11. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2
The Dark Alliance games are very similar to games such as Diablo and Torchlight. These games are great fun and have a decent amount of depth in the skills and equipment system. The classes you can play are very interesting with a lot of variety and a lot to offer. Both games support local co-op too, which is an absolute blast. Personally I would say the second one is the better of the two purely due to there being more classes to choose from. That and I would say the level design is better too, it’s more dark and gritty. (PS: You can unlock iconic D&D characters when you finish them too)
12. SSX Tricky
I Think It’s Very Vital
There was a time when EA Sports actually did something other than churn out annual titles from its sports game factory. That time was the time of EA Sports BIG. The concept was simple really: extreme, over-the-top sports that you couldn’t exactly replicate with your mates down the park on a Wednesday evening. SSX Tricky was the pinnacle of such a concept, a game filled with a colourful cast of characters who have to compete to get to the bottom of a series of whacky mountains as fast, or as stylishly as possible (or both). Run DMC’s ‘It’s Tricky’ is baked into this game’s DNA, with a needle drop every time something cool happens on screen.
13. The Urbz: Sims in the City
All rise for the greatest game in modern history. Skaters? Everywhere. Ravers? Abso-fricken’-lutely. Goths? Got ‘em. The… Black Eyed Peas? I guess! The Sims but with a grungier feel, The Urbz is a great addition to The Sims franchise. You start by creating your Urb, living in an empty apartment in a skyscraper in the city. Your goal in this game is to increase your Rep with the locals, making your way through each clique’s districts and helping them with their tasks. Each area has a villain, who you have to defeat using Power Socials—a social interaction using items given by townies or found in the garbage cans. With characters such as String Bean, Scary Mary, and Bella Ciao, the game is full of personality and sub-cultures for days. Each zone has a designated job in the form of mini-games; become the best photographer in Diamond Heights, a fab ferret-wrangler at Skyline Beach, or a pro skater at Kicktail Park. The Black Eyed Peas actually do show up as Urbz in this game, allowing you to become a lover to Will.i.am or Fergie, if you like, all while listening to them perform their music in Simlish for the soundtrack. All in all, this game is an absolute blast—and not just from the Party Bomb Power Social.
14. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
What more is there to say about this iconic RPG? It’s actually one of the best entry points into the JRPG genre, being rather short in comparison to the genre norm. Every character is interesting with their own quirks that make them stand out (Yangus being a favourite of mine). The gameplay is still really solid and the soundtrack is one of the best composed pieces Square has ever done. Graphically it still holds up really well, and the art style helps in that regard. It has a timeless design which will still look great for years to come. I would recommend the PS2 version due to the audio and visuals being vastly superior to the 3DS version.
15. Timesplitters
The Timesplitters games are some of the best FPS games on the PS2. Made by some of the same people who made Perfect Dark and GoldenEye 007. Its got similar feel and gameplay along with a fantastic variety of modes. The humour was carried over by the development team as well, so even fans of games like Conker’s Bad Fur Day will feel right at home here It’s definitely one of the best shooters on the platform, and you should try it out!
16. Samurai Jack: Shadow of Aku
As a child the idea of swinging swords was rather appealing so when I saw Samurai Jack for the first time I went completely off the rails. I then bought this game and found myself so absorbed in it I didn’t play anything else for weeks. The gameplay is much better than expected with good combat that allows you to switch swords for different abilities. The platforming while simple is no less entertaining. Please give this a go, you have to play it to believe it.
17. Ape Escape 2
Monkeys? Check. Fun gameplay? Check. Skyscrapers? Check. Believe it or not, Ape Escape 2 is the sequel to Ape Escape on the PlayStation. The game follows Jimmy/Hikaru and Natalie/Natsumi as they work together to stop the evil monkey Specter’s plans to rule over humans. You play as Jimmy, using gadgets to capture unruly monkeys with fun names such as Clint Apewood, Neil Apestrong, and Obi Ook Kenobi. The game makes excellent use of the analogue sticks and 3D graphics, which made the PS2 revolutionary. If you end up playing the US version of the game, you get great voice acting from the stars Rachael Lillis, Veronica Taylor, and Dan Green. This game is definitely one to add to your to-play list.
18. Fur Fighters: Viggo’s Revenge
Fur Fighters was originally a Dreamcast exclusive but was ported to the PS2 a year later. It is a third-person shooter with collecting aspects. The Fur Fighters are a group of animal warriors who have retired to a seaside village after defeating and imprisoning the evil white cat, Viggo. After Viggo escapes from prison and gasses the village, his brood of birdbrained bears kidnaps the heroes’ families. Your mission is to save your character’s children, spouses, and even a mother. With six playable different animals, this game is large and has a lot to explore. The best thing about this game is the soundtrack; it is something to behold. The game was praised for its humour, graphics, and gameplay when it was released, making it a PS2 staple in my books.
19. Gauntlet: Dark Legacy
If you’re looking for a game to play with up to three other people, Gauntlet has got you covered. Gauntlet: Dark Legacy is a Midway arcade game, directly ported to the PS2 in 2001. The game is a classic hack-and-slash dungeon crawler, allowing you to play as one of eight characters (there are secret characters too!) ranging from the classic Warrior to the speedy Jester and the magical Sorceress. I’ve got to say, too, many of the announcers’ quotes live rent-free in my head, especially if the word “valkyrie” comes into the conversation.