If you've ever had the pleasure of owning a Playstation 2, you'll undoubtedly remember your time on it fondly. The platform wasn't perfect, and nor were the games, but it spearheaded a revolution of gaming that would push the industry to the massive heights we see it at now.
I've put together a list of 5 of the best PS2 games I would love to see back on the Playstation 4. Although these titles are many years old, Sony is slowly porting PS2 titles onto the PS4, so anything is possible!
5: The Simpsons: Hit & Run
This game is a classic. This cult title based in the Simpsons universe somehow merges the humour of the popular TV series with the free-roaming, mission-based gameplay of Grand Theft Auto, a combination which may sound odd but is executed almost perfectly.
With story-driven gameplay delivered through entertaining and compelling missions, players will explore the world of Springfield in a way that trumps the somewhat disappointing previous offerings from the Simpsons video game franchise. You play as a variety of characters from the Simpsons universe, each with access to different missions, vehicles, and areas within the game. The final chapter of the game brings the story to a satisfying climax that actually feels like it has some weight, seeing as the story has been so well developed up until this point.
This is one of my favourite games on PS2. It does not have much replay value unfortunately, which may put off some modern consumers, but this game is truly a gem from the PS2 era.
4: Kingdom Hearts 2
Boy oh boy is this game a journey. Admittedly, I was hesitant at first. The game starts off very slowly, but once the game starts to kick in, you will truly be hooked.
Square Enix and Disney come together in Kingdom Hearts 2 to offer a wealth of iconic characters from both classic and modern franchises. From Mickey Mouse to Cloud of the Final Fantasy franchise, you'll have a hard time going through this game without recognizing somebody, and this recognition of characters from other games means you will form a powerful bond with these characters, creating a deep and emotional story.
You will laugh, you will get angry, you will clench your controller with anxiety, and you might even shed a tear. This game was truly a gem in the flourishing RPG genre when it released, and gathered a cult following for a good reason. Kingdom Hearts 3 is coming soon, but people who haven't had the chance to play its predecessor should indulge. This game is truly wonderful, and we would love to see it on the PS4.
3: The Sly Cooper Collection
Okay, so this title isn't exactly from the Playstation 2. The Sly Cooper Collection released on PS3, but the games within the collection were all released on the Playstation 2, thus I think it fits the criteria for this list.
If you've never had the chance to play Sly Cooper 1, 2, or 3, you are seriously missing out. Each and every one of these games uses the stealth-platformer format to wonderful effect, creating games that are enjoyable, with high replayability and a masterfully-crafted story. Each title feels like its own individual game with unique aims, objectives and gameplay, but the titles are still linked together with characters, core gameplay elements, and story ties that link the trilogy together.
A masterful foray into the stealth-platformer genre, with child-friendly gameplay that can still appeal greatly to teenagers and adults. Whilst all three games are amazing on their own, we'd love to see the collection released on PS2, so a brand new wave of gamers can experience this classic.
2: Metal Gear Solid HD Collection
Okay, so I've done it again. This isn't strictly a Playstation 2 title, with the HD Collection being released on last-gen platforms. Also, one of the titles in this package, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, was released on PSP, Xbox 360 and PS3. So, whilst this isn't exactly a Playstation 2 title, two of the three games in this collection released on PS2, and are so good that they cannot be left off of this list.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a riveting and masterful stealth game. Whilst drawing controversy at its release, it quickly became one of the most iconic games of the series, and introduced gameplay, characters and story elements that later games would emulate and incorporate. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is possibly the best game in the series, offering a huge variety of approaches to every situation in a hardcore survival scenario. This game has massive replay value, and I have personally completed it about 3 times, without seeing anyway near everything this game has to offer. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker was critically acclaimed, gaining 9/10 scores from many popular game journalism outlets. It offers, as usual, a deep and involving story with stellar gameplay and high replay value.
Again, this collection is not exactly a Playstation 2 title as such, but with two of the games in the collection being from the PS2, it really cannot be left out of this list, to do so would be a great dis-service.
1: Ratchet & Clank 3
We've left the best for last. Ratchet & Clank 3 is seriously amazing, and remains one of my favourite and most played games to this day.
This masterful platformer garnered critical acclaim, getting a 9.6 from IGN and 91% from GameFAQs. This wonderful game has a massive replay value that will keep pulling you back in over and over again. Whilst tied to the previous two games, you don't need to have played these to enjoy this title. With a seriously impressive story, mind-boggling weapon variation and loveable, charismatic characters, missing out on this absolute gem of a game is a crime.
Offering a deep level of customization with slight RPG elements, this charismatic platformer has a little something for everyone. With massive replay value and a wealth of completionist content, this game cannot afford to be missed, and we're praying it will finally be ported to the Playstation 4.
Do you agree with our list? Let us know what games YOU want to see in the comments below!