PlayStation 2 games

[Dion]

In retrospective there are a lot of PlayStation 2 games that still are awesome so I figured we'd make a list and compile it for the wiki [link] to help Schild do his work. I started us of with some titles of the top of my head that I figure most people here will enjoy:

List
Atelier Iris 3 - 2007 - Gust - NIS America and Koei
Ar Tonelico 2: Melody of Metafalica - 2009 - Gust - NIS America and Koei
Devil Summoner 2 - 2009 - Atlus - Atlus
Digital Devil Saga 1 - 2005 - Atlus - Atlus and Ghostlight
Digital Devil Saga 2 - 2005 - Atlus - Atlus and Ghostlight
Disgaea 2 - 2006 - Nippon Ichi Software - NIS America and Koei
Final Fantasy X - 2001/2002 - Square - Square EA and SCE Europe
Final Fantasy XII - 2006/2007 - Square Enix - Square Enix
God Hand - 2006/2007 - Clover Studio - Capcom
God of War 2 - 2007 - SCE Santa Monica - SCE
GrimGrimoire - 2007 - Vanillaware - Nippon Ichi
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law - 2008 - High Voltage Software - Capcom and Williams Street
Ico - 2001/2002 - Team Ico - SCE
Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis - 2008/2009 - Gust - NIS America and NIS Europe
Makai Kingdom - 2005 - Nippon Ichi - Nippon Ichi and Koei
Nocturne - 2004/2005 - Atlus - Ghostlight and Ubisoft?
King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match - 2009 - SNK - SNK
Odin Sphere - 2007/2008 - Vanillaware and Atlus - Atlus and Square Enix
Okami - 2006/2007 - Clover Studio - Capcom
Persona 3: FES - 2008 - Atlus - Atlus and Koei
Persona 4 - 2008/2009 - Atlus - Atlus and Square Enix
Rez - 2002 - United Game Artists - Sega and SCE
Shadow Hearts: Covenant - 2004/2005 - Nautilus - Midway
Shadow of the Colossus - 2005/2006 - Team Ico - SCE
Shadow of Rome - 2005 - Capcom Production Studio 2 - Capcom
Viewtiful Joe 2 - 2004/2005 - Clover Studio - Capcom
We Love Katamari - 2005/2006 - Namco and NOW Production - Namco and Electronic Arts
Yakuza 2 - 2008 - Amusement Vision - Sega
Zone of the Enders 2 - 2003 - Konami - Konami

Candidates:
Alien Hominid
Atelier Iris 1
Atelier Iris 2
Baroque
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
Bujingai
Bully
Culdcept
Chulip
Disaster Report
Disaster Report 2 (Raw Danger in the US)
Dragon Quest VIII
Fatal Frame 3
Fire Pro Wrestling Returns
Flipnic
Genji
Ghosthunter
Gran Tourismo 4
Haunting Ground
Jak 3
Katamari Damacy
Kuon
Lego Star Wars
Metal Gear Solid the Essential Collectio
Makai Kingdom
Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (I guess >_>)
MLB Power Pros
Metal Saga
Monster Hunter
MS Saga: A New Dawn (the only Gundam game I've ever enjoyed?)
Nightmare of Druaga: Fushi
Nocturne
Nobunaga's Ambtion: Rise to Power
Odin Sphere
Okami
Osamu Tezuka's Blood Will Tell
Phantom Brave
Radiata Stories
Ratchet & Clank
Red Star
Resident Evil 4
Rez
Rogue Galaxy
Rule of Rose
Romance of the Three Kingdoms X
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI
Shadow of the Colossus
Suikoden III
Samurai Western
Shadow Hearts
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Shadow of Rome (maybe the second most underrted game on the system?)
Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 3
Soul Nomad
Steambot Chronicles
Stretch Panic
Taito Drum Master
Tales of the Abyss
Valkyria Profile 2 Silmeria
Zone of the Enders

[schild]

Growlanser Generations? uggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
really?

really?

Well, at least you didn't put Growlanser V on there.

Ahem, anyway.

