PlayStation 2
Top 100 PlayStation 2 (PS2) Games of All Time
The PlayStation 2 is the best-selling console ever made, and its library is still one of the deepest in gaming — from genre-defining epics to cult imports. This countdown ranks the very best PS2 games of all time, ranked by a blend of GamingList community and critic scores. Add any of them to your list, rate the ones you've finished, and track your way through the classics.
This is an PlayStation 2 exclusives list — it features games that debuted on PlayStation 2, so cross-platform titles and later ports to other systems aren't included. That's why some multiplatform favourites you played here won't appear.
- 1
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
2004 · Shooter, Tactical, Adventure
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is the prequel to the entire Metal Gear series. Most of the series' defining gameplay elements have been carried over and as before, Snake must use stealth and wits rather than brute force to infiltrate enemy zones and eliminate his major adversaries. Unlike the previous games, this installment takes place in a large outdoor jungle. Snake is able to use camouflage, climb trees, hide in tall grass or wear clothes that make him less noticeable.
9.3 - 2
Silent Hill 2
2001 · Puzzle, Adventure
The second entry in the Silent Hill franchise, Silent Hill 2 is a narrative-focused third-person psychological survival horror game with emphasis on combat, exploration and puzzle-solving elements which follows James Sunderland, a man who receives a letter, seemingly sent by his three-years-deceased wife Mary, in which he is beckoned to the fog-ridden town of Silent Hill at the same time as numerous other people troubled by their past.
9.1 - 3
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
2004 · Shooter, Racing, Adventure
Returning after his mother's murder to the semi-fictional city of Los Santos (based on Los Angeles), Carl Johnson, a former gang banger, must take back the streets for his family and friends by gaining respect and once again gaining control over the streets. However, a story filled with crime, lies and corruption will lead him to trudge the entire state of San Andreas (based on California and Nevada) to rebuild his life.
9.0 - 4
Shadow of the Colossus
2005 · Platform, Puzzle, Adventure
An open-world action/adventure game in which a young wanderer, along with a stolen magical sword and his steed companion, trespasses a cursed land, makes a deal with an ancient being to bring a sacrificial victim back to life, and sets off to fulfill his end of the bargain, which involves tracking down and infiltrating the abodes of sixteen colossi and sacrificing them to achieve his goal.
8.9 - 5
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
2001 · Shooter, Tactical, Adventure
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is the sequel to the espionage action game Metal Gear Solid. Much of the gameplay remains the same, as the game's protagonist has to sneak past guards, outsmart them using various gadgets and defeat the tricky boss enemies. The game expanded its predecessor's cover mechanic, with Solid Snake or Raiden able to take cover behind walls or objects and pop out to shoot at enemies, while the improved enemy AI allowed enemies to also take cover from the player. Metal Gear Solid 2 is considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time, as well as a leading example of artistic expression in video games.
8.9 - 6
Final Fantasy X
2001 · Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Final Fantasy X is the tenth main installment in the FF series and the first title released on sixth-generation consoles. It was also the first game to feature fully three-dimensional areas rather than including pre-rendered backdrops, and the first to include voice acting. Final Fantasy X tells the story of a star blitzball player, Tidus, who journeys with a young and beautiful summoner named Yuna on her quest to save the world of Spira from an endless cycle of destruction wrought by the colossal menace Sin.
8.8 - 7
Kingdom Hearts II
2005 · Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Kingdom Hearts II is an action role-playing game, and the primary entry to the series since the 2002 Disney Interactive and Square collaboration. The game's setting is a collection of various levels (referred to in-game as "worlds") that the player progresses through. As in the first game, it II allows the player to travel to locales from various Disney works, along with original worlds specifically created for the series.
8.8 - 8
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
2002 · Shooter, Racing, Adventure, Arcade
In the year 1986, Tommy Vercetti is heavily indebted to his mafia superiors after a drug deal gone awry, but his dreams of taking over Vice City (based on Miami) push him down a different path. Featuring a wide variety of vehicles and weapons, radio stations playing hit songs from the era and an intense atmosphere, GTA: Vice City is an open-world sandbox satire of '80's Miami.
8.7 - 9
God of War II
2007 · Platform, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
God of War II, an action-adventure hack-and-slash video game, was developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). Initially launched for the PlayStation 2, it serves as the second installment in the God of War series, the sixth in chronological order, and a sequel to 2005's God of War. The game is rooted in Greek mythology and unfolds in ancient Greece, revolving around the theme of vengeance. The protagonist, Kratos, is the new God of War, having defeated the former, Ares. However, Kratos is betrayed by Zeus, the King of the Olympian gods, who not only strips him of his godhood but also kills him. Dragged slowly to the Underworld, Kratos is rescued by the Titan Gaia, who guides him to seek out the Sisters of Fate. These entities have the power to enable time travel, allowing Kratos to prevent his betrayal, and ultimately seek revenge on Zeus.
