The PlayStation 2 is one of the greatest home consoles of all time, ushering Sony into the 21st century in style. The console’s hardware capabilities significantly improved upon its predecessor while its controller layouts were made more intuitive. Many established game franchises were revamped on the PS2 while others made their own memorable debut on the console. There was a wide breadth of games produced for the PS2, many of which are still incredibly fun to play decades later.
Those are the types of games that we’re highlighting in this article, the PS2 games that still retain their appeal. From stunningly rendered RPGs to truly epic hack-and-slash titles, these games still provide a thoroughly good time. Even as more advanced titles have since been released, we still find ourselves coming back to play these games. H
ere are five classic PS2 games that still hold up today, with most of these available to legally play on modern platforms.
Final Fantasy X
Among the early 2000s games that aged better than anyone expected is “Final Fantasy X,” the first mainline title in the franchise released for the PlayStation 2. The 2001 game has protagonist Tidus travel to the fantasy world of Spira after his home is destroyed by the villainous Sin. Tidus joins with a group of heroes to save Spira from Sin while learning that the destructive entity is more closely linked to him than he realized. The game returns to a traditional turn-based combat system rather than the active time battle mechanics of series’ entries on the PS1.
After 25 years, “Final Fantasy X” is still one of the best “Final Fantasy” games of all time and it still looks great too. From breathtaking gorgeous cutscenes drawing audiences in and getting them invested in the characters to its rousing battles, the game pulls out all the stops. There would be other great “Final Fantasy” titles released on the PS2, but they never quite matched the majesty of this experience. One of the defining games of the series, subtly refining its gameplay while upping the technical presentation, “Final Fantasy X” is an early PS2 masterpiece.
Amplitude
After making the 2001 rhythm game “Frequency,” Harmonix made the follow-up “Amplitude” in 2003, offering its own rhythm-based action. The game features a much more expansive display than its darker and claustrophobic predecessor, along with a greater diversity in musical genres. The songs are presented like a multitrack recording, with each path providing different instrumentation to complete the song, like guitars, vocals, and percussion. Hitting the notes on the rhythm fills out the songs and builds the high score up to unlock more tracks throughout the game.
“Amplitude” feels more accessible than the supremely difficult “Frequency” and its variety in musical genres makes it feel more welcoming. The change in track layout is also much easier to follow, making gameplay feel far less frustrating with this title. Harmonix went on to make the enormously successful “Guitar Hero” series, but there’s enduring purity to “Amplitude” that keeps us playing. If you ever wanted a sci-fi rhythm game using licensed music from David Bowie, Slipknot, and blink-182, “Amplitude” has got you covered.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The best-selling PS2 game of all time is “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” the third “GTA” title released for the console. Introducing the franchise’s titular California and Nevada equivalent, the 2004 game is set in the ’90s and evokes movies like “Boyz n the Hood” and “Menace II Society.” The story’s protagonist CJ Johnson returns to his hometown to investigate his mother’s murder, building up his old street gang in the process. The game boasts the series’ largest open-world environment at that time for players to explore, with additional features than preceding PS2 era titles to provide a more immersive experience.
“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” was a considerably more ambitious title than its predecessor “Vice City,” and it’s all the better for it. The game is as feature-rich as the franchise got for its generation while subtly refining the usual third-person gameplay. The environment and period piece setting are also atmospherically developed, effectively incorporating its influences while forging new narrative ground. The best open-world game on the PS2, “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” remains a highlight for the popular series.
Resident Evil 4 (2005)
After its prior mainline entries relied on tank control movement and largely fixed camera angles, the “Resident Evil” franchise underwent a stunning transformation in 2005. The mainline title “Resident Evil 4” shifted to a third-person shooter perspective while maintaining the tension that the series was known for. Initially released for the GameCube, the title came to the PS2 nine months later and redefined the series. The game features returning protagonist Leon S. Kennedy, who travels to a remote European community implicated in the kidnapping of the President’s daughter.
Even though 2023’s “Resident Evil 4” remake reintroduces the classic in its own triumphant way, there’s still an irreplaceable charm to the original 2005 game. This comes from a campier overall feel to the experience and gameplay mechanics that have aged well over 20 years later. That opening set piece, with Leon facing an entire murderous horde on his own, still packs a punch, as well the game’s other memorable action sequences. Available on virtually every modern gaming platform since its original release, “Resident Evil 4” is Capcom’s enduring magnum opus.
God of War II
Sony Interactive Entertainment
One of the last major games released for the PlayStation 2 was 2007’s “God of War II,” which debuted months after the launch of the PlayStation 3. The game features Kratos settling into his role as the new God of War after achieving his revenge against Kratos. During an attack on the ancient city of Rhodes, Kratos is betrayed by Zeus and swears revenge against him and the Olympian pantheon. The game retains the third-person hack-and-slash action, but it also has additional magical abilities and relics included with the gameplay this time.
“God of War II” feels like an all-around improvement from its predecessor, upping the epic scope and intensity of its bombastic set pieces. The game pushes the PS2 hardware as far as it can go, really showcasing what the console was visually capable of. But more than anything, the gameplay feels far smoother and more intuitive in regard to Kratos’ movement and combat. A major step in the transformation of “God of War,” “God of War II” truly feels like a hack-and-slash epic.
