Explanation · NexWave Games
Which PS3 can play PS2 games? Here’s how to check
You will find a PS3 Fat and think: nice, my PS2 games can also be included. Regrettably, "Fat" is not a guarantee. Sony changed the hardware over the lifetime of the PS3. With the model number you get further than with a shiny picture.
Short answer: only certain early PS3s
A PS3 Slim or Super Slim does not play PS2 games directly from the original PS2 disc. The large Fat version is more complicated: some early versions support PS2 discs, later versions do not. For example, Sony's model overview identifies the early CECH-A00 and CECH-B00 as suitable for the Japanese market, but the models and execution in Europe differ. Therefore, do not copy an American or Japanese list blind to a Dutch advertisement.
Also, a A hard drive may later have been replaced and a seller may misread a specified capacity. The CECH number on the console sticker identifies the execution much better. Ask for a readable photo of that model code, preferably together with a demonstration in which the device starts a PS2 disc.
This is how you test backward compatibility
Use an original PS2 game on disc that fits the region of the console. Don't just show that the disc disappears in the slot: wait until the game really gets past the start screen. Sony warns that even with compatible models not every game works perfectly. Therefore, ask for exactly the game you want to play.
Also note the difference between a PS2 game on a physical disc and a digital reissue from the PlayStation Store. The fact that a PS3 can offer a PS2 title digitally anywhere does not mean that the disc drive accepts your old disks. For your collection in boxes, you need specific compatibility.
Is an early Fat the best purchase?
Depends on your plans. If you want one console next to the television and like your search, then a confirmed early model is attractive. If you want to play PS2 games without a doubt, a real PlayStation 2 is often the more direct route. With an older PS3 the general condition deserves extra attention: check that the disc drive works, the system remains stable during play and all cables are present.
Ask which controller is included and check the connections. For PS2 games on a suitable PS3 the console uses its own storage for virtual memory cards; a physical PS2 memory card is not just inserted into the PS3. If you have old savegames, then transferring requires separate equipment and preparation.
The secure purchase check
Did you read model code? Tested Disc of your desired game? Console stable during a game session? If you can answer yes three times, you know a lot more than after the description "P.O.P. 3" is all played. And if an ad says only "Fat with PS2 support," ask for the CECH number first.