8.6 - 10
Persona 4
2008 · Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
An entry in the JRPG/visual novel hybrid Persona series in which the player has to harness the power of Personas and fight entities called Shadows by forging bonds with the locals of Inaba, a rural Japanese town thrown into unrest by inexplicable murders committed under cover of foggy weather and rumours of a television channel said to broadcast mysterious images on rainy nights.
8.8 - 11
Ōkami
2006 · Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Set sometime in classical Japanese history, Ōkami combines several Japanese mythology and folklore to tell the story of how the land was saved from darkness by the Shinto sun goddess named Amaterasu, who took the form of a white wolf with celestial markings covering its fur. It features a distinct sumi-e-inspired cel-shaded visual style and the Celestial Brush, a gesture-system used to perform miracles.
8.8 - 12
Persona 3
2006 · Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 is a role-playing video game developed by Atlus. In the game, the player takes the role of a male high-school student who joins the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (SEES), a group of students investigating the Dark Hour, a time period between one day and the next that few people are aware of. During the Dark Hour, the player enters Tartarus, a large tower containing Shadows, creatures that feed on the minds of humans. To fight the Shadows, each member of SEES is able to summon a Persona, a manifestation of a person's inner self. In addition to the standard elements of role-playing games, Persona 3 includes elements of simulation games, as the game's protagonist progresses day by day through a school year, making friends and forming relationships that improve the strength of his Personas in battle.
9.1 - 13
Grand Theft Auto III
2001 · Shooter, Racing, Simulator, Adventure
Featuring a fully 3-D living city, a combination of narrative driven and non-linear gameplay and a completely open environment, Grand Theft Auto III represents a huge leap forward in interactive entertainment. For the first time, players are put at the heart of their very own gangster movie, and let loose in a fully-realised 3 dimensional city, in which anything can happen and probably will. With a cast of hundreds, 50 plus vehicles, ranging from sports cars to ice cream trucks and from boats to buses, 3 hours of music, including opera, reggae, house, drum and bass, pop and disco, a huge array of street ready weapons and some of the seediest characters in video game history, Grand Theft Auto 3 is a sprawling epic which will show you that sometimes, crime can pay and sometimes it can pay you back. Available now for PlayStation2, Xbox, PC and Macintosh.
8.5 - 14
Resident Evil 4
2005 · Shooter, Adventure
Despite earlier rumors of a downgraded port due to the PlayStation 2's hardware limitations, this port of Resident Evil 4 have been generally favorable. Almost all the GameCube's real-time cut scenes were converted into movie files in order to maintain a better quality. Furthermore, voices and sound effects quality outside the cut-scenes had been reduced due to disc space being quickly used and audio RAM constraints. Capcom added new content made specifically for this port to compensate for the late release, such as minigames, documentaries and costumes.
8.8 - 15
Katamari Damacy
2004 · Puzzle, Adventure
The King of All Cosmos accidentally destroyed the stars and—having recovered—wants the prince to rebuild them. Unfortunately the prince stands a little less than half a foot tall, so recreating the stars will require some effort. Enter the Katamari, a sphere the prince can push around our world to “roll up” items increasing the Katamari’s size until it’s suitable for the King. Taking place in stylized versions of Japanese houses, cities, and environs, the prince pushes the Katamari around collecting items which adhere to it. At first, the prince can only pick up smaller items, but as the Katamari grows, the more it can collect. Push pins and paper clips cling to the Katamari increasing its size so it can roll over obstacles and pick up bigger items. Over many levels, the Katamari can eventually pick up people, cars, and other bigger items. Players steer the Katamari from a third-person perspective using the analog sticks on the PS2. A tutorial stage takes the player through the controls and sets up the story as well as introducing a side story about a Japanese girl who can feel the cosmos. Wanting to challenge the prince, the King sets requirements on the Katamari’s size and sets time limits on the level. Bonus missions restore constellations and have their own restrictions. The world of Katamari Damacy is brought to life with off-beat animation and a catchy soundtrack. Players can find presents hidden in the levels that contain accessories for the prince. Two players can also battle head-to-head in a Katamari competition.
8.8 - 16
God of War
2005 · Puzzle, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
God of War is an action-adventure hack-and-slash video game developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). Initially launched for the PlayStation 2, the game stands as the first instalment in the God of War series and the third in chronological order. Loosely inspired by Greek mythology, it unfolds in ancient Greece with vengeance as its central theme. The player takes on the role of Kratos, the protagonist, a Spartan warrior devoted to the Olympian gods. Tasked by the goddess Athena, Kratos is assigned to eliminate Ares, the God of War and Kratos' former mentor. Ares had deceitfully manipulated Kratos into killing his wife and daughter. As Ares attacks Athens fueled by hatred for Athena, Kratos embarks on a quest to locate Pandora's Box, the sole object capable of permanently stopping the vengeful god.