Alien Hominid
Atelier Iris 1 & 2 (I like 3, but apparently no one else does)
Osamu Tezuka's Blood Will Tell
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
Bujingai
Bully
Chulip (lol) (voodoolily would love this)
Culdcept
Disaster Report
Disaster Report 2 (Raw Danger in the US)
Disgaea 1 & 2
Dragon Quest VIII (not because I want to but because Jain Zar will have a nerdrage breakdown if I don't just put it on this list)
Fatal Frame 3
Fire Pro Wrestling Returns
Flipnic
Genji (much better than the 2nd on the PS3)
Ghosthunter (maybe the most underrated game on the system?)
Grim Grimoire
Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero 2
Haunting Ground
Katamari Damacy
Kuon
Makai Kingdom
Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (I guess >_>)
MLB Power Pros
Monster Hunter
MS Saga: A New Dawn (the only Gundam game I've ever enjoyed?)
Nightmare of Druaga: Fushi
Phantom Brave
Radiata Stories
Red Star
Resident Evil 4
Rez
Rogue Galaxy
Romance of the Three Kingdoms X & XI
Samurai Western
Shadow Hearts
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Shadow of Rome (maybe the second most underrted game on the system?)
Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 3
Soul Nomad
Steambot Chronicles
Stretch Panic
Taito Drum Master
Tales of the Abyss
We Love Katamari
Yakuza
Zone of the Enders

[Yegolev]

Meow!  I'm sure not everyone here is into weeaboo shit, but I'll play along, meow-kitty-meow.  Will try not to overlap OP and schild, although I'd subtract We <3 Katamari and replace Bully with GTA: San Andreas and/or Vice City.

Atelier Iris series (I like #3 and people who don't are idiots, also WTB field bonus guide)
Baroque
Final Fantasy XII
Metal Saga
Ratchet & Clank series

I'll go home and look at my shelf before I get into Rule of Rose territory.

[schild]

Oh man, screw that. I'll just put it on here.

Rule of Rose

That shit is just out there in some places.

[Dion]

It was ages ago since I played it, maybe it's not as good as I remember it  

I updated OP, will sort thru and add dates etc as I see fit. How do I go about putting this in the Wiki?

[Yegolev]

I did not actually finish it due to a slow spot or something, but ... yeah.

[schild]

It was ages ago since I played it, maybe it's not as good as I remember it 

I updated OP, will sort thru and add dates etc as I see fit. How do I go about putting this in the Wiki?

If you actually want to make the list, get in touch with NiX, odds are you'll just have to send the raw data and such to him, but he can give you the formatting if you want to make it easy, otherwise, NiX likes suffering.

[NiX]

In retrospective there are a lot of PlayStation 2 games that still are awesome so I figured we'd make a list and compile it for the wiki [link] to help SchildNiX do his work. I started us of with some titles of the top of my head that I figure most people here will enjoy

Well, guess I'm not bored anymore.

[Dion]

I'll wait for more submissions, sort thru the list and then send it to you so you can put it in 

[NiX]

Awesome! You can send it along to wiki AT F13 DOT net

[Yegolev]

Can I still get all gay about PS2 games?

[Dion]

Can I still get all gay about PS2 games?

Do it!

[Rasix]

Anyone play Nobunaga's Ambtion: Rise to Power enough to have an opinion on it?  I had a hard time getting into the battle system and didn't play for long.

[Nebu]

A few I thought were well done:

Shadow of the Collosus missed it on the list
Lego Star Wars
Gran Tourismo 4

[Tairnyn]

I see only one missing from my list of fond remembrances:

Suikoden III

[Dion]

I see only one missing from my list of fond remembrances:

Suikoden III

Not that I'm pissing all over your game, but I need to make sure that the games that make the list still hold up against current games when it comes to gameplay. But I'll add yours, and all others, titles for now.

[schild]

Suikoden 3 is generally considered pretty godawful.

[Jain Zar]

My list of lurve:
(Im leaving out decent but not beloved games, and retrocollections)

Disgaea
Transformers (Armada)
Front Mission 4
Mobile Suit Gundam Zeonic Front
Klonoa 2
Rygar
Star Wars Starfghter
Star Wars Jedi Starfighter
Timesplitters
Timesplitters 2
Dragon Quest 8
Time Crisis 2 (sadly unplayable on HD TVs...)

