# What are the best games for PS2? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062 "2002-09-22T01:20:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/41 "2002-09-27T06:12:41Z")
Oh, one more thing-- all Gran Turismo games seem to have a break point with money. When you first start out (in simulation mode), you’ll have to buy a slow, crap car and sometimes race the same circuit over and over to get money to upgrade your car. But you’ll soon reach a point where the money comes in much faster than you can spend it, and you can get whatever car you want. ---
**Author:** ![ZooMetropolis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e480ec/32.png) [@ZooMetropolis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZooMetropolis)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/42 "2002-09-27T06:37:42Z")
At this time, **GTA3!!!** But I like PC much more than any console. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/43 "2002-09-27T16:41:13Z")
Flying goodness- great graphics and game play: **Acecombat 4: Shattered Skies** Football: **NFL 2K3** (I dislike the plodding Madden style). But thats a real Coke vs. Pepsi thing. Baseball: The **High Heat** series. ---
**Author:** ![Anubis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Anubis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anubis)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/44 "2002-09-27T21:43:32Z")
Kinetica is the best racing game I have ever played. Ico is a really great puzzle-type game with amazing detail. Devil May Cry is deliciously bloody and Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is good gameplay, though has an awful storyline. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/45 "2002-09-27T21:52:52Z")
[Pogo the monkey!](http://www.pogothemonkey.com) You’ll stare at it for hours! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/46 "2002-09-28T00:24:14Z")
IMO Gran Taurismo was fairly easy, and had tons of reply value. Just get the old workhorse Skyline and soup it up to 1000 horses. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/47 "2002-09-28T05:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by diku \* > \*\*GTA3, SSX Tricky, Madden 2003, and if you can play imports, Dance Dance Revolution Max. \*\* DDR MAX is going to be released here in November. I bought my PS2 because I was so impressed with the graphics on Gran Turismo 3 at Best Buy. I’ll also second GTA3, TM: Black, MGS 1/2, Silent Hill 1/2, and I’ll recommend **Maximo** if you like platform action and **Frequency** if you like music. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/48 "2002-09-29T00:50:16Z")
And since I just looked at the website, The Sims for PS2 will be available in January. ---
**Author:** ![Copper\_Pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Copper\_Pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Copper_Pin)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/49 "2002-09-29T21:48:19Z")
**Kingdom Hearts** is taking up most of my free time these days. It seems to be a cross between a platform game and a RPG combining the best elements of both. It’s a great game even without the Disney characters. I would strongly advise against **GT3** unless you are a serious racing game enthusiast. It’s just too damn hard for an average player to get started. I got frustrated trying to get enough money to buy a car I could even begin to compete with, and I couldn’t pass the A level license tests. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/50 "2002-09-29T22:42:54Z")
Oh yeah, DDRMAX! A must-have no matter what. I already have the complete collection for PSX and was absolutely thrilled that Max is coming out for the domestic PS2 (Toys 'n Joys still doesn’t have that modchip). These are great games. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/51 "2002-09-29T23:31:56Z")
I rented _Max Payne_ this weekend and had a blast with it. I’ll also put in a vote for _GTA3_ (by the way _Max Payne_ is produced by the same people that did _GTA3_) and _Tony Hawk 3_. For sports, I’ve heard really great things about _NFL 2K3_. I’ve yet to find a really great driving game though. I’ve played _Gran Turismo A-Spec_ (it’s ok, but nothing you haven’t seen in the previous titles, just a little slicker), _Test Drive {whatever number they’re up too}_ (I found it too arcadey and not much fun), and _Stuntman_, which I bought right out of the chute with much gusto only to want to stab myself in the liver with the game box after the first 30 minutes of playing it (it is incredibly repetitive). ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/52 "2002-10-02T00:00:36Z")
Just to add, as a recent PS2 purchaser, second hand sections of game shops like ebgames have some excellent value items. (such as SSX for $9.95). If they are still doing it, the block busters games card is extremely good for a new owner. For $20 I got to try out about 30 games in the four week period, I learnt that I didn’t like GTA3, and I finished Baldur’s Gate in that time. Later I bought second hand about 5 of the games I had tried and really liked. A game I love, but many don’t, I would suggest everyone at least tries is Kengo. It’s the only fighting game I have found that requires any level of tactical requirements from the player. (and yes I have played many fighting games). Cheers, Keithy ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2002, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/53 "2002-10-03T11:14:49Z")
Anyone up on the new releases? I’ve pre-ordered three games (and am planning to pre-order a fourth) but have only heard a little preview information. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (GTA4) is a definite must-have for me (and I’ve seen the screenshots published so far).[The Getaway](http://www.gamesdomain.co.uk/playstation2/previews/The_Getaway_Handson.html) sounds decent (and looks fantastically detailed - accurate mapping of London down to buildings and shop names) but I’ve only seen this review of it. I’ve also ordered [Red Faction 2](http://www.gamesdomain.co.uk/playstation2/previews/Red_Faction_2.html) based on the strength of this review, but am debating instead (or in addition) getting [TimeSplitters 2](http://www.gamesdomain.co.uk/playstation2/previews/TimeSplitters_2.html). Anyone heard anything good/bad about these games? (particularly the last two). ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/54 "2002-10-04T07:22:57Z")
Vice City is not GTA4. GTA4 is an entirely different game that will be out late next year, and many speculate that it will have some form of online play. /nitpick ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062/55 "2002-10-08T16:58:27Z")
Let me just pop in to recommend Kingdom Hearts again. This is one of the best games I have ever played. It doesn’t suffer from that Square curse of only being good after the first twelve hours of play, and it’s visually fantastic. The only nitpick I can make is the camera control (which everyone seems to notice) but it really hasn’t bothered me that much in general. It just blows my mind to see Donald Duck casting “Fire” and Goofy saying “Thank ya!” after I use a Potion on him! Anyhow, it’s definitely less of a kids’ game than I expected, and combat is a lot more engaging, consistently challenging, and fun than other Square RPGs. I’m saying that as a diehard fan – I love the Final Fantasy series, but the combats get dull after awhile. I haven’t experienced that problem with Kingdom Hearts at all. Kingdom Hearts is actually the only game I own (just bought the PS2 this weekend) and reading the glowing reviews finally caused me to buy the system, so hey. Give it a rent and see if you like it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-games-for-ps2/129062.md?page=2)