25 Sony PlayStation 2 Titles That Are Loved and Missed

Creating a list of our favorite games of the PlayStation 2 era is easy.

Winnowing that list down to only 25 is an exercise in nostalgia fueled aggravation. There are hundreds of PS2 titles that were groundbreaking and easily deserving of classsic status. The system is the best selling console ever released and provided a decade plus of brilliant titles. Like we said picking 25 is basically rolling out a red carpet for trolling, but we're masochists. Here is 25 of the Greastet PS2 Games We Love and Miss.

Have a game that should be on the list? Let us know, as always, in a measured and well researched tone, in the comments below.

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Release date: 2000

Often referred to as one of the top fighting games of all time, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 built upon the eye-popping, comic book-style fun of its PS1 predecessor by adding a boatload of new characters, techniques and features for you to master. On the flip side, developers also simplified the controls in order to make the game more accessible to all. If you feel like you missed out, have no fear: the game is now available in the App Store for you to play on iPad or iPhone. We encourage you to download it to help pass the time during your morning commute, but just don't go picking any fights, okay?

Release date: 2004

Though criticism of occasional bugginess and faulty AI dogged many reviews of Guerilla Games' sci-fi FPS, Killzone, many critics could at least agree that what the game did well, it did really, really well. Namely, this meant providing gamers with a soundtrack that matched the intensity of its surroundings, and an overall presentation that was fittingly dystopian and chaotic. And of course, a full stock of all your favorite, high-powered weaponry. We're willing to overlook a couple glitches for that.

Release date: 2001

Created by Tecmo, Fatal Frame was unlike most other horror games that opted to arm you with chainsaws, baseball bats, or shotguns when trying to stave off any of the zombies or other underworld creatures chasing you around. Instead, you were simply given a camera. Sounds weird, but capturing your ghost enemies in photos was the only way for you to defeat them. This game was basically like if Vincent Price had made Pokemon Snap: it may have been a strange concept, but somehow it really worked.

Release date: 2001

Onimusha is one of the biggest franchises in Capcom's entire catalogue, and it all started in 2001 with the release of Onimusha: Warlords, a hack-and-slash, action adventure game set in 16th century Japan. Sometimes it's nice to take it back to the olden days, when things were simpler, and all the greatest warriors knew magic. Pretty sure that's right anyway. I mean, if Abraham Lincoln was a vampire hunter than surely the samurai could absorb souls and cast elemental spells like they do in Onimusha, right? Look, you believe what you want to believe and I'll do the same. My version sounds way cooler.

Release date: 2002

Allowing you to go anywhere from the Wild West to the 25th century, TimeSplitters 2 was a first-person shooter wherein you were tasked with defeating a group of aliens bent on altering the course of human history. What really drew people to this game was its focus on its multiplayer aspect, with some critics calling it the best multiplayer FPS that the PS2 had seen yet. On top of that, there was a split-screen co-op mode that allowed you and a friend to take on the campaign together. Never a bad idea to have a buddy by your side when you're hopping around in the fourth dimension.

Release date: 2008

Persona 4 took on the classic teen sleuthing story and added their own unique twist to the genre by creating a multi-world mystery RPG filled with multiple realities and plenty of intrigue. The game alternated between the real world, and the "TV World", that your high school classmates had been disappearing into, and it was up to you to dive in and figure out the trouble. Crazy. I mean, I guess you could say that it was just a little bit more intense than whatever Nancy Drew was up to.

Release date: 2000

Ported from the original arcade version, Tekken Tag Tournament had nothing in the way of a storyline or single-player mode. It was simply about grabbing a friend and doing some damage in that good ol', button-mashing fashion. Oh, and there was bowling too? Don't know what they were thinking with that one, but hey, I guess I don't have a problem with seeing Yoshimitsu throw a few frames.

Release date: 2003

Though commercially unsuccessful, Beyond Good & Evil was adored by critics for its focus on a female protagonist, and stimulating visuals. Sure, that title is a lot to live up to, but with keen storytelling and design, the game was a can't-miss experience, despite the low amount of publicity surrounding it. Unfortunately, because of its poor sales, the long-awaited sequel to the game has been in development hell for years.

