, asked if they had Subsistence, and was laughed out of the store.

GameStop #4:

-Stood on a long line to get assitance at the counter. While in line, started talking to a girl in line behind me. Turns out she's there to replace a broken Gamecube, and to try to buy a copy of the original Metal Gear Solid for the PS1, because her old disc broke while she was playing it.

-While we're still in line, she gets the attention of a passing employee to ask if they had old PS1 games so she could get MGS. He said they didn't, but mentioned in passing that they did have MGS2, MGS2 Substance, and MGS 3 for the PS2. I nearly had a heart attack, because had she been in front of me, she could've gone an MGS spree and taken everything I may have wanted.

-When we finally got to the counter, and the same guy was now at the register, and I asked him for Substance, he gave me this look like I'd just bid $601 on The Price Is Right.

-Gave me their lone copy of Substance. Just for the hell of it, asked if they had Subsistence in any form, and was once again laughed out of the store.

GameStop #5:

-Drove here just to see if perhaps they had Subsistence.

-They didn't.

So I went home and quicky set up the PS2. I didn't realize how small the newer slim version really is. It's even smaller than the Wii. Just started playing MGS2...forgot how much fun it is.

I decided I should attempt to find MGS3 Subsistence NEW, in perhaps an online store somewhere, and if I still want the original MGS, to try eBay.

[Zeonic Freak]

Phase 1 and...1.5 is complete.

Went to five different GameStops today.

GameStop #1:

-Asked for MGS2 Substance and MGS3 Subsistence. They had plenty of copies of the regular MGS2 and MGS3, but none of the later editions. Girl finally discovered they *did* have one copy of Subsistence, but no box...just the two DVD's in a sleeve. They looked kinda smudged, too.

-I asked her to check the computer to see if other GameStops in the area had what I wanted. She found that a GameStop on Queens Boulevard had one copy of Substance, and gave me their phone number so I could call them have them double check. I called, and the confirmed they had one copy.

-Since I was already at the first GameStop, bought my PS2, as well as a memory card, and some kind of multi-faceted compoment video cables, which are good for the PS1, PS2, X-Box, and X-Box 360.

-Drove to the second GameStop.

GameStop #2:

-Asked for Substance. Was given a crazy look as if I didn't know what I was talking about. They told me they didn't have it. I told them I just spoke to them on the phone. I showed them the phone number.

-I was in the wrong GameStop. There were two more, separate GameStops in the large mall across the street. Whoops. Was told the GameStop I needed would be on the lower first floor.

GameStop #3:

-Asked for Substance. The young guys working there all stared at me in awe, and told me they didn't have it. Showed them the phone number, and once again, I had the wrong store. The other GameStop was on the first floor on the opposite side of the mall. This GameStop was actually on the lower concourse level.

-Just for the hell of it, asked if they had Subsistence, and was laughed out of the store.

GameStop #4:

-Stood on a long line to get assitance at the counter. While in line, started talking to a girl in line behind me. Turns out she's there to replace a broken Gamecube, and to try to buy a copy of the original Metal Gear Solid for the PS1, because her old disc broke while she was playing it.

-While we're still in line, she gets the attention of a passing employee to ask if they had old PS1 games so she could get MGS. He said they didn't, but mentioned in passing that they did have MGS2, MGS2 Substance, and MGS 3 for the PS2. I nearly had a heart attack, because had she been in front of me, she could've gone an MGS spree and taken everything I may have wanted.

-When we finally got to the counter, and the same guy was now at the register, and I asked him for Substance, he gave me this look like I'd just bid $601 on The Price Is Right.

-Gave me their lone copy of Substance. Just for the hell of it, asked if they had Subsistence in any form, and was once again laughed out of the store.

GameStop #5:

-Drove here just to see if perhaps they had Subsistence.

-They didn't.

So I went home and quicky set up the PS2. I didn't realize how small the newer slim version really is. It's even smaller than the Wii. Just started playing MGS2...forgot how much fun it is.