8.4 - 17
Ico
2001 · Platform, Puzzle, Adventure
An action-adventure game in which a boy is abandoned and taken to a massive castle by his people. After exploring it for a while, he meets a girl who speaks a different language than him, then decides to get both of them out of the castle grounds by leading her along, in order to escape the shadow-like creatures that frequently try to kidnap the girl.
8.5 - 18
Gran Turismo 4
2004 · Racing, Simulator
Gran Turismo 4 is a racing video game, and the fourth installment in the Gran Turismo series. It is also the final game to support the Sony PlayStation 2. Gran Turismo 4 is one of only four titles for the PlayStation 2 that is capable of 1080i output. GT4 was delayed for over a year and a half by Polyphony Digital, and had its online mode removed. The game features over 700 cars from 80 manufacturers. The game also features 51 tracks, many of which are new or modified versions of old Gran Turismo favorites, with some notable real-world additions.
8.6 - 19
Silent Hill 3
2003 · Puzzle, Adventure
Silent Hill 3 is the third installment in the Silent Hill series. Like the previous entries, Silent Hill 3 is a survival horror combining action-based combat and puzzle-solving, but is somewhat more combat-oriented than the preceding installments. The main character is able to side-step and block some attacks, but in general shares with the other protagonists of the series their relative ineptitude in combat.
8.4 - 20
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
2004 · Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is the eighth installment in the Dragon Quest series, developed by Level-5 and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was also later released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2015. It is a traditional Japanese-style role-playing game with random enemy encounters, simple turn-based combat mechanics, and management of a party consisting of four characters, each belonging to a clearly defined class. Unlike its predecessors in the series and most Japanese RPGs in general, the game features a continuous world with fairly vast landscapes and integrated towns and dungeons, as opposed to world map traveling and locations represented by icons. The game features full camera rotation and optional first-person view. Like in the previous Dragon Quest games, many objects can be interacted with; for example, barrels can be physically lifted, carried, and broken, to reveal items hidden within.
8.7 - 21
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
2005 · Shooter, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening is a prequel to the first Devil May Cry. The game plays very differently from its predecessors, as it puts much more emphasis on style rather than simple demon slaying. As such, combat is much more intense and faster than before. An all-new Style system that allows you to select your fighting style has also been incorporated.
8.4 - 22
Final Fantasy XII
2006 · Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
The game takes place in the fictional land of Ivalice, where the empires of Archadia and Rozarria are waging an endless war. Dalmasca, a small kingdom, is caught between the warring nations. When Dalmasca is annexed by Archadia, its princess, Ashe, creates a resistance movement. During the struggle, she meets Vaan, a young adventurer who dreams of commanding an airship. They are quickly joined by a band of allies; together, they rally against the tyranny of the Archadian Empire.
8.4 - 23
Kingdom Hearts
2002 · Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Kingdom Hearts is an action role-playing game developed and published by Squaresoft for the PlayStation 2. It is the result of a collaboration between Square and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney's animated features with those from the Final Fantasy series, developed by Square. Kingdom Hearts was a departure from Square's standard role-playing games by introducing a substantial action-adventure element. In addition, it has an all-star voice cast which included many of the Disney characters' official voice actors. Kingdom Hearts was longtime Square character designer Tetsuya Nomura's first time in a directorial position. The game uses an experience based progression system, with experience gained by defeating foes. Experience gained rises in relation to the strength of the foe, and is consistent for each enemy over the course of the game. Levels are gained with experience, and provide increases to stat attributes in strength, defence, magic, hit points, magic points and ability points, with a new, predetermined ability unlocked approximately every four levels.
8.3 - 24
Quake III Arena
1999 · Shooter
Welcome to the Arena, where high-ranking warriors are transformed into spineless mush. Abandoning every ounce of common sense and any trace of doubt, you lunge onto a stage of harrowing landscapes and veiled abysses. Your new environment rejects you with lava pits and atmospheric hazards as legions of foes surround you, testing the gut reaction that brought you here in the first place. Your new mantra: Fight or be finished.
8.3 - 25
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
2001 · Racing, Simulator
More than two years in the making, Gran Turismo 3 A-spec features over 150 detailed cars -- each composed of more than 4,000 polygons -- 60 beginner, amateur and professional championship races, as well as ten endurance races and ten rally races. In addition to all-new special effects, such as sun glare, heat distortion and reflections, Gran Turismo 3 A-spec also offers up a soundtrack of more than 20 licensed tracks, and an even better replay mode with TV-style camera views. Two players can go head-to-head via split-screen and up to six can duke it out by linking multiple systems together via i.LINK. Released worldwide in 2001, Gran Turismo 3 a-Spec was designed by Polyphony Digital.
