PS2 on Steam Deck! The BEST Games to Play on PCSX2 via EmuDeck 2 on Valve's Handheld Gaming PC!

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL : / videogameesoterica
When enough of you keep asking me for the SAME THING I try to listen...so here we go; Steam Deck coverage! But of course this is a retro gaming channel so it's not like we are going to talk about modern PC Gaming on the Steam Deck...we are going to talk about retro emulation...more specifically PlayStation2 emulation!
Patreon Thanks: Seth Peterson, John Thompson, Paul Daniel, Porch, Jon Anderson, RayceARoni, Kuranghu, Jason Hixon, Alex Tessler, Jonathan Leung, Martin Donlon, Tom Van Deusen, barabob, Steve Randall, Ahab, K-2, Renaissance 2K, Ivar Wennerhold, Adrien Sebbane,
Mike Puelinckx, Tony Escobar, H7, Ben Parfitt, Holger Schmidt, Tim Lehner, Shad Uttam, Dan L, Coupon Joe, Sunder Raj, Dorfus the Maple Syrup Man, John Booty, Richard S, Eric Gutt and Robert Alger!
I asked, you answered...and I try to listen :) Of all the requests for new content on the channel one of the most frequently asked for videos is a series on the Steam Deck; Valve's new Nintendo Switch competitor that could
On today's Steam Deck video I will go over the games I recommend you play on your Steam Deck today when it comes to PS2! Because a LOT of people were asking about videos showcasing the best common and hidden gem games you can play via EmuDeck emulation on Steam Deck...so this is a test! If this video does well...I will make more :)
But these are the games I recommend you check out for PS2 on Steam Deck! Because not everyone grew up in the PS2 retrogaming generation...and maybe you missed some of the deep cuts in the video from back in the day!
and if you need help getting EmuDeck /PCSX2 emulation setup on Steam Deck...check the playlist :) It has all the help you need!
Again I recommend getting a Dock for your Steam Deck as the process is MUCH easier that way!
But the Steam Deck is proving to be an amazing retrogaming handheld video game emulation machine and I love it!
Questions? Comments? Just leave them below and I will do my best to answer each and every one of them!
/ videogameesoterica
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VGE
#retrogaming #steamdeck #emulator #emulation #retrogames #ps2 #playstation #emudeck #valve #retrogamer #gaming #gamingcommunity #pcsx2 #playstation2 #ps2games

[@Davilas941]

I thought I played many PS2 games during my childhood, but found out that there’s so many good games that I missed… Time to play it on my steam deck. Thank you for the list! 😊

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Happy to do it. I may do a part 2 :) so many games got cut from the long list

[@Kinos141]

Dude, PS2 era of games (2000-2006) had some of the best games. PS2 was the perfect blend between graphics and gameplay. The graphics didn't take years to make so the devs could work on actual gameplay. New games with PS2 graphics combined with modern control schemes and gameplay would be the best!!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Sounds like someone will enjoy my fall series for Tuesday’s then ;)

[@Kaido_928]

Good episode! The PS2 games i got installed are Outrun2, Tekken Tag and Tekken5. And will definitely add Fist of the Northstar.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

A solid starter list!

[@joseluisgarcia6251]

Hows outrun 2 running for you?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Decent but not scaled at all. Native res.

[@Kaido_928]

PS3 Outrun2 Online is the best console version i tried so far (didn't try the PC or xbox version yet).

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

The nice thing is there really isn’t a bad port

[@Kinos141]

The Thing was one of best games I never finished. These are the kind of games you will never see again.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

The Thing is NOT an easy game but it’s a legit good one

[@martinh4982]

So hard to do a list, particularly for something with a library as huge as the PS2's. Some great choices in there and thanks for including Klonoa, which really deserves a lot more love.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Klonoa always deserves the love!

[@simonwoods2180]

Gradius V is my favourite on the system. Awesome. The Japanese poster is, too.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I almost went V but in the end R-Type Final won due to “vibes”

[@simon41978]

I recently installed the latest unstable PCSX2 (+ Reshade) and I'm very happy with the clarity improvement it gives to the visuals. Whilst not absolutely free of blurriness in some games, many of my favourites are now sharp (Gradius V, Hokuto No Ken, Street Fighter III 3rd Strike). Just adding ScanlineAbs in Reshade has them looking like they're running on a high-res CRT.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I’ll have to check it out. Generally I never use any filters but sounds like a good time

[@iBroTuber]

Hi, how did you install Reshade on the steam deck? And where can I find ScanlineAbs?

