The best PS2 games began the hype of the most popular franchises we know today. This includes the likes of God of War, Kingdom Hearts, and Ratchet & Clank; here are the games that represent the best experiences on Sony’s best-selling platform.
10. God of War
God of War is one of the PS2’s most iconic games, and for good reason. It features outstanding character action as you whip your enemies with the Chains of Olympus and take them down in grisly detail. The storyline is epic, the visuals are still cinematic to this day, and you’ll love the intense boss battles from this game. Kratos might be one-note in this PS2 interpretation when compared to the reboot-quel PS4 series, but it’s still fun to take down the Greek gods one by one. What brings it down a bit are the annoying puzzles that spoil the game’s pace.
9. Beyond Good & Evil
One of the most underrated games on the PS2 (and also one of the best) is Beyond Good & Evil. It features a riveting story that has you uncovering a sci-fi conspiracy. You’re taking pictures for the IRIS Network, revealing details about a corrupt organization that is taking prisoners. It’s set up in a Zelda-like way, where you solve puzzles, take down bosses, and try to get through each “dungeon” alive. It also has an open world to explore with plenty of secrets to find. There are lots of animals to take pictures of to get money and other rewards.
“The game manages to draw one in and keep the player involved with a charming game world and a strong, atypical female protagonist,” said our review of the 2011 HD version.
8. Sly Cooper & The Thievius Racooonus
After playing this game very recently on the PS5, thanks to PlayStation Plus Premium, Sly Cooper & The Thievius Racoonus holds up exceptionally well. The art style looks stunning on screen as it has comic book-like visuals. It’s fun to clobber enemies with Sly’s cane and stealthily move across each level with the abilities this raccoon gets from his ancestors. The developer Sucker Punch Productions (inFAMOUS, Ghost of Tsushima) continues to throw in twists to the gameplay to keep Sly’s adventure fresh from beginning to end. Check this game out now for a unique 3D platformer that takes place around the world.
7. Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
From one platforming hero to another, Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is by far the best of this Naughty Dog-developed trilogy. It features bright, bold visuals, with plenty of entertaining platforming challenges across the game’s world. The biomes are varied and present engaging game designs. Additionally, Daxter is a successful comedic relief for the game as he tries to shake Jak back alive after he is taken down by his enemies. The Precursor Legacy also controls greatly as Jak rolls and jumps his way to each platform. It is an impressive visual spectacle for the PS2 and should be praised.
6. Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal
Arguably the best of the three platforming mascots from the PS2 era is Ratchet with his best pal Clank. I challenge you to find a PS2 game funnier than Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal. It has the hilarious antagonist Dr. Nefarious alongside his straight-person sidekick Lawrence with funny banter and well-timed slapstick. You also get Courtney Gears, a funny albeit dated reference to Britney Spears. Ratchet & Clank are also fantastic as the protagonists of the game with quips of their own.
Up Your Arsenal features all kinds of weapons at the Lombax’s disposal. You have the electrifying Shock Blaster, the powerful Plasma Whip, and the Qwack-O-Ray, which turns your enemies into explosive ducks. The developer Insomniac Games is so creative with its weapons, and the platforming is also varied all the way through with fun segments like using the gravity boots and riding grind rails with Ratchet’s footwear.
5. Resident Evil 4
While Resident Evil 4 hasn’t aged the best when compared to other games on this list, you can’t deny its importance in the industry. It revolutionized the third-person shooter genre with great controls (at the time), powerful guns, and exhilarating blockbuster moments that kept us glued to the screens.
It also brought in an era of quick-time events, which began a cinematic era in gaming, for better or for worse. This Capcom game delivers a successfully creepy atmosphere with its dark European aesthetic. The storyline is also effective as you try to save the President’s daughter, who has been kidnapped by this scary cult.
“The game proves that sometimes all you need is a simple gameplay hook, as well as the bravery to stick with it, in order to drive home a compelling experience,” said our review of this game’s HD version in 2011.
