illuminati30
17-03-07, 13:39
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/772/772296/the-top-25-ps2-games-of-all-time-20070312064514616.gif
25) Amplitude (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/017/017285.html)
Developer: Harmonix
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2003
Synopsis: When it comes to rhythm games, a lot of them are simple knock offs of previous titles. Sometimes, a developer simply comes up with a formula that works and pumps out sequel after sequel, knowing that the fans for that title will always be around. But it takes significant innovation to come up with a game that appeals to rhythm fans and the beat challenged. Amplitude managed to encapsulate this with the ability to mix and remix songs from a large number of genres, such as techno and alternative, pushing the gameplay established by its predecessor, FreQuency. Amplitude also took advantage of the PS2's online adapter, letting players create remixes online for other players to explore, as well as a surprisingly good chat and ranking system. Hitting notes on a descending track with a DualShock was never fun, until Amplitude landed on PS2s.
24) Suikoden III (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/016/016992.html)
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Year Released: 2002
Synopsis: In some games, it seems like the hierarchy goes: graphics, gameplay, lunch and storyline. Suikoden III said "Screw that."
In 2002, Konami dropped this RPG and introduced the world to the Trinity Sight System -- a game device that let players experience the same story from three different perspectives. It might sound boring, but trust us, it isn't. Each character's tale expands the overall story while filling in the holes from your previous 15 to 20 hours as somebody else. Although you'll be working on the bigger picture for some time, the smaller conclusions keep the story moving and you happy.
An expansive environment, easy to navigate battle system, the franchise's first use of a skill set, a Barbarian Prince, a Captain of the Zexen Knights and Harmonian undercover officer help this RPG coast to being one of the greatest PS2 games of all time. Now go find all of those stars of destiny.
23) Tekken Tag Tournament (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/013/013946.html)
Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
Year Released: 2000
Synopsis: If you walked through a college dormitory in the early 2000s, you probably saw -- or at least heard people bickering over -- Tekken Tag Tournament. Although the title was just a port of the popular arcade game, its stiff kicks and stinging punches established the fighter as a pillar of the PS2 launch lineup and saw its way into millions of systems.
Not a bad pick, kids.
The game featured more than 20-fighters, a simple control scheme, 3D backgrounds and lots of secrets to unlock, but the meat of the title was the multiplayer. Grab a friend (or a Multitap and lot of friends) and duke it out in battles ranging from standard arcade, versus, team and one-on-one versus mode. Good textures, new moves and more made this one an instant classic.
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22) Kingdom Hearts (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/016/016467.html)
Developer: SquareSoft
Publisher: SquareSoft
Year Released: 2002
Synopsis: The premise behind the game was completely absurd: Disney cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse thrown in with Square Enix characters to make a new kind of action RPG. However, as strange as it sounds, these two dissimilar franchises came together incredibly well. Sora's massive adventure to find his friends Kairi and Riku took him through numerous Disney inspired worlds, such as Wonderland and Olympus. Along the way, he befriended famous characters like Aladdin and Ariel, fought alongside Donald Duck and Goofy, and captured the hearts of various RPG fans. There seemed to be something for everyone, including secret endings and bosses, fighting tournaments and hidden collectables. Even if you hated Disney or Square Enix titles, you couldn't help but be impressed by the massive impact this title had on the PS2, which spawned a popular sequel and mid-franchise card battling
21) Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/014/014284.html)
Developer: Neversoft
Publisher: Activision
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: If one man brought skateboarding to the masses, that man is Tony Hawk - and it's products like Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 that made it cool for suburban kids to talks about trucks with their fathers.
The previous PlayStation installments of the game of Hawk were masterpieces in their own right and raised the bar extremely high for the 2001 release and PS2 jump of THPS3, but Hawk and his Activision cohorts wowed the gaming world with eight levels of bustling traffic and annoyed people, a career mode that allowed more diverse customized characters and the first online game specifically for the PS2. Even if you didn't like skateboarding, you respected and played this game. If for some reason you missed it, break out your board and go ollie.
20) NBA Street Vol. 2 (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/496/496562.html)
Developer: NuFX
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Year Released: 2003
Synopsis: EA's NBA Street series has always been about flashy dunks, gravity defying moves and innovative gameplay. Surprisingly, it managed to take the gameplay from the older NBA Jam series and make it fresh, with a style that called out to everyone who's ever played a pick up game on a schoolyard. Vol. 2 managed to capitalize on this with more than 120 NBA players and 25 legends available in the game to get your rim rockin' dunk on with, and tons of unlockable content. Players could also create an original player right off the streets and attempt to make him one of the most respected ballers around thanks to the Be a Legend mode that was included in the game. What's more, the game evaluated your play and gave your character a nickname based off of how you were on the court. Along with tighter tricks and the introduction of new Gamebreaker levels, NBA Street Vol. 2 proved that beating your opponent with points wasn't as satisfying as humiliating him with a Harlem Globetrotters-like jam.