8.5 - 26
Oni
2001 · Shooter, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
An intense action anime thriller comes to life in Oni. As an elite member of the tech crimes task force, Konoko is an agent on a mission to fight the evil Syndicate. But things are not always as they seem... Konoko is haunted by unknown demons of her past, and the truth threatens to send her over the edge.
8.6 - 27
NBA Street
2001 · Sport
Are you ready for extreme basketball? You'd better be, 'cause it's coming to your PS2 fresh from the developers of SSX! Hit the streets for some 3-on-3 hoop action, where flashy moves are your key to victory. Do tricks and combos to build up your Gamebreaker meter. Hit a Gamebreaker shot and you'll not only advance your own point total, but take away from your opponents'. One well-timed Gamebreaker can turn a match around! Create your own cool characters, and earn great new stuff for them as you unlock new courts and teams while taking on streetball and NBA legends. Beat a team in the tournament mode, and you have the option of adding its players to your roster, which will help as you advance up the ladder. You can also take on a friend in the two-player mode.
8.6 - 28
We Love Katamari
2005 · Puzzle, Adventure
We Love Katamari, is a third-person puzzle-action video game where the player controls the Prince, the 5-centimeter-tall son of the god-like entity the King of All Cosmos, who rolls around a "katamari", a magical ball that causes objects smaller than it to attach to it. Throughout each level, the play must collect objects in order to fulfill objectives set by the prince's father.
8.8 - 29
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
2003 · Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Released as "Star Ocean 3: Till the End of Time" in 2003 by Enix before they merged with Squaresoft, the game was re-released under the name "Star Ocean: Till the End of Time" as a remastered version by Square Enix in 2004.
8.9 - 30
Sly 2: Band of Thieves
2004 · Platform, Adventure
Sly 2: Band of Thieves is a stealth-action platformer developed by Sucker Punch Productions and released for PlayStation 2 in 2004. Players control Sly Cooper and his gang as they attempt to dismantle the Klaww Gang and recover the scattered parts of Clockwerk. The game expands on its predecessor with open-ended mission structures, multiple playable characters, and improved stealth mechanics. The story takes place two years after Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus. In the first game, Sly was becoming a professional thief, but in Band of Thieves, he is a professional thief, so he retains all of the moves from the first game. He also earns new moves and gains different items to assist him in his dark craft. Players might start a level as Sly, and then after completing a particular task, players switch to Bentley, and Murray, respectively.
8.3 - 31
SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs
2003 · Shooter, Simulator, Strategy, Tactical
SOCOM II is a third-person tactical shooter. There are 12 different single-player missions: split equally between Albania, Algeria, Brazil and Russia. There are five different ranks that can be played in the game: Ensign, Lieutenant, Commander, Captain and Admiral. The player starts with the first three ranks unlocked, but must finish the single player game on Commander to unlock Captain, and on Captain to unlock Admiral. Players can unlock new models for multiplayer, as well as movies, music, concept art, and credits by completing certain objectives.
9.4 - 32
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
2003 · Adventure
Crimson Butterfly is the second installment in the Fatal Frame series, although not a direct sequel to the first title, Fatal Frame. The story follows twin sisters Mio and Mayu as they explore an abandoned village and experience encounters with the paranormal. Players must use the Camera Obscura to defeat ghosts and uncover the secrets of the village. An Xbox port, subtitled Director's Cut, was released in 2004 and included additional features. a remake of the game titled Project Zero 2: Wii Edition was released for the Wii in 2012 in Europe and Japan.
8.5 - 33
Guitar Hero
2005 · Music
Guitar Hero is a 2005 music rhythm video game developed by Harmonix and published by RedOctane for the PlayStation 2. It is the first entry in the Guitar Hero series. Guitar Hero was released in November 2005 in North America, April 2006 in Europe and June 2006 in Australia. The game's development was a result of collaboration between RedOctane and Harmonix to bring a Guitar Freaks-like game to United States. The game features a guitar-shaped controller (resembling a miniature Gibson SG) that the player uses to simulate playing rock music. The gameplay is similar to GuitarFreaks, in that the player presses buttons on the guitar controller in time with musical notes that scroll on the game screen. The game features covers of 30 popular rock songs spanning five decades of rock, from the 1960s up through 2005, in addition to bonus tracks. Guitar Hero became a surprise hit, earning critical acclaim and winning many awards from major video game publications, and was considered one of the most influential games of the first decade of the 21st century. The game's success launched the Guitar Hero franchise, which has earned more than $2 billion in sales, spawning several sequels, expansions, and other game-related products.