[Azazel]

What are the criteria for these lists? Platform-exclusives, or just good games available on a platform?

Good games for the time, or "still good games now"? And who decides that last bit?

[schild]

And who decides that last bit?

At the end of the day? Do you really want that answer?

[Azazel]

Ah, so you'll simply give the entire Wii section the scorched earth treatment?  

Just saw the disclaimer on the PS1 and DC list.

Want some recommendations for the 360 and/or PC? There's quite a bit missing.

[schild]

Ah, so you'll simply give the entire Wii section the scorched earth treatment?  

I made the whole Wii list, thanks.


Just saw the disclaimer on the PS1 and DC list.

Want some recommendations for the 360 and/or PC? There's quite a bit missing.

PC is hard. I think I'm only going to put true blue classics in there. Not sure yet.

360 is probably missing recent stuff. But seriously, I'd like to hear what you think should be added. Also, if it's on 360 and PC and it's better on PC (Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead, etc) - it's going under PC.

[ahoythematey]

I'd probably throw Beyond Good & Evil up there, though it is very multiplatform.

[Velorath]

Also, if it's on 360 and PC and it's better on PC (Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead, etc) - it's going under PC.

Is it that hard to add a game on for both?

[Azazel]

Here's some PS2 stuff.

Burnout Dominator
Hot Shots Golf 3 and Fore!
Jak & Daxter
Jak 2
Jak 3
Mark of Kri
Raiden III
Rise of the Kasai
Soul Calibur 3
Tekken Tag
Tekken 5


Shaun White Snowboarding should be on the Wii list. Madworld possibly - haven't played it enough yet, though the waggle controls actually work well on it (surprisingly) . I'd agree Wii is easily the smallest, but this is a f13's community Wiki.

I'll look through my 360 stuff in a moment. Will only list things that are not listed, bloody worthwhile, and I've played enough to give a proper full thumbs-up to. Not stuff like Hulk that is merely kinda fun.

Don't overdo the system-exclusive type list though. There's plenty of us who only have one console or another, and PCs often need a hefty rig to run any of the better stuff. COD4 can probably safely go on PC/PS3/360, for example. I'd list GTA:VC and SA on PC, but not on PS2 for example, due to vastly better control and the MP3 player radio station. Add a game for both or all three if it's one of the better games on multiple systems. This is an f13 games Wiki, not Schild's personal Wiki. (and I almost always tend to buy the PC versions of games like L4D, TF2, etc).

Similarly, there's a bunch of stuff that I really liked on PS2 but decided to buy the XBox versions more recently due to the BC thing - games that are pretty much still worthwhile on either PS2/XBox, and worthy of both lists. In some cases the XBox versions were noticably better, due to custom soundtracks* rather then the shitty ingame music. This was evident even to a PS2-leaning guy like myself.

BloodRayne 2
Burnout 2*
Burnout 3*
Gladius
Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
Silent Hill 2
Soul Calibur 2

I haven't played the various Prince of Persia series enough yet, though they were all PS2/XBox. Similar with the Splinter Cell series.



360 stuff. A lot/most of this is probably cross-platform. I've included them since I played them on the 360 and they stand up well, regardless of other platforms they might be on.

Bully
Burnout Revenge
Burnout Paradise
Flatout Ultimate Carnage
Just Cause
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (A CLASSIC RPG!!)
Saints Row
Saints Row 2


There's other stuff that's a lot of fun, (for awhile) but also very flawed. Examples:

Conan
Dead Rising

[schild]

Also, if it's on 360 and PC and it's better on PC (Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead, etc) - it's going under PC.

Is it that hard to add a game on for both?

No, but it's nice to put the games under the systems they should really be played on. You know I've always done this sort of thing, why even mention the easy alternative?

Don't overdo the system-exclusive type list though. There's plenty of us who only have one console or another, and PCs often need a hefty rig to run any of the better stuff. COD4 can probably safely go on PC/PS3/360, for example. I'd list GTA:VC and SA on PC, but not on PS2 for example, due to vastly better control and the MP3 player radio station. Add a game for both or all three if it's one of the better games on multiple systems. This is an f13 games Wiki, not Schild's personal Wiki. (and I almost always tend to buy the PC versions of games like L4D, TF2, etc).