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19) Rez (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/016/016546.html)
Developer: United Game Artists
Publisher: SEGA
Year Released: 2002
Synopsis: Rez is perhaps one of the most genre-busting titles out there. Attempts to define it simply fall under the weight of its indefinable features. Is it a music game due to its manipulation of trance music? Is it a shooter thanks to the number of enemies that you'll lock onto and destroy with missiles? Is it an early teledildonics device thanks to the Trance Vibrator? Regardless of what you choose to call it, Rez delivered unique musical elements to a visually distinctive title. While you needed to navigate your way to the system's core to achieve your mission, you had a number of modes that you could explore and unlock, such as the Score Attack and Beyond game modes. Since the game adjusted your play with a sliding scale of difficulty, you could always count on Rez giving you a unique experience whenever you started a match.
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18) Okami (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/678/678618.html)
Developer: Clover Studio
Publisher: Capcom
Year Released: 2006
Synopsis: One of the newest games on our list, Okami practically became a classic even before it was ever released. Clover Studios' swan song managed to perfectly blend all parts of its design into one fantastic package. Its unbelievably beautiful art style blended perfectly with the celestial brush, giving gamers the ability to literally manipulate the world around them. Despite the fact that your character couldn't speak, the artists and storywriters did an amazing job at giving her a deep personality, helped in being brought to life by the characters and events around her. Okami's immense world gave players plenty to do, and its storyline played perfectly alongside its constantly-changing look and feel. Few games manage to blend every element of their design together so well, especially when each of them are so unique.
17) Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/497/497456.html)
Developer: SEGA-AM2
Publisher: SEGA
Year Released: 2003
Synopsis: Describing Evolution as deep just doesn't do the fighting game justice. It's more apt to say the game is cavernous, fathomless or really deep.
Virtua Fighter 4 came to PS2s in 2002 with industry acclaim for its fast frame-rate animation, comprehensive fighting system and simple controls, but Evolution's 2003 release came along, kept everything that worked from the 2002 release and blew the previous version out of the water by improving on a game everyone was already in love with.
The Sega title added fighters, smoothed out models, modes, more than 1500 new costume items and Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary, a throwback to the Virtua Fighter of days gone bye. Oh, did I mention that the AI was modeled after some of Japan's best players? Have fun with that, little Timmy.
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16) Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/640/640426.html)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: Picking a reason why Devil May Cry 3 is a frickin' awesome game is kind of like picking a single reason why you like pizza. Maybe it's good cheese, a tasty sauce or crispy crust that draws you to a good pie, but it's the sum of the parts that keeps you coming back.
Devil May Cry 3 is like a great pizza - a pizza comprised of 32 missions, five difficulties, tons of monsters and multiple weapons.
Following Dante, a half-man half-demon who just can't seem to stay out of trouble, Devil May Cry 3 puts gamers through one of the most challenging games PS2 owners ever popped a memory card in for as the hero blasts bad guys, solves puzzles and tries to meet up with his brother. Armed with his guns and sword - and four styles of play - Dante breaks out dozens of attack combinations on his missions and leaves you in that funky-place between challenged and frustrated.
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15) Resident Evil 4 (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/013/013887.html)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: Resident Evil and the PlayStation have always gone hand in hand; the franchise got its start on the system, and the popular survival horror series has thrilled fans with its fast paced action. Unfortunately, it's always been plagued with clunky controls that made the characters feel much more like unwieldy tanks than actual human beings, and visuals that were somewhat old and unimpressive. Resident Evil 4 pushed the boundaries of the PS2, showing that not only could the survival action genre control like a dream, it could look phenomenal as it did so. Leon's adventure to find the president's daughter took him up against chainsaw-wielding villagers and massive monsters. Plus, players had to quickly respond to key action moments with random button presses forcing them to stay on their toes, because they never knew if death was waiting for them around the next corner. With additional weapons, side missions and details included in the PS2 version that weren't in the Gamecube title, Resident Evil 4 was one of those games that action players loved to curl up with in a dark room, begging to be scared again and again.
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14) Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/496/496303.html)
Developer: Level-5
Publisher: Square Enix
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: Square Enix's massive role-player is so big, it'll probably take you 30 hours just to get off the first continent -- and there's plenty more than that (not to mention a couple of islands). Yes friends, Dragon Quest VIII was THE RPG event of 2005 and it seems to have gotten better with age. This is for good reason too: few games in the genre come close to it in terms of size, personality, fun, and replayability. The amazing thing is, it doesn't do anything we haven't seen before... it just does everything so well, that its charm cannot be denied. If we were to list the reasons that Dragon Quest VIII accomplishes such a feat we'd be here all day, but to name just a few, artist Akira Toriyama has really outdone himself with his creature and hero designs; the monster arena mini-quest is almost a game in itself; the built-in casino segments are addictive fun; and the soundtrack, graphics, and voice-acting tell one heck of an entertaining story. Need more reasons? Just go out and buy it... we're positive that you'll find a couple dozen motives of your own.