I decided I should attempt to find MGS3 Subsistence NEW, in perhaps an online store somewhere, and if I still want the original MGS, to try eBay.

Yea, Gamestops are run by noobie fools (well, most of them, i think i got a couple of stores in my area that have cool employees).

Usually when i wanna play Substance, i just get it from my friend who has it on his Xbox, i guess i should try it again sometime, or when he gets back from school.

But yea man, you had quite a day, but enjoy your hard work with a Bud Light and a PS2 controller...

[G1Ravage]

I just went on an amazon.com Metal Gear spending binge.

Purchased an original, complete Metal Gear Solid, again purchased Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (because this one's complete), Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (new and sealed), the soundtracks for all three of those games, The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2, and Resident Evil for the GCN.

I should be happy for the next few months. Oh snap, gotta find a PS1 memory card.

EDIT - PS1 memory card ordered. ^_^

[G1Ravage]

I have component video cables for the PS2, but under what circumstances would something run in progressive scan?

For instance, when playing a DVD, I can go into the menu and see a progressive scan option, as well as an aspect ratio option, but I can't change either of them. Sure enough, the video looks non-progressive-scanny.

MGS2 also doesn't look quite as good as I remember. Guess I'm just used to everything else being permanently in progressive scan, that when I switch to something like this, the quality is noticeable.

[G1Ravage]

And now I've got MGS VR on the way.

Naturally, after ordering Subsistence online, I went upstate to visit some relatives, stopped by the Super Walmart for some shopping, visited the video games section, and they had a few copies of Subsistence there.

Okay, so now that my Metal Gear fix is good and taken care of, let's change subjects and get to work on Final Fantasy. What would be the best way to play the Final Fantasy series, in as close to numerical order as possible? I know that some of the older games have been redone graphically in recent years, and some have released in compilations. Would you recommend those? Or should I be searching for the originals somehow?

[Shawn Hopkins]

And now I've got MGS VR on the way.

Naturally, after ordering Subsistence online, I went upstate to visit some relatives, stopped by the Super Walmart for some shopping, visited the video games section, and they had a few copies of Subsistence there.

Okay, so now that my Metal Gear fix is good and taken care of, let's change subjects and get to work on Final Fantasy. What would be the best way to play the Final Fantasy series, in as close to numerical order as possible? I know that some of the older games have been redone graphically in recent years, and some have released in compilations. Would you recommend those? Or should I be searching for the originals somehow?

Well, now that you've got a PS2 the only one you're goint to have trouble with is FFIII. For the PSX they had FF Origins, which was one and two, FF Anthology, which had IV and Chrono Trigger and FF Anthology, which was V and VI. The rest can easily be found for PSX or PS2. There was a remake of III for the DS if you have that.

As for getting originals, you could get the NES FF pretty easy, but the two SNES ones, IV and VI, are too expensive and II, III and V were only released in Japan.

[Mynd Hed]

If you have a GBA or a DS, those are the best way to play the earlier entries in the series. Most are also available for the PS1, but being cartridge games ported onto a disc-based system, they tend to have loading time issues of varying severity. Plus they might be tough to find nowadays.

I and II can be found collected as "Final Fantasy Origins" on the PS1 or "Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls" on the GBA.

As far as I know, III is still only legally available in the States in the form of the 3D remake for the DS.

IV is available along with Chrono Trigger as "Final Fantasy Chronicles" for the PS1, or by itself as "Final Fantasy IV Advance" for the GBA. A 3D remake is in the works for the DS, but nothing even approaching a release date has been announced.

V and VI are available together as "Final Fantasy Anthology" for the PS1 or individually on the GBA.

VII and VIII are available either in their original PS1 versions or ported to the PC. Neither version is in print, so you'll have to go used. VII can be hard to come by in either form, and you can expect to pay upwards of sixty bucks. VIII is one of the less-regarded entries in the series, and as such can be found much more easily and cheaply; you'll usually find a copy or two at Bookman's.