4. Kingdom Hearts 2
Square Enix delivered one of the best PS2 games in 2005 when Kingdom Hearts 2 launched that December in Japan. It has an engaging narrative with fascinating original characters to meet, in addition to Final Fantasy and Disney heroes along the way. In addition, the combat is stellar and still has the best action RPG system to date. The reaction command mechanic has you dynamically react to enemy attacks, and the combat options available to the player, such as abilities, magic, drive forms, summons, and more, are immense.
The boss battles are also epic as you confront the powerful Organization XIII, heartless, and nobodies that stand in your way. I’ll never forget pressing triangle and cross as fast as I can to block Xemnas’ constant barrage of lasers toward Sora and Riku. The scale of each world is incredible too, especially when you consider it was developed for the PS2. The World That Never Was features a massive castle that you need to work your way up to stop Xemnas’ plans. The attention to detail in each Disney world is also immaculate. Mulan‘s visual art style with the smoke and fire is replicated to perfection, and Beast’s Castle looks as impressive as it does in the movie Beauty & The Beast.
3. Persona 4
The Persona series is well-renowned, and for good reason. After you finish each entry, you’ll feel like you’re saying goodbye to your friends with a tearful smile, and that’s the same with Persona 4. Each character is well-rounded with likable traits and weaknesses that they show throughout the deep storyline. You’ll also get to know them through your social links, and as you increase your bond with them, your abilities grow.
The combat revolves around collecting different monsters called Shadows and using their abilities in battle. You can even fuse them to create stronger creatures for your moveset. It’s a fantastic game loop and will keep you playing for many, many hours. We gave the Golden version on Vita a 10/10 rating in our review. “The summoning system of the Persona games has been likened to Pokemon’s monster collecting and, while they’re similar in the collection aspect, I feel Atlus’ work is quite a bit deeper in scope, and certainly more adult,” it said. “For being engrossing they’re on the same level.”
2. Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus is an artistic masterpiece that every gamer should get the chance to play. With incredible visuals and stunning music, you play as Wonder on an incredible journey to save his love. To do that, you have to take down these gigantic creatures fittingly called colossi. The game features a protagonist that isn’t perfect. He is slim, stumbles around, and can fall down easily. It sounds frustrating at first, but part of the charm is that you’re playing as this weaker man fighting against these terrifying beasts. He isn’t Kratos, he’s relatable.
The colossi themselves are levels as you’re trying to find a way to scale up them and strike your sword into their weak spot. When the puzzle of how to climb a colossus is solved, you get a rush of satisfaction as the magnificent track “The Opened Way” blasts out loud in glee. Everything in this game comes together in a beautiful package, and it’s one of PlayStation’s best games ever.
1. Final Fantasy X
One game triumphs over the mighty colossi, and that’s Final Fantasy X, arguably Square Enix’s magnum opus. Final Fantasy X tells a stellar story. As a fish out of water, the main protagonist Tidus experiences a new world 1,000 years into the future. The characters he meets along the way have interesting personalities that change the trajectory of the narrative significantly. They all have their own roles to play in the party. You’ll get invested in every character, especially Yuna and Tidus, who share a touching romantic story across the game’s lengthy campaign. The voice performances are also impressive, especially if you consider this is the first mainline game in the Final Fantasy series to feature voice acting.
I cried multiple times when I played this as a kid and after playing through the game five or so years ago, I had the same reaction. What helps add to the drama and emotion of the narrative is the impeccable soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu, who delivers his best work with themes like “To Zanarkand” and “Movement in Green.”
Spira takes your breath away
What is just as memorable is the sights of Spira, the land where Final Fantasy X takes place. The designs of the temples, the gorgeous scenery of Besaid, and the grand cities of these islands stick in my mind decades after playing Final Fantasy X for the first time.
Additionally, the turn-based combat system is one of the best the legendary Final Fantasy series has to offer. You can switch our party members for strategic depth, interact with objects during the battle in a puzzle-like fashion against bosses, use special abilities, and utilize the mega-customizable Sphere Grid that lets you progress your characters in your own way.
“Its story, which follows summoner Yuna on her journey across the world of Spira to fight Sin, is one of Square Enix’s best,” said our review of the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD remaster. “Likable characters with memorable outfits, a fantastic musical score, and a powerful ending made this game one of the best role-playing games of the PS2 era.”
Published: Dec 30, 2024 07:10 am