#The ten finest PS2 video games of all time, ranked

The perfect PS2 video games started the hype of the preferred franchises we all know as we speak. This consists of the likes of God of Battle, Kingdom Hearts, and Ratchet & Clank; listed below are the video games that characterize the most effective experiences on Sony’s best-selling platform.

10. God of Battle

God of Battle is among the PS2’s most iconic video games, and for good purpose. It options excellent character motion as you whip your enemies with the Chains of Olympus and take them down in grisly element. The storyline is epic, the visuals are nonetheless cinematic to at the present time, and also you’ll love the extraordinary boss battles from this sport. Kratos is perhaps one-note on this PS2 interpretation when in comparison with the reboot-quel PS4 collection, however it’s nonetheless enjoyable to take down the Greek gods one after the other. What brings it down a bit are the annoying puzzles that spoil the sport’s tempo.

9. Past Good & Evil

One of the underrated video games on the PS2 (and likewise top-of-the-line) is Past Good & Evil. It encompasses a riveting story that has you uncovering a sci-fi conspiracy. You’re taking footage for the IRIS Community, revealing particulars a couple of corrupt group that’s taking prisoners. It’s arrange in a Zelda-like method, the place you remedy puzzles, take down bosses, and attempt to get by way of every “dungeon” alive. It additionally has an open world to discover with loads of secrets and techniques to search out. There are many animals to take footage of to get cash and different rewards.

“The sport manages to attract one in and preserve the participant concerned with a captivating sport world and a robust, atypical feminine protagonist,” stated our evaluate of the 2011 HD model.

8. Sly Cooper & The Thievius Racooonus

After enjoying this sport very just lately on the PS5, due to PlayStation Plus Premium, Sly Cooper & The Thievius Racoonus holds up exceptionally effectively. The artwork fashion seems to be beautiful on display because it has comedian book-like visuals. It’s enjoyable to clobber enemies with Sly’s cane and stealthily transfer throughout every stage with the skills this raccoon will get from his ancestors. The developer Sucker Punch Productions (inFAMOUS, Ghost of Tsushima) continues to throw in twists to the gameplay to maintain Sly’s journey contemporary from starting to finish. Verify this sport out now for a singular 3D platformer that takes place all over the world.

7. Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

From one platforming hero to a different, Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is by far the most effective of this Naughty Canine-developed trilogy. It options vivid, daring visuals, with loads of entertaining platforming challenges throughout the sport’s world. The biomes are different and current participating sport designs. Moreover, Daxter is a profitable comedic aid for the sport as he tries to shake Jak again alive after he’s taken down by his enemies. The Precursor Legacy additionally controls significantly as Jak rolls and jumps his strategy to every platform. It’s a formidable visible spectacle for the PS2 and ought to be praised.

6. Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal

Arguably the most effective of the three platforming mascots from the PS2 period is Ratchet together with his finest pal Clank. I problem you to discover a PS2 sport funnier than Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal. It has the hilarious antagonist Dr. Nefarious alongside his straight-person sidekick Lawrence with humorous banter and well-timed slapstick. You additionally get Courtney Gears, a humorous albeit dated reference to Britney Spears. Ratchet & Clank are additionally unbelievable because the protagonists of the sport with quips of their very own.

Up Your Arsenal options every kind of weapons on the Lombax’s disposal. You’ve gotten the electrifying Shock Blaster, the highly effective Plasma Whip, and the Qwack-O-Ray, which turns your enemies into explosive geese. The developer Insomniac Video games is so artistic with its weapons, and the platforming can be different right through with enjoyable segments like utilizing the gravity boots and driving grind rails with Ratchet’s footwear.

5. Resident Evil 4

Whereas Resident Evil 4 hasn’t aged the most effective when in comparison with different video games on this checklist, you’ll be able to’t deny its significance within the trade. It revolutionized the third-person shooter style with nice controls (on the time), highly effective weapons, and exhilarating blockbuster moments that saved us glued to the screens.

It additionally introduced in an period of quick-time occasions, which started a cinematic period in gaming, for higher or for worse. This Capcom sport delivers a efficiently creepy environment with its darkish European aesthetic. The storyline can be efficient as you attempt to save the President’s daughter, who has been kidnapped by this scary cult.

“The sport proves that generally all you want is a straightforward gameplay hook, in addition to the bravery to keep it up, to be able to drive house a compelling expertise,” stated our evaluate of this sport’s HD model in 2011.

4. Kingdom Hearts 2

Sq. Enix delivered top-of-the-line PS2 video games in 2005 when Kingdom Hearts 2 launched that December in Japan. It has an enticing narrative with fascinating authentic characters to satisfy, along with Remaining Fantasy and Disney heroes alongside the best way. As well as, the fight is stellar and nonetheless has the most effective motion RPG system thus far. The response command mechanic has you dynamically react to enemy assaults, and the fight choices out there to the participant, resembling skills, magic, drive varieties, summons, and extra, are immense.

