Following in the footsteps of Sony’s iconic gray console, the PlayStation 2 surpassed all anticipations, with sales exceeding 160 million units. To date, this figure remains unmatched among any other video game console ever produced.
On the PlayStation 2, several cherished franchises flourished and reached new heights, but some experienced missteps and delivered subpar games. The following are some titles that fell short, leaving both longtime fans and newcomers feeling underwhelmed.
Some games from this list perform well as standalone titles but might face criticism because they belong to an already popular series. However, when their precursors were initially released on older generation platforms, it’s the fans who are quick to express dissatisfaction, almost like they’re brandishing virtual pitchforks.
8. Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
Those Loading Times, Though
We’re starting our list with a game that, while not inherently poor, feels like a significant step back compared to its predecessor. The disappointment is heightened when you recall that Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped was originally released on the PlayStation 1.
In terms of graphics, “The Wrath of Cortex” surpasses the iconic PlayStation 1 trilogy, but regrettably, it falls short almost everywhere else. The original games were renowned for their pinpoint-accurate jump physics, which feel surprisingly loose and floaty in the PlayStation 2 version.
The loading times are often found to be excessively prolonged, even beyond what’s typically anticipated for a simple platformer game.
If earlier Crash Bandicoot games hadn’t been popular favorites, perhaps The Wrath of Cortex wouldn’t have been notable. However, Crash Bandicoot deserved more, which he fortunately received with the 2004 release of Twinsanity, a comeback that lived up to expectations.
7. Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
I Guess Tombs Aren’t Cool Anymore
Today, Lara Croft is still held in high regard as a leading character, but she was an absolute global sensation during the PlayStation 1 era. The anticipation for her debut on the PlayStation 2 was immense, yet her initial appearance fell short of even the most ardent supporters’ expectations.
By 2003, many issues had been resolved for 3D adventure games; however, this didn’t prevent the camera from being a formidable adversary in Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. The controls seem antiquated and rigid, and the game itself experienced performance problems such as frame rate fluctuations.
In simpler terms, it’s somewhat disappointing that there aren’t many tombs as I had anticipated in a Tomb Raider game, considering the series’ past reputation. While there are some tombs here and there, there seems to be an excessive amount of modern structures like buildings and research facilities, which deviate from the classic feel that made these games stand out.
6. Devil May Cry 2
Even A Son Of Sparda Can Stumble
Devil May Cry stands out as one of the most fashionably designed games across all platforms, boasting an upcoming anime adaptation to boot! However, it’s unfortunate that its successor fails to maintain the same level of quality and is often criticized as the weakest game in the series.
As a gamer, I’ve got to say that DMC2 doesn’t quite live up to the original masterpiece. The gameplay feels more like a drag compared to the finely tuned experience of the first one. It seems like you can breeze through most of the game by just hanging back and blasting your foes. The enemy designs are inconsistent, and the levels lack the intricate detail and seamless flow that made the original so captivating. It’s like someone took a beautiful piece of art and glued together pieces from different pictures without much thought or care.
Surprisingly underwhelming, it seems, is the experience of playing DMC2. And that’s certainly not the kind of news anyone would be eager to receive regarding a title in the Devil May Cry series.
One positive aspect is the impressive character designs, yet these seem more like a secondary bonus when considering the overall quality of the entire production.
5. Mega Man X7
Oh, How The Mighty Have Fallen
At a certain point, the creators of the Mega Man series seemed unbeatable. The 2D Mega Man games on NES and SNES are among the most cherished titles for those platforms. However, if there’s one factor that could potentially dethrone this powerhouse, it’s the introduction to three-dimensional gameplay.
It’s clear that Mega Man struggled to adapt to a 3D world, leading to the decision to continue with 2D games in newer releases. The original series is famous for its ingenious level designs and excellent platforming mechanics. Unfortunately, X7 lacks these qualities. The controls are disappointingly difficult to handle, and the boss battles fail to deliver satisfaction.
In this game, the voice acting is surprisingly poor, and it’s so easy that playing it feels dull. For me, the level of difficulty is a significant issue because I anticipate getting challenged in Mega Man games. In fact, it’s quite challenging to even lose in X7.
