What Is the Name of the Game Where You Had to Characters Join Doing Art Stuff
Sony's PlayStation 2 has a mammoth catalog of games, and inside this reside some of the best games always made. TimeSplitters ii , Metallic Gear Solid 2 , Final Fantasy Ten , Shadow of the Colossus , and many, many more than made the 2d generation of Sony'south platform the get-to place for gamers, but for every classic at that place were several turkeys, as well as some genuinely not bad titles that missed out on the dear. These subconscious gems may have their own cult following, or have now been recognized as the classics they are years after their initial release. Just at the time, they merely failed to make an touch, either critically or commercially.
Let's take a look at 50 such titles.
50. Manhunt
We're going to start with a controversial entry. Manhunt wasn't underappreciated in the archetype sense of the give-and-take. It sold fairly well, and certainly got enough of attention. This attention, even so, was for all the wrong reasons, which most of us will be all too familiar with so we won't go into it here. Underneath all of the controversy lay some truly bang-up, ofttimes overlooked gameplay. Have away the violence and snuff movie content, and you have a surprisingly solid and well realized stealth title that requires careful planning and a tactical approach to taking down your foes.
Certain, the violence and grimy, gruesome aesthetic fabricated it stand up out, and grabbed all of the headlines, something Rockstar well-nigh certainly went for, but the game itself was great, and information technology's a shame many people may accept missed out on this due to the less tasteful elements of the title.
49. The Warriors
This is some other Rockstar outing, which started life on the PSP earlier beingness ported to the PS2. Based on the 70s picture show of the same name, The Warriors was a prequel of sorts to the events of the movie, depicting the origins of the titular street gang and looking at each larger-than-life grapheme in more detail.
The journeying to that fateful meeting with Riffs leader, Cyrus, was handled by a brawler-style mechanic that let you take on the gang's various rivals in hand-to-hand combat. Add in mini-games for stealing car radios, robbing stores, and spreading your gang's graffiti tag everywhere, and you've got a game that successfully captured the feel of the movie, while expanding on the original story, providing a deeper look at the Warriors themselves. If simply a game based on a 70s moving picture would accept excited the gaming oversupply more.
48. Rygar: The Legendary Run a risk
Pre-dating theGod of State of war series, Rygar was an update of the arcade and NES championship, and included Devil May Cry -way play. As Rygar, players journeyed around the isle of Argus engaging all sorts of mythological threats. The weapon of choice was the Diskarmor, essentially a shield on a chain. Much like Kratos' Blades of Anarchy, this gave Rygar an impressive range of attacks, and the upgradable shield could grant new abilities. It could too summon powerful deities.
Although nowhere virtually as polished or impressive every bit the God of State of war series, which would go far effectually 3 years after, Rygar was a good action adventure, and one that flew well under the radar of many.
47. Extermination
Survival horror is i of the defining genres of the early PlayStation era, and later Resident Evil 's arrival on the PSOne thrust it into the mainstream, many clones emerged. Nosotros're all familiar with the likes of Silent Hill, but we'd wager yous may have missed out on Extermination.
A total 3D survival horror, Extermination may have been plagued with some of the worst vocalism acting ever (which was actually slowed downwardly or sped upwardly to fit the lip syncing, with hilarious results), but the cadre gameplay was swell.
As office of an elite military team, y'all were sent to investigate an Antarctic enquiry facility that had gone dark, and arrived to observeThing -like creatures everywhere, with few survivors.
The game made use of traditionalResident Evil -style combat and exploration, but featured some nifty additions. The modular weapon you carried could be fully customized, and diverse ecology puzzles were put into play. Aslope this, ammo was very deficient, and then running from combat was often advisable. Dennis, the protagonist, could become infected with enough exposure to enemies.
Far from the finely polished Capcom series, Extermination was still a smashing entry into the genre, and it did some things ameliorate than its bigger upkeep stable mates.
46. Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy Vii
Foursquare Enix (originally Squaresoft) conspicuously knows that the seventh installment of the Final Fantasy series is pop, and has produced a number of spin-offs, including this, Dirge of Cerberus .
DoC moved the series from turn-based RPG to third-person action shooting. Wielding his Cerberus pistol, as well as a machine gun and shotgun, FFVII fan favorite Vincent Valentine battles Deepground, an organization planning to revive a beast chosen Omega.
The game mixed shooting with RPG elements to create a mash-up of the genres. It didn't please many FFVIIfans, who disliked the action approach, but this is a shame. The game, although not a masterpiece, was actually pretty good, and featured some nice mechanics and enjoyable battles. And, nosotros got to play every bit Vincent Valentine, which was always a bonus.
45. Gungrave
An odd one this. Gungrave was a straightforward third-person shooter that featured some unique and impressive design, particularly its characters.
Grave, the main character, was a reanimated gunslinger who carried a large coffin full of weapons on his back. Combat was fast and fashionable, reminiscent of films like Equilibrium, and Grave'southward use of his pistols and special weapons made for a great bit of arcade action.
Sadly, the game was both short and overly linear, just it did spawn a sequel, not to mention an anime, which isn't bad for a game most PS2 owners probably never even know existed.