Release date: 2006

As the era of the Playstation 2 was beginning to give way to the PS3, one of the last great games that got released for the system was Capcom's Okami. Made unique by its sumi-e-influenced visuals, the game allowed you to play as Amaterasu, one of the major goddesses of the Japanese Shinto religion. Combining elements from a variety of genres, Okami's developers admittedly took much inspiration from Nintendo's Legend of Zelda series. For a console that has always been looking for its answer to our favorite hero in green, that's never a bad template to follow. In its own right, though, Okami was a potent and creative vision that instantly inserted itself into the Playstation 2's canon as the sun was setting on its reign over the gaming world. Not a bad way to go out.

Release date: 2002-2006

Composed of three separate titles released over a span of five years, Xenosaga demanded a lot of attention from its players, but in the end, many felt that the time and effort was ultimately worth it. With multiple storylines and a number of complex, philosophical themes, the trilogy may have been confusing for some, but was nonetheless praised for its overall gamplay experience that was on-par with other RPG classics like Final Fantasy. After Episode III, the series had appeared to be cancelled, but recently, Nintendo released a video teasing what looks to be a new edition to the Xeno franchise. Uhhh...yes, please. I mean, c'mon, dinosaurs going to war with robots? Who says no?

Release date: 2003

A reboot of the original trilogy, PoP: Sands of Time was hailed by critics for the complexity of its puzzles, the exhiliarating looseness of its physics, and, oh yeah, the fact that you could manipulate time. Sure, the film adaptation was a total flop, but there was a reason that they made a movie about it at all. Prince of Persia was a beast of a game that combined an exotic and mysticized Middle East with a truly innovative approach to the platformer genre.

Release Date: 2004

The addition of the Hit Stick has often been cited as a high point of the Madden franchise, allowing gamers to finally replicate those perfectly-timed, bone-jarring hits that we love to watch every Sunday. On top of that, Madden NFL 2005 improved upon its gameplay mechanics, graphics, and overall presentation enough to have users justify the yearly re-up. EA has been criticized in the past for laziness regarding year-to-year improvements, but it's hard to find a fault with this edition. Though, like always, the soundtrack could've stood to be improved a bit. I mean, Hoobastank? Really?

Release date: 2005

The originator of the "over-the-shoulder" perspective in FPS gaming, Resident Evil 4 drew praise not only for its innovations, but for its attention to detail, spectacular presentation, and addictive gameplay. This game set a standard for all future first-person shooters and survival adventures that few have been able to match, and is regularly called one of the most influential titles of its decade. Plus, you got to kill mad amounts of zombies, and that is always, always a good thing.

Release date: 2005

The Gran Turismo series has always done a good job of taking its subject matter seriously; in fact, the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean versions of Gran Turismo 4 came packed with a 212-page driving guide that included a primer on the physics of racing. Wow. This was as real as racing was going to get without strapping in behind the wheel of an actual automobile. If you wanted to get power boosts and throw some shells, then you were better off taking your ass back to Mushroom Kingdom. Trust me, though, Peach would rather ride in my Mercedes SL 600 than that cute little Go-Kart you're rolling around in.

Release date: 2005

Praised for its impressive fight sequences, combat engine and highly-stylized gameplay, Devil May Cry 3 brought a whole new set of tools to the table for the hack and slash genre. Unfortunately, it was sort've difficult to actually use those tools well, because the game was so damn hard. Indeed, DMC 3 was something of a game for your inner-masochist, due to its intense difficulty levels and, at times, near impossibility. Even if you were getting mauled on the regular, though, the game was still so good that we could only really say, "Thank you. Can I have another?"

Release Date: 2001

When one talks about video games as an art form, a name that comes up rather frequently is Ico. It was the story of a boy and girl, trying to escape a strange, but beautifully rendered world, while finding their way around a slew of shadow demons and puzzles along the way. Though not particularly commericially successful (many blamed the North American version's eyesore of a cover) it became a cult hit among those in the know. Yes, they made Ico's female companion more annoying than Navi, but in a year that saw the release of Halo, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Grand Theft Auto III, Ico was a title that many felt bested them all.

Release date: 2002

What wasn't there to like about Square Enix and Disney's 2002 love-child, Kingdom Hearts?

Though the clash between these two seemingly disparate worlds may have seemed strange at first, in the end, the relationship betwee the hand-drawn animations of film and television's early days and their pixelated, overseas predecessors became clear. Somehow, a game that could feature Donald Duck crossing paths with our favorite Final Fantasy heroes didn't seem all that strange. Instead, it was a rich, intricately layered trip down memory lane that didn't take itself too seriously while also managing to avoid seeming too, well, goofy. Fans of both Square Enix and Disney were instantly taken with Sora and his pals, and the game lives on as one of the most unique and successful crossover hits in years.

