I bet you everyone saying ‘PS2 no contest!’ weren’t even born when the console released.
Born when the PS2 released? Err, yes, kind of a given, most people in existence weren’t born on March 4th 2000 (JP), October 26th 2000 (NA), or November 24th 2000 (EU) (and some other regions, but let’s not extend this lame joke even longer). That’s the safest bet ever.
Generally confused about the lack of DS votes (I also voted for it)
I feel like GAF must just have been made up by people who only owned the PS2 that gen. The DS was just outstanding for a handheld and I remember far more of its releases fondly than I do my PS2.
I had a DS, it was great, but I don’t get the high love some have for it.
New Super Mario Bros was great at the time, but over time it became clear it was just a good Mario game, nothing more, simply it was the initial excitement over having a new 2D Mario (which Nintendo quickly overstuffed us with, killing the novelty). I did not care for the Zelda games on DS, the control scheme felt like I was just guiding Link instead of getting to actually play as him. Mario Kart had a great entry, true. Pokémon did have a solid entry with B&W and the G&S remakes. I did not care for Metroid Prime Hunters. Mario and Luigi RPG: BIS was great but I still prefer the first game. Animal Crossing was good but also when I tapped out of the series. Phoenix Wright is great though I have to be in the mood for that sort of game. I felt Fire Emblem SD was weaker compared to the GBA entries.
And there was some other great titles, but it was not Nintendo’s strongest outing even in the handheld department.
My only guess why some would prefer the DS is if they didn’t have much time to game as I imagine DS games were generally quicker to complete and easier to just hop into compared to PS2 games. But for those of us who did have more time, come on, this is no contest, PS2 takes that crown for sure.
As for the other comments claiming DS had better RPGs, I just……
Dark Cloud 1 and 2
Digital Devil Saga 1 and 2
Disgaea 1 and 2
Dragon Quest VIII
Final Fantasy X and XII
Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2
Odin Sphere
Persona 3 and 4
Rogue Galaxy
Shadow Hearts trilogy
Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne
Star Ocean 3
Tales of the Abyss
Wild Arms 3
Xenosaga 1 and 3
And there were others I never even touched. Like, this is a slaughter, don’t do the DS dirty like that. It was great, let’s remember what it did do well, but claiming it could beat PS2 of all systems in JRPGs?