44. Lifeline
Games that are controlled by motion controls or cameras are quite common now in the wake of the Wii and Kinect. Even earlier attempts, like Sony's Centre Toy , made the idea of controlling a game with your body into a reality. However, the PS2 also dabbled with voice command, and Lifelinewas a very interesting experiment.
Tagged a "Vox Action Hazard," Lifeline was prepare on a orbital hotel in the aftermath of a breakout of mortiferous creatures. It put players in the part of a stranded man stuck in the hotel's control room. The but way to survive was to guide cocktail waitress, Rio, through the hotel using voice commands, handled by the PlayStation Mic.
Using this advice, the two had to explore the hotel, battle monsters, and ultimately escape, in a survival horror-way.
Although the vocal input scheme was far from perfect, information technology didn't stop Lifelinefrom gaining a cult following, and although largely ignored on release, it was a forerunner to many of today's titles that feature voice commands. Lifeline was an impressively ambitious take on the horror genre.
43. Deus Ex
Deus Ex is widely considered to exist one of the greatest games ever fabricated. It sold well on PC and won masses of awards. Information technology redefined what we thought was possible in a video game, and the FPS genre, and out of all the games out there, this is ane of the aristocracy few to come then close to sheer perfection. It went on to spawn two sequels, and is now very much back in the public middle.
So, why did the PS2 port of Deus Ex fall so apartment? It arrived with little fanfare, and didn't do all that well commercially, despite having some improved visuals and CG cut scenes. Compared to other FPS or RPG titles on the platform, it was a not-event, and this is simply shocking.
Just coming in depression on this list due to the original'southward success, the PS2 version featured some changes due to the hardware's limitations, such as reworked levels and hub areas divide into loading zones, but on the whole, this was a slap-up port of a sublime PC masterpiece, and it should have performed so much better than it did.
42. Mister Mosquito
One of the strangest ideas for a game you'll see, Mister Musquito placed you in the office of a drawing musquito who has to suck the blood of diverse members of a family equally they become about their daily lives.
Sucking blood isn't every bit simple as it sounds, though. You lot had to find the right spot on the body that would let you lot go unnoticed. If your target started to become enlightened, y'all needed to retreat, lest y'all be squashed into mush.
With typical Japanese fashion, and some surprisingly well-handled gameplay, Mister Musquito is a title you should check out.
41. Musashi: Samurai Legend
Possibly ane of the to the lowest degree known Foursquare Enix titles, Musashi: Samurai Legend was an action RPG title starring a ridiculously pointy-haired sword-slinger. Information technology was a cartoon-themed combat title played in the third person, and information technology was actually very good.
As Musashi, yous roamed around diverse locations fighting robotic enemies, able to cut them into various pieces with a powerful katana. You could learn enemy attacks and use them against your foes, and side quests could exist undertaken to earn more experience. A good, well presented game.
40. Gregory Horror Show
Based on the animation of the aforementioned name, Gregory Horror Show was a rather surreal title starring block-head characters. Information technology was a survival horror-fashion take a chance gear up in a strange hotel run by an anthropomorphic mouse, and inhabited by guests who carry the souls of the dead.
Your goal was to collect these souls and render them to Death, but the guests didn't office with their soul bottles easily, and after y'all collected a soul, that invitee turned hostile, roaming the hotel looking for you. More than guests checked in as y'all progressed, opening up more than of the hotel, and in order to succeed subsequently on, stealth needed to be used to avoid enemies.
It was a refreshingly different take on survival horror, and ane that non plenty people discovered. Shame.
39. Fahrenheit
As well known equally Indigo Prophecy , Fahrenheit came from Quantic Dream, the studio that also brought u.s.a. Heavy Rain , Across: Two Souls , and the earlier Nomad Soul . Like the later games, Fahrenheitwas largely a glorified QTE, but information technology also had a picayune more gameplay, and the story was intriguing plenty to draw you lot in, even if information technology went a flake Pete Tong toward the stop.
When your first moments in a game are spent hiding a dead trunk, apparently your own handiwork, earlier a law officer finds you, you know y'all're in for something a niggling special, and that's just what Fahrenheit was. It was a game with plenty of depth in its story, and interesting characters make information technology a definite recommendation if you missed it, especially if y'all're a fan of Quantic's later work.
38. Second Sight
Coming out at around the same time as Psi-Ops (see after in the list), Codemasters' Second Sight , developed by TimeSplittersprogrammer Costless Radical, was overshadowed past the more action-oriented competition, and the slower pacing put many off.
In truth, however, Second Sightwas a ameliorate game in many respects, with a far more than interesting story and more intelligent utilise of mind powers. Sadly, it just wasn't as satisfying, and the powers on offer lacked the oomph of those seen in Psi-Ops , even those that were similar, such as telekinesis, which was slow and plodding in Second Sight .
Still, the amnesia-fuelled plot coupled with Complimentary Radical's distinctive visuals and excellent presentation made this a nifty game, even if most begged to differ when it was released.
37. Projection Snowblind
Originally planned every bit an activity-oriented and multiplayer entry in the Deus Ex series, Project Snowblindbecame a more generic FPS, merely one that managed to exist a pretty good title all the same, replete with nice visuals and some decent gameplay.