IX is only available in its original PS1 version; Amazon's quoting $20.

X and X-2 for the PS2 are still common as dirt both new and used, so no troubles there.

XI could be tricky, since the console version requires a hard drive peripheral that's not supported by the current, slimmer model of the PS2. Your best bet if your recent PS2 acquisition is the slimline version (which it almost certainly is unless you bought used) is the PC version. As an MMORPG, many people don't consider it to be part of the series proper (and Roman numeral systems be damned), so that's a call you'll have to make for yourself.

XII for the PS2 is only a year old, so that should be available anyplace that sells games.

And there you have it!

[Shawn Hopkins]

Just skip XI. They could have called it Final Fantasy Online, they just put the number in there to appeal to completists.

I gotta disagree. I don't think a handheld is the best way to play a Final Fantasy. They all take dozens of hours to complete, and that's a long time to squint at a tiny screen. I know about the Gameboy player. I have a Gameboy player and I love it, but I've got to say the picture isn't perfect, especially for GBA titles. It's either a small image that takes up only part of the screen and is too soft or one that takes up more of the screen and is even softer. If you can afford it, I'd say bite the loading times bullet and get the PSX versions.

[Mynd Hed]

Well, everyone's opinions are different, but I've got to say that Shawn is the only person I've ever heard complain about playing RPGs on handhelds, whereas virtually everyone I know who's played the PS1 remakes of the 2D Final Fantasies has been bothered by the loading time. You know better than we do which is likely to bother you personally more, but the vast majority of gamers are better served with the GBA versions.

I suppose it does depend WHICH handheld you have, though; they look perfectly fine on my DS Lite screen, but if you've got an old-style non-SP GBA from back before Nintendo wrapped their heads around the concept of backlighting, maybe not so much.

But complaining about the picture quality of the Game Boy Player? C'mon, these are 16-bit sprites we're talking about here, not Gears of War or Bioshock. How crisp does the picture need to be?

[Shawn Hopkins]

Well, everyone's opinions are different, but I've got to say that Shawn is the only person I've ever heard complain about playing RPGs on handhelds, whereas virtually everyone I know who's played the PS1 remakes of the 2D Final Fantasies has been bothered by the loading time. You know better than we do which is likely to bother you personally more, but the vast majority of gamers are better served with the GBA versions.

I suppose it does depend WHICH handheld you have, though; they look perfectly fine on my DS Lite screen, but if you've got an old-style non-SP GBA from back before Nintendo wrapped their heads around the concept of backlighting, maybe not so much.

But complaining about the picture quality of the Game Boy Player? C'mon, these are 16-bit sprites we're talking about here, not Gears of War or Bioshock. How crisp does the picture need to be?

C'mon. Final Fantasy VI, for example, is beautiful to look at. It has a brilliant score. You're telling me you'd rather play the opera scene squinting at a tiny screen and listening to it on the GBA's tinny speaker than on your big TV with the stereo speakers?

How crisp should the Gameboy player be? It should fill the whole screen and it should look at least as good as an SNES. It doesn't when GBA games are involved. If you blow them up to full screen it looks muddy. I don't mind it for games that are only for GBA because it's still better than playing them on the tiny GBA, but for stuff where I have a more attractive option, I'm going to take that option. I play my Phantasy Stars on my Genesis Collection, for example, even though I have the GBA collection cart.

[Mynd Hed]

C'mon. Final Fantasy VI, for example, is beautiful to look at. It has a brilliant score. You're telling me you'd rather play the opera scene squinting at a tiny screen and listening to it on the GBA's tinny speaker than on your big TV with the stereo speakers?

No, I'm saying I'd rather deal with a smaller screen to avoid five-to-ten-second loading times every time I want to access the damn menu. (-: As for a the speakers being tinny, a decent pair of headphones will fix that right up.