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13) Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/016/016447.html)
Developer: Naughty Dog Software
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: While there's a massive fault line that gamers gather 'round to holler and scream at each other about when it comes to naming the great platformers of our era (or any era for that matter), Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is among the elite. It represents a stellar culmination of 3D platforming elements, many of which are have been used before, and yet it still feels fresh and new even after all these years. The words "endearing" and "likeable" don't even begin to do it justice. Besides, even if Jak hadn't spawned two successful sequels and a couple of cool offshoots, Naughty Dog's excellent PS2 rookie would still have made our list because it warmed our hearts, and created a game that was raucous, subtle, beautifully animated, and never made us feel as if we were collecting things... just how a platformer should be
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12) Gran Turismo 4 (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/489/489327.html)
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: The Gran Turismo franchise has long been the pinnacle of racing simulation, and Gran Turismo 4 is the best of the series. With well over 700 cars in its lineup, Polyphony's driving simulator has an absolutely monstrous vehicle lineup that spans over a century of classic and even experimental designs. The series' career progression was expanded in the fourth release with some fantastic challenge races, and its presentation practically smelled like a showroom. When coupled with a proper force feedback-enabled steering wheel, Gran Turismo 4 really put players, or should we say drivers, behind the wheel of some of the best and most well-known cars ever released. Driving simulations simply don't get better or certainly bigger than Gran Turismo 4, so it easily puts up a fantastic qualifying time to nail a place in our starting grid.
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11) Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/550/550444.html)
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2003
Synopsis: After having played hundreds of games, one of the things we've noticed about the very best titles is that a small percentage of them have qualities that exceed normal categorizations. Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando may have been a sequel (perhaps the perfect sequel), and it no doubt comes from platform roots, which is something that's not too popular these days, but it's one of those games that feels good in every imaginable way. It feels familiar, comfortable, and even loveable -- something we really can't say about many other games. Yeah, it's a shooter but it's by equal measures a platformer, an action game, an adventure, and it delivers an excellent RPG wrinkle that propels the whole thing forward. Ratchet and Clank Going Commando is beautiful to look at, it's rich with gameplay styles, and it can be played with a level of customization that's surprising for a game of this kind. But what really makes Insomniac's hybrid title great is that it changes, stressing strategy, precision tactics and forward-thinking to beat it, and it feels natural and right throughout. On a platform where there could have been a half dozen other top 25 games, Ratchet and Clank Going Commando makes the list because it nails that intangible feeling with such certainty, craft and passion.
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10) Burnout 3: Takedown (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/640/640596.html)
Developer: Criterion Software
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Year Released: 2004
Synopsis: Criterion Games' racing series really hit its mark with Burnout 3: Takedown, providing perhaps the most white-knuckled driving experience to ever hit a gaming console. The series' perfect control mechanics were dialed in with this release, giving gamers perfect control of a vehicle at 220mph+ and allowing them to barrel down highways and side streets so fast that you almost need otherworldly abilities to stay calm. When mistakes were made, Hollywood-derived crashes became the result. Burnout 3: Takedown's fantastic visuals allowed for some of the most devastating crashes we've ever seen, and the result is that the game managed to reward the player with plenty of eye candy when they made a mistake. Add in some great online play, the ability to take out other cars, the fan-favorite Crash mode and you have the total package. Simply put, we're not sure how arcade racing will ever get any better than Burnout 3: Takedown.
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9) Twisted Metal: Black (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/015/015456.html)
Developer: Incognito
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: Twisted Metal: Black is still just as impressive in gameplay and a technical sense now as it was when it first hit stores in 2001. It's gorgeous and deep in every sense of the word, has a great as a single and multiplayer element, and is packed with a ton of secrets that are cleverly placed in several different modes. In other words, it's as sharp as a knife and delivers the ultimate car-combat experience that's leaps and bounds above any games of its ilk. We highly recommend it. No... We charge all PlayStation 2 owners to go out and buy it! You'll never find such a terrific blend of terror, steel, and homicidal clowns anywhere else.
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8) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/611/611957.html)
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Year Released: 2004
Synopsis: Rockstar's enormous follow-up to its smash-hit GTA series, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, was one of the most evolved sequels we've ever seen. The revamped and more responsive gameplay mechanics, the brand new vehicle physics, a ton of upgradeable skills, more than 100 different missions, and some of the best production values around proved that trough and through. But that isn't the only reason it made our top 10. Once you factor in the excellent storyline, the open-ended gameplay structure, and even two-person multiplayer elements, this one became a no-brainer. In fact, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was so good that only seven other PS2 games could hope to match it.
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7) Guitar Hero (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/748/748976.html)
Developer: Harmonix
Publisher: RedOctane
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: No game in the history of mankind rocks more than Guitar Hero. The series has quickly become one of the biggest fan-favorites in all of gaming, and for good reason. RedOctane's fantastic guitar design met with Harmonix's mastery of the music genre to create one of the most downright fun games we've ever played. From absolute beginners to veteran axe-wielders, Guitar Hero manages to be both extremely accessible and incredibly challenging all at the same time. While its presentation is fantastic, with band members that aptly rock out in extremely characteristic venues, it's the game's soundtrack and its pitch-perfect implementation that really won over fans. Part simulation and part arcadey-rhythm game, Guitar Hero lets anyone strap on a Gibson and rock out to some of the most classic tunes to ever hit the airwaves. And let's not forget its killer two-player mode that lets gamers trade licks back and forth into the wee hours of the night. Rock on.
