ThePlayStation 2is still considered to be the best-selling console of all time. It also may be the favorite in a lot of gamers’ hearts. It’s easy to see why as the library for the PS2 was massive. There was something to play for everyone. It could also playPS1games which was a big deal at that point.
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Backward compatibility for consoles was almost nonexistent without some sort of device, so this feature was huge. ThePS2changed the landscape of gaming in many ways from hardware specs to starting brand-new series. There are too many great andunderrated PS2 gamesto talk about from 2002, the third year in its life cycle, but these ten rose to the top.
8Final Fantasy 11
Final Fantasy 11was the first gamein the JRPG seriesto be an MMO.Final Fantasyhad produced various multiplayer entries by this point, but none of them were to the scale ofFFXI. While some fans lamented the idea that this was a numbered sequel, others were completely into it. For an MMO,FFXIwas a grind and a half even at the time.
Without this 2002 release,Final Fantasy 14would probably not exist, so it deserves a lot of credit there. It should be noted that North America did not getFFXIuntil 2004.
The servers for the PS2 version ofFFXIwere shut in 2016, so anyone who wants to revisit this MMO needs to use a PC.
7Hot Shots Golf 3
Hot Shots Golf 3was the first game in the series to hit the PS2. The PS1 titles were a bit more obscure.Hot Shots Golf 3mainstreamed a lot of mechanics, making it a more inviting sports game. The over-the-top caddies and power swings also made for a more lighthearted experience.
Hot Shots Golf 3proved that sports games didn’t need to focus on becoming number one to be fun. While the game is relaxing and aesthetically vibrant, the gameplay is complex and engaging.
6Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Heartswas a crossover event that was hard to believe was real at the time.Disneyis making an RPG with theFinal Fantasypeople? Cloud is going to talk to Goofy and Donald? It seemed outrageous but the game was indeed real.Kingdom Heartswas also a smash hit.
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20 years later fans are still into this weird mashup of Disney franchises and action RPGs. It’s safe to say that fans will never let it go. Hopefully,Square Enixwon’t wait as long to announce the fourth main title as they did with the third.
5Medal Of Honor: Frontline
Medal of Honor: Frontline’s release was a huge event in gaming at the time. The PS1 games weregood first-person shootersthat were limited in certain ways by the system.Frontlinewas more mechanically sound. It was also an impressive experience.
Saving Private Ryanshowcased the storming of D-Day like no film had tried before, and the same was true forMedal of Honor: Frontlinein gaming. Great military shooters will never go out of fashion, even if certain franchises fall by the wayside.
4Mister Mosquito
Mister Mosquitois a weird game. Players control a literal mosquito who has decided to terrorize a local Japanese family. He needs blood. It’s a little likeShadow of the Colossusas the family’s members are towering behemoths next to this tiny bug.
Mister Mosquitois essentially aboss-focused game. The titular mosquito doesn’t control well, so it’s a bit hard to fly and avoid attacks for example. However, the oddity of it all still makesMister Mosquitoworth a look.
3Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clankhad a big year in 2021 with its first gamein five years. Will that celebration continue into 2022 for the series’ 20th anniversary? It would be nice to see an updated HD collection of the PS2 games or better yet thePS3ones.
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However one feels about that, this original game still holds up. It mixed platforming and gunplay rather well. The comedy was also a nice touch that made it feel distinct from other mascot platformers.
2Sly Cooper And The Thievius Raccoonus
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonuswasthe first titlein Sucker Punch’s franchise. It’s hard to believe that two giant platformers started on the PS2 in 2002. This really was a monumental year for the system.
The unique flavor thatSly Cooperadded to the platforming genre was stealth. There was still plenty of action to be had, but players could die easily. Consequently, stealth was just the safer option. Hopefully, this series will also get an updated collection in 2022 as the world needs moreSly Cooper, especially since the franchise skipped the PS4 generation.
1Wild Arms 3
Wild Arms 3is often regarded as the best entry in the JRPG series. It is certainly the most influenced by the old west. That’s what made this series so different from other PS1 RPGs at the time. The desert planet, gun designs, and characters all made it feel like an authentic Western but through a Japanese lens.
It’s been a long time sinceWild Armsgot any love, and the two games after the third entry are difficult to find hard copies of. Thankfully,Wild Arms 3was added to the PS2 classics section of PSN and can beenjoyed through PS Now. It’s anunderrated RPG from the PS2 eraso don’t miss out now on its big anniversary.
