WhatCulture: Everyone has unique tastes and certain genres and games that they like better than others, and while there is no such thing as an absolute “Top 20” list, there are some games in my opinion more deserving of others to be recognized. The Playstation 2 came into existence during what could be called the golden age of video games. No longer limited to a certain number of pixels or processing power, games at the turn of the century were blazing a new frontier in digital storytelling, each one pushing further than the one before. Not yet able to rely on an extensive online multiplayer experience to be considered great, these games had to have the full package, and THAT is what makes them great.
Without further ado allow me to present what I consider the best 20 games of the Playstation 2 era.
The Opening Levels that hooked gamers from the outset.
Zachary M. Cain said: Shadow of the Colossus is hailed as one of the best action-adventure titles of its time. The game was originally released for the PlayStation 2 all the way back in 2005. It was so good in fact, it got a remastered version in 2018 for the PlayStation 4 and was well received by old and new fans alike. Let’s revisit this iconic classic in 2024 and see how well it holds up to its past reputation.
The first Killzone game never met lofty expectations of dethroning Xbox’s Halo, but if any game needs a PS5 remake, this is the one.
I like Halo, but I don't think there is any need for a 'Halo Killer' at this point. If anything, the franchise is slowly undermining itself by making some of the dumbest mistakes possible. Infinite has finally reached a good point in terms of multiplayer, but it took an extra 2 years to get there. Meanwhile, the single-player experience is fine but rather mediocre when compared to the franchise peak.
That said, I would like to see the Killzone franchise back, if anything, to offer more variety to the PS5 exclusive catalog.
sony should remaster all killzone games and bring back killzone multiplayer that is very similar to the style of killzone 2 multiplayer.
Halo killed itself after Halo Reach.
Killzone went a little down in quality with SF on PS4 and I wish they kept them coming..
I'd love a killzone trilogy, fully remastered on a single disc like they did with Uncharted. Maybe they could make it the full killzone saga including PSP and Vita games converted to console.
Yes please. Put me down for a copy, price irrelevant too. Loved allow those games in the franchise :)
I've never liked the idea of a 'franchise killer', why can't both thrive, without one killing off the other? Its such a childish mentality.
That being said, if there ever was a true 'Halo killer', then it would have to be 343 Studios, and the Xbox division. They're doing a fine job killing off their own IP, apparently.
@eonjay
Yeah and I still cringe super hard when IGN runs their next gen console watch segment 3 years into the consoles lifecycle we are approaching midgen likely by December and they are out there milking clicks like it's mid 2020 and were starved for information
Halo doesn't need to be killed, they've done that themselves. It's a shell of its former self.
And yet Halo is still here. Where is Killzone? Resistance? Haze? All the supposed "Halo Killers" are dead franchises 😂
"Dead" really isn't the right word for any of these franchises (except Haze). You're also calling these games dead for different reasons. oIMyersIo is saying a Halo is dead because it is not what it used to be and is saying it has gotten much worse. You are saying those franchises faded into obscurity and no one cares. I also find it funny that your first reaction is to name PlayStation franchises because you perceived their comment as a slight against Xbox. I hope you're at the very least part of their ambassador program...
Anyone that sees Killzone as dead is pretty myopic. A decade since their last Killzone, but they themselves have developed two full games since Shadow Fall. That's not many in context at all.
Resistance is a bit less clear. Insomniac is pretty tied up at the moment. Including all of their games on all platforms and ignoring Spider-Man Remastered, we're looking at 23 games since Resistance 3. That's alarmingly prolific and still no R4. My guess? In the modern era, a new Resistance is probably going to have to be a live service and Insomniac is not that studio.
I don't think it's dead though. Not at all.
Halo infinite is still the best exclusive fps and is doing great but you think it's dead lol. Its also one of the top fps games out here so i dont get where your coming from. Just because you don't play it does not mean it's dead or dying.
I liked killzone 1 & 2 and I think Sony should bring it back along with resistance cause they are in need of more variety in their first party lineup. Sony & MS are sitting on some great franchises that need a revival.
"Just because you don't play it"
And there your argument was derailed.
Through making such an assumption, you have only served to show that your response is that of a fanboy and any criticism of your beloved franchises is met with speculation in order to downplay any counter argument.
As a matter of fact, as many in team blue on this site will tell you, I often do defend Xbox just as much as I defend PS, so for you to make such a silly comment is laughable.
I have played plenty of Halo: Infinite - on Series S, Series X and PC via Steam. To say the game comes anywhere near the franchise greats such as Combat Evolved and Halo 2 is delusional. The franchise is a shell of its former self and that is a FACT.
It absolutely isn't the best fps exclusive but at this point we're arguing over preferences which is pointlessly subjective.
Where I do agree is that a Resistance comeback would be great for Sony.
Horrible list but well its hes oppinion.
No Resident evil 4, okami, God of war, Final fantasy 10, gta...
Um whats with all the sports games and airplane flying games?
How is Final Fantasy X, Dark Cloud (series), Kingdom Hearts (series), Ratchet & Clank (series), Jak & Daxter (series), God of War (series), and more not on this list and others like XeoZin ^ listed.
The PS2 has many fantastic titles and franchises, but only a couple are even mentioned in this list.
shadow of the colossus
metal gear solid 2,3
god of war 1,2
kingdom hearts 1,2
grand theft auto 3, vice city, san andreas
driv3r
manhunt
red dead revolver
ico
quantic dreams game (i forget)
gran tursimo 3 a spec
gran tursimo 4
jax and daxter
ratchet and clank uya
gun
final fantasy x111
the warriors
resident evil code veronica
resident evil 4
silent hill 2
silent hill 3
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Fahrenheit, also known as Indigo Prophecy, yea forgot those names relientk, thanks.
So apparently most of the racing and sports games are better than Final Fantasy 10, Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2, and Dark Cloud 2. All three of those are in my top 10 of all time. That's a pretty bad list.
ICO
Silent Hill 2
Final Fantasy X
SSX Tricky
Yakuza 2
Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
Shadow Of The Colossus
Jak II
We Love Katamari
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Manhunt
Resident Evil 4
Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon
Timesplitters 2
Sly 2: Band Of Thieves
Beyond Good & Evil
Bully
Grand Theft Auto 3
Escape From Monkey Island
Jak 3
I'm kind of tempted to list some games I've got for the original Xbox that came out on the PS2 also. Fahrenheit, The Warriors, Burnout 3: Takedown, Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne and the Splinter Cell games all rank highly among my favourite games, and I still play them on my 360, but I don't think it would be fair for me to list them since I never played any of them on the PS2. So I won't.