this post was submitted on 26 Feb 2025

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Emulating PS2 for my Steam Deck, would love any recommendations! (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've been sinking further and further into the RetroDECK time-sink of setting up my emulators just so, and having the most fun doing so. The PS2 is a largely unknown system to me, I neither had one nor spent much time before now playing through some titles.

So...this is what I have so far! Most have either HD texture packs (Rule of Rose for example, and also Silent Hill 2 has a incredibly big 29GB of HD textures, I added after taking this screenshot), or mods applied (Gran Turismo is Spec II)

I haven't got MGS3 there, as I'm waiting for the remake to arrive, but...

Can anyone suggest any titles which are 'must adds' for me? I'd appreciate it!

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

Downhill Domination is... honestly stupid as all hell, but by design: it's a lot of fun :P

It's a downhill mountain bike racing game with a combat system, and it's ridiculous. You start being able to punch the bicyclists next to you; once you knock enough of them off their bikes you upgrade to being able to kick; then iirc you eventually get a stick or something lol. Otherwise, it's just another get-from-point-A-to-B-as-fast-as-possible game that doesn't require a lot of thought.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

...so grain of salt, cuz the name of this one doesn't sound right, but the screenshots look correct: Gradius V?

Side scroller arcade-y jet fighter - I remember it being good.

I just don't remember it being called Gradius >_<

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

I absolutely loved KH1/2 FM

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

The Simpsons: hit & run, Shinobido, GoW, Destroy all humans.

I spent a ton of time playing the two towers, bit I don't know if it has aged well.

Also, war of the monsters was campy and fun.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Soul reaver

Grand teresmo

Rayman 2

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Soul Reaver did NOT age well, but fuck was that a good series for its time.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I herd they are remastering it. Hope so.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc is where it's at. I consider that peak Rayman. Would love another game with that vibe.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Me too. Such a great series.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

The Soul Reaver / Blood Omen games have not been recommended yet. Though, as a warning, last time I tried to do the Soul Reaver 2, there was a strange bug with the sound that made it so that you couldn't pass a certain puzzle.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Dark Cloud 2

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Dark Cloud 1 definitely earns its spot on the list, too!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

Ace Combat Zero! Or 4, 5, and Zero (in that order) if you want a lot of it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

Def Jam 2: Fight for NY. It's basically like some of the older WWF wresling games where there can be 4 fighters at a time, but you can only be targetting one at a time. But all the fighters are rappers. The finishing moves are awesome!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

How's PCSX2 performance on the Deck? I somehow get much better performance on my Ryzen 5 4500U laptop than I do on my Ally and that makes absolutely no fucking sense.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (3 children)

It's perfect!

Performance is tied to framerate, or at least was a loooong time ago. I notice a lot of users on EmuDeck write about this. Like...a lot! Not your issue, but I read a lot who think the game is playing in super slo-mo, but this is all tied to the framerate. Keep it at 60 Hz or above, and all is fine.

PCSX2 has a huge range of tweaks you can make, but there's also HD texture 'packs' you can download and apply, which re-do all the textures (yeah, I know you guessed that). Some of these can be huge like Silent Hill 2's coming in at 29GB, and some can be teeny-tiny like MGS2's which only re-textures the HUD and menu (because PCSX2 can upscale the native game's resolution well enough on its own!)

Long reply, for me to say it performs perfectly for me!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

I haven't used PCSX in a while, but I remember those settings being obscure af if you're not like an expert on VRAM and shit. I would just try everything until I found the best settings for the game lol. Thankfully you can save settings per-game I believe.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Crash Nitro Kart and some of the PS2 Crash platformers are pretty good. The Kart one has a boosting system that I like better than mario kart (and better items and vibes tbh)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Frequency & Amplitude:

The originators of the modern "rhythm game" genre.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Primal.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

Just throwing out a fun game from my childhood, Lego Racers 2. I'll have to read through later for ideas because I'm in a similar boat in having never really been in console circles and never owned a PS2

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

Not exactly a suggestion, but why emulate Okami instead of just running the PC version?

Edit: If you get the PC version, you should be able to use the touch screen to draw the brush techniques directly thanks to mouse support rather than having to fuck with the sticks. You also don't get the input lag from emulation.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Klonoa 2

Super Monkey Ball Deluxe

Beatmania IIDX (if you don't mind connecting a keyboard to play)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Shining Force NEO and Shining Force EXA are both great underrated action RPGs.

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