Lately, I have been tempted to order a PS2 slim on Amazon because I have an itch to play some older games right now. Growing up I never got a PS2 and completely missed out on that generation of gaming, which I feel is a cardinal sin for a game designer not playing any of the classics of the PS2. I am asking you guys to recommend me some games (JRPG's mostly since come on this is the PS2 we are talking about).
Simpson's Hit and Run
Worms 3D games (Forts: Under Siege is super fun)
Super Monkey Ball (Some other word here, forgotten what).
Yeah, I didn't take that gen very seriously at all.
Well, first ZI'll get the Shin Megami Tensei games out of the way. I haven't really played any on the PS1, but there's Nocturne/Lucifer's Call, Digital Devil Saga 1+2, Persona 3:FES+4, and Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs The Soulless Army, and vs King Abbadon. All great JRPGs. All but Devil Summoner are turn based, with Devil Summoner being an action RPG similar to the Tales of series, if you're familiar with it.
And with that, I'll nicely segway into the Tales of games, most notably Tales of the Abyss, though if you happen to have a 3DS, there's a remake on it that I've heard is quite good. I haven't played any other Tales of games on PS consoles, but they're all quality games. I've played the Gamecube version of Tales of Symphonia, and that was also released on the PS2, and comes highly recommended.
The Atelier series, consisting of two subseries: Atelier Iris and Mana Khemia. Fun little turn based JRPGs with decent combat and a deep crafting system.
The Ar Tonelico series is pretty good as well. Again, it's a turn based ROG series(I like turn based JRPGs >.>) but the combat is pretty fun, though easily exploitable. The first game, combat is cake, and for the best rewards, you have to literally gimp yourself so you don't kill the boss too quickly. The second one's less exploitable, but still a bit easy once you get a hang of combat.
If you've never played it, I highly recommend Resident Evil 4. It's a really great game, and doesn't really take itself too seriously. If I didn't know better, I'd've said it was parodying itself at some points. Leon's dialog is sometimes just that cheesy. Still a fun game, though.
Final Fantasy X, X-2(I liked it >.>), and 12. Opi9nions vary wildly about these three games, but I find them to be great games. Yes, even X-2.
How about some PS1 games now, since I've pretty much neglected it completely.
Grandia's a fun, you guessed it, turn based JRPG! Combat's pretty fun, the story's alright, and the voice acting is terrible, but in a tolerable way.
Parsite Eve is a sorta action-y RPG. The story's a bit...weird...but the combat's fun, the character's are likeable, the soundtrack is great, and it's just an overall fun game.
Final Fantasy 7,8, and 9. Even more turn based JRPG goodness! A lot of people don't really like FF 8, but I enjoyed it. 7 is in my top 10 games list, and 9 is pretty good, but I've just...never actually gotten around to beating it. They're all worth playing in my opinion though.
Legend of Dragoon is a pretty fun game. Guess what kind of game it is!!!
I've got several other recommendations, but these are pretty much the ones at the top of my list.
And with that, I'll nicely segway into the Tails of games, most notably Tails of the Abyss, though if you happen to have a 3DS, there's a remake on it that I've heard is quite good. I haven't played any other Tails of games on PS consoles, but they're all quality games. I've played the Gamecube version of Tales of Symphonia, and that was also released on the PS2, and comes highly recommended.
And with that, I'll nicely segway into the Tails of games, most notably Tails of the Abyss, though if you happen to have a 3DS, there's a remake on it that I've heard is quite good. I haven't played any other Tails of games on PS consoles, but they're all quality games. I've played the Gamecube version of Tales of Symphonia, and that was also released on the PS2, and comes highly recommended.
Both of those lists should give you a good amount of ideas.
One particular game not listed there PS2 however is Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, (also available for Xbox) which is easily one of my favourite games of all time and one I highly recommend.
War Of The Monsters - Rampage in 3D, but a fighting game, sort of. Surprisingly good game.
I posted this list recently, fits here as well.
This is a list of some 'lesser know gems:
PS2: (Naval Ops Series)Warship Gunner 2:
Think Armored Core (but not as fucking slow, most of the time) with page after page after page of upgrades and ships types.
Play as everything from some little Currier to a submarine to an Aircraft Carrier and a story that's ripped out of the Ace Combat games, and you've got one of the most under looked games on the PS2.
The sales of this game were just plan shameful.
Baroque:
While this game does nothing to prepare you and, lets face it, the story you pretty much accidentally bump into, that's one of the reason you keep coming back. A tower that never seems to end, great character and monster designs, haunting music, difficulty that goes from a walk in the park to a walk in the hurricane, this game is just an odd kind of fun.
A total throwback to dungeon crawlers like Diablo or Planscape: Torment, no game is ever exactly the same.
Add to it the fact that dieing actually makes you progress, and you've got one weird but fun game.