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6) ICO (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/014/014833.html)
Developer: SCE Studios Japan
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: You've probably heard the hackneyed story a million times - a horned boy is born every generation and sacrificed to keep evil spirits away, yadda, yadda, yadda - but somehow Ico, a 2001 release from Sony, managed to keep the age-old yarn fresh.
Players take up arms as a young boy with horns who decides he isn't down with the whole sacrifice thing. On a journey to keep yourself alive as shadow beasts bear down on you, players roam a rich countryside and join an imprisoned princess for some mind-bending puzzles and gorgeous gameplay. Although many felt the game was a tad too short, visuals, sound and puzzle design put that concern on the backburner and made this little fable one of the PlayStation 2's best. There's something infectious about this tiny tall tale.
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5) Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/748/748590.html)
Developer: Kojima Productions
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Year Released: 2006
Synopsis: Very few game characters can hold a candle to Snake from the Metal Gear franchise when it comes to outright action. However, when it came to telling the origin of the franchise, 2004's Snake Eater was missing a couple of solid elements. Subsistence provided the definitive exploration of Snake's roots thanks to the sheer volume of changes made to the title. Six new difficulty levels were included. A brand new camera perspective was added to improve gameplay, along with loads of additional camouflage. A demo theater played cutscenes and let you change the movies at will. Games such as Snake vs. Monkey with new levels, as well as the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 on disc made it into the game. A joke theater with loads of video comedy, and a massive online mode rounded out the game, and for players who owned the special edition, a three hour movie comprised of every cutscene from Snake Eater. This wasn't a patch, a port or a simple expansion; Subsistence was a full re-imagining of the Snake Eater experience.
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4) Shadow of the Colossus (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/490/490849.html)
Developer: SCE Studios Japan
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: Shadow of the Colossus has what is perhaps the most risky on-paper design we've ever seen. With only 16 enemies to fight in the game and an enormous world that is practically devoid of any actual tasks to perform, it doesn't sound like the making of one of the best adventure games ever released. But Shadow's beauty lies in these empty spaces. It was designed much like a fairytale -- you're left to fill in the gaps with your own ideas of how things came to be, what the reason for the events are and so forth. The battles and events that are there are some of the best we've ever seen, with characters and creatures that look like they're straight out of a dream. Shadow of the Colossus is touching, mysterious, beautiful, desolate and even tragic, and these elements make it one of the most original and awe-inspiring games we've ever seen.
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3) Final Fantasy X (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/014/014008.html)
Developer: SquareSoft
Publisher: Square Electronic Arts
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: The PS2's first blockbuster RPG is still its best. Final Fantasy X, as we could only expect from Square, was an utterly gorgeous looking game, with stunning landscapes, a wild array of color and artistic license, and some incredibly attractive-looking character and monster designs. Still, these aspects have become the status quo for the FF series. But this time, we got voice-acting for the first time in the series, and it didn't suck! We got a huge modification/upgrade/alteration to the battle system and the supporting cast delivered a slew of cool, goody accents. Best of all, the storyline and its ending is among the best of any game in any genre of the last generation. All in all, Final Fantasy X delivered nearly flawlessly on the PS2, and we loved every minute of it.
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2) Grand Theft Auto III (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/015/015548.html)
Developer: DMA Design
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: GTA3 probably introduced most console gamers to the idea of "sandbox gameplay" and single-handedly gave Jack Thompson enough ammunition to make a name for himself.
In October 2001, Rockstar turned gamers into a nameless badass in a black coat and green pants, armed them to the teeth and set them loose on Liberty City, a place filled with corruption, greed and the filth of the earth.
What followed was console gold.
Beyond the gaggles of missions, never-ending gameplay, cops, tanks, hookers and guns, GTA3 marked the franchise's jump from a top-down, 2D shoot'em up to a fully 3D movie-quality experience. Voice acting, radio stations, movies, explosions, flamethrowers and taxis -- this game had it all but never lost its sense of an enthralling revenge story. GTA 3 lit up the sales charts, made Rockstar a household name, influenced countless others, and set the bar high for the multiple sequels that would follow.
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1) God of War (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/661/661321.html)
Developer: SCE Studios Santa Monica
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: Though the PlayStation 2 has seen a rather incredible number of extremely high quality and classic titles in its six-plus year lifespan, no game has better shown off what the system is capable of than God of War. We're not just talking visuals here, either -- the control mechanics are virtually perfect, the storytelling techniques are fantastic and the scope of the game is downright enormous. But while God of War's epic feel makes it stand out, it's the subtle things therein that allow it to sit at the top of our list. Nearly every facet of the game's design is perfect, from the pacing to the difficulty to the way its tale is wrapped with Greek mythology. No other PlayStation 2 title is as epic, well-designed or perhaps even universally beloved as God of War, so it takes our place as the best PS2 game of all time.
