PS3 backward compatibility good but not perfect

If you’re like me, you have a good number of Playstation and PS2 favorites you’re not willing to give up on just yet. So where does the PS3 stand with backward compatibility for such games? To date, there is a fair amount of popular titles that have no major problems working on the PS3. God of War I & II, the entire GTA series, the Medal of Honor series, Crash Bandicoot titles, and the various Splinter Cell games all pass the test with flying colors.

There are a few noteworthy issues with the Metal Gear series. According to the official PS3 Web site, all versions of Metal Gear Solid: Subsistence (including the limited edition) has problems with the network play aspect of the game. Sony reports that with these titles, hosting Team Deathmatch games with 5 client users results in the host becoming disconnected at random, also making reconnection impossible. Aside from online play, gamers with PS3 systems using software version 1.10 may also notice that use of the HDMI output will result in a horizontally divided screen in which both sections of the screen display out of sync with each other. This problem should be minimal for most users as it can be resolved by updating the software to version 1.31 or higher.

Sony does claim that both Guitar Hero games work fine on the PS3, but I would point out that the SG guitar controller is not readily compatible with the PS3 controller input. Several companies, such as Nyko and Pelican, are working on adapters that will allow gamers to use the SG controller with the PS3, but there are still some interfacing quirks that must be worked out. Pelican asserts that the SG controller now works with their controller adapter but this has yet to be confirmed on a widely accepted basis. Coincidentally, both games will work fine for those willing to play the game with the traditional PS3 controller using the shoulder buttons.

Obviously, the limited confines of this post does not allow for a comprehensive list of every Playstation and PS2 game but the initial reports for some of the more popular games still in circulation would seem to indicate that the PS3’s backward compatibility is holding its own thus far. If you’re curious about some of your own favorites, Sony’s backward compatibility search engine is one of the most convenient ways to confirm the status of nearly every game on the market.

Site [Status Search Engine] Site [European Game Compatibility] via [ThreeSpeech]