This is a better argument than Velorath's, but at the same time, even if it's the f13 wiki, where would you rather see people play TF2? On the 360 or the PC? If everyone wants to put it under the 360 also, by all means, do so. But I'm a big fan of doing things where their BEST done. /shrug

Edit:

Shaun White Snowboarding should be on the Wii list. Madworld possibly - haven't played it enough yet, though the waggle controls actually work well on it (surprisingly) . I'd agree Wii is easily the smallest, but this is a f13's community Wiki.

Again, stuff that came out AFTER I made the list that's there now.

[Azazel]

I'd rather play L4D and TF2 on the PC. But then I also prefer to play COD4 on the PC, and I'd reckon that it's probably just/at least as popular on the consoles.

Similar issue for cross-platform stuff that's on both the PS3 and 360 (or PS2/XBox) and is pretty much identical on both. I'd guess Saints Row 2 qualifies there.

I haven't bothered with GTA4 yet, but would that get the nod to 360 because of the exclusive DLC? What about Fallout 3? The only platform that the DLC seems not be fucked up on is the 360, but it's very much a PC purchase for me (especially with Mods). Mass Effect and it's DLC?

I mean, during the PS2 days, I kept reading reviews of games that basically said "the XBox version just edges out the PS2 version graphically, but the gameplay is identical". I almost always got the PS2 version anyway since I preferred the PS2 controller to the XBox's big clunky POS.
But identical gameplay vs slightly better graphics and in many cases custom soundtracks can make a very legitimate case for a lot of the PS2's good/better games to only be on the XBox list if you want to do it exclusively. (Those Burnout games, for example).

Apply to multiple platforms if the games are identical, still worth playing today and still are worthwhile on that platform in their own right, or if they have an other compelling reason to be on multiples.



ps - are we doing anything with the whole "classic/retrogames" compilations that keep springing up on every platform? You know, Namco Museum, Midway Arcade, Genesis Collection, etc. Or are we keeping it to "real" games for the platform?
(Also relevent to ask in regard to and considering the same titles are often found on XBLA/PSN/WiiWare.)

[schild]

I'd reckon that it's probably just/at least as popular on the consoles.

This is not about where it's popular. When has f13 EVER been about where something is popular? Comeon now.

Also, mods and DLC shouldn't even play into it. In 10 years are you going to still be able to get the DLC on the original console? Probably not. Will you be able to get the game? Assuredly so.

As for your postscript, real games, plz.

[Azazel]

No, it's not about popular, but by all accounts, L4D and COD4 are bloody good on console. If I didn't personally hate FPS with a thumbstick, I might prefer the console platforms. It's about worthy in it's own right on a specific platform. You'll probably also find that most people (even here) only own a given title on one platform, so who decides the "best" platform? Besides, we're only looking at the better games for each, are we not?

If we're disqualifying DLC for games, should we then nix the whole Wiiware/XBLA/PSN/downloadable software aspect? 


I'm sure I'd prefer playing L4D in HD online from my couch on a 46" screen, then sitting at my PC desk on my 22" PC screen if I didn't hate them thumbsticks. I think if people can make a good argument for a game's inclusion on any platform (better than "aww come on?" type arguments) then it should be fine to include them. Or if the games are pretty much identical.

[schild]

No, it's not about popular, but by all accounts, L4D and COD4 are bloody good on console. If I didn't personally hate FPS with a thumbstick, I might prefer the console platforms. It's about worthy in it's own right on a specific platform. You'll probably also find that most people (even here) only own a given title on one platform, so who decides the "best" platform? Besides, we're only looking at the better games for each, are we not?

This pleasing everyone crap is why I was just going to do it myself. You gotta draw the line somewhere, and making amenities for the underprivileged is where I draw the line on this topic.

If we're disqualifying DLC for games, should we then nix the whole Wiiware/XBLA/PSN/downloadable software aspect?  

