The PS2 has one of the largest and most extensive libraries ever. From platformers to RPGs to shooters, fans of every genre were covered, which is probably why it sold so well. As is the case with many consoles with large libraries, some games are bound to get lost in the shuffle.
PS2 games that deserve the God Of War reboot treatment
These characters from the PlayStation 2 games could lead to new reboots of their franchises, like Kratos did.
Even if they are not playable on the original hardware, we hope that one day they will come back with a remaster or a port to other consoles, e.g. Final Fantasy 10, Devil May Cry, Resident Evil 4and many other great PS2 games. These other PS2 games weren't so lucky and deserve special attention.
Champions Of Norrath: Realms Of EverQuest
Diablo on PS2
Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest was quite obviously a spinoff of EverQuest MMO, instead it's top-down action RPG-like Diablo. Players could choose one of five preset classes, such as Warrior or Ranger, and go through a more linear set of quests that usually involved killing some kind of monster.
It wasn't intellectually mind boggling, but it was a great action game with friends. Like Diablothe real fun was replaying it to get better loot at higher levels and higher challenge ratings. That along with its sequel Champions: Return to Armsnever left PS2.
Maximo: Ghosts To Glory
Ghosts 'N Goblins Reborn
Ghosts 'N Goblins gave NES players teenage nightmares, along with the SNES sequel, as it was one of the hardest games on the system. A few years later, Capcom approved this reboot with the title Maximo: Ghosts to Glorywhich also received a sequel titled Maximo vs. the army of Zin.
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory it was still challenging, but not at any unfair levels. It was a more balanced action platformer similar to some other PS2 platformers at the time such as Ratchet & Clank. The titular Maximo had a sword and shield at his disposal, and players could pick up power-ups throughout the adventure to expand his arsenal. Both games were digitally ported to the PS3, but that's about it.
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
Prototype prototype
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction wasn't a typical PS2 licensed superhero game because the developer, Radical Entertainment, really cared about the project. To this day, it's still the best game starring The Hulk, as players were free to run around the big city doing what The Hulk did best: smash. From his normal fists to reinforced gloves using auto parts, players had plenty of destructive options.
PS2 games that are still hard to come by
Naturally, the biggest console of all time has some all-time classics.
Radical Entertainment also created Prototype games and between these games and The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. It's a shame they never got a second shot at making a game based on the Hulk, or that this game is lost to time due to licensing.
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
Supernatural spies
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy is an espionage thriller in which an agent happens to be able to use supernatural powers using his brain. The third-person shooting mechanics were fine, but it was the aforementioned abilities that helped this game stand out. Players could levitate objects and throw them at enemies, or pick up enemies and use them as weapons by throwing them as well.
Additional abilities including the ability to set things on fire, mind control, out-of-body research and more. Despite the game coming to PC at a later date, it is not available for purchase on any PC game site or backwards compatible on PS2 or Xbox systems.
Klonoa 2: Lunate's Veil
Stupid platformer
Klonoa 2: Lunate's Veil was a 2.5D platformer, with some levels being 2D and others having a more 3D effect. It was a big game from Namco, but it never reached the heights of other mascot-driven games like Jak and Daxter or Sly Cooper games. Whimsical nature of the world, bright colors and great music Klonoa 2: Lunate's Veil great to play, even if it wasn't too challenging.
Like the original game, the titular Klonoa had a magic ring that would grab enemies and then throw them back at others or use them as a springboard for another jump power-up. This is one of the rare exceptions of a PS2 game that has been preserved through Klonoa Phantasy Reverie serieswhich included the original game.
Ratchet And Clank
Metal Arms: A glitch in the system
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November 19, 2003
The PS1 platformer era was all about getting franchises into 3D, while the PS2 era was all about arming heroes with weapons. Metal Arms: A glitch in the system is one of the more unsung gun-based platformers of this generation, featuring a robot hero who goes from a broken piece of scrap to an action star.
8 late PS2 RPGs that nobody remembers
Even after the next generation of consoles started, several RPGs were released on the PS2 and soon after were completely forgotten.
The shooting mechanics are as responsive as anything like it Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando or How 2and watching robots crash into scrap never got old. Additionally, the inclusion of some vehicles, from buggies to hover turrets, really helped spice up the level design.
Kri brand
Dodge A Counter
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Developer: San Diego Studio
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Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
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Platforms: PS2, PS4
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Released: July 30, 2002 (NA, PS2 version)
The sign of the Kri had a minimalist narrative Samurai Jackbut a deep tradition of building Avatar: The Last Airbendertwo cartoons that were popular in the 2000s. This action-adventure game featured a combat system unlike anything else on the PS2, except for its sequel, Rise of Kasai.
Players could rotate the analog stick, assign a button to an enemy, and as they all swarmed, they could use that button to face a specific enemy, such as Square. Both The sign of the Kri and its sequel, it should be noted, came to PS4 as quick emulated ports, so they're there for anyone who wants to take the plunge, as both are pretty tough.
Guitar Man
Fight aliens with rock
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Developer: iNiS
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Publisher: Koei
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Platforms: PS2, PSP
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Released: February 18, 2002 (NA, PS2 version)
Guitar Man it sits right up there Katamari Damacy in terms of weird PS2 games that everyone should play. A young boy, U-1, is a bit of a miserable underdog in town, but when the devil comes knocking, he suddenly awakens a superpower that turns him into a rock god.
Think of his powers as Yugi Mutou transforming into Pharaoh v Yu-Gi-Oh! anime, but trade card games for sweet guitar licks in a rhythm game unlike any other PS2 game. This game did get a second chance on the PSP, but now both versions are sitting idle and gathering dust.
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