[quote name='mr ryles']ya it is worth it either way, but as an owner of both the GC and PS2 versions, the PS2 version is just as good, if not even better because of all the extras, graphically they are equal.[/QUOTE]
Graphically equal? Well, not really. I had them side by side at a freinds house and the GC version did look better.
Here is what IGN said in their Head to Head:
GameCube Advantages
Stronger framerate-- Only during boss battles and areas within the frozen lab.
Higher resolution for environmental textures
Stronger lighting effects
GameCube Disadvantages
No true widescreen--Letterboxed
PlayStation 2 Advantages
True 16:9 Widescreen-- though not much is added to what you see on screen
PlayStation 2 Disadvantages
Less detail in textures-- On environments and characters
Minor Aliasing
Framerate--Minor slowdown during boss battles and tight-spaces
Weaker visual atmosphere--less contrast between light and dark
Less polygons
Subdued or completely missing particle effects
The Breakdown: Visually, the PS2 had its work cut out for it matching the graphical excellence of the original and from the first frame of the first scene, in the first level, noticeable (but slight) downgrading was made to compensate for the PS2's less memory space. The significant compromise that inevitably had to be made is the resolution of environmental textures and lighting throughout the games separate stages. But also, minor intricacies like the leather and fur on Leon's jacket, and fog effects don't look quite as authentic as they did on the GameCube, though only if you've spent time with the original, will you notice. Specifically, in high contrast areas where light and dark plays off one other, lighting effects have been toned down making the moody atmospheres not as, well, moody in areas like the frozen lab and the mining tunnels. Larger creatures like "El Gigante'" for example, loose some of their detail and users can see more jagged and smooth edges around what would have been curved, cracked skin on the GCN. One aspect of the PS2 version that only becomes apparent when placed side-by-side with the Gamecube, is it's lower polygon count. Watch the two videos and you can see that trees were removed or made smaller, and certain particle effects, like the catapult explosions in the castle are missing entirely.
