ThePlayStation 2has a storied legacy filled with mostly highs. Sony’s second home console eclipsed its predecessor in arguably every way, and that extends to its library. In 2002, the platform was at its peak of relevance, producing dozens of games that have gone on to be regarded as all-time greats. Two decades later, titles likeKingdom Hearts,Ratchet & Clank,Wild Arms 3,Hitman 2: Silent Assassin,Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, andDragon Ball Z: Budokaiare not only fondly remembered but also continue to be discovered and experienced.
Naturally, hundreds of PS2 games were released in 2002, most of which have slipped through the cracks of time. While projects likeDino StalkerandX-Men: Next Dimensionshould be wiped from memory, some titles deserve a better fate. Theseforgotten 20-year-old PS2 gamesare still outstanding.
7James Bond 007: Nightfire
EveryJames Bondgameexists withinGoldenEye’s shadow. Rare’s Nintendo 64 masterpiece is undoubtedly one of the most important console first-person shooters of all time, arguably just behindHalo. While the 1997 release is far more influential,Nightfirehas aged better thanGoldenEye. Although released to coincide withDie Another Day, this game does its own thing, although it does mirror the over-the-top spectacle synonymous with the latter-day entries of Pierce Brosnan’s era.
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Nightfire’s campaign cycles through various mission types to ensure things do not get stale quickly. Some of the more open-ended levels can even be tackled in a variety of ways, allowing players to decide if their Bond prefers the silent or explosive approach. Although old-fashioned in some ways,Nightfireis still a blast.
6The Getaway
The Getawaywas well-regarded around the time of its release as analternative toGTAthat focuses on British gangsters. However, an underwhelming sequel brought the series' momentum to a halt, reducing its predecessor to just a footnote in the PS2’s history.
As an early adopter of open-world design,The Getawaycannot compare to modern entries in the genre, both in terms of scale and gameplay. That said, the PS2 game does an admirable job of bringing to life London, creating an immersive world considering the hardware it is on. The story, which features dual protagonists, is also quite good.
There are fourDead to Rightsgames, and only one of them is worth revisiting. An over-the-top shooter that plays like an ’80s action movie version ofMax Payne,Dead to Rightsis unapologetically dumb, in the best possible way. The game revolves around bullet time, with each section of the campaign tasking players with mowing down an army of enemies. They can even sic a dog on a target, which is always satisfying to pull off.
All things considered,Dead to Rightshas aged shockingly well. While repetitive and prone to the occasional difficulty spike, the gunplay is still a great deal of fun. The story is entertaining in a “so bad, it’s good” type of way, which works for a game that appears to be aping B-movies.
4The Thing
A licensed game released two decades after the movie’s debut,The Thingis one of those projects that seems like a fever dream.John Carpenter’s horror movieis nothing short of a masterpiece, and while the adaptation does not quite reach those heights, it is a well-above-average survival horror game.
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The Thingreplicates the movie’s nail-biting suspense through a trust system that determines an NPC’s willingness to follow the player’s instructions. This concept is interesting and heightens the game’s tension, even if the overall package is not particularly scary.
3WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth
The PS2’s best WWE wrestling game isHere Comes The Pain, a title so amazing that it rendered its predecessor,Shut Your Mouth, obsolete. The 2002 release deserves better as it laid the groundwork forHere Comes the Pain’s success, and the latter’s strengths are largely present in the former.
Shut Your Mouthhas accessible and fast-paced arcade-style gameplay that is still a blast more than two decades later. Except for an unnecessary backstage area, the season mode is plain old silly fun and reasonably long. IfHere Comes the Painis the gold standard of PS2 wrestling games, thenShut Your Mouthtakes the silver.
2Stuntman
In an alternate reality,Stuntmanis currently on its seventh entry as people argue whether the franchise was better pre- or post-Ubisoft acquisition. Unfortunately, this timeline only has twoStuntmangames. If someone is looking to sample this series in this day and age, they should go for 2007’sStuntman: Ignitionsince it is better-looking and more polished than its predecessor.
That said, 2002’sStuntmanis all sorts of awesome. As the title suggests, players take on the role of a movie stuntman tasked with completing (and surviving) gloriously absurd movie sequences. Taking inspiration from different real-life films,Stuntmanfeatures six movies that all bring something fresh to the plate.
1Shinobi
ThePS2 is a haven for obscure hack-and-slash games, andShinobiand its sequel,Nightshade, certainly fall within that category. Originally intended for the Dreamcast, the death of Sega’s console led to the game’s PS2 debut, and it was a worthy option for anyone wishing to fill aDevil May Cry-shaped hole in their lives.
Shinobiprioritizes speed and efficiency, as the game actively encourages players to be constantly pushing forward in search of new targets. The combat system is easy-to-grasp but punishingly difficult to master, and players need to properly understand the game’s combo system if they wish to survive. While it is noNinja Gaiden,Shinobiis a must-try for hack-and-slash fans who look back fondly on the PS2 era.
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