I recently procured a PS2 and have started (slowly) growing my library o’ time zappers.
What do you guys out there think are the best games for this console? It’d help me in picking and choosing next time I happen upon an electronics store AND I have money.
So, what are they and why?
That really all depends on your taste in games. For instance, do you like racing games? Sports? Videogame RPGS? Arcade classics?
I’m open to anything. Racing, Sports, 1st person shooters, RPGS. Everything and anything.
Sorry for not being a bit more specific.
Well, by all accounts, Final Fantasy X is really good. I’d also recommend Silent Hill 2 (the Xbox version was great - albeit too short - and I doubt that the PS2 version would be any less good). Speaking of which, also pick up Silent Hill 1, which was for the PSX still is kickass (and it should be pretty cheap by now).
My favorite PS2 games are Grand Theft Auto 3, Tony Hawk 3, and SSX.
None of you have heard of Metal Gear?!
Get Metal Gear Solid 2. But, in order to appreciate it to the fullest–you should also look for a copy of Metal Gear Solid, which was released on PSX.
(Your PS2 will run PSX titles just fine.)
GTA 4: Vice City will be out in one month. With that, GTA3, GT3, and … GTA3, you should be all set. 
It’s GTA: Vice City. It’s not officially 4 because it takes a leap back to the 20’s. Same guy, though. So, it’s in the same spirit of GTA, just not the next one in the numerical series…
I think.
aw, crap. I meant back to the 80’s. I meant 20 years. Sorry.
I for one can’t wait for Vice City. i got GTA3 about a month ago. i’m only 1/3 of the way done because i’m having too much fun causing chaos.
My first game was Namco Museum Arcade with the new versions of Pac man, Dig Dug, and Galaga. But I am the Dig Dug master, so it was required by law for me to get that game to waste my time on.
Grand Theft Auto 3 is unbelieveable. If you’re interested in sports games, then Madden 2003 is the best football game. It has internet capability this year, so if you get whatever it is you need to connect the PS2 to the internet, then you’ll always have a game against someone.
Another vote for Final Fantasy X. Also, if you’re into RPGs, “Shadow of Memories” is pretty original.
Gran Tourismo 3:A-Spec has been released as a PS2 “Greatest Hit.”
It should be down around $20. Its worth it if you go for the racing games.
Everything else mentioned here is fantastic. I got alot of those games upon release last year, and have been replaying them. (esp MGS2 and GTA3, Tony Hawk 3, then probably FFX will be next to come off of my shelf and into the console)
Another “Greatest Hit” (read as: Cheap!:D) to consider is Twisted Metal:Black. Very tight for one of the earlier releases.
Grand Theft Auto 3 is excellent. It’ll soon be followed with GTA: Vice City and a British attempt, The Getaway (which sets you up as a cab driver caught up in gang wars in an accurately-mapped Central London). It’s the only game I’ve played on the PS2 that has ‘repeat value’, i.e. you can go back and try things differently or just try random chaos.
Metal Gear Solid 2 is beautifully-designed and fun but only a one-off; once complete there’s no reason to do it again. The cut-scenes are horribly tedious after a while; I don’t think the developers knew whether they were making a game or a movie.
Medal of Honour: Frontline is superbly designed World War II action with some excellent sets and a brilliant opening. It’s a bit linear (i.e. like MGS2 once you’ve completed it there’s not really any other way to repeat it).
Summoner was pretty good omushimia warriors is cool gta 3 definatly
Zone of the enders was nice if you like gundam/mechwarrior stuff
Get dragon warrior 7 and tell if ya beat it under a month doing everything heh
I don’t even own a ps2 but I know the really big hailed games are
GTA3
Devil May Cry
Twisted Metal:Black
Medal of Honor: Frontline
Of course I have to second GTA3. The only game released fairly recently that surpasses its non-linearness (is that a word?) is TES3: Morrowind.
And, sweet God, you must get Silent Hill 2. Not because the gameplay is incredible, but because the story is so enthralling. When playing this game, you must do everything you can to prevent the atmosphere from spoiling. Kick everyone out of your house, unplug the phone, etc. I’m the most stony-hearted person I know, but I wanted to cry by the end (I didn’t though! I didn’t crack!). I was moved, man. I was freakin’ moved!
A bit of a hijack, I know that was a typo, but I would love to see GTA4 set during Prohibition, the golden age of organized crime. Chicago circa 1930 would be a perfect setting. Old cars, tommy guns, speakeasies, bathtub gin, rum runners, crooked politicians, and gangland wars.
Anyway, in addition to GTA3 and GT3, I’d also recommend SOCOM, which I’m playing through now. It’s a small squad-level tactical combat game along the lines of Rainbow 6, Metal Gear Solid, or Syphon Filter. SOCOM comes with a headset that you can use to issue commands to your squad (IMHO, useful, but mostly a gimmick). It even has online play if you have a broadband connection (doesn’t support dialup) and you can use the headset to talk to other players online.
To jump on the bandwagon: GTA3 kicksmucho booty, and GTA: Vice City most likely will kick whatever booty remains unkicked.
Rez is my personal favorite PS2 game. It’s an artsy fartsy music based shooter- really good, but not everyone’s cuppa tea.
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is nothing at all like the real BG games, and has an annoying ammount of T&A, but it is the best dang Gauntlet rip-off I’ve ever played. Much better than the official Gauntlet PS2 games.
Another GTA3 lover here.