4. Tekken 4
Experiments Don’t Always Pay Off
Tekken 3 is often considered the top fighting game for the PlayStation 1, surpassed by Tekken Tag Tournament on the PlayStation 2, which seemed like a fantastic tribute to the series. Unfortunately, I can’t say that about Tekken 4.
For the record, Tekken 4 pioneered walls for the first time in the series. Nowadays, it’s a standard feature, but back then, it was rough around the edges and not very polished in its debut. It might seem minor, but it actually had a significant impact on most stages within the game.
A significant criticism leveled against Tekken 4 was its reduction in the number of playable characters compared to its predecessor, Tekken Tag Tournament. While Tekken Tag Tournament boasted a massive roster of 39 characters, Tekken 4 could only muster 23, leaving out several fan favorites.
After the huge success of Tekken Tag Tournament with its impressive 39 playable characters, people felt disappointed when Tekken 4 came along with just 23 characters, many of which were not as popular.
Similar to the other games mentioned, Tekken 4 is not poor quality; however, it falls short when compared to its previous versions within a franchise that remains one of Namco Bandai’s most impressive to date.
3. Driv3r
At Least Half Of The Game Is Good
As a gaming enthusiast, there’s always been something special about the Driver series for me. The first one, with its iconic tutorial in the garage, was like a rite of passage for newbies, and who can forget the thrill of being a ghost driver in Driver: San Francisco?
In Driv3r, they’ve truly mastered the driving experience, providing outstanding steering physics that make each vehicle a pleasure to handle. Regrettably, the exceptional driving is marred by some of the most frustrating on-foot sections I’ve ever encountered on the PS2.
In the game Driv3r, you control the character Tanner, who experiences a discomfort akin to his bones merging together, moving about clumsily.
As a gamer, I can leap and tumble, but it’s not something that’ll impress anyone. The animations are so absurd, they’re downright laughable. Firing my weapon feels like an uphill battle, and even the simplest shots seem to evade me as I mechanically stumble into firefights.
In defense of the on-foot sections in Driver 2, it’s important to remember that the game was developed for the PS1, which had limitations compared to later consoles. On the other hand, both Driv3r for the PS2 and GTA 3 deserve a place in the Hall of Shame due to their subpar on-foot gameplay.
2. Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier
A Port We Never Needed
Speaking informally, “The Jak and Daxter series offers some fantastic 3D adventure journeys on the PlayStation 2. Mostly, these games deliver top-notch experiences.”
Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier is often considered the most criticized game within the series, irrespective of the platform it was released on. To begin with, it’s essentially a PlayStation Portable (PSP) game that was transferred to the PlayStation 2, which is why it appears visually unrefined. This lack of polish is also evident in the controls, which feel noticeably less responsive than those in the original trilogy and seem to represent a significant decline in every aspect.
Regardless of whether a camera confronts you as an adversary, a point that the series had already addressed long ago.
Although it remains a mystery exactly what transpired during the development process, what we can confirm is that Naughty Dog decided to dedicate their efforts towards “Uncharted,” leaving the leadership role to High Impact Games.
1. Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly
Flogging A PlayStation Mascot
The three-part “Spyro” series, highly acclaimed by critics, is another notable gem on the PlayStation 1, beautifully revamped for the “Reignited Trilogy”. Regrettably, the fourth installment in the sequence, titled “Enter the Dragonfly“, falls short of expectations.
The game “Enter the Dragonfly” features some intriguing concepts, such as unique breath abilities, a feature that has been a cornerstone of the series. Regrettably, the gameplay is noticeably slower compared to its predecessors, and this sluggishness can largely be attributed to the gem-collecting aspect.
Earlier, after defeating an enemy, gems would automatically approach you. Now, however, you’ll need to be patient and wait for your opponent to perish. Once they disintegrate into smoke, you can then collect the loot from their location.
In the gaming world of Enter the Dragonfly, I found the levels to be vastly open, yet it feels like the developers overlooked adding content. There are merely nine stages here, a stark contrast to the richness of the thirty-three stages in Spyro 3.
You might want to cut this game some slack since another developer created it, but that doesn’t change the fact that it falls short as a Spyro game, and it seems to have poorly managed the role of Sony’s beloved mascot.
or
Though another developer is responsible for it, this game isn’t up to par as a Spyro title and appears to be a mismanaged version of the PlayStation mascot. You could show leniency, but the quality remains subpar.
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2025-03-10 17:12