Only a few consoles boast a library as timeless and nostalgic because the PlayStation 2, because it was a reasonably vital a part of many gamers’ childhoods (together with mine). It formed tastes, launched complete genres, delivered iconic chapters in beloved franchises, and created reminiscences that stick lengthy after we unplugged the AV cables.
Possibly it’s the environment, perhaps it’s the magic we don’t see as usually anymore, however some PS2 video games nonetheless have that particular one thing you merely simply can’t get sufficient of, even many years later.
These emotional imprints make its most replayable titles really feel like revisiting a favourite place that by no means modified (and sure, I do know you simply mentalized that well-known Ratatouille scene). And since I awoke right now feeling nostalgic and dangerously near dusting off my outdated reminiscence playing cards, let’s look again on the PS2 video games which can be onerous to place down as a consequence of their replay worth, lets?
Listed below are a number of the finest PlayStation 2 titles that hooked us again then, nonetheless maintain up now, and would possibly simply steal dozens extra hours of our lives if we’re not cautious.
10
Want for Velocity: Most Wished
Really feel the Want For Velocity
I feel we will all agree that the PlayStation 2 was the golden age of the Want for Velocity franchise, however Most Wished stands out as essentially the most well-rounded entry of all of them.
That’s as a result of, for all the things Underground 2 did proper, Most Wished took it only one step additional, tightening the components into one thing much more trendy, quick, and immediately addictive.
Positive, the sport backed off on some customization options, however it made up for it with a fascinating story, an enormous map to tear by way of, among the finest automobile rosters of any NFS, and people ridiculously enjoyable cop chases – the sort you can go in a single chase for hours and by no means be tired of it. It positive has loads of content material to maintain a participant entertained for fairly some time.
Replaying it now simply reminds us of how unmatched the PS2 arcade-racing period actually was, when it was much less about precision drifting and extra about being effortlessly cool behind the wheel.
9
TimeSplitters 2
Chaotic Enjoyable That By no means Will get Outdated
I’m fairly positive I’ve spent extra hours within the TimeSplitters sequence than in some other FPS from the PlayStation 2 era, and that’s as a result of the sport has loads of chaotic and different content material that, truthfully, is difficult to search out in shooters these days.
For starters, the primary marketing campaign story has loads of completely different settings (and even time durations), a bunch of distinctive weapons to check out, so many attention-grabbing characters, and is drastically intensified with its onerous mode, since optionally available goals change into necessities to finish the degrees (and you can be amazed how that adjustments all the things).
Then, you’ve a reasonably sturdy (and stupidly enjoyable, I need to add) aspect content material with numerous multiplayer recreation modes (with 4-player assist), tons of customization, and a bunch of distinctive gameplay challenges. Yeah, TimeSplitters 2 is actually timeless after we speak about replay worth!
8
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
An Anime Fighter Time Capsule
Preventing video games are a style that naturally thrive on replay worth, so, after all, one of many PlayStation 2’s most beloved titles (and extensively thought-about the most effective DBZ recreation ever made) earns its spot right here.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 has an incredibly large roster (we’re speaking about over 150 characters), numerous distinctive movesets, a sheer quantity of unlockables, and really addictive modes (we love you deeply, Final Battle), that means you can actually play it day by day and by no means get bored.
And that stays true till at the present time, because the recreation has really aged fairly nicely! And let’s be actual: anime enviornment fighters from this period have a selected geeky allure that’s merely irresistible.
7
Burnout 3: Takedown
Let’s Crash, Enhance, And Repeat
If there was ever an ideal “decide up and play” arcade racer on the PlayStation 2, it’s Burnout 3: Takedown, for positive. This recreation is pure, explosive adrenaline – actually the sort of racing title that grabs you immediately and retains you hooked with ridiculous pace and a number of the most satisfying crashes ever placed on display screen.
Add that to its recreation modes which can be full of completely different challenges, a soundtrack that may make you take heed to it whereas not even taking part in, an excellent number of tracks, and a pleasant pacing for its unlockables, and you’ve got an all-time traditional that merely by no means stops being enjoyable.
I imply, typically all we want is to revisit Silver Lake whereas driving a Carson GT Flame at full pace and listening to “Paper Wings” by Rise In opposition to, and that’s it.
6
Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3
Simply One Extra Run
For those who didn’t replay Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 a thousand instances as a child simply to really feel that satisfying feeling of unlocking the Neversoft eyeball man, you’ve lived your childhood fallacious.
