My Realme 12+ is nearing the end of its major Android update cycle.
For typical users, there’s no urgent need for a replacement. Plenty of devices work perfectly long after software support disappears.
Personally, it’s time to upgrade. My reasons have more to do with the nature of my work.
I review smartphones and write about Android frequently. Using an aging device makes it harder to compare experiences across products.
I’d rather give it a new use, especially when the hardware is still capable. My phone may not be a gaming flagship, but it has expansive memory and decent battery life.
I’ve redirected it towards retro gaming. It’s now my mobile PlayStation 2 machine, and here’s how I made it happen.
How I recreated my PS2 glory days without the console
It’s as easy as pressing X
I’ve been a dedicated PlayStation player since the original PS One days, and that hasn’t changed. I’m planning on upgrading to the PS5, yet I still keep the remains of my previous consoles.
The only one that’s mysteriously missing is my PS2. My siblings get a suspicious side eye whenever I think about it.
If one thing’s clear at this point, it’s that I’m a hoarder, although I prefer the term “vintage collector”. Occasionally, I feel a wave of nostalgia for specific games I used to sink hours into.
Some examples include Bakugan: Battle Brawlers, the God of War series, Medal of Honor, Prince of Persia, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, and more.
I’ve partly recreated those days with the PPSSPP emulator. But PSP emulation doesn’t cover the larger PS2 library. It was a big gap I had the urge to fill.
NetherSX2 laid a strong gaming foundation
Without it, it would’ve been game over before the loading screen
A good emulator makes or breaks your experience, whether you’re gaming on a phone or PC. At least, desktop platforms have more options.
It’s because developers face fewer restrictions and have better tools to build and test them. It’s why it’s important to choose a stable emulator from the few available for Android.
Otherwise, you’ll spend more time troubleshooting than actually playing a game.
I’ve been watching PSX2 on the Google Play Store. But the $6 asking price made me question whether it was worth it.
After digging through user feedback and community discussions, it didn’t have a strong reputation. I also saw excessive reports of inconsistent performance.
So I went with NetherSX2 instead, which I installed from the official website. You won’t find it on the Google Play Store.
It’s a community-maintained continuation of AetherSX2, which was also developed as a mobile adaptation of the long-running PC emulator, PCSX2.
Every console copycat needs its own firmware
How else will your phone believe it’s a PS2?
An emulator on its own isn’t enough to run PS2 games. It’s only recreating the hardware environment.
The Basic Input/Output System file is what will mimic the console’s firmware and tell your phone how to boot downloaded games.
I downloaded the file from the ROMs Megathread directory. Select the Download button beside Sony PlayStation 2 BIOS Images to do the same. It’ll redirect you to a web page containing different options.
Specifically, I got the widely verified ps2-0230a-20080220-175343.zip file. It comes from a later PS2 firmware revision in 2008, which was near the end of the console’s lifecycle. So, you’ll get better compatibility and stability in emulators.
When I had the BIOS file, I ran the NetherSX2 app and imported it. I’d pre-downloaded some games, so I imported them as well. You can get them from the Megathread.
Most of your downloads will appear as compressed ZIP archives. Have a file extractor ready to unzip them before importing them into the emulator.
Grow your mobile PlayStation dashboard
There are many titles to relive
NetherSX2 itself is a lightweight app. After the setup process, you’ll see your library view.
There’s a slide-out menu in the upper-left corner housing options to start a game manually, boot directly into the BIOS, re-scan directories, manage save states, and tweak controller settings.
You also get quality-of-life extras like automatic cover art downloads to make your library look more organized.
Launching a game displays a full-screen experience.
There are virtual on-screen controls mapped to the classic PlayStation layout. You’ll see the familiar face buttons, analog stick, and L1/L2/R1/R2 triggers.
Switch your screen’s orientation with the auto-rotate feature for the best experience. It’s in your phone’s Quick Settings panel when you swipe down from the top.
Create clearly labeled folders in your internal storage before installing games and associated files. It stops confusion.
Make a main folder labeled PlayStation 2. Inside it, create subfolders for the BIOS, ROMs/games, and more.
Ready Player Two
You’ll notice when sourcing games that some PS2 titles are large. Most come in ISO format that are up to 6GB each. They are the exact digital copies of an entire game disc.
Ensure your phone has enough storage and RAM before you start building a library. If not, performance will suffer and no amount of tweaking will save your gameplay.
While NetherSX2 supports touch controls, I prefer tactile feedback. Most times, I connect a PS4 controller with my phone over Bluetooth and play with ease.