25) Amplitude (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/017/017285.html)
Developer: Harmonix
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2003
Synopsis: When it comes to rhythm games, a lot of them are simple knock offs of previous titles. Sometimes, a developer simply comes up with a formula that works and pumps out sequel after sequel, knowing that the fans for that title will always be around. But it takes significant innovation to come up with a game that appeals to rhythm fans and the beat challenged. Amplitude managed to encapsulate this with the ability to mix and remix songs from a large number of genres, such as techno and alternative, pushing the gameplay established by its predecessor, FreQuency. Amplitude also took advantage of the PS2's online adapter, letting players create remixes online for other players to explore, as well as a surprisingly good chat and ranking system. Hitting notes on a descending track with a DualShock was never fun, until Amplitude landed on PS2s.
24) Suikoden III (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/016/016992.html)
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Year Released: 2002
Synopsis: In some games, it seems like the hierarchy goes: graphics, gameplay, lunch and storyline. Suikoden III said "Screw that."
In 2002, Konami dropped this RPG and introduced the world to the Trinity Sight System -- a game device that let players experience the same story from three different perspectives. It might sound boring, but trust us, it isn't. Each character's tale expands the overall story while filling in the holes from your previous 15 to 20 hours as somebody else. Although you'll be working on the bigger picture for some time, the smaller conclusions keep the story moving and you happy.
An expansive environment, easy to navigate battle system, the franchise's first use of a skill set, a Barbarian Prince, a Captain of the Zexen Knights and Harmonian undercover officer help this RPG coast to being one of the greatest PS2 games of all time. Now go find all of those stars of destiny.
23) Tekken Tag Tournament (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/013/013946.html)
Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
Year Released: 2000
Synopsis: If you walked through a college dormitory in the early 2000s, you probably saw -- or at least heard people bickering over -- Tekken Tag Tournament. Although the title was just a port of the popular arcade game, its stiff kicks and stinging punches established the fighter as a pillar of the PS2 launch lineup and saw its way into millions of systems.
Not a bad pick, kids.
The game featured more than 20-fighters, a simple control scheme, 3D backgrounds and lots of secrets to unlock, but the meat of the title was the multiplayer. Grab a friend (or a Multitap and lot of friends) and duke it out in battles ranging from standard arcade, versus, team and one-on-one versus mode. Good textures, new moves and more made this one an instant classic.
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22) Kingdom Hearts (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/016/016467.html)
Developer: SquareSoft
Publisher: SquareSoft
Year Released: 2002
Synopsis: The premise behind the game was completely absurd: Disney cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse thrown in with Square Enix characters to make a new kind of action RPG. However, as strange as it sounds, these two dissimilar franchises came together incredibly well. Sora's massive adventure to find his friends Kairi and Riku took him through numerous Disney inspired worlds, such as Wonderland and Olympus. Along the way, he befriended famous characters like Aladdin and Ariel, fought alongside Donald Duck and Goofy, and captured the hearts of various RPG fans. There seemed to be something for everyone, including secret endings and bosses, fighting tournaments and hidden collectables. Even if you hated Disney or Square Enix titles, you couldn't help but be impressed by the massive impact this title had on the PS2, which spawned a popular sequel and mid-franchise card battling
21) Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/014/014284.html)
Developer: Neversoft
Publisher: Activision
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: If one man brought skateboarding to the masses, that man is Tony Hawk - and it's products like Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 that made it cool for suburban kids to talks about trucks with their fathers.
The previous PlayStation installments of the game of Hawk were masterpieces in their own right and raised the bar extremely high for the 2001 release and PS2 jump of THPS3, but Hawk and his Activision cohorts wowed the gaming world with eight levels of bustling traffic and annoyed people, a career mode that allowed more diverse customized characters and the first online game specifically for the PS2. Even if you didn't like skateboarding, you respected and played this game. If for some reason you missed it, break out your board and go ollie.
20) NBA Street Vol. 2 (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/496/496562.html)
Developer: NuFX
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Year Released: 2003
Synopsis: EA's NBA Street series has always been about flashy dunks, gravity defying moves and innovative gameplay. Surprisingly, it managed to take the gameplay from the older NBA Jam series and make it fresh, with a style that called out to everyone who's ever played a pick up game on a schoolyard. Vol. 2 managed to capitalize on this with more than 120 NBA players and 25 legends available in the game to get your rim rockin' dunk on with, and tons of unlockable content. Players could also create an original player right off the streets and attempt to make him one of the most respected ballers around thanks to the Be a Legend mode that was included in the game. What's more, the game evaluated your play and gave your character a nickname based off of how you were on the court. Along with tighter tricks and the introduction of new Gamebreaker levels, NBA Street Vol. 2 proved that beating your opponent with points wasn't as satisfying as humiliating him with a Harlem Globetrotters-like jam.
