PlayStation 30th anniversary celebration isn't complete without these free PS2 bangers
Sony’s PlayStation 2 was a monumental console and one that was a landmark in the industry. Having already revolutionised consoles by bringing us CD-Roms and more graphical grunt with the PlayStation, the Japanese company went on to double down on their brand and bring us tentative steps into online play, a built-in DVD player, and a catalogue of games that changed gaming forever.
As PlayStation celebrates 30 years of gaming, we had to take some time to highlight the bangers available from each generation of Sony’s brand, all playable for free via PlayStation Plus Premium. You’ve got off-the-wall gems, brooding adventures, and of course, plenty of 3D platformers. We’ve already showcased OG PlayStation gems, so let’s look at some PS2 bangers.
Timesplitters 2
It can’t be the best of PlayStation 2 without Timesplitters 2 - probably one of the best shooters of the era. What’s better than a space marine recovering time crystals from aliens messing with various timelines? Jaunting about in said time periods was a barrel of laughs and this was shown in the surreal design and hilarious moments. Whether playing the campaign or the bizarre minigames, this game was loved and respected by millions. Part boomer shooter, part timey wimey adventure, all heart. God, I miss this series.
The Sly Trilogy
Advert
You’ll notice a few 3D platformers on this list. That’s for two reasons; firstly, most of the PlayStation Plus titles are in this genre; secondly, the PS2 pretty much built that genre from the ground up. So, putting my personal favourite on here was a no-brainer. The Sly Racoon games had sass, style, and bags of charm. From adorable and lovable characters to the stealth and action hybrid designs of levels, the Sly games were slept on, in the UK anyway, and deserve some time to shine.
Ratchet and Clank
More 3D platforming goodness comes from Ratchet and Clank. Which side of the fence do you fall? You’re either team Ratchet or team Jak, but both are brilliant for their own reasons. Ratchet and Clank may carry more of the love given the recent PS5 title, but it all started here. For my money, it has the better world to explore with pseudo sci-fi, galaxy hopping hi jinks, and bonkers weaponry that completely upended the game.
Jak and Daxter
I would say that Jak And Daxter, while still having humorous moments, relies more on worldbuilding and disastrous evils befouling that world. This isn’t to say it’s in any way worse then Ratchet and Clank, but it had a different edge. The core gameplay is super similar though, so if you’ve missed out on any of these 3D platformers, you can expect plenty of mobility based puzzles and adventuring, with some skirmishes littering the way. Not only is this a top-notch game, but it marks an opening for Naughty Dog to dominate the PlayStation ecosystem and become a darling of fans.
Shadow of the Colossus
If we’re talking about absolute legends on the PlayStation 2, then Shadow of the Colossus is up there. As one of the best games to release for the console, it changed the way we looked at games. Not because the subtext questions why we need to kill constantly in games, but because it told a story through the actions and environment, suggesting that games didn’t have to bludgeon us with exposition. The sheer scale and beauty of this game blew the minds of players on release, and it’s still a moving and wonderful piece of entertainment today.
Tomb Raider Legend
Another legend steps up to the plate now. Lara Croft made her name on PlayStation and her adventures were adored by millions. The chance to venture into lost civilisations, explore underground tombs, take on danger, was a non-stop thrill. Of course, Lara controlled like a tank with the retro control systems in place, but it didn’t stop us from pillaging and slaying dinosaurs. While this isn’t the best of her adventures, it’s a good point to visit in the series for the sake of nostalgia. I wish Sony would give us the original trilogy on PlayStation Plus, but I guess it’s tied up in remasters.
PaRappa the Rapper 2
As an early part of the PlayStation lifecycle of consoles, the PS2 was home to some very bizarre and often awesome games. While this kind of esoteric joy is now found more in indie games, we can go back and visit Parappa the Rapper and his oddball mates anytime we like. As a rhythm game, based on more family-friendly rapping, it doesn’t get more joyous than this. Colourful, bold, very different, this came from a time when Japanese quirks sat centre stage, and we revelled in them. Being a mostly 2D game (in the 3D space) with simple button presses, this has aged incredibly well.
Fantavision
Puzzle games aren’t exactly plentiful for PlayStation 2, but at least one of the best can be played with ease. Fantavision has you matching up colourful fireworks as they burst in the night sky. I remember thinking that graphics would never get better than this - what a fool. It still looks pretty as a picture though, and the gameplay loop is just as engaging as in the year 2000. As a launch title for the console, it marks an important moment for Sony, and it was initially used as a showcase for the particle effects of PS2. It’s also a bit different and makes me wish for a new entry.
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Playstation Plus, Retro Gaming, Tomb Raider