[@lwwells]

This video turned me onto SO many games I didn't know. Thank you! No racing games?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I put burnout in the end. I may do a part two :)

[@zerojayzero]

Great video, amazing recommendations. Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution was such an incredible game when it initially launched and it's amazing to have it on a handheld.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

it almost made the vid but I prefer the NAOMI 2 version so it fell off the admittedly long list. I could have made this video double length easily

[@MaddSweetGT500]

I recently completed Silent Hill 2, excellent games and they run awesome on the steamdeck. Edit: I meant to say silent hill 2 and 3.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Its great on Deck for sure. Such fun games

[@METR0lD]

I really enjoy some of the niche RPGs on PS2. Some are still trapped on the console like Shadow Hearts and Shadow Hearts Covenant.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yes there are a ton, especially if you dip into the japanese only RPGs that now have translation patches

[@felipej.oribeiro6700]

r-type final got me back to the depths of my childhood, crazy reference

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I wanted a shmup in there!

[@azhariasgar7661]

Thank you so much! I bought the steam deck to play emudeck games but I dont know where to begin. These lists surely helped me 😊

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Glad it helps :)

[@azhariasgar7661]

@@VideoGameEsoterica it does :) do you have a series of playlist such as this for other emulator ps1/ps3/psp etc?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yep. It’s in my playlists. Every steam deck tutorial I’ve made

[@azhariasgar7661]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Nice! Thanks!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

👍

[@D4rkkay]

Buying steam deck next week, i want so badly to emulate ape escape 3 on it since my phone couldn't, i beated that game as a child so many times, i loved that game so much and i want to experience that again, i only clicked on this video because the thumbnail showed it lol

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha it’s a great game. Emulates great. You’ll have fun!

[@Bighomer5]

This is great! I grew up with the PS2 but barely know half the games mentioned here. It's so tempting to just go get a deck for myself, but I got the Switch last year and I'm barely using that so....

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I am the king of acquiring things I don’t need / won’t use much. Don’t be like me 😂

[@Dimez757]

I just got rid of my Switch and got a Deck in return and it’s been a great time! If you wanna play all the good classics it’s definitely worth it!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s really time for Nintendo to unleash a Switch 2 for us all

[@GlairGullwing]

Odin Sphere is gorgeous, and it seems hella fun too!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s legit pretty. Also amazing game. Best of both worlds

[@HUYI1]

yes, i have both the remaster on ps4 and the original disc also, great game 😊

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Ton of fun

[@QP9237]

It's a good vid when you see Ico and Klonoa together 😊

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

👍

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Alright! The Steam Deck series is back with VGE. I love it bro. And with the best selling console of all time. Excellent choice as usual VGE. 8^) Anthony...

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Back to the normal schedule. Except tomorrow. Another one off event video lol. Been a busy week

[@dinellisgonzalez1824]

ICO is just beautiful and amazing.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s a special experience. Nothing else quite like it outside of the next two games from the same dev

[@MrDirkles]

Hang on.... You've missed gitaroo man and battle gear 3 :). I'm going to have to try those silent hill games though.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I suck at Battle Gear

[@MrDirkles]

@@VideoGameEsoterica but you're excellent at gitaroo man? I miss the variety of games we got during the PS2 era (The pinnacle of gaming imo)

[@SineScroller]

Ape Escape 2 (in original Japanese audio as when he catches the monkeys its waaay better than the drab sudo-british dub) - i cant believe ive never played ape escape 3 .. i know what im doing this week :D

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Enjoy 3. It’s such a charming and absurd game

[@kentakobayashi3223]

What an interesting list for arguably the greatest gaming console of all time. Some more titles to check out: Downhill Domination, God Hand, Jet Li: Rise to Honor, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, Fatal Frame, Onimusha 2, Sly 2.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Its always hard to do a "list" video...which is why I rarely do them :)

[@kentakobayashi3223]

@@VideoGameEsoterica We very much appreciate the lists though. Always nice to hear someone else's perspective and find more gems to check out.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

There are so many gems too in the PS2 library

[@ciaranmccarthy]

Some excellent picks!!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

appreciate it! never easy to condense a library down. Especially one as big as PS2

[@ciaranmccarthy]

I laugh every time I hear the name R-Type Final 2.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha Final wasnt very FINAL was it?