8.3 - 34
Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra
2006 · Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
The story of Xenosaga III starts a year after "Xenosaga II" ended. Shion has resigned from Vector Industries after learning that the company is deeply connected to the appearance of the Gnosis. She instead joins Scientia, an underground organization working to unveil Vector's secrets in order to bring them down. Uncover the truth and save mankind in the finale of the Xenosaga series which boasts over 3 hours of movies, an updated battle system, and an improved customization feature with more in-depth character specialization and diversification and higher rewards for strategic party management. This RPG also includes an easily accessible database feature, the "Xeno Bible" and a mini-game with over 50 levels that challenges both you and your friends.
9.0 - 35
SOCOM: US Navy SEALs
2002 · Shooter, Simulator, Strategy, Tactical
The player leads a four-man team (three AI-controlled teammates) of United States Navy SEALs through 12 missions in four regions: Alaska, Thailand, Congo, and Turkmenistan in the years 2006 and 2007. In the single player missions, commands can be spoken using the included USB headset or via an onscreen menu if the optional SOCOM headset was not purchased. Typical missions consist of killing terrorists, rescuing hostages, retrieving intelligence, or destroying terrorist bases. The player character's codename is Kahuna, while the NPC teammates' codenames are Boomer, Spectre and Jester. The team is divided into two sub-groups, Alpha and Bravo. The Alpha group consists of the player and Boomer, while the remaining two make up Bravo. Commands can be issued to both individuals and a whole group, for example it is possible to ask team Bravo to remain stationary while the player is scouting the area with Boomer. However the player can not venture alone through a map, when Kahuna is too far away from Boomer he will automatically resume following the player, regardless of prior orders. Briefings and intel such as maps and photos are given prior to each mission.
9.7 - 36
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga
2004 · Role-playing (RPG)
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga follows Serph and his four companions as they set out for Nirvana, a land that can only be reached by the champions of Junkyard. A mysterious object awakens demonic powers within the group, allowing each member to transform into a deadly beast. As one of these characters, you can devour your enemies and absorb their powers and special abilities. Defeat opposing tribes by protecting yourself from enemy attacks, deflecting their blows, and performing linked attacks.
8.7 - 37
Skies of Arcadia Legends
2002 · Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Battle to Save Arcadia! You are Vyse, a young pirate on a quest to save Arcadia. Wage battle against an evil Empire as you make a name for yourself on land and in the sky. Will you become a Legend? -New "Wanted" Battles, new characters, weapons, and more! -An improved battle engine featuring spectacular special attacks -Experience the Director's Cut with hours of new gameplay! -Employ devastating weapons and magic -Explore a full 3D world to recruit up to 22 crew members
8.9 - 38
Dark Cloud 2
2002 · Role-playing (RPG)
BUILD your world. INVENT your weapons. CREATE your adventure. Discover a secret binding the past, present and future. A secret where an innocent inventor, a temporal warrior and an ageless evil hold the key. Experience an epic action/RPG adventure that relies on your innovation as much as exploration and fighting reflexes.
8.5 - 39
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege
2004 · Adventure
Onimusha 3 is the third game of the Onimusha series. The game retains elements from previous games in the franchise including the use of multiple special weapons in order to fight enemies and absorb their energy to enhance the weaponry. This time the player primarily controls both Samanosuke and Jacques in separate scenarios. The two are able to exchange items in order to solve puzzles. The development from this game started after the release of the PlayStation 2 which allowed the team to work on a 3D engine to design 3D backgrounds. In order to appeal to the Western market, the team set this game in Paris and chose French actor Jean Reno to portray Jacques. Onimusha 3 has been generally well received by publications for video games. Most of the writer's praise focused on the improved controls and the use of a 3D engine that allowed better combat and visuals, respectively. The game also generated good sales with over 1.5 million copies sold as of May 2008.
8.3 - 40
Gitaroo Man
2001 · Music
Gitaroo Man is a rhythm video game featuring visual production by Mitsuru Nakamura and an original soundtrack by Japanese band COIL. The game was later ported to the PSP under a new title: Gitaroo Man Lives!
9.0 - 41
Devil May Cry
2001 · Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Originally intended to be the fourth installment in the Resident Evil series, Devil May Cry is an action-adventure game that introduced a host of new elements to the gaming community. Chief among them is the Stylish Rank, which grades the player's performance in combat. The game is split into Missions, which are individually scored according to various factors, such as Orbs gathered and damage taken. Additionally, Devil May Cry did away with the pre-rendered backgrounds of prior Resident Evil games in order to allow for a dynamic camera system.
8.1 - 42
Bully
2006 · Adventure
As a mischievous schoolboy, you’ll stand up to bullies, get picked on by teachers, play pranks, win or lose the girl, and ultimately learn to navigate the obstacles of the worst school around, Bullworth Academy - a corrupt and crumbling prep school with an uptight facade.
