Playstation 2: Must Have Games

[Miral]

These have all been mentioned before, but I just want to add my votes too:
- ICO (still one of my all-time favourite games ever)
- Psychonauts (available cheap on Steam, but if you go that way make sure you've got a gamepad for your PC. It's a platformer after all)
- Beyond Good & Evil (again, cheap on Steam. Less essential to have a gamepad but you'll probably be glad if you do)
- Okami (also out for Wii, I've heard)
- Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2 (only if you're into JRPGs)

Shadow of the Colossus is also good but only if you adore boss fights. (I don't, so it frequently drives me to controller-snapping fury. But I still stubbornly want to finish it sometime.)

 

[Fiskmasen]

All the games mentioned here are superb. Unless you haven't already have played them, I'd also recommend looking into the original Spyro trilogy. (albeit for the PS1, they're awesome games)

 

[wgreer25]

Ah, one of the best gaming consoles (games wise).

I would suggest...

Okami
Devil may Cry 1 & 3
Resident Evil 4 (if you don't have it for another platform)
Shadow of Colossus
Final Fantasy X
God of War 1 & 2
Silent Hill 2

 

[BadXAsh]

Silent Hill 2
Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3
GTA: San Andreas
Kingdom Hearts
The Final Fantasy Games

And I had fun Playing Spongebob Square Pants the Battle for Bikini Bottom With my kids. It was like watching the show.

 

[Shellsh0cker]

All the games mentioned here are superb. Unless you haven't already have played them, I'd also recommend looking into the original Spyro trilogy. (albeit for the PS1, they're awesome games)

Seconded.

 

[ckam]

I felt oddly compelled to Kingdom Hearts, Shadow of the Colossus, Grand Theft Auto 3, Lord of the Rings 3 (I think it's the only good movie-based game out there), Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, Final Fantasy X, NFL 01 (I think that's what I have), Jak series, Dynasty Warriors (best if you rent), Psychonauts, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, and Rock Band/Guitar Hero.

 

[Calamity]

Came in here to say Persona, Metal Gear, and God of War.

Persona 4 in December!

Wow. So they actively are still supporting the Ps2 with great exclusives. I would have expected it to do what Disgaea 3 did.

Guess they figure they can reach more people that way, Persona seems like it would be a niche series (I personally love it to death, and so do my friends, but I have no idea how most of the world sees it).

I would have loved for Disgaea 3 to do the same thing (It's not like they had graphics anywhere near the level that would require them to go to PS3), but alas to each company their own.

Oh, right recommendations...
The "Sly", "Jak" and "Ratchet and Clank" series are all great games.
Dark Cloud 2 is my second favorite game ever, It might be first if some of the dialogue wasn't teeth grindingly bad.
All the Megami Tenshi stuff is great as well if you like more off-beat JRPGs.
And there's Shadow of the Colossus if your big on boss fights (because that's all it is).

 

[linchowlewy]

ratchet and clank (just not gladiator)
Psychonauts
Singstar
MGS (PS1 game but who cares it's brilliant)
MGS2
MGS3

can't really think of anything else as i haven't touched the relic in ages

 

[Vlane]

So many people mentioned Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, MGS, Okami etc.. Those are really, really good games but maybe you want to check those out too.

- The Onimusha games
- Hitman: Bloody Money
- Prince of Persia 1-3
- Obscure 1&2
- Shadow Hearts
- Soulcalibur III (still the best Soulcalibur IMO)
- Psi-Ops

If you find a Shin Megami Tensei game and you like JRPG's then buy it. I think this series is the best JRPG series out there.

 

[curlycrouton]

Ratchet and Clank

That's all I' got to say, about that.

 

[Xvito]

Final Fantasy series,
Jak and Daxter series,
Sly series,
Metal Gear series,
Ratchet and Clank series,
Splinter Cell series...
and many, many more.

 

[Vincent9mm]

I don't think I could possibly say anything that hasn't already been said but my reccomendations are

Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3
Devil May Cry
Ico & Shadow Of The Colossus
Katamari Damacy
Final Fantasy X
Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2
Indigo Prophecy
Prince Of Persia: Sands Of Time
Soulcalibur 2
Max Payne
Resident Evil 4
Silent Hill 2 (Absolutely a must play)

Those tend to be pretty solid PS2 games covering most categories, though a few require personal taste in the subject matter and type of gameplay/cinematic feel.

 

[notyouraveragejoe]

Twisted Metal Black is damn great and kinda dark. Also I recommend Devil May Cry Two since that was my favorite of the series and you get a lot of game time for a relatively cheap price.