As the ridiculously named Nathan Frost, an augmented soldier, y'all fought against an enemy force using a range of powers and advanced weaponry. All weapons featured primary and secondary modes, and Nathan could hack enemy security with his 'Icepick' gun. Many levels likewise allowed for multiple approaches, a holdover from Deus Ex , only for the virtually part, it was action shooting over stealth.
36. Cold Winter
This is a lesser-known FPS that was set in a spy-centric world and used a more realistic approach than most. It crossed James Bond with MacGyver , and although not the nigh technically impressive FPS on the PS2, it was a real surprise.
Yous could not only utilize various weapons and stealth tactics to achieve your goals, but you could also detect a variety of objects in the world you could utilise to arts and crafts makeshift weapons and tools, such as petrol bombs and lock picks. There were enough of secrets to be found, and the espionage story was interesting, if a little cliché.
35. Tenchu: Wrath of Sky
Forth with Metallic Gear , the Tenchu series was 1 of the nigh of import releases in the console-based stealth genre, and Wrath of Heaven is arguably the best entry in the serial (don't even retrieve about trying the Wii's Tenchu: Shadow Assassinators if you value your sanity). The games did well plenty on the original PlayStation, merely past the time Wrath of Heaven rolled effectually on the PS2, interest had waned somewhat, which was a shame equally this was a superb stealth outing.
It featured well-designed and challenging missions, two playable characters (with their own stories, effectively doubling the game's length), and had some really creepy content, all wrapped upwardly in mystical Chinese lore.
Ninja warriors were supposedly masters of stealth and the art of remaining undetected, so Tenchu was the perfect title to utilize the increasing popularity of the gameplay mode.
34. Frequency/Aamplitude
Before Guitar Heroand Stone Bandemerged from Harmonix, there was Frequency and Amplitude. Similar their eventual successors, these were music games assail ever-scrolling tracks that challenged players with striking on screen queues to play music.
Unlike GH and RB , no instruments were needed, and a spaceship was moved from track to track using the joypad, each track containing a different instrument or song. To do well you lot needed to keep every track going by striking the respective buttons at the right time.
It was the gestation of the inevitable plastic guitar series. Without these two titles, we may never take been able to strum along to Foo Fighters or Queens of the Stone Historic period on our Fisher Price Fenders.
33. Transformers
Before Loftier Moon Studios managed to release two adept Transformers games ( War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron ), most video game adaptations of the robots in disguise were awful, save for ane. Melbourne House created the 2004 Transformers title on PS2, and it was a very good game, arguably better than Loftier Moon'south, in fact.
Spread across a range of big, open levels, which actually made use of vehicle modes, you could pick from three unlike Autobots (Optimus Prime, Ruby-red Alarm, and Hot Shot) to embark on some very challenging missions, with many ending in a hard boss battle against a notable Decepticon, such as Starscream.
Each Autobot had strengths and weaknesses, and the Mini-con feature, which used tiny, collectible robots, could add all sorts of user-configurable powers to the heroes, granting better firepower, defence, college jumps, and so on. You lot could even equip a hang-glider power that immune limited flight.
It looked great, controlled well, and was a real surprise for fans who had gotten so used to video games taking a dunp on their dearest franchise.
32. Summoner
Developed by Red Faction and Saint's Row creator Will, Summoner was an try to evangelize a PC-style RPG to the console audience, and although it didn't do well commercially, it managed its goal quite well (and was eventually ported to the PC).
Yous controlled Joseph, a Summoner who could telephone call into battle diverse powerful creatures. Besides as Joseph, other party members also joined the quest, and you lot could take command of these, also. The game featured a myriad of side quests, and gainsay was real time. In that location was likewise a healthy amount of Diablo -way loot finding to be done.
A sequel to Summonerwas released, and although technically better, with a bigger game world and more features, it wasn't as skilful as the get-go game.
31. Klonoa ii: Lunatea's Veil
Nosotros featured the showtime Klonoa in our list of underappreciated PS1 games, and the serial connected to impress with its PS2 outing, which besides went largely unnoticed, despite critical acclaim.
Information technology possessed like gameplay to the first game in the serial, albeit with ameliorate visuals, and the 2.5D platforming was as as enjoyable equally it was the first fourth dimension effectually, fifty-fifty more and then with the tweaks and refinements that came with the new platform.
30. SOS: The Last Escape
Too called Disaster Written report , this is a unique survival game that doesn't utilize the usual horror formula, but instead puts you slap bang in the center of an convulsion. As one of the few survivors left on an bogus island city, y'all have to escape the collapsing urban surroundings, surviving harrowing situations as yous go.
Keith Helm is the protagonist of the game, and shortly after the championship'due south opening, he meets up with Karen Morris, another survivor of the quake. The 2 help each other out, and proceed through the urban center, surviving aftershocks and the troubles that they bring. Eventually, the story takes a sinister turn, revealing that the convulsion wasn't entirely unexpected, and stray plans were afoot.
Surviving in the metropolis not only required enough of agility and avoidance of collapsing buildings, just yous likewise had to find water to go along your energy levels up, and the other survivors you encountered would need to be looked subsequently. At that place was even a selection of companion, with each opening upwardly unlike areas to explore. Information technology was a great niggling game that came out of nowhere, and disappeared just as fast.