8.1 - 43
Ratchet & Clank
2002 · Shooter, Platform, Adventure
Ratchet & Clank is a platform/adventure game in a similar vein to the 3D versions of the Rayman, Sonic, Mario, or other games. It involves the two protagonists Ratchet, a furry alien creature, and Clank, a nerdy little robot, going on a quest to find Captain Qwark and ultimately to help save the galaxy. Ratchet & Clank includes many of the best features of previous similar games, but makes itself unique in a number of ways. Firstly each of the game's levels are huge sweeping vistas with extremely detailed buildings which are visible at all times (i.e. there is no distance fog). This means that a building on the horizon is not just a "backdrop"; in all likelihood Ratchet will be exploring it in a few moments time. Secondly, the game includes a number of sub-games, such as a space fight sequence and a number of turret shoot-outs which are akin to Missile Command in the first person. The game has over twenty levels (planets) and includes as many real-time cut-scenes which tell the story. Also of note is that the story is non-linear, requiring the player to return to previous levels to complete objectives and to choose between multiple paths forward. There is also a respectable array of weapons, gadgets, and accessories to find or buy as the game progresses, which offer some unique gameplay features.
8.1 - 44
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2
2001 · Adventure
Soul Reaver 2 picks up where Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver left off, with Raziel having just plunged through the Chronoplast time portal in his relentless pursuit of Kain. Over the course of his quest for revenge, Raziel must unearth the mysteries of Nosgoth’s ancient races, expose the machinations behind the corruption of the Pillars, and the vampire genocide. Throughout the game, Raziel acquires numerous new abilities, weapon enhancements, and spells, all of which are critical to the completion of his epic adventure. Soul Reaver is a third-person combat adventure filled with devious puzzles and kick-ass combat. Fly, swim, jump, and even travel from the material world to the spectral realm to overcome obstacles and conquer your enemies. With over 40 abilities to choose from, no two fights will ever be the same.
8.2 - 45
Tekken 5
2005 · Fighting, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
The home version of Tekken 5 came with new character customization options and a beat 'em up mode called Devil Within.
8.1 - 46
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
2003 · Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Tactical
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is a tactical role-playing video game and the first game in the Disgaea series. Battle gameplay takes place on a map divided into a square grid. The player controls a squad of humanoid units and monsters, which each occupy a single square of the grid and do combat with a group of enemies. Depending on the character and attack selected, the player will be able to deal damage to a specific enemy unit or a designated region of the map. Combat ends when all enemy units or all of the player's units are destroyed.
8.5 - 47
Metal Slug 3
2003 · Shooter, Arcade
Metal Slug 3 is a run and gun video game for the Neo-Geo console/arcade platform created by SNK. It was released on the PlayStation 2 in Japan and Europe and on the Xbox in North America. Both of these ports feature two extra mini-scenarios once you complete it. “Storming the UFO Mothership” sets the stage in the final level puts you in control of one of three enemy soldiers – a “Normal” guy, a “Bazooka” guy, and a “Shield” guy. As you plow forward, a whole army of Morden’s soldiers will tag along and start killing enemies along with you. You can also call Sgt. Allen O’Neill to help clear the screen. “Fat Island” is a two player game where each compete to eat as much food as possible.
8.8 - 48
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2
2005 · Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2, released outside of Japan as Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2, is a 2005 role-playing game for the PlayStation 2, and the second and final entry in the Digital Devil Saga series duology. It features new mechanics such as Berserk Mode and a changed Mantra grid system.
8.5 - 49
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
2004 · Shooter, Platform, Adventure
A 3D platform video game and the third installment in the Ratchet & Clank series. The gameplay is similar to previous games in the series but introduces new features such as a new control system and more levels in the upgrade system for weapons. It follows Ratchet and Clank's adventure through a fictional universe to defeat a robotic villain, Dr. Nefarious, who intends to destroy all organic life. Characters such as Dr. Nefarious and Sasha, a Cazar starship captain who helps Ratchet throughout the game, are introduced, and a number of characters return from the original Ratchet & Clank.
8.1 - 50
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
2003 · Shooter, Platform, Adventure
Ratchet and Clank return as heroes for hire in Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando, the second game in this action platforming franchise.There are 18 entirely new weapons, as well as five weapons from the first game (you can upload them if using your old memory save). Each weapon is upgradeable, utilizing a new experience system, where weapons transform into more powerful forms the more they are used. In addition to main story levels, new Maxi-games give players a chance to test their skills and gain experience.
8.1 - 51
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
2004 · Role-playing (RPG)
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax, released in America as Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is an expanded game of the original Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne released only in Japan. The Maniax expanded game notably added the Labyrinth of Amala, the Fiend boss fights, the True Demon Ending, and featured Dante from the Devil May Cry series.
