Sony is apparently working on PS2 emulation for the PS4. This is great news, and it got us thinking: What games would we love to go back and play? While I doubt they’ll let you play your old discs, these eight games are still well-worth your time to check out.
Think we missed one? Tell us what it is in the comments!
Okami
Widely considered the most ambitious and unique Capcom game ever produced, Okami uses Japanese myths and legends to tell the tale of the land being saved by Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess. In the form of a white wolf, you (as Amaterasu) explore the world, solving puzzles, completing side quests, and using the game’s Celestial Brush to both aid in combat and in exploration. Both its varied gameplay and unique art style make it a worthwhile title to have on your list.
Silent Hill 2
Easily the best game in the Silent Hill series, Silent Hill 2 follows James Sunderland in his return the creepy town. He’s looking for his wife, Mary, who he received a letter from after her believed her to be dead. As you progress through the town, you learn more not only about Silent Hill, but about James and what really happened to his wife. Multiple endings based on how you approach the game, and the pervasive psychological horror make Silent Hill 2 a must play. Plus, you can get the original game, and not the re-release.
Burnout 3: Takedown
Before Criterion walked away from racing games, and before they were responsible for the Need for Speed series, they developed the Burnout series. Although the series was popular prior to Burnout 3: Takedown, this was the game that really put it over the top. The focus was on “takedowns,” encouraging players to not just out-race their opponents, but to run into them and cause them to crash. There was even a Crash mode, where you tried to involve as many cars as possible in your wreck. Burnout 3 was a racing game that was so good even people who didn’t like racing games loved it.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
A strong recovery from the divisive Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eatertook players into the jungle with Naked Snake (Big Boss). Set in the 1960s, MGS 3 tasks players with rescuing a defecting scientist, stopping a superweapon, and then taking out his former boss, who defected to the Soviets. It was a massive game, and since it eschewed the largely indoor environments of the previous two titles, it was a technical achievement as well. Managing your camo, killing animals for food, and even performing field surgery on your wounds were all part of the adventure, and it was good.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
By the time the PlayStation 2 was popular, the Prince of Persia series was mostly forgotten. But in 2003, it stormed onto the platform with Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. A platformer with tight controls, Sands of Time let you go from jumping to running to wall-running easily, and threw in the ability to reverse time, within limits. You could collect sand to fill your dagger and that powered your time-shifting ability. This made the difficult jumps less punishing, and meant that you always felt like you had one more chance. It’s one of the best platformers that appeared on the system.
God of War II
While the first God of War set the stage, the second one blew it away. When everyone expected the series to show up on the PS3, the sequel landed at the tail end of the PS2 generation and managed to squeeze every drop of performance out of the aging hardware. Not only was it bigger, better, and somehow more violent, it also packed in more toys for Kratos. You could now sing from grapple points or fly (technically glide), once you stole Icarus’ wings. It was one of the last big games to appear on the PS2, but what a send-off it was.
Shadow of the Colossus
It’s been ten years since Shadow of the Colossus graced the PS2. It was a game that felt odd, somehow. There were no dungeons, no towns, and no normal enemies. It was only Wander (the young man you play as) traveling across the world on horseback to take on and defeat 16 colossi. Why? To save the life of a girl named Mono. It made you learn the benefits of trial and error, as each boss was unique, with a weakness that must be discovered and exploited. It’s a very unique game, and one that is often mentioned as a favorite of gamers everywhere.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
There were three Grand Theft Auto games that appeared on the PS2, but San Andreas was probably the most interesting of them all. It dropped you into Los Santos as Carl “CJ” Johnson and turned you loose to do whatever you wanted. You could go lift and bulk up, or go eat cheeseburgers and get fat. You could help out your family and friends, get worked over by a crooked cop (played by Samuel L. Jackson, no less), and eventually you’d find yourself stealing a jetpack from Area 51 for the CIA. Yeah, it’s that crazy, and that awesome. It’s a must play for any fan of the series.