The boss battles are additionally epic as you confront the highly effective Group XIII, heartless, and nobodies that stand in your method. I’ll always remember urgent triangle and cross as quick as I can to dam Xemnas’ fixed barrage of lasers towards Sora and Riku. The size of every world is unbelievable too, particularly when you think about it was developed for the PS2. The World That By no means Was encompasses a large fort that you have to work your method as much as cease Xemnas’ plans. The eye to element in every Disney world can be immaculate. Mulan‘s visible artwork fashion with the smoke and fireplace is replicated to perfection, and Beast’s Fortress seems to be as spectacular because it does within the film Magnificence & The Beast.

3. Persona 4

The Persona collection is well-renowned, and for good purpose. After you end every entry, you’ll really feel such as you’re saying goodbye to your mates with a tearful smile, and that’s the identical with Persona 4. Every character is well-rounded with likable traits and weaknesses that they present all through the deep storyline. You’ll additionally get to know them by way of your social hyperlinks, and as you enhance your bond with them, your skills develop.

The fight revolves round accumulating completely different monsters referred to as Shadows and utilizing their skills in battle. You’ll be able to even fuse them to create stronger creatures to your moveset. It’s a unbelievable sport loop and can preserve you enjoying for a lot of, many hours. We gave the Golden model on Vita a ten/10 score in our evaluate. “The summoning system of the Persona video games has been likened to Pokemon’s monster accumulating and, whereas they’re comparable within the assortment facet, I really feel Atlus’ work is sort of a bit deeper in scope, and positively extra grownup,” it stated. “For being engrossing they’re on the identical stage.”

2. Shadow of the Colossus

Shadow of the Colossus is an inventive masterpiece that each gamer ought to get the possibility to play. With unbelievable visuals and beautiful music, you play as Marvel on an unbelievable journey to save lots of his love. To try this, you need to take down these gigantic creatures fittingly referred to as colossi. The sport encompasses a protagonist that isn’t excellent. He’s slim, stumbles round, and might fall down simply. It sounds irritating at first, however a part of the allure is that you just’re enjoying as this weaker man preventing in opposition to these terrifying beasts. He isn’t Kratos, he’s relatable.

The colossi themselves are ranges as you’re looking for a strategy to scale up them and strike your sword into their weak spot. When the puzzle of how you can climb a colossus is solved, you get a rush of satisfaction because the magnificent monitor “The Opened Approach” blasts out loud in glee. All the things on this sport comes collectively in a lovely bundle, and it’s one in all PlayStation’s finest video games ever.

1. Remaining Fantasy X

One sport triumphs over the mighty colossi, and that’s Remaining Fantasy X, arguably Sq. Enix’s magnum opus. Remaining Fantasy X tells a stellar story. As a fish out of water, the principle protagonist Tidus experiences a brand new world 1,000 years into the longer term. The characters he meets alongside the best way have attention-grabbing personalities that change the trajectory of the narrative considerably. All of them have their very own roles to play within the get together. You’ll get invested in each character, particularly Yuna and Tidus, who share a touching romantic story throughout the sport’s prolonged marketing campaign. The voice performances are additionally spectacular, particularly in the event you contemplate that is the primary mainline sport within the Remaining Fantasy collection to function voice appearing.

I cried a number of instances after I performed this as a child and after enjoying by way of the sport 5 or so years in the past, I had the identical response. What helps add to the drama and emotion of the narrative is the impeccable soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu, who delivers his finest work with themes like “To Zanarkand” and “Motion in Inexperienced.”

Spira takes your breath away

What’s simply as memorable is the sights of Spira, the land the place Remaining Fantasy X takes place. The designs of the temples, the beautiful surroundings of Besaid, and the grand cities of those islands stick in my thoughts many years after enjoying Remaining Fantasy X for the primary time.

Moreover, the turn-based fight system is among the finest the legendary Remaining Fantasy collection has to supply. You’ll be able to swap our get together members for strategic depth, work together with objects through the battle in a puzzle-like vogue in opposition to bosses, use particular skills, and make the most of the mega-customizable Sphere Grid that permits you to progress your characters in your individual method.

“Its story, which follows summoner Yuna on her journey the world over of Spira to combat Sin, is one in all Sq. Enix’s finest,” stated our evaluate of the Remaining Fantasy X/X-2 HD remaster. “Likable characters with memorable outfits, a unbelievable musical rating, and a strong ending made this sport top-of-the-line role-playing video games of the PS2 period.”