8.2 - 52
God Hand
2006 · Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
THERE AIN'T NO JUSTICE IN THE WILD, WEIRD WEST. JUST YOU. Things can't get any worse after demonic thugs cut your arm off, right? Dead wrong, partner. The lady you saved from them has only gone and given you the legendary GOD HAND as a replacement - the ultimate hand-to-hand weapon. Every undead outlaw in a Stetson, rootin' tootin' demon and circus freak in the prairies is going to want to fight you for it. Welcome to the town of Asskickin... have a nice stay y'all. BIG HAND - Explosive martial arts and hand-to-hand action get in your face and ugly. No bullets, lots of bruised knuckles. SLAP STICKS - Totally customisable fight system. Pull off the most outrageous combo moves ever with awesome God Hand powers - punch your opponent into orbit! FIGHTING FORM - Pugilistic adventure from the makers of RESIDENT EVIL, DEVIL MAY CRY and VIEWTIFUL JOE!
8.2 - 53
Guitar Hero II
2006 · Music
Unleash your inner rock star! Unlock new songs and venues to become the ultimate rock star in Career mode, jump right in and play any song you've unlocked in Quickplay, or play with or against friends in Multiplayer, all right from your living room!
8.1 - 54
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
2001 · Simulator, Arcade
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies is an aerial combat simulation. It allows the player to participate in semi-realistic dog-fighting with a collection of fighter jets, including the F-22 Raptor, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-117 Nighthawk, U-2 Dragon Lady, C-130 Hercules and SR-71 Blackbird. Eighteen missions will take the player from search-and-destroy buildings to one-on-one and all-on-all dog-fighting. Along the way it becomes possible to upgrade the fighter with defense systems, deadly weapons, and other accessories.
8.4 - 55
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
2002 · Role-playing (RPG), Strategy
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter is a radical departure from the previous titles of the Breath of Fire series, and in some ways from standard Japanese-style role-playing games in general. The game is built like a huge dungeon crawler, with no overworld map. The combat is tactical: each character has action points (AP), which can be used to move around the screen during an enemy encounter, and perform a variety of combo attacks. There is no magic in the game, and many of the items found in dungeons are random. All the enemies are visible on screen. Depending on who first initiated a physical contact, the party or the enemies get an extra turn in battles. The game allows (and even encourages) the player to restart it from the beginning, keeping the items and the party experience. The game also features a special counter - Ryu can use his traditional dragon transformation abilities, but the counter raises with each such transformation, and when the counter reaches 100, the game is over. Raising the D-ratio allows characters to access new areas every time the game is replayed.
8.9 - 56
Tales of the Abyss
2005 · Role-playing (RPG)
This entry in Namco's popular Tales series takes place in a world where prophecies clue people in to future happenings. Tales of the Abyss boasts a revolutionary new free roaming battle system allowing players to move anywhere on the battlefield, a first in the Tales series which brings new depth to the intense, high-action battles that Tales games are knows for.
8.2 - 57
Ape Escape 2
2002 · Platform, Adventure
Ape Escape 2 is the sequel to Ape Escape. In this platform game it's your goal to catch all the apes jumping, walking and flying around the diverse levels the game has to offer. A large arsenal of gadgets can be used to make it all a little easier, with the catching net being the most important weapons of them all. Other gadgets include a RC Car, to drive over monkey's and collect objects, an Ape Radar, to detect the nearest monkey, a baseball bat, to hit monkeys unconscious, and a magnet, to move certain objects in the maps. Your quest is to catch all monkeys in the levels and to stop the evil Specter from taking over the world. All monkeys in the levels are somewhat unique with their own character abilities and their unique name. Some monkeys just sit on their place, while others attack you with projectiles or run away quickly.
8.3 - 58
Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
2003 · Adventure
Move like a shadow. Strike like a snake. After amassing an army of ninjas and lords of darkness, the mysterious Tenrai has begun a quest to conquer 16th-century Japan. Now your master, Lord Gohda, has called upon you - a cunning stealth assassin - to stop Tenrai and his disciples before all is lost. Live by honor. Kill by stealth.