29. Odin Sphere
A very fashionable title from Atlus, Odin Sphere told the stories of 5 dissimilar characters, whose destinies overlapped and revealed the whole movie piece by piece as players unfolded each "book." These five characters all had their own unique feel, and although a grapheme may be a protagonist in one book, they could actually be revealed every bit an antagonist in another.
It was adept storytelling, all wrapped up in beautiful 2d, side-scrolling combat, and with v character stories to play through, magic to wield, a cooking system, and a crafting element that immune for the cosmos of new items, at that place was plenty to do. More games using this eye-communicable style would follow, such as the Wii'due south splendid Murumasa: The Demon Blade .
28. Oni
Certainly one of Rockstar's lesser-known titles, Oniwas an anime-themed third-person action championship developed by a division of Bungie, the studio best known for the Halo series. It was ready in a futuristic dystopian World and starred the purple-haired heroine, Konoko, an agent of the Technological Crimes Chore Force (TCTF). Konoko learns that her true by has been subconscious from her by the TCTF, and she attempts to observe the truth, which leads to plenty of shooting and fighting.
Oni mixed ranged gainsay using an array of weapons with melee attacks, and the whole game was presented with minimalistic visuals that immune for super smooth and fast combat. It was as well very difficult, and mastering Konoko's various special moves and getting the nearly out of each, ammo-express weapon was essential.
This game was a classic 'one more try' championship. For every death, yous progressed that niggling chip further, and this brought with information technology a sense of real accomplishment.
27. XIII
1 of the first cel-shaded titles, Xiii took cues from Jet Set Radio , but was an FPS set in a comic world. Equally the initially nameless agent known only equally XIII, you had to progress through the various, comic-mode levels to uncover a sinister conspiracy.
The game was a traditional FPS, based on an 80s comic volume of the aforementioned name. The amnesia-suffering protagonist is accused of the murder of the president, and spends much of the game trying to clear his name, finding out that he's really part of a group chosen the XX, which plans to accept over the government.
The action is presented in a slick, comic panel style, with kills popping up as carve up panels for added upshot. The cadre gameplay besides mixed in stealth, with silent weapons available for covert kills, and a special 6th sense allowed Xiii to hear where enemies were via an onscreen 'tap, tap, tap' comic effect display.
It was a long and enjoyable title that delivered a different have on the standard FPS formula, but it was sadly never revisited.
26. Wild Arms 5
This was an impressive, and sprawling RPG set in a futuristic, Wild W-themed globe ruled by invading aliens. It'southward anime style was complemented past some unique combat and exploration.
As protagonist Dean, players teamed up with various other characters, and used the ARM weapon system to combat foes. Each character had his/her own ARM, which was basically a unique weapon with diverse special attacks.
Wild Arms is a great RPG series that'south never managed to gain the popularity of the bigger names, and this is ane of the all-time outings of the serial.
25. Darkwatch: Curse of the Westward
A lesser known FPS, Darkwatch was a great game ready in a Gothic Wild West. Protagonist Jericho Cross was an outlaw on the verge of one of his biggest train robberies. Unfortunately, he targeted a train belonging to the Darkwatch, an order of monster hunters, and he released a powerful vampire lord. Afterward he's turned into a vampire by said lord, he'south enlisted into the ranks of the Darkwatch, and has to fight against the force he released into the world.
Darkwatch featured solid FPS gameplay with horse riding shooter segments and some useful vampiric abilities, which were unavailable in missions set during the daytime, making the player rely on standard tactics. Information technology had a great art style, and was originally planned as a series, but this never happened as the sequel was canned.
24. Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
The Shin Megami Tensei serial is popular in Japan, but has failed to make every bit big of an impact in the W. Nocturne (also chosen Lucifer's Call ) was i of the best in the series. This is odd, equally information technology was similar to Pokemon, in that you could tame and recruit enemies, selecting them to fight alongside you lot in battle.
This was accomplished using a negotiation system in which you had to persuade a demon to fight for yous. Some demons were easy to recruit, while others were far more difficult. These demons could too be fused together to create more than powerful creatures.
Shin Megami Tensei Iii: Nocturne had neat presentation and the traditional plow-based combat was helped forth by the unique demon-taming features and nighttime story. Dante from Devil May Cryeven made a cameo advent.
23. The Getaway
Although Sony's London-based GTA clone was nowhere nigh as proficient as we'd hoped – plagued with clunky controls, dodgy blueprint choices, and an awful photographic camera when on-foot – at that place was still something about information technology that drew you in.
Peradventure information technology was the meticulously recreated map of London, the Snatch -style adult dialogue, or the photo-realistic visuals. The Getaway was an entertaining, if often frustrating experience (remember that pilus-pulling laser security bit? Oh, skilful lord). It besides had two dissever stories, with the completion of Mark Hammond'south campaign opening up Flight Squad detective Frank Carter's series of events, depicting the other side of the thin blue line.
A good story and decent commitment can make all the departure, and The Getaway , although certainly not Oscar-winning textile, had a proficient, Cockney-laden offense story. Racing through the streets of London instead of the usual American cities was a jiff of fresh air. Oh, and ignore the sequel, it was rubbish.
22. Central
Developed by Sony'due south Cambridge studio, Fundamentalwas a large title at its fourth dimension of release, and much hype was made of the third-person scrapper.