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19) Rez (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/016/016546.html)
Developer: United Game Artists
Publisher: SEGA
Year Released: 2002
Synopsis: Rez is perhaps one of the most genre-busting titles out there. Attempts to define it simply fall under the weight of its indefinable features. Is it a music game due to its manipulation of trance music? Is it a shooter thanks to the number of enemies that you'll lock onto and destroy with missiles? Is it an early teledildonics device thanks to the Trance Vibrator? Regardless of what you choose to call it, Rez delivered unique musical elements to a visually distinctive title. While you needed to navigate your way to the system's core to achieve your mission, you had a number of modes that you could explore and unlock, such as the Score Attack and Beyond game modes. Since the game adjusted your play with a sliding scale of difficulty, you could always count on Rez giving you a unique experience whenever you started a match.
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18) Okami (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/678/678618.html)
Developer: Clover Studio
Publisher: Capcom
Year Released: 2006
Synopsis: One of the newest games on our list, Okami practically became a classic even before it was ever released. Clover Studios' swan song managed to perfectly blend all parts of its design into one fantastic package. Its unbelievably beautiful art style blended perfectly with the celestial brush, giving gamers the ability to literally manipulate the world around them. Despite the fact that your character couldn't speak, the artists and storywriters did an amazing job at giving her a deep personality, helped in being brought to life by the characters and events around her. Okami's immense world gave players plenty to do, and its storyline played perfectly alongside its constantly-changing look and feel. Few games manage to blend every element of their design together so well, especially when each of them are so unique.
17) Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/497/497456.html)
Developer: SEGA-AM2
Publisher: SEGA
Year Released: 2003
Synopsis: Describing Evolution as deep just doesn't do the fighting game justice. It's more apt to say the game is cavernous, fathomless or really deep.
Virtua Fighter 4 came to PS2s in 2002 with industry acclaim for its fast frame-rate animation, comprehensive fighting system and simple controls, but Evolution's 2003 release came along, kept everything that worked from the 2002 release and blew the previous version out of the water by improving on a game everyone was already in love with.
The Sega title added fighters, smoothed out models, modes, more than 1500 new costume items and Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary, a throwback to the Virtua Fighter of days gone bye. Oh, did I mention that the AI was modeled after some of Japan's best players? Have fun with that, little Timmy.
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16) Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/640/640426.html)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: Picking a reason why Devil May Cry 3 is a frickin' awesome game is kind of like picking a single reason why you like pizza. Maybe it's good cheese, a tasty sauce or crispy crust that draws you to a good pie, but it's the sum of the parts that keeps you coming back.
Devil May Cry 3 is like a great pizza - a pizza comprised of 32 missions, five difficulties, tons of monsters and multiple weapons.
Following Dante, a half-man half-demon who just can't seem to stay out of trouble, Devil May Cry 3 puts gamers through one of the most challenging games PS2 owners ever popped a memory card in for as the hero blasts bad guys, solves puzzles and tries to meet up with his brother. Armed with his guns and sword - and four styles of play - Dante breaks out dozens of attack combinations on his missions and leaves you in that funky-place between challenged and frustrated.
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15) Resident Evil 4 (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/013/013887.html)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: Resident Evil and the PlayStation have always gone hand in hand; the franchise got its start on the system, and the popular survival horror series has thrilled fans with its fast paced action. Unfortunately, it's always been plagued with clunky controls that made the characters feel much more like unwieldy tanks than actual human beings, and visuals that were somewhat old and unimpressive. Resident Evil 4 pushed the boundaries of the PS2, showing that not only could the survival action genre control like a dream, it could look phenomenal as it did so. Leon's adventure to find the president's daughter took him up against chainsaw-wielding villagers and massive monsters. Plus, players had to quickly respond to key action moments with random button presses forcing them to stay on their toes, because they never knew if death was waiting for them around the next corner. With additional weapons, side missions and details included in the PS2 version that weren't in the Gamecube title, Resident Evil 4 was one of those games that action players loved to curl up with in a dark room, begging to be scared again and again.
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14) Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/496/496303.html)
Developer: Level-5
Publisher: Square Enix
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: Square Enix's massive role-player is so big, it'll probably take you 30 hours just to get off the first continent -- and there's plenty more than that (not to mention a couple of islands). Yes friends, Dragon Quest VIII was THE RPG event of 2005 and it seems to have gotten better with age. This is for good reason too: few games in the genre come close to it in terms of size, personality, fun, and replayability. The amazing thing is, it doesn't do anything we haven't seen before... it just does everything so well, that its charm cannot be denied. If we were to list the reasons that Dragon Quest VIII accomplishes such a feat we'd be here all day, but to name just a few, artist Akira Toriyama has really outdone himself with his creature and hero designs; the monster arena mini-quest is almost a game in itself; the built-in casino segments are addictive fun; and the soundtrack, graphics, and voice-acting tell one heck of an entertaining story. Need more reasons? Just go out and buy it... we're positive that you'll find a couple dozen motives of your own.