Dropship: United Peace Force:
One of the odder games I've come across (and that's saying something) you play as well a..dropship that carries your other ships into combat and spy missions. With game play that goes from 'Ace Combat' to 'Tank Battle', there's really a variety of ways to complete missions and fun to be had.
My biggest issue with this game is that the level are too damn long and while there are check points, they don't really help if you just want a quick play.
Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex:
A GOOD anime based game? What the fuck, am I right?
While not the best game in the world, the simple fact that this game is not total shit (SEE: GitS on the PSP) and has a GREAT 4 player multi-player mode with a decent story, great graphics, and controls that actually work, some really good weapons and combat, this is one of my favorite anime based games out there.
Giants: Citizen Kabuto:
You play as a drunk alien British mercenary, a naked water chick, and a huge fucking dinosaur like thing. What's not to love?
A game that never seems to take itself to seriously (SEE: Most lines of dialogue in the game), some great game play that differs from each storyline (or creature class), plus some really fun run and kill game play, and you've got an over looked gem.
Gitaroo Man (Also on PSP):
Gain a magical guitar, fight a baby demon in the tutorial and proceed to fight (with the power of music) skeletons and evil alien keyboards and you've got one of the quirkiest rhythm music games on the PS2.
One big issue is that when you pause the game on a song you HAVE TO replay from the start, this has been fixed in the PSP port of the game (thank fucking god).
God Hand :
Insane 2D beat-em-up but 3D, genuinely funny moments and ball busting difficulty.
Add some of the best music in a game, with an amazing replay value and a custom combo maker and you've pretty much got the new school answer to Double Dragon or Battletoads...but without the shitty racing stages.
Gundam: Zeonic Front:
Yeah, yeah I know...A gundam game, underrated or Under appreciated? What the hell am I smoking, right?
Well, guess what, you'd be wrong. This is the Gundam game for people who don't really like...well...Gundam games.
A tactical third person shooter (SEE: SOCOM) with mechs, this is one of those weird games were even people I know who don't give a crap/like Gundam (or anime for that matter) seem to enjoy this game.
While not the most complex or long game of its kind, there's something surreal about leading a group of 5 Zaku like you're a freaking general into the fray as if this were SOCOM or a online team up of some random FPS.
A few others I'm too lazy to write up:
Klonoa 2
Okage: Shadow King
Oni
Psychonauts
Red Faction 1
Samurai Western
Shadow Of Destiny
Skygunner
Soul Nomad & The World Eaters
Sub Rebellion
TransFormers
VCL Presents: Motor Mayhem
Whiplash
Wizardry: Tale Of The Forsaken Land
Wrath: Unleashed
Zone Of The Enders 2: The 2nd Runner
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.
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Here's a quick list I made...in 2011.
I've got OVER 400 PS2 games so I dud a quick look and see.
Not sure if all of them are exclusives:
Ace Combat 0: The Belkan War
Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
Alien Hominid
Alter Echo
Amplitude
Ar Tonelico II: Melody Of Metafalica
Arcana Heart
Armored Core 2: Another Age
Armored Core: Nexus
Astro Boy
Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth Of Destiny
Call Of Duty: Finest Hour (Legacy Collection)
Capcom Classics Vol. 1
Capcom Classics Vol. 2
Castle Shikigami 2
Champions Of Norrath 2: Return To Arms
Chaos Legion
Chaos Wars
Cold Fear
Contra: Neo
Contra: Shattered Soldier
CoolBoarder 2001
Crimson Tears
Dark Cloud
Dark Cloud II
Dawn of Mana
Defender
Demon Stone
Destory All Humans 1
Destory All Humans 2
Devil May Cry 1
Devil May Cry 2
Devil May Cry 3 (SE)
Disgaea 1: Hour of Darkness
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories
Dokapon Kingdom
Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
Drakengard 2
Dropship - United Peace Force
Ecco The Dolphin: Defender Of The Future
Eternal Poison (CE)
Fatal Frame 1
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly
Fatal Frame 3: The Tormented
Final Fantasy 7: Dirge Of Cerberus
Final Fantasy 10
Final Fantasy 10-2
Final Fantasy 12 (CE)
Frequency
From Russia With Love (007)
Front Mission 4
Getting Up
Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Giants: Citizen Kabuto
Gitaroo Man
God Hand
God Of War 1
God Of War 2 (CE)
Gradius 3 & 4
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Grimgrimoire
Growlanser: Generations (2: SoJ & 3:TDD)
Growlanser: Heritage Of War (LE)
Guilty Gear XX: Accent Core Plus (W/OST)
Guilty Gear: Isuka
Gundam Seed: Never Ending Tomorrow
Gundam: Encounters In Space
Gundam: Gundam VS. Zeta Gundam
Gundam: SD GundamForce: Showdown
Gundam: Zeonic Front
Jack & Daxter 1: The Precursor Legacy
Jack & Daxter 2
Jack & Daxter 3
Katamari Damacy 1
Katamari Damacy 2
Killer 7
KillSwitch
Killzone
Kinetica
King Kong: Official Movie Game
Klonoa 2
Legacy Of Kain: Blood Omen 2
Legacy Of Kain: Defiance
Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver 2
LEGO: Batman - The Videogame
LEGO: Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
LEGO: Star Wars 1
LEGO: Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy
Lord Of The Rings 2: The Two Towers
Lord Of The Rings 3: The Return Of The King
Mad Maestro!
