PS2 Games That Are Still Hard To Live Up To

by

Honestly, things are looking really good for gaming right now – the PS5 is doing awesome, and the Switch 2 is already a huge hit. It’s a great time to be a gamer! But you know, I still find myself thinking about the PS2 days. It just had everything. Seriously, no matter what kind of game you were into – platformers, shooters, RPGs – the PS2 had something for you. There was just a special vibe about that console.

Many classic games still run great on their original consoles, and look even better with updated versions. For certain series, the PlayStation 2 was their golden age. While sequels exist, they haven’t quite reached the same level of impact. Even games that aren‘t universally considered the best often feature brilliant and undeniable ideas.

Def Jam: Fight For NY

Hip-Hop Wrestling

Released as a follow-up to the original Def Jam: Fight for NY builds on its success in every way. The game uniquely combined the worlds of hip-hop and wrestling, letting players battle as their favorite rap artists. This sequel featured an expanded roster of fighters, refined gameplay, and an even better soundtrack. While there was one subsequent sequel, it wasn’t well-received, and fans have been hoping for either a modern remake of Fight for NY or a new hip-hop wrestling game ever since.

Shadow Of The Colossus

A Hard Game To Describe

Shadow of the Colossus is a truly remarkable game. It’s been updated and re-released several times, and each version continues to show players why it’s considered a timeless masterpiece.

The game features a puzzling story with a simple goal: explore a huge world, defeat massive giants, and try to bring a loved one back to life. While visually stunning and atmospheric, it’s a little rough around the edges on the PS2. Despite this, it remains a truly original experience centered around epic boss battles, and nothing quite like it has emerged since.

Max Payne

A Gritty Crime Thriller

Lots of TV shows and movies feature tough, dark detective stories, but the game Max Payne is unique. The main character, Max, tells the whole story himself as he fights through criminals and crooked police officers who were involved in his family’s murder. Driven by bullets and fueled by pills, Max is spiraling towards his own downfall.

He’s not a typical hero; he’s a father on a final mission for revenge, delivered with cool, slow-motion gunplay, before he meets his fate. The sequels were enjoyable, though they didn’t quite capture the impact of the first game. Hopefully, the new remake will breathe fresh life into the Max Payne series.

Dark Cloud 2

Level-5 At Their Best

Dark Cloud 2 is often considered Level-5’s most creative work, especially considering it was released relatively early in their history. As the second game in the series, it significantly improved upon the original. While it’s fundamentally an action RPG with two playable characters you can switch between, it offers a surprisingly deep experience. You’ll find randomized dungeons to explore, a town-building system, time travel elements, a quest to create inventions, the ability to transform into monsters, and weapons that evolve – and that’s just the beginning. A remastered version is available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

X-Men Legends 2: Rise Of Apocalypse

Mutant Academy

X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse continues the story from the first game. Players build teams of four heroes to explore dungeons filled with fast-paced, action-packed combat similar to the game Diablo. The game brings together iconic X-Men heroes and villains as they work to defeat Apocalypse, making it one of the most compelling X-Men gaming experiences available.

While the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance games offered similar action RPG gameplay, the X-Men Legends games – particularly X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse – struck a better balance between exciting action and a compelling story.

James Bond: Everything Or Nothing

An Original Bond Story That Hit

As a Bond fan, I always thought GoldenEye 007 was incredible, but it was based on a movie, you know? That’s why James Bond: Everything or Nothing felt so fresh – it wasn’t tied to a film. And EA really went all out with it, trying to make a game that felt as big and exciting as the Bond movies themselves.

The game starred Pierce Brosnan, Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe, and other famous actors. It also included a fantastic theme song, “Everything or Nothing,” performed by Mya, who even made an appearance in the game itself. While the upcoming 007 First Light might eventually surpass James Bond: Everything or Nothing, fans are currently hoping for a remastered version of this classic title.

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly

Pictures Of You

While Resident Evil 4 is widely considered one of the best and most popular horror games on the PlayStation 2, many dedicated horror fans actually prefer Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly. They believe it delivers a more genuinely frightening experience.

This Japanese horror game follows a group of teenagers who become lost in a town full of haunted, old houses. Players defend themselves by using a camera to capture the ghosts. While there have been follow-up games, fans agree that this second installment is the most frightening. A smaller remake came out for the Wii in 2012, but excitement is now building for a much larger remake planned for 2026.

.hack//Infection

Four Games In About A Year Is Impressive

.hack//Infection is a unique and expansive game originally released for the PlayStation 2. It’s the first in a series of four games where players delve into a virtual world that seems all too real. The game combines action-packed combat with a mystery: players must uncover why some gamers are falling into comas while playing the online game.

From 2003 to 2004, all four games in the series were released in North America with a unique feature: players could transfer save data between them. This release was supported by an anime series and novels, creating a large, interconnected multimedia experience. Fans who experienced this remember it fondly as a special time in gaming and a key moment in establishing CyberConnect2’s reputation.

Read More

2025-10-24 05:06