[@KamenDesantis]

Great list, I would have rounded out the genres a bit more with Grim Grimoire.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s hard because some genres I don’t pop into as much as others

[@bobsteave1236]

Armored Core 2, 3 are super super great . Once you get the controls down and take some time making builds its top 5 easy on the system. Missions are fun, combat and mech building is epic.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Armored Core has always been a fun series

[@geoffnaylor3734]

Odin Sphere had an HD remake on ps3/4/Vita and that's definitely the way to go for playing it.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Also an option but for me the OG is what I remember

[@joepapi619]

Amazing thank you

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

No problem 😊

[@GlairGullwing]

ApeEscape 3 used to be (still is lol) my shiiiiiiiiiit. Loved the girl’s (SAYAKA?) final form

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s such a charming game

[@witt4884]

Thank you so much for your help and the recommendations! One of the more difficult things regarding steam deck emulation that I have been trying to figure out is the best way to do SEGA model 2 and 3 emulation. With different versions in different stages of development (iirc the MAME one is pretty abandoned/incomplete due to the contributor being hired by SEGA), do you have a guide or any recommendations on how to best get SEGA model 2 and 3 emulation working on deck? Or are you planning on making a video on it at some point? Thanks again!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Best way is to load windows onto a SD card / external installation. Then run then natively

[@witt4884]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Thanks for responding! So there isn't really a good way to do it within desktop mode or on steamOS with Emudeck, etc.?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Not that I’ve found as of yet personally

[@witt4884]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Gotcha thanks!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

👍

[@kosmosyche]

Idk about you, but looking back I realize that PS1 and PS2 had by far the greatest libraries of all the consoles ever produced, unlikely to be eclipsed any time soon. Growing up we didn't know how good we had it.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

The libraries were so diverse. That’s what I love. So many diff types of games

[@motivasihiduh]

At first I could play it then I stopped playing for 3 hours then I wanted to play again why can't it just be black????

[@libardomm.trasimaco]

I would include Metal slug anthology. It only consumes 5.4 watts of energy. It give you more that 7 hours of gameplay while you are flying.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha thats an interesting way to look at it...games for longevity!

[@gerboog]

You can play even longer if you install it natively

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I’ve yet to travel far enough where battery life mattered personally

[@libardomm.trasimaco]

@@gerboog the pc port is the worst version to play it.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I hadn’t heard many good things myself

[@markofthefonz]

Is fist of North Star the same as the atomiswave version? This looks a little better

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Basically identical

[@astreakaito5625]

Yeah playing PS2 anywhere is the dream isn't it?! Also remember to hunt HD texture packs and PC ports. You can play ZOE2 natively on the Deck, for exemple.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I haven’t played Zone of the Enders in forever. I need to

[@edthezombie004]

Check out a game called "Stuntman"

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I remember that one. Fun times

[@BeastBetsDaily]

Bro I can’t understand any of these.. do I absolutely need a usb I just figured it’d be easier

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

You don’t. You can transfer files via local networks or download directly from the steam deck desktop mode browser

[@etenby699]

I see Ape Escape 3. I click.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha appreciate it

[@BeastBetsDaily]

I will pay someone via whatever to FaceTime me and lead me through the steps to emulate ps2 games nothing else

[@joshowens9947]

Rayman 2: The Great Escape

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

another classic for sure

[@GlairGullwing]

Loving this list,but mr mosquito game, even tho it sounds fun, the devs should have known that only females drain blood 🩸

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha if that’s the only odd thing about that game to you 😂

[@gerboog]

Are you talking about female mosquitos or women? 🤔😂

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Lol

[@fieryfirevivin]

​@@gerboog both

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

😂