Release date: 2005

In terms of video game lore, Kratos' ascension from a servant of the gods to an actual god is one of the more epic stories to ever be crafted. Set during the heyday of ancient Greece, God of War doesn't shy away from the bloody and violent conventions of the time, instead utilizing them to create a powerful, dramatic experience of revenge and redemption. If you never got around to playing this game, it's time to pull out the PS2 from the closet, scour your local bargain bin, and clear your schedule for the week. Olympus awaits.

Release date: 2001

A compelling and psychological trip, Silent Hill 2 offered a different take on the horror genre by emphasizing puzzles and problem-solving rather than running amok through waves of zombies and demons. If anything, you were encouraged to avoid combat, and the actual arsenal of weaponry you could find throughout the game was limited to a mere six items. But Silent Hill 2 found favor for its willingness to try something new with a survival game, and many enjoyed the artistry of the game, comparing its visuals to the likes of Alfred Hitchcock or Francis Bacon.

Release date: 2001

Yes, it was a little annoying that Final Fantasy X revolved around characters whose biggest problems seemed to be some melodramatic daddy issues, but there was no denying that the franchise's transitionary title to the PS2 was wildly successful, and visually stunning for the time. Additionally, the game's Sphere Grid leveling system offered an innovative and unique alternative to traditional leveling models, and its turn-based combat system was a welcome throwback to earlier gameplay formats. What really brought it all together though was the storyline that, while perhaps hastily written, was a tear-jerker at the very least. If that ending didn't make you well up just a little bit, then nothing will.

Release date: 2004

Those who were less than impressed with MGS 2's intricate plotlines found welcome reprieve in the more accessible and less opaque Snake Eater. Set in 1964 during the Cold War, the gameplay was tailored to suit its Soviet jungle environment with the addition of its "camouflage index" and realistic injury and health systems that would force gamers to deal with anything from a broken leg to stomach grumblings. In doing so, this stripped away the futuristic crutches of high-tech weaponry that Snake had previously been able to get by on. It's just a man, the woods, and his brute intellect. Call him Rambo Snake.

Release date: 2002

For anyone who ever wanted to let out their inner-Scarface, GTA: Vice City was here to help. Set in the 1980s, Vice City followed the path of Tommy Vercetti, a member of the Forelli family fresh out of prison and now dropped into a cocaine-stained, pastel suit. The game did well in replicating the neon-glows of 1980s Miami, and this past December, Rockstar released the 10th anniversary edition for the iOS and Android platforms. It's like a nostalgia trip within a nostalgia trip! So meta.

Release date: 2001

Described as the first postmodern video game, Metal Gear Solid 2, explored a number of topical themes in American and world politics with an interesting, anti-establishment perspective. Say what you want about the ending, but it isn't often that you see a video game's plot line getting compared to the likes of Thomas Hobbes or Fredrich Nietzsche. Even when you discount the storyline, though, the game was still one of the strongest that the PS2 had to offer. MGS 2 featured advanced AI, new cover mechanics, and more. Oh, and a lot of stuff about memes. ALL THE MEMES.

Release date: 2005

There are many reasons for Shadow of the Colossus' undeniable appeal: the picturesque landscapes and ruins, the ornate and terrifying colossi themselves, or the haunting, but beautiful, soundtrack. But when it comes to down it, what really drew us into the game was the simplicity of its story. We were given a horse, a sword, a silent protagonist, and a whole lot of ground to cover. NPCs were few and far between, and there were no side missions or tasks that revolved around finding treasure or learning new skills. Colossus was gripping because it stayed true to the barest bones of any good video game story: a guy saving his girl, by any means necessary. Agro haters can go fuck themsevles.

Release date: 2004

Grand Theft Auto III and GTA: Vice City were each impressive in their own right, but everything that they did, San Andreas came along and did better, and then some. Based on the Los Angeles-area gang wars between the Bloods and the Crips, San Andreas took the sandbox franchise over to the West Coast, adding about 140 cars and a whole new set of abilities and activities to take part in. Most notably, gang wars, swimming, and burglary were added to the equation. These additions made the GTA experience feel more complete than ever, allowing you enjoy all the thrills of petty crimes and major felonies without any of the consequences. You could even have sex! Coffee, anyone?