I just got a PS2 today and have a few questions.
One: When I’m done playing with my PS2, should I put it into stand by, or should I actually turn it off with the switch in the back?
Second: How exactly do I use the R/L 1 and 2 buttons? Do I place my index fingers on R1 and L2 and the my middle fingers for R2 and L2? Or do I use my index finger for both and just switch? Thanks!
Finger placement for the R1/R2, L1/L2 buttons: Whatever’s most comfortable for you. It’s not like there’s some video game controler police that’ll kick your door down and haul you in for using the wrong fingers. 
Lol, I know that. But I’m wondering if some games use all 4 triggers for vital game funtions, or if it’s more akin to GameCube’s “Z” button where it handles seconday features, thus not requiring constant finger placement.
I always got away with resting an index finger in the divot between the buttons, where if need be, a slight angling of the finger can depress both buttons at the same time. Course, I’m by no means a hardcore player.
I have run into a game that uses every button on the controller. You basically have to find the finger position that works for you.
Great thanks, but what about my “power” question?
As far as the poswer question goes, we never use the switch on the back, and it doesn’t seem to have caused any problems so far (2 years).
Putting it in standby mode is more convenient, because when you turn the PS2 on, you have to push the power button anyway. Might as well save yourself the added step of turning on the switch.
Personally, I hold the controller with an index finger between L1/L2 and R1/R2, but I use two fingers if I need to hit both triggers on one side. When I play Frequency, which uses L1, R1, and R2, I put my index finger on R1 and my middle finger on R2.
For me it depends on the game. On Hitman 2 R1 is fire and R2 is reload, so I keep my finger hovering over R1.
I found some games that use a lot of the buttons. For the power thing, I switch it off in the back so that it’s protected from surges like a computer is, I would hope.
Don’t touch the power switch in the back. Leave that on, and use the reset button to turn your system on and off.
Howcome? (thanks everyone for the input btw)
Because the blue light looks cool.
I dunno. Best answer? Because thats what the manual says.
I usually just rest my index finger between the back buttons, so that I can press either one. If I need to press both, my middle finger (which is usually curled underneath the controller) swings around and hits the bottom one.
The only game I had to play differentely was Oni, which required using mostly the back buttons and both analog sticks. For that, I had to hold the controller differently so all 4 back buttons could be pressed at any given time. That game used the regular buttons (triangle, etc.) for the secondary functions. Once you got used to it, it was much easier to play the game that way, rather than reconfiguring the buttons, since you need your thumb on the right analog stick the whole time.
Holy shit, I was asking my friends this same question (the power one) just the other day. I’m still wondering about the answer and I’m glad I looked on here. Now, with mine, I have an AV Adapter hooked up, so unless I turn off my PS2’s power, I can’t watch TV on my TV. So, I just hit reset when I’m done with the game, eject the disc, put it away, put the tray back in, and turn it off in the back. I was told to put it on standby too, but I doubt it makes a big difference.