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13) Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/016/016447.html)
Developer: Naughty Dog Software
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: While there's a massive fault line that gamers gather 'round to holler and scream at each other about when it comes to naming the great platformers of our era (or any era for that matter), Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is among the elite. It represents a stellar culmination of 3D platforming elements, many of which are have been used before, and yet it still feels fresh and new even after all these years. The words "endearing" and "likeable" don't even begin to do it justice. Besides, even if Jak hadn't spawned two successful sequels and a couple of cool offshoots, Naughty Dog's excellent PS2 rookie would still have made our list because it warmed our hearts, and created a game that was raucous, subtle, beautifully animated, and never made us feel as if we were collecting things... just how a platformer should be
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12) Gran Turismo 4 (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/489/489327.html)
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: The Gran Turismo franchise has long been the pinnacle of racing simulation, and Gran Turismo 4 is the best of the series. With well over 700 cars in its lineup, Polyphony's driving simulator has an absolutely monstrous vehicle lineup that spans over a century of classic and even experimental designs. The series' career progression was expanded in the fourth release with some fantastic challenge races, and its presentation practically smelled like a showroom. When coupled with a proper force feedback-enabled steering wheel, Gran Turismo 4 really put players, or should we say drivers, behind the wheel of some of the best and most well-known cars ever released. Driving simulations simply don't get better or certainly bigger than Gran Turismo 4, so it easily puts up a fantastic qualifying time to nail a place in our starting grid.
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11) Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/550/550444.html)
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2003
Synopsis: After having played hundreds of games, one of the things we've noticed about the very best titles is that a small percentage of them have qualities that exceed normal categorizations. Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando may have been a sequel (perhaps the perfect sequel), and it no doubt comes from platform roots, which is something that's not too popular these days, but it's one of those games that feels good in every imaginable way. It feels familiar, comfortable, and even loveable -- something we really can't say about many other games. Yeah, it's a shooter but it's by equal measures a platformer, an action game, an adventure, and it delivers an excellent RPG wrinkle that propels the whole thing forward. Ratchet and Clank Going Commando is beautiful to look at, it's rich with gameplay styles, and it can be played with a level of customization that's surprising for a game of this kind. But what really makes Insomniac's hybrid title great is that it changes, stressing strategy, precision tactics and forward-thinking to beat it, and it feels natural and right throughout. On a platform where there could have been a half dozen other top 25 games, Ratchet and Clank Going Commando makes the list because it nails that intangible feeling with such certainty, craft and passion.
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10) Burnout 3: Takedown (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/640/640596.html)
Developer: Criterion Software
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Year Released: 2004
Synopsis: Criterion Games' racing series really hit its mark with Burnout 3: Takedown, providing perhaps the most white-knuckled driving experience to ever hit a gaming console. The series' perfect control mechanics were dialed in with this release, giving gamers perfect control of a vehicle at 220mph+ and allowing them to barrel down highways and side streets so fast that you almost need otherworldly abilities to stay calm. When mistakes were made, Hollywood-derived crashes became the result. Burnout 3: Takedown's fantastic visuals allowed for some of the most devastating crashes we've ever seen, and the result is that the game managed to reward the player with plenty of eye candy when they made a mistake. Add in some great online play, the ability to take out other cars, the fan-favorite Crash mode and you have the total package. Simply put, we're not sure how arcade racing will ever get any better than Burnout 3: Takedown.
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9) Twisted Metal: Black (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/015/015456.html)
Developer: Incognito
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: Twisted Metal: Black is still just as impressive in gameplay and a technical sense now as it was when it first hit stores in 2001. It's gorgeous and deep in every sense of the word, has a great as a single and multiplayer element, and is packed with a ton of secrets that are cleverly placed in several different modes. In other words, it's as sharp as a knife and delivers the ultimate car-combat experience that's leaps and bounds above any games of its ilk. We highly recommend it. No... We charge all PlayStation 2 owners to go out and buy it! You'll never find such a terrific blend of terror, steel, and homicidal clowns anywhere else.
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8) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/611/611957.html)
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Year Released: 2004
Synopsis: Rockstar's enormous follow-up to its smash-hit GTA series, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, was one of the most evolved sequels we've ever seen. The revamped and more responsive gameplay mechanics, the brand new vehicle physics, a ton of upgradeable skills, more than 100 different missions, and some of the best production values around proved that trough and through. But that isn't the only reason it made our top 10. Once you factor in the excellent storyline, the open-ended gameplay structure, and even two-person multiplayer elements, this one became a no-brainer. In fact, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was so good that only seven other PS2 games could hope to match it.
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7) Guitar Hero (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/748/748976.html)
Developer: Harmonix
Publisher: RedOctane
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: No game in the history of mankind rocks more than Guitar Hero. The series has quickly become one of the biggest fan-favorites in all of gaming, and for good reason. RedOctane's fantastic guitar design met with Harmonix's mastery of the music genre to create one of the most downright fun games we've ever played. From absolute beginners to veteran axe-wielders, Guitar Hero manages to be both extremely accessible and incredibly challenging all at the same time. While its presentation is fantastic, with band members that aptly rock out in extremely characteristic venues, it's the game's soundtrack and its pitch-perfect implementation that really won over fans. Part simulation and part arcadey-rhythm game, Guitar Hero lets anyone strap on a Gibson and rock out to some of the most classic tunes to ever hit the airwaves. And let's not forget its killer two-player mode that lets gamers trade licks back and forth into the wee hours of the night. Rock on.
