The PS2 library could outdo dozens of consoles from Nintendo to Sega, as it was well-supported by both first-party and third-party studios that produced amazing work. First-person shooters, platformers, RPGs, and action games: the PS2 had it all. In fact, the PS2 arguably has some of the best games that still hold up next to modern triple-A titles.
8 PS2 Games That Are 10/10 But Nobody Remembers
These PlayStation 2 games are without a doubt masterpieces, but for some reason, hardly anyone seems to remember them today.
Graphically, they may be held back, but there are reasons why Okami, Kingdom Hearts 2, and many others hold up. Let’s go over why these games matter today, how they influenced the action genre, and why they are still worth playing. Most have modern ways to check them out, while others take a bit more work.
Click or tap on the games that match the category
Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
Shirts Off, Guns Out
Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening was a prequel set before the first game, which featured a younger Dante in his early years as a demon hunter. That meant way more cockiness, way more flexibility, and way less clothing because apparently, fighting demons shirtless is a good idea. Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening featured incredible action like the original game, with a good balance between melee and gunplay.
New to the game were the new forms that could change how players approached combat, including Trickster, Swordmaster, Gunslinger, and Royal Guard. Swapping between styles on the fly still feels great as far as action games go, and for many fans, this is their favorite version of Dante, who is unrestrained, which is also why the game itself holds up.
Dark Cloud 2
Two Hearts Traveling Through Time
Dark Cloud 2 is a masterpiece from Level-5, which is miraculous since this was only their second game overall. It was a big improvement over the original paring down the playable characters to just two, Max and Monica, but giving them so much more complexity. Monica used swords, magic, and could transform into monsters, while Max used tools, guns, and had a mech to control.
Weapons leveled up and evolved, which is still one of the coolest gear systems in an RPG. The time-traveling elements were also interesting, along with the improved city-builder mechanics, and these are all just surface-level praises. Thankfully, the game lives on through a PS4 port, which still looks good in HD on a PS5, too.
Jak 3
Dirt Devils
Jak 3
- Released
-
November 9, 2004
Jak 3 is the final chapter in the main Jak and Daxter games, which is kind of like a Mad Max equivalent if it were a platformer. Jak and Daxter get banished to a desert area where law is loosely followed, leading to more exploration and combat between vehicles and on-foot shooting. The car combat was a nice addition, and the overall difficulty balance was fixed over the second game, which is largely considered one of the hardest on the PS2.
10 PS2 Games That Felt Like Perfect Masterpieces in 2004
22 years ago, these ten games wowed PlayStation 2 owners to the point where many are still talking about them today.
Because it was a more arid region, there was less variety in the environments, but it was still an interesting game to explore thanks to the solid mechanics. The more mature story concluded on a good note, and like always, Daxter was the MVP thanks to his constant gags.
Kingdom Hearts 2
Bouncing Around Disney Worlds
Kingdom Hearts 2 is still considered by fans to be the best in the series, even though it has a slow start with Roxas. Once Sora gets back in control, it’s smooth sailing across old and new Disney worlds from Beauty and the Beast to Mulan. The addition of more original characters via Organization 13 and an even deeper connection to Final Fantasy also won over diehard Square Enix fans.
The platforming was better, the combat was more involved with the new transformations, and the list can go on. Visually, the HD version looks as good as any modern 3D animated movie because it has style over actual cutting-edge graphics, but even the PS2 build is a wonder.
Okami
Watercolored Godhood
Okami
- Released
-
September 19, 2006
There’s really no game like Okami, as even the DS sequel was just more of the same, albeit on a lesser platform. Players assumed the role of a wolf who was the embodiment of the sun god, Amaterasu. Through questing in a Zelda-like fashion, players would unlock new celestial powers used both in combat and puzzle situations.
For example, at any time, players could pause time to draw with an ethereal brush to create a bomb that could explode enemies in battle or crack open walls. Other powers included drawing on certain objects to repair them, like a bridge. The cel-shaded painterly style holds up on the PS2 and looks even sharper as well in HD, and in many ways, Okami holds up better as an action-adventure game than a lot of Zelda titles.
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege
Viva La France
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege is still the most ambitious and wildest entry in the Onimusha series, featuring time travel between the feudal era of Japan and the then-present-day setting of France. The hero from the first game, Samanosuke, is whisked away to France, while a cop, Jacques, who is portrayed by the actor Jean Reno, is transported back in time to Japan.
8 Late PS2 RPGs No One Remembers
Even after the next generation of consoles started, several RPGs were released on the PS2 and were completely forgotten soon after.
Together, they must rescue these worlds from demons to stop a plot to destroy the world and get back to their own timeline. Between swordplay, whip-play, and even a little shooting mechanics, there’s not a more interesting game in the series, and, unfortunately, it is still trapped on the PS2.
Viewtiful Joe
The Lone Red Ranger
Viewtiful Joe was a GameCube exclusive at first before getting a PS2 port with enhancements, like Dante from Devil May Cry appearing as a secret character. Sans Dante, the game is a great superhero parody while also being a good adventure in its own right. An ordinary movie fan, Joe, gets a special Power Rangers-like suit when his favorite film comes alive, giving him superhuman speed and control over time.
Players can slow down or speed up their punches, and depending on the enemy, these attacks will exploit weaknesses. The first two core games are great as 2D brawlers, and it’s surprising no one other than Capcom has attempted this style of combat since, and sadly, both games are trapped on old hardware.
Zone Of The Enders: The 2nd Runner
Jehuty And The Blowfish
Most mech games are focused on giving players a power fantasy over controlling big, heavy-duty mechs. Some can have speed, but there is usually weight behind the controls, regardless, which is where Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner differs because this mech, Jehuty, was designed around speed and mastery over the air.
Players can attack enemies with homing lasers, strike them with a sword arm, or grab objects in the environment. The story, while cheesy at times, will resonate with Metal Gear fans as Hideo Kojima helped produce the game. It’s a very short game too, which can be completed in about two hours, and with an HD version, there’s no reason not to play it over a good night.
7 Things About the PS2 I Miss More Than I Expected
Come back and remember the 2000s era of the PS2, and all of its charming, nostalgia-inducing features.