Primal starred Jennifer Tate, a daughter who finds herself involved in a boxing of anarchy and order. Travelling through 4 different demonic dimensions, Jen and her partner, a gargoyle chosen Scree, fought all sorts of creatures. Every bit she entered each realm, Jen gained the power to transform into a demon representing that realm. These forms granted her various abilities, such as powerful attacks, long range strikes, and the ability to breathe underwater.
Visually stunning for the time, Keywas a brilliantly polished game, and although the gameplay got a trivial bit repetitive, information technology was an enthralling adventure, and one that simply brutal off the radar.
21. The Suffering
One of the most disturbing and violent action horror titles ever fabricated, The Suffering was a great third/kickoff-person adventure that put players in the role of a convicted murderer, Torque, who allegedly murdered his wife and kid.
Torque is sent to Abbot Country Penitentiary, which soon gets hit by an earthquake, unleashing all sorts of hellish creatures, which Torque has to deal with.
The Suffering featured some great animate being designs, not surprising every bit they were created by Stan Winston (the make-upwardly furnishings primary behind Aliens , Terminator , and Jurassic Park ). Each creature personified a method of execution used on the prisoners of Abbot State over the years.
There were some genuine scares to be had, and the mixture of shotgunning nasties and solving various puzzles worked well, all supported by a good story. Well worth seeking out if y'all haven't played it, which is likely.
20. Kill Switch
Accept you played Gears of War , Mass Effect , Uncharted, or whatsoever one of the myriad of encompass-based shooters that saturate the market? Y'all probably take, but without Kill Switch , you lot may non accept had the chance.
You see, this relatively unknown third-person shooter from Namco is widely credited as creating, or at least popularizing the cover mechanic we now see so often. Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski has fifty-fifty gone on record as maxim that Impale Switch was a major influence on the Gears serial, saying "it had the all-time cover organization at that time" during the Game Developers Choice Awards.
The game stars soldier Nick Bishop, who is remotely controlled by an operator elsewhere, and every bit the game progresses, Nick experiences flashbacks of repressed memories, leading to plot twists and a conspiracy.
It was a fairly bare bones, budget game, with minimal polish, but it played very well, and the cover system made it stand out, giving combat a big enough twist, and an enjoyable one at that. It'southward worth playing only to see where the genre every bit we know it today came from.
19. Sly Cooper
This is one of the biggest gaming mascot-type characters to neglect to make it equally big as it should have. The Sly serial is a great cartoon stealth platformer, which has at present been re-released on PS3 in HD grade (the original trilogy). Initially adult by Infamous developer Sucker Punch, the game is a cult classic and successfully merged 3D platforming with stealth elements.
Each game, including this debut outing, saw the titular Raccoon thief pull off various heists and engage in dominate battles. Sly could use the world to his reward, shimmying up drainpipes, perching on vantage points, and hiding so he could execute stealth attacks. He besides fought foes face to face, but this was a noisy option. The end consequence was a great example of 3D platforming that demonstrated the genre could exist more flexible and varied than it usually was.
18. Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
If the aforementioned 2d Sight was the slower-paced, thinking homo's psychic adventure, then Psi-Ops was the option of the trigger-happy, activeness fanatic. WhereasSecond Sighthad deeper characters and a more intriguing story, Psi-Ops had by far the more enjoyable gainsay and choice of psychic powers.
As amnesiac solider Nick Scryer, you embarked on a series of missions to combat an evil regime, at the same fourth dimension uncovering both your by and your forgotten psychic powers, such as telekinesis, pyrokinesis, mind control, and remote viewing. These could be used at your discretion during your missions, and you lot were often immune to experiment and tackle combat situations every bit yous saw fit.
The diverse powers were handled in a far more fluid and accessible way than Second Sight , particularly the telekinesis, which was very satisfying (you lot could even pick up and throw your enemies). The game itself, being a more action-oriented 3rd-person shooter, was a niggling more than appealing to a larger audition. Despite this, it even so failed to make major waves, and was never heard from again.
17. Fatal Frame
Fatal Frame was a survival horror direct from the business firm of Japanese horror titles like Ringu andThe Grudge , and every bit a result, it's one of the scariest games you'll play.
In this game, which put y'all up against all sorts of mortiferous ghosts and spirits, you didn't play equally a soldier with guns, a police officer, or even an adult with a stick. You played every bit a young school girl armed only with the Photographic camera Obscura. This was a magical camera that could exorcise spirits, and it was your only defense force against the supernatural.
The fear you lot felt due to being so defenseless made this a very unnerving experience, and every bit the story was supposedly based on diverse real events, it only made information technology all the more effective at getting your heart going and wearing out the edge of your seat.
16. Project Eden
Core Design was the squad responsible for creating Tomb Raider , a game we all know, but information technology also dabbled in diverse other titles, including this veryTomb Raider -esque sci-fi outing.
Project Edenwas a vivid puzzler in the TR mold, only this time y'all had four different characters to control, each with their ain unique skills. Squad leader Carter could interrogate people and admission high security doors, engineer Andre could repair machinery, Minoko was the hacker of the team, and Bister was a powerful cyborg, capable of surviving hostile environments.