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6) ICO (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/014/014833.html)
Developer: SCE Studios Japan
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: You've probably heard the hackneyed story a million times - a horned boy is born every generation and sacrificed to keep evil spirits away, yadda, yadda, yadda - but somehow Ico, a 2001 release from Sony, managed to keep the age-old yarn fresh.
Players take up arms as a young boy with horns who decides he isn't down with the whole sacrifice thing. On a journey to keep yourself alive as shadow beasts bear down on you, players roam a rich countryside and join an imprisoned princess for some mind-bending puzzles and gorgeous gameplay. Although many felt the game was a tad too short, visuals, sound and puzzle design put that concern on the backburner and made this little fable one of the PlayStation 2's best. There's something infectious about this tiny tall tale.
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5) Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/748/748590.html)
Developer: Kojima Productions
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Year Released: 2006
Synopsis: Very few game characters can hold a candle to Snake from the Metal Gear franchise when it comes to outright action. However, when it came to telling the origin of the franchise, 2004's Snake Eater was missing a couple of solid elements. Subsistence provided the definitive exploration of Snake's roots thanks to the sheer volume of changes made to the title. Six new difficulty levels were included. A brand new camera perspective was added to improve gameplay, along with loads of additional camouflage. A demo theater played cutscenes and let you change the movies at will. Games such as Snake vs. Monkey with new levels, as well as the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 on disc made it into the game. A joke theater with loads of video comedy, and a massive online mode rounded out the game, and for players who owned the special edition, a three hour movie comprised of every cutscene from Snake Eater. This wasn't a patch, a port or a simple expansion; Subsistence was a full re-imagining of the Snake Eater experience.
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4) Shadow of the Colossus (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/490/490849.html)
Developer: SCE Studios Japan
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: Shadow of the Colossus has what is perhaps the most risky on-paper design we've ever seen. With only 16 enemies to fight in the game and an enormous world that is practically devoid of any actual tasks to perform, it doesn't sound like the making of one of the best adventure games ever released. But Shadow's beauty lies in these empty spaces. It was designed much like a fairytale -- you're left to fill in the gaps with your own ideas of how things came to be, what the reason for the events are and so forth. The battles and events that are there are some of the best we've ever seen, with characters and creatures that look like they're straight out of a dream. Shadow of the Colossus is touching, mysterious, beautiful, desolate and even tragic, and these elements make it one of the most original and awe-inspiring games we've ever seen.
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3) Final Fantasy X (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/014/014008.html)
Developer: SquareSoft
Publisher: Square Electronic Arts
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: The PS2's first blockbuster RPG is still its best. Final Fantasy X, as we could only expect from Square, was an utterly gorgeous looking game, with stunning landscapes, a wild array of color and artistic license, and some incredibly attractive-looking character and monster designs. Still, these aspects have become the status quo for the FF series. But this time, we got voice-acting for the first time in the series, and it didn't suck! We got a huge modification/upgrade/alteration to the battle system and the supporting cast delivered a slew of cool, goody accents. Best of all, the storyline and its ending is among the best of any game in any genre of the last generation. All in all, Final Fantasy X delivered nearly flawlessly on the PS2, and we loved every minute of it.
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2) Grand Theft Auto III (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/015/015548.html)
Developer: DMA Design
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Year Released: 2001
Synopsis: GTA3 probably introduced most console gamers to the idea of "sandbox gameplay" and single-handedly gave Jack Thompson enough ammunition to make a name for himself.
In October 2001, Rockstar turned gamers into a nameless badass in a black coat and green pants, armed them to the teeth and set them loose on Liberty City, a place filled with corruption, greed and the filth of the earth.
What followed was console gold.
Beyond the gaggles of missions, never-ending gameplay, cops, tanks, hookers and guns, GTA3 marked the franchise's jump from a top-down, 2D shoot'em up to a fully 3D movie-quality experience. Voice acting, radio stations, movies, explosions, flamethrowers and taxis -- this game had it all but never lost its sense of an enthralling revenge story. GTA 3 lit up the sales charts, made Rockstar a household name, influenced countless others, and set the bar high for the multiple sequels that would follow.
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1) God of War (http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/661/661321.html)
Developer: SCE Studios Santa Monica
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Year Released: 2005
Synopsis: Though the PlayStation 2 has seen a rather incredible number of extremely high quality and classic titles in its six-plus year lifespan, no game has better shown off what the system is capable of than God of War. We're not just talking visuals here, either -- the control mechanics are virtually perfect, the storytelling techniques are fantastic and the scope of the game is downright enormous. But while God of War's epic feel makes it stand out, it's the subtle things therein that allow it to sit at the top of our list. Nearly every facet of the game's design is perfect, from the pacing to the difficulty to the way its tale is wrapped with Greek mythology. No other PlayStation 2 title is as epic, well-designed or perhaps even universally beloved as God of War, so it takes our place as the best PS2 game of all time.