DBLTAP's Top PS2 Games of All Time
At DBLTAP, we've assembled our picks for the top PS2 games of all time, and we're ready to defend them with our lives.
The PlayStation 2 had one hell of a run. Having entered the new millennium like a shock to the cultural system, the PS2 became one of the fastest consoles to reach 100 million sales, managing the feat just over five years after its launch. A number of iconic franchises saw their start with the PS2; the likes of Devil May Cry, God of War, and Kingdom Hearts all entered the fray and changed the gaming landscape forever.
This blocky console ushered in an era of risks, where the weirdest and wildest of games all had the chance to hit it big. The Simpson's: Hit and Run became GTA-lite, Shrek 2: The Game sold more copies than Silent Hill 2, and every living room across the country turned into a Guitar Hero arena.
With all this in mind, here are some of our favorite PS2 games that still have a hold on us to this day.
DBLTAP's Top PS2 Games of All Time
Kingdom Hearts
Ralston: As a kid, I, along with my brother, admittedly spent more time playing and collecting titles for the Xbox rather than the PS2. However, there was one PlayStation exclusive at the time that absolutely blew me away — Kingdom Hearts. Its story, music, graphics and gameplay elements are all things I still think fondly of to this day. Even now, there are few things in life as peaceful as listening to a Kingdom Hearts lofi mix.
SSX Tricky
Alex: High up on my list is SSX Tricky. This game took a sport I had no knowledge of, and would probably never try, and made it the most fun-filled racer I'd ever seen. Looking back on it, the game screamed 2000’s in nearly every way; the character rivalries, the unlockable outfits, the celebrity voices, the insane courses. Honestly, I couldn’t get enough.
The game might border on novelty, but with some surprisingly smooth mechanics SSX Tricky still stood out as a must-have for the PS2 generation. The world of snowboarding had never seen anything like it, and likely never will again.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
Noam: My only childhood console was the Nintendo GameCube, so the only time I got to play a PS2 was when I crossed the street to the home of my best friend. That means I played almost none of the classic single-player PS2 games (sorry Shadow of the Colossus, Resident Evil 4, et al.) Instead, I played hundreds of hours of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3.
My friend and I played every installment in the series, and it meant nothing to us that no real changes had been made to the formula since the first. This one had the most characters and transformations, ergo it was the best Dragon Ball game ever made according to math. Plus you could make Vegeta do push-ups in the loading screens. QED.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Max: When I think of the PlayStation 2, my mind instantly thinks of Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. For me, it's the quintessential title of the console. It's my favorite video game series of all time, and Snake Eater is the best entry in the franchise. The boss battles in the game, for me, are the best and most unique. Not to mention the overall improvements that were made to the game with Subsistence later on.
Final Fantasy X
Alex: For me to talk about the PS2 without mentioning Final Fantasy X is near-impossible. The game's cinematics alone drastically raised the bar. Thanks to its soundtrack, world building, character design and so, so much more, Final Fantasy X cemented itself as my favorite game of all time. That being said, the lightning dodging minigame can get in the bin.
If I achieve nothing else in this life, I can at least be known as a human embodiment of a Final Fantasy X strategy guide. Praise be to Yevon.