[charlie_ps2]

I was kindly provided with a Magic 3 for review by Console24.com.

Here is the game test result for the original, genuine MAGIC 3 tested on a US v7, GH-019.

My overall impression is that the Magic 3 does function as intended, eventually after making due allowance for DVD9 direct boot. However in my subjective opinion, the Magic 2 was a better chip. booting games first time more often.

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Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Direct Boot NO - Would not boot
Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Booted
behind AR2/GS2 OK - every time

FF X NTSC-U DVD original OK
GTA3 PAL DVD original OK
DOA2 NTSC-J DVD Original OK

Tony Hawks 3 PAL DVD-R* OK
Headhunter PAL DVD-R** OK

EA NBA Street NTSC-U CD-R OK
Twisted MB Kalisto Rip OK

FF IX NTSC-J PS1 Original OK
FF IX NTSC-U PS1 CD-R OK
Rockman NTSC-J PS1 CD-R OK

AR2/GS2 GTA3 Orig. With Codes OK
AR2/GS2 GTA3 DVD-R With Codes*** OK - every time

Toystory NTSC-U Movie OK - PS1 boot process
PAL Movie (using AR2/GS2) OK - PS1 boot process

* Tony Hawks 3 on Datasafe Media. A borderline copy.
** Headhunter on Infiniti media. No problem.
*** GTA3 on Princo media. No problem
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I regard the Messiah 2 as the benchmark modchip. So when I couldn't boot Tony Hawks 3 DVD-R with the magic 3, I switched to the Messiah 2 on the same PS2. The game booted immediately and failed to boot as soon as I switched back to Magic 3. After cleaning the lens on the PS2, the game booted 100% every time with Magic 3. from this I have concluded that the Magic 3 booting strategy is geared to events occuring within a specified time frame or number of cycles, which is fine for good media but not for borderline or poorer media. Just a point worth noting.

Console24 will be sending me a Magic 3.1 next week and I am hopeful of an even better result.