Using each team fellow member's skills, y'all had to solve all sorts of ecology puzzles to progress deeper and deeper into the game's dangerous undercity world, populated by violent gangs, mutants, and fifty-fifty worse threats.
It never got much recognition on its release, which is a damn shame equallyProjection Eden was arguably far more involving than Tomb Raiderat the time, and the four-way split of characters would make for a corking online multiplayer campaign today.
fifteen. Killer vii
Nosotros've talked most Suda 51's surreal Killer 7 earlier and made no basic well-nigh our love for it. The story of Harman Smith and his seven change ego assassin personalities is one strange journey, wrapped up in social and political commentary and an art style that's just gorgeous. It'due south a genuine work of art, pure and simple.
Although it fabricated its debut on the GameCube, the championship also arrived on the PlayStation 2, potentially opening up the bizarre risk to a new, larger audience, but information technology failed to do so, and the title remains a polarizing cult classic. If you've never played it, nosotros urge y'all to do so.
fourteen. The Matter
It came out of nowhere, being a random video game of a 20-year-erstwhile moving-picture show, but The Thing was surprisingly good. Instead of focusing on the actual events of the movie, the game took place a few days afterwards. A team of U.S. soldiers were sent to investigate Outpost 31, before venturing to other facilities as they discovered the truth behind the alien invasion.
The game used an AI teammate system, giving player character Blake plenty of allies. These allies were made up of engineers, soldiers, and medics, and their skills were used to progress through the diverse locations.
The film's focus on fear and mistrust was besides used in the game to great upshot, and characters could get infected, meaning Blake would have to find and enlist the services of other survivors. Eventually, Blake discovered the truth, and afterwards battling an ground forces of alien beasts using guns, flame throwers, and other methods, he located the alien ship and did battle with the big bad Thing itself, with the aid of none other than MacReady.
It was a slap-up, team-based adventure, and one that is considered to be a canonical sequel.
thirteen. Shadow of Rome
Hailing from Capcom, this is quite an obscure title, which isn't usual form for the big name publisher. Set in Rome, as you may approximate from the name, you were cast as Agrippa, a successful general in Rome's army. After the murder of Julius Caesar, Agrippa returns to observe his father implicated in the murder, and his mother sentenced to decease. Agrippa is captured attempting to free his mother, and is sent to the Colosseum to participate in the gladiatorial games. Octavianus, Agrippa's friend gets involved in events, and tries to uncover the truth.
Shadow of Romewas a game of 2 halves. Agrippa'southward sections were all most brutal combat and action, and Octavianus' sections involved stealth and puzzle solving, and the two disparate styles worked well together, breaking up the violence (which was pretty graphic) with some slower-paced stealthy section that also gave you the chance to explore famous areas of Rome.
The gainsay engine in the game was, as to be expected from a Capcom game, pretty solid, and the gladiatorial sections were challenging and satisfying. Agrippa could utilise all sorts of barbarous weapons, even the severed arms of his enemies, and the arena inverse and featured various combat challenges to keep things interesting, including chariot races. At that place were also sections for Agrippa outside of the arena.
Visually impressive and well put together, this was a great historic combat title that'due south well worth a punt, and it's much meliorate than Ryse: Son of Rome .
12. Dark Cloud
A definite cult classic RPG, Dark Cloudmixed the genres of RPG and RTS into one coherent package, and it was a unique and hugely enjoyable RPG romp. As protagonist Roan, you had to brave all sorts of procedurally generated dungeons fighting the forces of an evil genie in order to rebuild the world and its villages.
Using this "georama" fashion, y'all could identify various elements you acquire from dungeons, such as trees, houses, and so on, and rebuild the landscape, including the villagers themselves. One time returned, villagers could then instruct Roan on the rebuilding of the area, and once a hamlet was complete (later on meeting diverse requirements), you could proceed to the side by side village, advancing the quest.
Dark Couldused a weapon leveling system instead of the usual character leveling, and the more a weapon was used, the more powerful it could get. These needed repairing after a lot of employ, and custom weapons could be created.
The second game, Nighttime Relate , expanded even more on the crafting and RTS nature of the series, merely this get-go outing is where it all began.
11. Gitaroo Man
Arriving on the market several years earlier Guitar Hero andRock Band , Gitaroo Man was a precursor of what was to come up. It didn't feature the aforementioned exact style of play as GH and RB , instead using onscreen controller prompts when in guard fashion, but it did feature a unique guitar playing interface when the histrion had to strum to the music. Using the analog stick to follow the "trace line," you lot had to keep the aiming cone on the line while pressing buttons to play music and "attack" your foe. The modes alternated every bit the song progressed, meaning players had to rapidly change from assail to guard, and and then on.
Gitaroo Man was a swell title with a charming, yet bizarre story and presentation, something nosotros've come to await from Japanese rhythm games.
x. Freedom Fighters
Freedom Fighters was adult by Hitman creator IO Interactive, and was a great team-based shooter that many PS2 owners missed.
Information technology was set to a backdrop of a fictional Russian invasion of the U.S., and players took on the role of plumber Christopher Stone. At present, this was no Mario, and Christopher didn't eat mushrooms or leap on people'south heads. Instead, he packed attack rifles and Molotovs, and used guerilla tactics to take down the Red machine.
