The DualShock 2 Had A Hidden Function You Subconsciously Used

The DualShock 2 Had A Hidden Function You Subconsciously Used

As a gamer who’s been around since the days of GTA Vice City and Gran Turismo, I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief at the sheer brilliance we overlooked back then. The old-school PlayStation 2 controller had a hidden gem – pressure sensitivity on 16 buttons!


Did you enjoy playing games like Grand Theft Auto Vice City or Gran Turismo on your PlayStation 2 around the turn of the millennium? Back then, you might have thought pressing the “X” button harder made the car go faster, but that wasn’t actually the case, correct? Actually, that’s not accurate!

Old PlayStation 2 Controller’s Had Pressure Sensitivity Features

As a seasoned gamer, I’ve got to share a cool secret: Most folks know about the controller’s vibration and dual analog sticks, but what they don’t realize is that a whopping 16 of its buttons are pressure-sensitive! That means they can pick up on different levels of force you apply, making for some incredibly nuanced gameplay. So next time you’re gaming, give those buttons a gentle tap or a firm press and see what happens!

In the DualShock 2, not only the main face keys, but also the shoulder buttons and directional pad have a sensitivity feature. This means that the controller can identify the degree of pressure applied to each button, giving a range of input responses instead of just an on or off state.

The DualShock 2 Had A Hidden Function You Subconsciously Used

Many games didn’t incorporate this feature, but for those that did, its influence was substantial. For instance, in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, softly tapping the Square button adjusted the weapon aim, while fully pressing it initiated firing. Similarly, in Gran Turismo 3 and Gran Turismo 4, the intensity of the X button press determined the car’s speed, mimicking the sensation of a gas pedal. Moreover, in FIFA games, this feature regulated the power behind passes or shots.

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Back in the day, the DualShock 2 controller for the PS2 boasted pressure-responsive buttons that were quite innovative at the time, but they only hinted at the advanced capabilities we have now. Fast-forward to the present, and controllers such as the PS5’s DualSense and the Xbox Elite Series are brimming with cutting-edge technologies like adaptive triggers, advanced haptics, motion sensitivity, and unparalleled customization. It’s a pity that these features didn’t continue to evolve in more recent models.

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2024-09-18 12:39