Yep, its another one of those topics that radd just hates 
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..Current-Gen Gaming: Not Quite Dead Yet
Playstation 2 truly stands the test of time- so don't shelve your system just yet.
Jesse Schedeen
By Jesse Schedeen
Video Games?Editor
Metal Gear Solid 4. Super Mario Galaxy. Halo 3. These are a few of the AAA titles gamers have to look forward to in the coming months. There's only one small problem - these games are exclusive to next-generation console systems. If you haven't maxed out your credit cards to buy a PS3 or fought through hordes of soccer moms for that elusive Wii, your gaming prospects aren't looking too bright this year. The original Xbox has been dead in the water for some time now. The Gamecube is quickly becoming a cute little paperweight.
There is one bastion of hope for gamers who can't or won't upgrade to the future. Its name is the Playstation 2. Despite its age, the PS2 is facing a surprisingly decent year, with a number of popular franchises seeing sequels, and even one or two original titles worth checking out.
Hoping to start the year off with bang, Sony is set to release the oft-delayed RPG Rogue Galaxy in January. Rogue Galaxy hails from the same developer responsible for Dark Cloud 2 and Dragon Quest VIII, and shares the two games' distinctive cel-shaded look. With a sweeping storyline (think Final Fantasy meets Star Wars) and unique, free-roaming gameplay, Rogue Galaxy might just live up to its buzz as a Final Fantasy killer.
First and foremost is Sony's God Of War 2, the sequel to what is easily the best action/platformer on the PS2. Expect more of everything - more weapons and moves, more gruesome and gargantuan boss characters, and possibly even more sex-based mini-games. With controls as smooth as protagonist Kratos' bald head and graphics as slick as the blood dripping from his twin blades, God Of War 2 should please just about everyone when it arrives in early March. That is, as long as the criminally aggravating obstacle courses are a thing of the past.
EA's Burnout series has always served as a visceral substitute to the more technical and simulation-minded Gran Turismo series. While the true sequel is being developed for the Xbox 360 and PS3, EA is also releasing a new version for the PS2 and PSP. Entitled Burnout: Dominator, this entry eschews much of the carnage and mayhem that the series is known for. The popular Crash mode is gone entirely, and races are now dependent more on skill than the ability to cause traffic mayhem. It remains to be seen if fans will take to this shift in gameplay focus when Burnout: Dominator cruises into stores in March.
Square-Enix has made a habit in recent years of re-releasing their most popular RPG's in Japan with extra content. Up until now, American gamers have been out of luck unless they chose to import these upgraded games and wade through mountains of Japanese text. Kingdom Hearts fans will be ecstatic to know that Kingdom Hearts 2: Final Mix will be arriving on our shores sometime this fall. Besides additional battle sequences and cinemas, Square-Enix will be included 3-D remake of the GBA spinoff, Chain of Memories. This addition may be enough to attract gamers who have already plunked down their hard-earned cash to fight alongside Donald, Goofy, and the Jacks (Skellington and Sparrow, that is).
How does a new Guitar Hero sound? Rather than offer downloadable songs to the 7 people who own a PS2 hard drive, Red Octane is reportedly hard at work on a full expansion to the series: Guitar Hero: 80's Edition. Exactly what new features or songs this expansion will offer is unclear. With any luck Guitar Hero fans will finally have the chance to shred some Metallica tunes.
On top of all this, expect a remake of the original Tomb Raider, a port of the PSP hit Lumines, and the inevitable update to Madden NFL. There's no arguing that current-gen consoles are on the way out, but at least the PS2 is keeping the fire burning for another year.