You infiltrated enemy bases, sabotaged supplies, and mostly became a major thorn in the side of the invading regular army. All of this took place within an occupied New York. As you succeeded in your goals, y'all gained charisma. The more charisma you lot had, the more than followers you lot could pb. Yous could tell these allies to follow, defend, and attack, which was elementary squad commanding, merely functional. Each affiliate was made up of diverse missions, and your actions in one mission could affect events in some other, with some actions weakening the Russian military presence in later missions.
Information technology was a really well made and enjoyable title that was a nice departure from the Hitman formula the studio is famous for.
9. Urban Chaos: Riot Response
Yous've heard of the Batman: Arkham serial, correct? Of course yous have. We're willing to bet you lot've non heard ofUrban Anarchy: Riot Response , though. This is the debut game from Arkham creator Rocksteady Studios, and it's ane of the best, and nearly highly polished FPS titles on the PS2.
You played the role of Nick Mason, an officer in the 'T-Zero' anarchism response partition of the police. Armed with your trusty riot shield, and a host of other weapons, your job was to take downwards criminals and gang members, often having to find and subdue a gang leader with a non-lethal attack, at the aforementioned time rescuing hostages.
Along the way, y'all enlisted help from paramedics and firefighters who could heal people, put out fires, and suspension open up doors. Your performance was rated in every mission in a number of ways, such equally accuracy, collectibles, and then on. Special challenge missions also let you unlock improve weapons.
Urban Chaos looked great for a PS2 FPS, and it featured some of the most satisfying gunplay effectually. Caput shots in particular were gratifying (and often the best manner to take out foes, so mastering it was important), and the riot shield opened upward new game mechanics, such as having to slowly approach a hostage-holding gang member, shielding yourself from burn down until you could get in that elusive headshot. Brilliant.
8. Blood Will Tell
Based on the manga Dororo, Blood Volition Tellwas a great game that features one of the craziest premises for a story nosotros've seen. You're Hyakkimaru, a homo whose major organs and body parts were all stolen by demons at nascency later on his father, the state's ruler at the time, made a bargain with them in order to bring peace back to the state. Hyakkimaru was then abandoned past his father, and found by a human named Jyukai, who created artificial body parts and prosthetics to rebuild Hyakkimaru's trunk. Eventually, Hyakkimaru heard a heavenly voice tell him that if he slew the fiends that took his body parts, he could regain them, and his humanity.
Armed with a deadly katana and twin blades concealed in his arms, equally well as an arm-mounted machine gun and a leg-mounted bazooka, Hyakkimaru set out to notice and defeat the 48 fiends, accompanied by his companion, the immature thief, Dororo.
Blood Will Tell played very much like Devil May Cry , only with larger, more open up areas and some stealth and puzzle sections (as Dororo). Hyakkimaru and his implanted weapons fabricated for a slap-up combat character, with all sorts of crazy moves and combos, which could be upgraded as you progressed. The levels were varied, and there was no cheating or shortcuts taken. You actually did seek out and kill 48 fiends, many of which were impressive bosses, and some were downright freaky. Each chapter of the game had its ain mini-story, keeping things interesting. This was a vivid fighter that really you should dig out.
seven. Marking of Kri
If Disney and Pixar weren't so against violence, The Mark of Kri is possibly what we may end up with. Behind the very Pixar-like aesthetics lies a fierce, but well-crafted stealth adventure.
Rau Utu is a powerful warrior, who is helped by a bird called Kuzo, accepts a mission to investigate some local bandits, and is drawn into a bigger quest, with major repercussions.
The Mark of Kriwas primarily a stealth game, requiring careful apply of Rau'southward watch, Kuzo, and stealth tactics to take enemies out silently. The unique control system used both analog sticks, the left for move and the right to sweep around the expanse with an aiming line, used to attack nearby foes. Rau besides got a bow and special abilities, all of which were used tactically to achieve his objectives.
You lot chop-chop noticed just how well produced The Mark of Kri was when you started playing it, and how violent the gameplay was. The characters were great, not out of identify in whatsoever Disney epic, and although information technology took a while to get used to, the control scheme worked very well. Highly recommended.
6. Rez
Rez is 1 of those classic games that ever finds its way onto lists like these, as well every bit best game always lists. At the same time, information technology's as well a game that many people have either never heard of or simply dismissed.
A music shooter, Rez is a trip for the eyes and the ears. It's an on-rails shooter that ties the onscreen action and your success to the music. Every bit you lot fight, y'all add music and sound effects to the soundtrack, and your onscreen avatar transforms. Everything in the game reacts to the beat of the music, and the Panzer Dragoon -manner controls and impressive bosses all make for a short, but unforgettable shooting experience.
It's a game that'south often used in the argument of games beingness art. I of the nigh stylish and addictive shooters around.
5. Monster Hunter
It's crazy to remember that a series as pop every bit Monster Hunter was once overlooked past most. The original Monster Hunter arrived on the PS2, and was promptly dismissed by all but those who had the time and patience to give information technology a existent chance.
The series is notorious for both its high difficulty and stiff controls, but underneath this is i of the near rewarding game experiences around. You may end up existence killed time after fourth dimension past that powerful wyvern, but when you finally figure out its patterns and weaknesses, and bring it down, the sense of achievement is palpable.