Magna Carta: Tears Of Blood (CE)
Mana Khenmia: Alchemists Of Al-Revis
Manhunt 2
Mark Of Kri
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Max Payne 1
Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne
Maximo 1: Ghost To Glory
Maximo 2: Verses The Army Of Zin
MDK2: Armageddon
Medal Of Honor: Rising Sun (Collection)
Megaman X Collection
Megaman X7
Megaman X8
Mercenaries 1: Playground of Destruction
Mercenaries 2: World In Flames
Metal Arms: Glitch In The System
Metal Gear Solid 2 (Essential Collection)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 3 (Essential Collection)
Metal Saga
Metal Slug Anthology
Midway Arcade Treasures 1
Midway Arcade Treasures 2
Midway Arcade Treasures 3
Mobile Light Force 2
Monster Hunter
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (CE)
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
MS Saga: A New Dawn
Nightshade
Ninja Assault
Odin Sphere
Okage: Shadow King
Okami
Oni
Onimusha 1: Warlords
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege
Onimusha: Dawn Of Dreams
Phantasy Star Universe
Prince Of Persia 1: The Sands Of Time
Prince Of Persia 2: Warrior Within
Prince Of Persia 3: The Two Thrones
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
Psychonauts
RAD: Robot Alchemic Drive
Radiata Stories
Raiden 3
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Ratchet: Deadlock
Red Faction 1
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil: Code: Veronica X
Resident Evil: Dead Aim
Resident Evil: Outbreak 2
Rez
Ring Of Red
Rise Of The Kasai
Robotech: Battlecry
Robotech: Invasion
Rogue Galaxy
R-Type: Final
S.L.A.I - Steel Lancer Arena International
Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends
Samurai Western
Sega Genesis Collection
Serious Sam: Next Encounter
Shadow Hearts
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Shadow Hearts: From The New World
Shadow Of Destiny
Shadow Of The Colossus
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 1: RKvsTSA
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: RKvsKA (CE)
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3: FES
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (CE)
Shinobi
Silent Hill 0: Origins
Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 3
Silent Hill 4: The Room
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Silpheed: The Lost Planet
Siren
Skygunner
Sly Cooper 1: And The Thievius Raccoonus
Sly Cooper 2: Band Of Thieves
Sly Cooper 3: Honor Among Thieves
Snoopy vs. The Red Baron
Sonic Heroes
Sonic Riders
Sonic+: Mega Collection
Soul Calibur 2
Soul Calibur 3
Soul Nomad & The World Eaters
Spider-man 2
Splinter Cell
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Splinter Cell: Double Agent
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Spyhunter 1
SpyHunter 2
Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time
Star Wars: Battlefront 2
Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
Star Wars: Racer 2: Revenge
Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing
Steambot Chronicles
Stella Deus: The Gate Of Eternity
Street Fighter Alpha Anthology
Street Fighter EX 3
Sub Rebellion
Summoner
Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror
Taito Legends: Vol 1
Taito Legends: Vol 2
Tekken 4
Tekken 5
Tekken Tag Tournament
Tetris: Worlds
The Punisher
The Red Star
Theme Park: Roller Coaster
Thirteen (XIII)
TimeSplitter 2
TimeSplitter 3: Future Perfect
TransFormers
Twisted Metal: Black
Twisted Metal: Head On: Extra Twisted Edition
Ultimate Spider-Man
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
VCL Presents: Motor Mayhem
Viewtiful Joe 1
Viewtiful Joe 2
Virtual Marz
Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior
Warship Gunner 2
Way Of The Samurai 2
Whiplash
Wipeout: Fusion
Wizardry: Tale Of The Forsaken Land
Wrath: Unleashed
Xenosaga: Episode 1: Der Wille Zur Macht
Xenosaga: Episode 2: Jenseits Von Gut Und Bose
Xenosaga: Episode 3: Also Sprach Zarathustra
X-Men Legends 1
X-Men Legends 2: Rise Of Apocalypse
Yakuza
Ys: The Art Of Napishtim
Zone Of The Enders 1
Zone Of The Enders 2: The 2nd Runner
That should be a pretty good list to start you off...All games are NTSC-U
wintercoat already mentioned most of what I'd recommend so:
For PS2
Kingdom Hearts series... but I suppose you can get the HD release on PS3 if you wanted to
Shadow Hearts: From The New World
.hack//:Infection, Mutation, Outbreak, and Quarantine
Disgaea if you like turn based strategy in your RPGs
The Xenosaga trilogy
... thats all I can think of
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