PCSX2 is a free, open-source program developed to replicate your Play Station 2 gaming console on your desktop computer. And like any other software, its developers have continuously updated it to make it possible to run 2600+ Play Station 2 games. Aside from this, PCSX2 is the only Play Station 2 emulator capable of running on windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems.

Case 1 – You see some software developers showcasing the test run phase of their latest software using desktop computers or laptops when their product is intended for a different device niche.

Case 2 – Some friend tells you how awesome it is to experience an Android mobile or gaming console application on their desktop computer or laptop.

You are probably now curious how a computer or laptop can replace these devices. One simple answer, they all have emulators installed.

So what is an emulator?

An emulator is hardware, software, or a combination of both to enable one platform to run programs from another. Through emulation, the host device imitates or creates a virtual guest device to run its applications.

Although there are many emulators on the internet to resemble any platform, one emulator that video game geeks are very fond of is Play Station 2, called PCSX2.

Why use PCSX2 when there is Play Station itself

Well, here comes the desktop advantage. Play Station 2 is an old gaming console with certain limitations but still has some classic game editions whose gaming experience greatly enhances on desktop computers. Among the few advantages it's known for, what makes PCSX2 the number one Play Station 2 emulator is offering a custom resolution display of up to 4096 by 4096 pixels, the ability to increase or decrease the game run speed (helpful in hard levels) and recording your gameplay with builtin video recorder to share it with others as tutorials.

Few important things

Before you get started, a few additional things are important for you to know.

Easy to use

PCSX2 is super easy to use. Just download, and configure it for graphics and gamepad, and it's done. There may still be some technical issues for beginners, but you can use the PCSX2 configuration guide to understand better.

Is there no need for Play Station 2 console, and is it legit

That is not true at all. Although PCSX2 is an open-source, free-to-use software, it still requires a Play Station 2 BIOS file. You can also find free download PS2 BIOS files on the internet, but it's better to own it rather than use someone else's.

The fact is that using PCSX2 is legit, but using a freely downloaded PS2 BIOS file is not. This is because PS2 BIOS is a Sony Corporation-owned product. Using it without purchasing it is a breach of copyright laws.

Does PCSX2 make your computer run slower?

Since PCSX2 replicates another platform, the chances are that it may lag at times when you run a game directly from your DVD-ROM due to variations in DVD-ROM speeds. To counter this issue, you can always burn your entire DVD to your hard drive before installing it. Also, as these video games were originally developed for another platform, you might need hardware upgrades to run things smoothly. PCSX2 website listed all the minimum and recommended system requirements for running it.

Conclusion

Although PCSX2 is not a simple program, you might have come across, it is also hardware intensive because PS2 itself was a complicated device; it is still worth a try if you want to double your fun playing video games. You can always use its latest stable version, which is highly recommended. Then as you get used to understanding its settings, you can do some experiments with its configuration mode.