Xploder HDTV Player for PS2 reviewed
by Richard Lawler 
posted Nov 1st 2006 at 10:19AM
We were skeptical about Xploder's HDTV Game Player package for the PS2 back when it was first announced, and IGN's review has done nothing to convince us otherwise. The kit includes a disc that must be inserted every time the PS2 is hard-booted, component cables, and manual to enable setting your PS2 to output games at 480p, 576p, 720p, or 1080i. It's not that the PlayStation 2 didn't support these resolutions, but most games did not include them as an option. IGN didn't have any problems when setting things for 480p, and did notice a slight improvement in quality, however they got distortion and stretching not unlike TNT's "HD" broadcasts when using 720p and 1080i. Apparently, 576p is supposed to avoid some of these scaling distortions but their display could not accept that resolution. All in all, it seems if you really need 480p in games that didn't support it -- for example to avoid gaming lag -- this might be worthwhile but its not suddenly going to turn your PS2 into an HD-pumping beast.
Filed under: Cables, Other hardware
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Red Gamer @ Nov 3rd 2006 5:03AM
I got this disc the other day direct from the xploder website, and have to say i'm really pleased with it. I've used about 20 games so far with it, and only 1 didnt work (PES6), and all the others look ALOT better on my Sony Bravia LCD screen. The difference between interlaced and progressive modes on LCD is unbelievable, as i'm sure others will testify. I've been using the 576p mode as this is the one xploder recommend in the manual. I had to take a couple of minutes on some games changing the screen mode on my TV remote, but i find its definitely worthwhile. If you're a serious gamer like me, particularly if you have an LCD HDTV its worthwhile getting.