Featured Image Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment/Capcom
Topics: List, PlayStation, Retro Gaming, Sony, Opinion
Topics: List, PlayStation, Retro Gaming, Sony, Opinion
The PlayStation 2 is arguably the greatest game console of all time and we’re sure there are thousands of readers out there with fond memories from its prime.
Years later, the PlayStation 2 still rocks on every level and if you’re lucky enough to still own one, you’re probably sitting on a treasure trove of excellent games.
Below are the 10 games we think defined Sony’s PlayStation 2 era, including why they were so ace, and how you can play some of them today.
Resident Evil 4 holds a special place in many gamers’ hearts. This follow-up to the critically-acclaimed Resident Evil series was actually never meant for the PlayStation 2; it was supposed to be a Nintendo GameCube exclusive.
Even more interesting is it started its life as a very different game. The original would have seen players become their own bioweapon before storming their way through a threat-infested castle. This idea was scrapped but repurposed into another game, Devil May Cry.
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What we eventually got with Resident Evil 4 is a top three entry in the franchise, which eventually received a just as stellar remake several years later. The original and the remake are both available on modern platforms.
After mutating from Resident Evil 4’s primordial ooze, the Devil May Cry series spawned into one of the best hack-and-slash franchises ever made.
Devil May Cry 2 was a disaster on all levels, but the developers pulled it back with Devil May Cry 3, a fitting end to the original trilogy that saw Dante face-off against his brother Virgil. The two sons of Sparda are one of the most iconic pairs in gaming and will soon share the screen again in the Netflix series Devil May Cry's second season.
Aside from the story, Devil May Cry 3 boasts perfected and challenging combat making it one of the most difficult games in the series, especially on modes like Dante Must Die. Gamers were equipped for the challenge though and for those yet to give this one a go, it’s readily available through Devil May Cry: HD Collection.
Naughty Dog is known for The Last of Us nowadays but looking back, it’s incredible how many banger franchises it's given us over the years.
Jak & Daxter is one of them - and it's screaming to make a return, starting with the first game in the original trilogy.
To us, Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is one of the earliest examples of a perfect open-world, and one you could get lost in for hours on end as you explore and collect.
The following games have their merits but they couldn’t have existed without the original, so thankfully it’s still playable from the PlayStation Store. However it’s also worth checking out some of the PC ports.
This one really hurts… As we’re sure you’re all aware, a remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was in development by Ubisoft and was almost finished before it was cancelled.
Fans had been waiting years for this game to return as not only was it a solid platformer, it was a revolutionary one at that. Being able to rewind time in a video game was something that had never been done before and it earned its place in many gamers’ collections.
Unfortunately, those who wanted to play this game on modern platforms can’t as it was never re-released. It’s believed Xbox will be making it backwards compatible on Xbox Series X/S but it’s unlikely to return to the PlayStation Store anytime soon.
Hopefully, Ubisoft reconsiders its decision and delivers the remake this legendary game deserves.
There’s a reason horror fanatics still bang on about Silent Hill 2 so many years later. It’s because it’s unforgettable, possibly even timeless.
It’s so popular that Konami greenlit a remake for it before the original, arguably bringing the franchise back on par with the likes of Resident Evil.
Going back to it now, you probably won’t think it’s that scary. Graphics have come a long way since the PlayStation 2 days so polygonal Pyramid Head doesn’t have the same kick he did back in 2001, but the atmosphere of the original still stands.
It’s also the only way you can play the Born From A Wish add-on story too as for whatever reason, that bonus content wasn’t brought back for the remake.
God of War was released over two decades ago and we’re now on the cusp of revisiting it with a remake.
It’s about time too as while God of War III is the best of the original trilogy, the first game holds a special place in our heart for how unique it was.
The hack-and-slash gameplay was something we’d seen before but putting us behind the wheel of a deranged and angry demigod was otherworldly, and it’s a great one to replay with all the context of what came after.
Kratos was an excellent vessel of hatred for players to take over and while future games aimed to humanise him more, there’s just something so freeing about him being an unstoppable force of nature even a pantheon of gods didn’t want to mess with.
Oh what a thrill this game is. There’s bound to be some gamers out there who prefer Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty, but it’s okay to be wrong.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater takes us back through time and puts us into the boots of Big Boss, or as he’s known at the time, Naked Snake.
There’s some debate over which version of the game is best as while the PS2 version sports the traditional overhead camera angles, the PS3 port introduced an over-the-shoulder camera. That’s a debate for a different article though. We’re talking about the PS2 version and how much we love it.
The story is masterful, the stealth-action gameplay is inspirational, and the bosses are wonderfully creative, especially The End.
You can either play the original version of the game but enhanced in the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection or the remake Metal Gear Solid: Delta, though depending on who you ask, the latter lacks the charm of the original.
Okami is a game everyone should play as it’s art in its purest form. When fans were going wild at the announcement of Okami 2, we were right there with them as the original couldn’t have been more deserving of a sequel.
The cell-shaded art style makes this one a timeless classic so thank god it was re-released on modern platforms so a new audience could experience its majesty.
If you’re able to, we'd implore you to go into Okami blind. Don’t look at gameplay, don’t read the reviews, just grab a copy of the game and prepare for your life to change.
Ah s**t, here we go again. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the crème de la crème of GTA games. We eventually returned to Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V and while the sequel remains flawless, you just can’t beat the classics.
It was helped along by the larger than life characters Rockstar Games is best-known for like Big Smoke, Ryder, Wu Zi Mu and, of course, our protagonist CJ.
What we love most about San Andreas though is the open-world. Unlocking the bridges of different islands was incredibly exciting and there always felt like plenty to do. It actually makes some of the modern Grand Theft Auto games feel worse in comparison, as losing places like the gym, fast-food restaurants, and other enterable locations makes some of today’s open-worlds feel lesser by comparison.
Shadow of the Colossus is one of the greatest games ever made, not just the best game on the PlayStation 2. It’s a technological marvel and a game some of us replay more than once a year.
Tasked with taking down 16 colossal beasts, players are taken on an unforgettable journey that leaves you questioning everything.
What strikes us most about it is the absence of dialogue, as while a bellowing voice from the sky directs you to your next boss, you have to piece together the story yourself using the world around you. The lands you cross are perilous but beautiful, and players have spent years scouring its map for secrets.
The original PS2 version is unavailable on modern platforms but the PS4 remake can be enjoyed. If you haven’t played this you’re doing yourself a disservice.
READ MORE: The Scariest Moments in Horror Games Ranked From Spooky To Nightmare Inducing