The PS2 has been out for quite some time now, so we here at Thunderbolt were bored and decided to recommend five of our favorite games to all of you!
Anthony’s
Recommendations
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
I was one of the four people who didn’t like GTA III at all. Sure, it was fun for a while but the missions were absolutely horrid and I hated how the main character didn’t speak at all. Vice City kept the core gameplay intact but improved everything so much it wasn’t even funny. The music, the replay value, the missions and the storyline blended together to create a truly memorable experience.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Once again I was the minority in terms of liking the film. I was disappointed on virtually all levels while watching that horrendously dull and occasionally half-assed adaptation of book. Fortunately, I didn’t have the same hatred for this pleasant game. When I reviewed it I only gave it an 8, but the more I play it the more I like it. If only the game wasn’t shorter than the Extended Edition of the film…
Silent Hill
2
While the first game is definitely scarier, Silent Hill 2 improves the series greatly in the second installment. The graphics are infinitely enhanced, but the best part is that the plot actually makes sense now! And what an incredible plot is, full of turns, twists and awesome characters. You’ll never want to go back to the stale Resident Evil series again after playing this game.
Dynasty Warriors 3
Many critics complained about the incredibly repetitive gameplay, but what beat ‘em up title doesn’t have repetitive gameplay? Dynasty Warriors 3 has you plowing through hundreds of enemy soldiers in full-scale battles. If that wasn’t cool enough, there’s a rad two player mode to make DW3 one of the best beat ‘em ups in years. Rock on.
Sega Sports Tennis
Dear lord, a tennis game?!? What is wrong with me? I had trouble picking five games, but then I remembered this delightful little game. Upon playing it again I remembered how addictive, challenging and fun this game is. 4-player multiplayer just sweetens the overall package. Even if you have no interest in tennis (like me) you should still give this game a rent.
Matt’s
Recommendations
Fatal Frame
I've never been more scared in my life. I have memories of being five and waking up with nightmares induced by scary movies, but even the fear of my imaginative young mind could never believe how shocked I could be, and physically creeped out, as I was when I first played Fatal Frame. Even on my regular TV with no surround sound and with the lights on, the game still scared the piss out of me. Too bad it's so damned hard to find now (on the system that I play now, the Xbox) or I'd pick it up in a snap!
Final Fantasy X
While I must say that I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I enjoyed it's predecessors, I played through FFX....three times...and then some more....This kind of dedication to a game must prove that they're doing something right, and with such a fun battle system and all the innovations, I was extremely impressed and genuinely satisfied with FFX...I don't think I'm going to ever touch the sequel though, no matter how good people say it is.
Metal Gear Solid 2
I could complain for hours about the convoluted storyline, but I can't find a single fault in the gameplay, and that fortunately overrides all my hatred of the story. The game is simply a joy to play, and there's no other way of explaining it. All the way until the games close, you'll hesitate to put the controller down. I left my PS2 running nearly 17 hours straight when I first got the game (mostly because I didn't have a memory card and didn't want to restart) just so I could play through it, risking the total death of both the unit and the game from overheating. Yes, it's that good.
Devil May Cry
This is another one of those games where the storyline is unimportant and it all goes back to the gameplay. It was invigorating to slaughter as Dante through the castle all the way up until the end. Though the level design was a bit linear and repetitive, it was still a blast to wander through the areas, swinging your sword at anything that moved and then blasting them with a shotgun as they fall to the floor with only the push of a few buttons.
Grand Theft Auto III
I'll openly say to you know that I no longer can stand this game now that I've played Vice City, but at the time, I love the game...for the first twenty hours. The design of the game, the feel, the atmosphere...all of it was brilliance in action...but the brilliance was unfortunately hampered by boring and overly challenging missions, shoddy controls, and a large feeling of repetition as you progress. But still, it's a fantastic game for the beginning potions at the least, and at its new low price, it's a must have for your collection.
Chris P’s
Picks
Final Fantasy X
FFX earns a spot on the list as the best RPG of this generation. It succeeds by relying on the same formulas which have been so good to Squaresoft, but that doesn't diminish the individual excellence of the title. A well-crafted, classically dramatic, personal and emotive story complements a presentation that ranks among the best on the console.
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
Not only is Gran Turismo 3 the best racer on the PS2, it is also among the deepest and most fully-fleshed games on the system. It simply offers an incredibly immersive experience that will eat up days and days of your time.
Soul Caliber 2
When I said Gran Turismo 3 was among the deepest games on the PS2, that comment was really in deference to this masterpiece. Sheer attention to detail and the vast offering of secrets make the game complete for the single player, but Soul Caliber also offers a level of multiplayer excellence that matches or outdoes the lone warrior’s mode. Stunning visuals provide the icing on the cake for this gem.
TimeSplitters 2
The TimeSplitters series, I think, deserves to be honored for bringing a sense of riotous fun back into shooters, defying a trend toward “realism” (although few things, of course, could be more unrealistic than the lifestyle of Sam Fisher). Centering on fast-paced action, this sequel tops the original version by adding vast numbers of new characters and locations to unlock.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Rarely have I played a title and been so deeply engrossed in the gameplay. Few games have the ability to offer you so many options of what to do (at least on the micro level) while making all those options viable and interesting. Regardless of how you play the game, it is addictive to say the least, and for an early title it has held its own brilliantly.
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