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Software European PS3 Backwards Compatibility Page Launches, Games Rated
Marcus Yam (Blog) - March 20, 2007 2:03 PM

10 comment(s) - last by spartan014.. on Mar 22 at 5:46 AM

All the Euro-spec PS3 regions for compatibility checking

European PS3 backwards compatibility shows inconsistency with top PS2 games

When Sony announced that the European PlayStation 3 consoles would be without PS2 chips, the question on everyone’s mind is how it would affect backwards compatibility. Sony boss Phil Harrison reassured everyone that, even without the hardware, the PS3 would be able to play over 1,000 PS2 games.

“The situation is changing every day, but on March 23, we expect the list to include over 1,000 PS2 titles,” said Harrison, adding that it’s Sony “policy” to be concentrating compatibility on the biggest PS2 blockbusters.

Sony’s Web site for European users to check the backwards compatibility of their legacy games went live a few days early, giving us a chance to see if Harrison is making good on his promise of having the best PS2 games running well on the new console.

Sony ranks game compatibility on a scale of three, with three being “no known issues to date,” two being “should play with some minor issues,” and one being “should play with noticeable issues.”

The following is a sample of the top PlayStation 2 games as determined by Game Rankings and Metacritic, with their respective backwards compatibility ratings:

Resident Evil 4 (Uncut edition) – [*]
Grand Theft Auto III – [***]
Grand Theft Auto Vice City – [***]
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas – [*]
Metal Gear Solid 2 – [NOT LISTED]
Metal Gear Solid 3 – (Multiple listings rated either [*] or [***])
God of War – [***]
God of War II – [***]
Gran Turismo 3 – [**]
Gran Turismo 4 – [NOT LISTED]
Burnout 3: Takedown – [**]
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 - (Multiple listings rated either [**] or [***])
Final Fantasy X – [*]
Final Fantasy X-2 – [*]
Final Fantasy XII – [**]
Kingdom Hearts – (Multiple listings rated either [*] or [***])
Kingdom Hearts II – [***]
Dragon Quest VIII – [***]
Katamari Damacy – [NOT LISTED]
We Love Katamari – [***]
Devil May Cry 1 and 3 – [***], Devil May Cry 2 – [*]
Okami – [*]
Ico – [***]
Shadow of the Colossus – [***]
Onimusha 3 – [*]
All Madden NFL games – [*]
All recent Pro Evolution Soccer games – [*]

Even with a full rating of three, Sony recommends that users avoid connecting any non-essential USB peripherals to the PS3, and the use of "60Hz" and network modes, which may experience noticeable graphical corruption not present in the main game. Sony also recommends that users should skip optional FMV sequences, as a small number of games have graphical corruption in one or more video sequences. Also, a maximum of seven players can play (non-network) multiplayer PS2 games.

The PlayStation 3 consoles shipping this week in Europe and Australia will not have the mentioned backwards compatibility capability out of the box. Instead, users will have to perform a system update to bring the firmware to version 1.60 before the most up-to-date software emulation. Other features of the pending 1.60 firmware add background downloading and new Web browsing options.

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Suprising

By therealnickdanger on 3/20/2007 3:18:06 PM , Rating: 5

I'm a bit shocked that Sony even bothers to support games half-assed. I would rather they limit the number of compatible games to only those that work with no noticeable issues - like the 360 does. Who wants to play FFX by having to skip FMV scenes? Just wait until it's perfect before supporting it... sheesh.

RE: Suprising

By nerdboy on 3/20/2007 3:43:34 PM , Rating: 3

If I lived in Europe I just wouldn't buy a PS3. I live in the us and I wouldn't buy a ps3. I guess I will wait until it gets cheaper or wait until the 3.0 update is released maybe even 4.0 due to the amount of updates it has already had. Maybe then I will rate the PS3 at ** or *** instead of *

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RE: Suprising

By Goty on 3/20/2007 4:33:52 PM , Rating: 2

Sure, limit the emulated games to the ones that work and then have the console crash on games designed for the system! (Think early GRAW2 crashing issues).

Just because the emulated games on the PS3 don't work flawlessly right now doesn't mean that Sony isn't working on them. I'm going to save judgment on their decision to follow the software emulation route until they've released a few more firmware updates.

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RE: Suprising

By Samus on 3/20/2007 11:30:49 PM , Rating: 2

wow, holy crap, that's horrible. way to save your $38 bucks sony, cutting out the EE.

we all know where your balls are now, in your arse.

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RE: Suprising

By davepermen on 3/21/2007 2:49:55 AM , Rating: 2

I'm actually interested if they really save that much money when they now need programmers, additional supporting for all the emulators and it's bugs...

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RE: Suprising

By Shintai on 3/21/2007 7:13:05 AM , Rating: 2

Lets imagine Sony only sells 1 million EU PS3 units. Thats 38million$ saved. You can have quite alot of people working on the compability for quite along time and still come out on top. It also gives them the timeless excuse, we are working on it.

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RE: Suprising

By cane on 3/21/2007 10:41:10 AM , Rating: 2

They're definitely gonna have to get them self a bigger support team with all the calls they are gonna get each time an old game doesn't work properly... But I imagine they will take a hefty prize per minute and "save" even more money on this...
BASTARDS! Why should we Europeans have to take this crap considering we are a bigger market then north America (690 vs 515 million citizens).
Looking at it in another way lets say that US (and Japan) version is for every country using NTSC and European version is for every country using PAL/SECAM... then the market is more like 6 billion vs 600 million...

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RE: Suprising

By spartan014 on 3/22/2007 5:46:05 AM , Rating: 2

Yes! It is surprising..

# Resident Evil 4 (Uncut edition) – [*]
# Grand Theft Auto San Andreas – [*]
# Metal Gear Solid 2 – [NOT LISTED]
# Metal Gear Solid 3 – (Multiple listings rated either [*]
or [***])
# Gran Turismo 4 – [NOT LISTED]

Whats wrong with SONY?

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It's not so important to me.

By rdeegvainl on 3/20/2007 4:18:26 PM , Rating: 2

I know alot of people want their systems to be backwords compatable. Either to expand the library of games for the system, or to reduce clutter for their setup, and I think it sucks that europe got shafted on this, but I wouldn't buy a PS3 to play PS2 games, just the new games. I would just keep my PS2 for PS2 games. Actually I like it over any of the other systems I have played. for the simple fact that I don't make a whole lot of money, and I wouldn't want to have a feeling of resentment to a game system because I'm in debt for the purchase price and the cost of games, and with some, a monthly obligation for online play. If I had the money, I would be all over all 3 systems, but I don't even have the option for any of them.
Sadly my wife doesn't like video games so she won't help with anything.(and she doesn't like the Wii, so that isn't gonna win her over). Luckily I can get her to help with upgrading the computer, so that is one option for gaming, though I am a bit of a console Junky.