The hunting of the original game was accompanied by a complex gathering and crafting system, with every detail farmed or carved off fallen beasts being used to make items, weapons, and armor. The game, thanks to numerous quests, many of which you needed to grind in order to find rare resources, is immense. It tried its best to make you dislike it with clunky controls and a dodgy camera, but this was one title where it was well worth persevering, merely like the many sequels.
iv. God Hand
Clover Studios was one of Capcom's virtually promising divisions before it was closed down. It was responsible for ii of the best underrated games on the PS2, ane of which was God Hand (see the next entry for the other).
God Hand , likeKiller 7 , is a very divisive title. Players either get it and lap upwards the crazy combat and quirky presentation (including an admittedly terrible photographic camera), or they play the start level and quit.
Y'all played every bit Gene, a fighter who lost his arm in a gang assail. Luckily, he was bestowed with a replacement, i of the ii God Hands, magical arms used to combat demons. With this arm now a part of him, Gene walked the Western-themed world fighting all sorts of bonkers villains and demons with a range of over-the-top combat moves.
If y'all're one of the people who stuck with it (which wasn't many, evidently, hence its commercial failure and inclusion here), you found a great, challenging beat out 'em up with mode, personality, and some truly enjoyable gameplay. The game'due south quality isn't all that surprising, equally Resident Evildesigner Shinji Mikami directed information technology.
God Handwas a game purely aimed at skilled gamers, and certainly not the casual marketplace, hence its high difficulty. It's a title that demands your attending.
3. Okami
It'southward been called the PlayStation 2's Zelda, but Okami is far more than a elementary clone, and it's undoubtedly one of the best games ever released on the console. Based on Japanese mythology, with a brilliant ink and newspaper art mode, you played the role of Amaterasu, a goddess in the form of a white wolf with the power to employ the "angelic brush" to manipulate the world and create objects.
Past drawing on the screen, you could create bombs, gusts of wind, brand trees grow, and many other things, all with the aim of restoring life to the state, which was ravaged by the demon, Orochi.
Okami took masses of inspiration from Zelda, and played in a very similar manner, with a large, open up world, dungeons, dominate fights, and skills and items required to admission various, otherwise sealed off areas. This was all delivered in a truly charming and beautiful fashion, and it played brilliantly.
Okami was an epic and flawless adventure, and if there were any issues to be found, it was the lack of real difficulty. Even so, with a long and varied story with tons of side quests, memorable characters, and all sorts of extras and mini games, Okami is unmissable, which makes it all the more upsetting that information technology was overlooked by most, contributing to the death of a very talented studio. Damn.
2. Ico
Yes, it had to exist here. Ico is usually the first game anyone thinks of when asked nearly underappreciated PS2 games, and for good reason – it was both disregarded and encarmine brilliant.
Ico was a long escort mission, but before you run for the hills, know that it was an escort mission that was really fun to play. Its striking art manner and mixture of puzzles and enemy confrontations were superbly designed. The game possessed a level of grapheme and refinement few games tin fifty-fifty imagine, and was a forerunner for the equally vivid and more successful Shadow of the Colossus .
It's a very challenging and often emotional journey of a game. It went through a catamenia of beingness very rare, commanding high prices on eBay, just at present it can be found in an Hard disk double pack with Shadow of the Colossus , so is far easier to find, which is something y'all really should do.
1. Beyond Good and Evil
If in that location was an laurels for the virtually criminally disregarded game ever, Ubisoft's Beyond Good and Evil would surely exist in the running. Information technology'south simply stunning that such a great game could be ignored by so many.
Information technology had everything – smashing visuals; a good story; vivid characters; a mixture of activeness, stealth, and puzzling; an open up world; tons of secrets; and 1 of the best, most relatable protagonists around.
Created past Michel Ancel, the game told the story of Jade, a photojournalist who looks after a group of orphans with her uncle, a humanoid pig called Pey'j. The world she lives in is chosen Hillys, and it'due south invaded past an alien race known as the Domz. This race kidnaps Hillyans to utilize equally energy sources or slaves.
Jade embarks on a mission to uncover the Hillyan war machine's interest with the alien threat, ultimately to stop the invaders and free the planet. She does this by infiltrating various facilities in order to learn photographic testify of the collaboration. Using a combination of stealth and combat with her staff to explore the world, Jade acquires diverse upgrades, for her and her vehicles, including her hovercraft. She is as well accompanied by Pey'j and special operative Double H.
Beyond Skillful and Evilused game mechanics from various other titles, mainly releases like Zelda and the Metroidvania genre. Parts of the world are airtight off until Jade acquires the right abilities or equipment to progress, and the open world can exist freely explored in order to find secrets and side missions. At that place is a photographic side quest to accept pictures of every animal species on the planet, and finding all of the pearls in the game (also used every bit currency), can have a good while to consummate.
The sequel to Across Good and Evil is finally in evolution at Ubisoft, although in that location's no release date as of nonetheless. If y'all've never managed to play this archetype chance, then nosotros'd strongly suggest you seek information technology out, either in your local game shop or via PSN. You really won't regret it.
Source: https://www.denofgeek.com/games/50-underrated-playstation-2-games/