And by way of replay worth, I feel that THPS3 is the right package deal for any skateboard lover on the market, as a result of there are a variety of unlockables, completely different challenges to sort out, and its multiplayer split-screen is a load of enjoyable. Oh, and we should not overlook its vast number of skaters, methods, and, after all, cheats!
Even in the event you decide up and instantly play this one, it simply hits in another way, and I wager you gained’t be capable of let go of the controller anytime quickly.
5
ICO
A Timeless Expertise Price Revisiting
Replay worth just isn’t at all times about large content material or a whole lot of hours. Generally it’s about returning to an expertise that’s simply extraordinarily particular and significant – as much as the purpose that replaying it, regardless of its size, makes you’re feeling completely different each time.
And that’s precisely what ICO is: an emotional, deep journey that merely sticks with you lengthy after you end it (many times).
For me, it’s how the small particulars, from the environment and the minimalist storytelling to the unforgettable bond between Ico and Yorda, create a sense nearer to rewatching a favourite film or consuming the meals that was your favourite as a toddler.
I’m a kind of gamers who prefer to pay revisits like this one on occasion, only for the brief, but extraordinarily deep expertise that proves that replay worth will be about soul, and never scale.
4
Bully
Revisiting A Cult Basic
After I was rising up, Bully was at all times rented out at my native recreation retailer… till the day I lastly caught it sitting alone on the PlayStation 2 shelf, virtually glowing and begging for me to take it. Thankfully, I took that decision and, from that second on, it grew to become one of many video games I’ve replayed essentially the most in my complete life.
The humorous half is that this recreation simply has its personal allure that I can’t actually clarify. Possibly it’s Jimmy’s conturbated story, the chaotic, open-world college at Bullworth Academy, the weird missions (sure, the UFO one nonetheless lives rent-free in my head), the liberty to wreak havoc in a teenage sandbox – or the entire above.
Regardless of the purpose, one thing at all times brings me again to Bully, and I replay it yearly or two, at all times going for 100% (even mowing each garden I can discover). However not having a sequel for this one could also be one of many culprits, making us return to the unique magic on occasion.
3
Deux Ex
A Masterclass in Participant Selection
On the time of its launch, Deus Ex actually was one of the crucial forward-thinking video games round by way of narrative and mechanics, as a result of it helps you to method virtually each state of affairs nonetheless you need.
That concept alone makes the sport naturally change into one of the crucial replayable video games on the console, since going for a special path, dialogue, or just technique (even essentially the most refined ones) actually adjustments all the things – and the expertise I’ll have can be fully completely different from yours.
In order that principally signifies that each playthrough seems like a special recreation fully every time, which is why Deus Ex stays a masterpiece of replay worth.
2
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Oh Sh*t Right here We Go Once more
As a technique to gasoline (much more) my hype for the upcoming GTA 6, I only recently replayed Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and by some means, it nonetheless felt like the primary time. Severely.
I actually forgot simply what number of hours I spent absorbing its absurd quantity of freedom. Which means a ridiculous quantity of aspect actions, deep character customization, collectibles, chaos alternatives (this one completely needed to be talked about), bizarre secrets and techniques, and a primary story that permits you to method many missions nonetheless you need.
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Oh, and if you’ll (re)play it on PC, the modding neighborhood will triple your playtime, as they’ve been retaining the sport alive just about indefinitely up to now. So, there may be at all times one thing new to search out in San Andreas, even after 20 years.
1
Resident Evil 4
Time For Bingo Once more
The Resident Evil franchise has at all times had sturdy replay worth, however I personally really feel that Resident Evil 4 is on a special stage fully. I imply, I’ve by no means met anybody who solely performed it as soon as – everybody who loves it appears magnetically drawn again to it, whether or not instantly after ending it or years later.
And the explanation why we simply cannot put the sport down fluctuate from individual to individual. Some replay it to attempt new weapons, others to concentrate on speedruns and mods, or just because the pacing and controls really feel unbelievably good.
And that’s all due to a recreation that really nailed taking the franchise to a extra fashionable components on the time, transitioning from traditional tank controls to over-the-shoulder taking pictures with out shedding the franchise’s identification. Actually spectacular stuff, because it just about formed Resident Evil (and your complete survival horror style) perpetually. It isn’t simply replayable, however a consolation recreation for a whole era.
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