The Ultimate PS2 FPS Games You Must Play Before They Disappear Forever!

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Summary

  • Call of Duty: World at War – Final Fronts and Quake 3 Revolution are unique PS2 spin-offs.
  • Gungriffon Blaze and Tribes: Aerial Assault offer mech-battling action.
  • Half-Life: Decay and Cold Winter are two PS2 exclusives that were arguably ahead of their time.

For more than twenty years following its release, the PlayStation 2 continues to hold a special place in the hearts of numerous gamers, who cherish the timeless classics from its impressive game library. The first-person shooter genre is robustly present on this formidable console, with numerous excellent series like Call of Duty and Medal of Honor boasting multiple installments. However, most of these games were also playable on other popular consoles during the same era. The same applies to many licensed games based on franchises such as James Bond and Star Wars.

Other notable first-person shooter (FPS) games such as TimeSplitters and Killzone were initially only available on Sony’s highly successful PlayStation console but have since been ported to more contemporary hardware. Consequently, they no longer fit the criteria for this list. Here are top FPS games that remain exclusively playable on the PlayStation 2, which might be worth revisiting for another playthrough, arranged according to their overall quality and popularity.

6. Call of Duty: World at War – Final Fronts

Spin-Off Of World At War

A unique offshoot titled “Call of Duty: World at War – Final Fronts” was put out on the market due to the PlayStation 2’s persistent strong sales, even though the next console generation was already in full force. Instead of the original creators, Treyarch, it was developed by a different company (Rebellion Developments). Consequently, the campaign and overall gameplay are distinctly different, although they both share the setting of the final days of World War II.

The game, titled Final Fronts, has 13 missions distributed across four unique characters hailing from both U.S. and British military forces. These missions take place in diverse locations spanning the Western Front in Europe and significant battlegrounds of the Pacific campaign. Unlike its PlayStation 3 version, this game lacks multiplayer options, a point of contention for players back then. However, the main criticisms are directed at the computer-controlled allies, who often force you out of cover or run into your line of fire due to poor programming.

5. Gungriffon Blaze

Fast-Paced Mech Battling Action

As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I’ve always found myself drawn to games that offer a unique blend of action and strategy, and Gungriffon Blaze is one such game. Although it finds itself eclipsed by the PS2-exclusive Armored Core 2 in terms of popularity, this title continues to captivate many gamers due to its undeniable charm.

Its lineage traces back to the acclaimed Sega Saturn exclusives, and the thrilling gameplay experience it provides has sparked a bit of debate among fans and critics since its release. The game’s brief runtime and limited content left some players craving for more, but I personally find the sheer enjoyment it brings to be well worth the time invested.

In this game, the action unfolds in the year 2015 amidst the Third World War. Players find themselves deployed globally, engaging enemy forces with advanced mechs, and saving civilians caught in the crossfire. The AWG mechs boast astonishing speed, a trait that proves crucial for dodging incoming rockets and swiftly navigating battlefields to neutralize threats. The controls feel intuitive, and each mission requires strategic thinking due to multiple possible solutions. However, the absence of multiplayer modes seems like a missed chance for added depth and replayability.

4. Tribes: Aerial Assault

A Mostly Online Mech Shooter

Primarily developed for online gaming, “Tribes: Aerial Assault” stands as another first-person mech shooter, marking its place as the third installment in the widely appreciated “Tribes” series. It offers five primary game modes for players to dive into: team-oriented modes like Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and Capture and Hold; and single-player modes, which include Hunter and Deathmatch. Despite the servers shutting down in 2008, a devoted fanbase continues to keep this game active.

As a gamer, I’ve got to admit, while Aerial Assault is all about online combat, it does offer a single-player campaign mode. This story takes place in the year 3945, in a part of space called the Wilderzone. Here, a newly created race, the BioDerm, has invaded a tribal region. I, as J. Ransom, have been tasked with teaming up with other space tribes to eliminate these new threats. The missions in this campaign are similar to those you’d find in multiplayer mode, but unfortunately, they don’t seem to add much depth to the overall lore of the series.

3. Cold Winter

Inventive Gameplay And A Gripping Story, But Dull Graphics

A game named Cold Winter, which didn’t receive much attention due to its less vibrant graphics, offers an engaging storyline and some uniquely creative gameplay mechanics. However, it lacks the eye-catching visuals that could draw in a larger player base. In this game, you play as Andrew Sterling, a character reminiscent of James Bond, who was once part of the SAS and now works for MI6. You’re pulled into a global conspiracy surrounding arms deals and a mysterious organization aiming to trigger a nuclear winter.

The narrative of this game was generally highly lauded by critics, being richer and more captivating than many other first-person shooters currently available. Its AI enemies were advanced for their time, exhibiting a keen intuition about player actions and displaying strategic acumen that is still rare in modern games. Additionally, the realistic physics of character movement and object interaction are groundbreaking – objects can be manipulated to provide cover, and they react realistically to gunfire and explosions as one might expect in actual life situations.

2. Quake 3 Revolution

A PS2 Port With Unique Elements

In my viewpoint, Quake 3 Revolution feels like a fusion of the original Quake 3 Arena and its expansion, Quake 3 Team Arena. Yet, it manages to carve out its own niche with an array of fresh features. One such feature is a new single-player campaign that’s quite different from the one in the original. This campaign is more linear than the one in Arena, and it appears to unfold post the events of the PC version, divided into five tiers, each containing five arenas that must be conquered sequentially by players. Additionally, the variety of match types has been expanded beyond just deathmatches, offering a more diverse gaming experience.

In the game titled Revolution, players must manage five distinct characters. Overcoming all the levels grants the victor a fight for liberty against the Vadrigar. Some players expressed disappointment over the absence of online multiplayer, which was not available on PS2 during its release; however, the four-player split-screen mode remained popular among dedicated fans. New game modes in Revolution include Single Weapon Death Match and a Capture the Flag version featuring just one flag.

1. Half-Life: Decay

Standalone Two-Player Campaign

In simpler terms, “Half-Life Decay” is an independent story set within the Half-Life PS2 port, which unfolds concurrently with Gordon Freeman’s adventure. This game is designed primarily for cooperative play, but can also be experienced as a single-player game, allowing you to switch between two characters. The game consists of nine missions, complete with challenging puzzles that necessitate strong teamwork. For those who excel and earn an A rating in every mission, there’s an additional bonus mission waiting!

Managing Collette Green and Gina Cross, two coworkers of Gordon Freeman at the Black Mesa Research Facility, the objective is to stop the spread of Xen creatures within the labs. Although some may find it less engaging than Half-Life, Decay offers a distinctive experience in the series. Unfortunately, an official PC port was never finished, so revisiting this classic on the PlayStation 2 can be an enjoyable experience over two decades since its release, particularly with a friend.

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2025-03-19 16:40