That is dumb and does not make sense. Downloadable games are downloadable games. DLC for a game is DLC. Protip: The C doesn't stand for "game."

I'm sure I'd prefer playing L4D in HD online from my couch on a 46" screen, then sitting at my PC desk on my 22" PC screen if I didn't hate them thumbsticks. I think if people can make a good argument for a game's inclusion on any platform (better than "aww come on?" type arguments) then it should be fine to include them. Or if the games are pretty much identical.

Stop trying to please everyone. You never will. Ever.

[Tairnyn]

Suikoden 3 is generally considered pretty godawful.

Tell me more of this indescript panel of gamers you speak for.

[schild]

Suikoden 3 is generally considered pretty godawful.

Tell me more of this indescript panel of gamers you speak for.

I wouldn't call everyone that played 1 and 2 "indescript." Did you play 1 & 2? Can you explain why you liked 3 after playing them? If it makes you feel better, the reputation for III did go up after IV came out and ended up being absolutely dreadful in every way imaginable. V cleaned up their act a bit, but I wouldn't really classify the PS2 Suikodens as must-play.

I mean, it'd be going on a list with Shadow of the Colossus, Shadowhearts: Covenant, and Disgaea. Do you really think it belongs there?

This is the thought process I was going through when I started making those lists.

It's one of the reasons why a thread about them is only going to end in tears.

[Azazel]

Pleasing everyone? Ameneties for the underprivileged? You're being deliberately obtuse now. So who decides the "best" platform for a game that's identical across platforms? You?  

DLC - okay, we'll wait till it's published on a disc. Fallout 3 is scheduled to come out in some kind of all-in-one on the 360 soon, which will then make it the "best" version.

Please everyone? Me? No.. I simply disagree with a single person being the high arbiter of "the best" when things are either identical (most cross-platform games) or simply differ in control scheme despite being just as good or better than other offerings. Like, if Resistance is worth including on the PS3, (Didn't you end up giving up on R2 in disgust?) why isn't COD4? Or L4D? Or TF2? Because Schild prefers KB&M or Steam?

Seriously, I own all 3 on PC (because I prefer KB&M), none of those 3 on any console, so I'm devil's advocating here. But what defines the PC versions as "the best"? "Schild said so?"

It's about not being so myopic.

[schild]

Your points suck.

1. Having all the DLC on one disc doesn't make the DLC a game. The game is Fallout 3. The game is Team Fortress 2. The game is Grand Theft Auto IV. These aren't lists of best mods or best DLC. If you want to make those, go ahead, but that's not what these are. So stop being a fruitbag. Deliberately obtuse. Right. You're trying to redefine a game, gtfo with that crap.

2. If Resistance was on the PC, guess where I'd have played it. God, what a terrible argument. I don't even want to acknowledge it furthr.

3. Grats on owning all 3 consoles. You're devil's advocating for people who don't own a PC. Just because we would - in almost every case - as a site - recommend it as the preferred version, why would we add it to the other lists. We're not damning the other versions by not including them. Stop being a carebear. You can't hurt their feelings. They're games. They don't have emotion.

4. It absolutely is about being myopic, numbnuts. This is a list for f13 - not some megasite like IGN. You know, f13? A site where 99% of the people will play a freaking MMOG over the best console game of the year. A site where when a controller is opted for, over a keyboard and mouse when available, means you're either A) Broke, B) Daft, or C) Tasteless, D) Bad at Games, or E) all of the above? I'm not slighting us for that, it's part of what makes us special. No matter how you slice this crap, you really are trying to please everyone, you need to not do that, it's impossible.

PS I gave up Killzone 2 in disgust, I just haven't had time to finish Resistance 2 because other stuff that's more shiny to me keeps distracting me. Do try to keep up.

[Rasix]

It's generally accepted that cooperative or competitive FPS play better in environments where you have a keyboard and mouse and where you have a robust and active community. 

The Orange Box I wouldn't throw under 360 as a "best of" for the above reasons and because it's Valve and there's that whole Steam thing.  Context. It isn't hard. We're a bunch of knowledgeable gamers, why not act like it.

Who really cares as long as the game is there somewhere?