8.3 - 59
.Hack//G.U. Vol. 1: Rebirth
2006 · Role-playing (RPG)
.Hack//G.U. simulates a massively multiplayer online role-playing game; players assume the role of a participant in a fictional game called The World. While in The World, the player controls the on-screen player character, Haseo, from a third-person person perspective (with optional first-person mode). The player may control the camera using the game controller's right analog stick. Within the fictional game, players explore monster-infested fields and dungeons as well as "Root Towns" that are free of combat. They also can "log-off" from the game and return to a computer desktop interface which includes in-game e-mail, news, and message boards, as well as desktop and background music customization options. In Reminisce, an optional card game called "Crimson VS" becomes available. The player may save the game to a memory card both from the desktop and within The World at a Save Shop. After the player completes the game, a Data Flag appears on the save file, which allows the transfer of all aspects of the player character and party members to the next game in the series. This can also be applied to previous games if the player first finished the Reminsce or Redemption. Players can attack monsters in real time. However, the action pauses whenever the menu is opened in order to select magic to cast, items to use, or skills to perform. The player only directly controls Haseo, while the other characters are controlled by artificial intelligence. The player may either provide guidelines ("Free Will", "Rage", "Life", etc.) or issue direct commands (for example, to cast a particular magic at a particular enemy) to the computer-controlled characters. Monsters roam the environments freely or guard treasure chests. Once combat is initiated, via a "surprise attack" or the player being spotted, a wall erects around the combat area to prevent escape. Weapons give the player access to the Skill Trigger feature which allows them to perform a powerful attack at the cost of losing SPs. As an adept rogue character, Haseo can wield multiple weapons for close combat. Although Haseo can only use one weapon per battle, during Reminisce the player can change weapons in the middle of Skill Triggers. Under certain conditions, the player may execute an enhanced type of Skill Trigger called "Rengeki". These attacks deal greater damage and fill a Morale gauge, which allows the player and his team members to use a combination attack. Certain plot-related fights, called "Avatar battles", use a different interface which incorporates shoot 'em up gameplay elements. After depleting the opponent's health, players must charge up a "Data Drain" to end the battle. Root Towns are non-combat areas in The World. The player may restock on items, buy equipment, or chat and trade with other "players" of The World. The player may also undertake optional quests and visit guilds. A key feature of all towns is the Chaos Gate. This blue portal is used to travel between towns (called "servers") as well as access the fields and dungeons where battles take place. A password system controls the characteristics of each area. Depending on the characteristics of each word in the three word phrase, the resulting area may have different attributes such as prevalence of monsters or items, among other features.
8.8 - 60
Onimusha: Warlords
2001 · Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Onimusha: Warlords is an epic saga of 16th century Japan inspired by the battle scenes of famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. It takes place in a world of darkness and magic when power hungry warlords battle for control of Feudal Japan. One brave Samurai, Samanosuke Akechi, boldly volunteers to rescue the kidnapped princess Yuki, but does not fully realize the desperation of this mission. An entire legion of demon warriors stands between him and his mission to avenge the princess.
8.1 - 61
Guilty Gear X2
2002 · Fighting, Arcade
Guilty Gear X2, also known as Guilty Gear XX and subtitled The Midnight Carnival in Japan, is a fighting game developed by Arc System Works and published by Sammy Studios. The third installment of the Guilty Gear series, Guilty Gear X2 furthered the plot of the series, as well as introduced new characters and gameplay mechanics. A sequel to Guilty Gear X, it was first announced in January 2002, and was released on May 23, 2002, for the arcades, in Japan. It was later ported to the PlayStation 2 and published in North America and Europe.
8.9 - 62
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
2002 · Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Onimusha 2 is the second installment in the Onimusha series of video games released in May of 2002. The game retains the action elements from its predecessor such as the use of multiple special weapons that can be upgraded by defeating enemies. Apart from the main character, the game features four playable sub-characters, each of whom shares a part in the story. The player's actions determine which characters will decide to help Jubei in his quest. These characters were added by the Capcom staff to give a bigger depth to the game and expand the game's feeling of adventure.
8.2 - 63
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
2001 · Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is a revolutionary action adventure with an epic tale of intrigue, fierce alliances, explosive spell effects and highly detailed creatures and environments. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is a benchmark of technology and gameplay.
8.1 - 64
Dark Cloud
2000 · Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Adventure
One of the PS2's first RPGs, Dark Cloud is a title that challenges players to not only strategise, battle and solve puzzles, but also to create geographical landscapes using the new Georama system. Gamers assume the role of a young boy named Toran on an unforgettable journey of rebirth, revival and hope. Unfortunately an evil demon spirit has been released and has left destruction in its wake and Toran must harness the spirit of those destroyed to rebuild the lands in time for an epic confrontation. True to life graphics should mesmerise gamers as they create villages complete with houses, hills, churches, volcanoes, and streams; they'll even be able to control the weather!
8.1 - 65
SoulCalibur II
2003 · Fighting
SoulCalibur II for the PlayStation 2 is an expanded port of the Arcade game, including Heihachi as a playable character and new game modes.
8.4 - 66
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories
2006 · Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Tactical
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories is a tactical role-playing game and the sequel to Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. It was re-released for the PlayStation Portable as Disgaea 2 Portable in Japan and as Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days in North America and Europe. Fifteen years ago, a powerful Overlord by the name of Zenon appeared in Veldime and cursed its human population. Since then, all its inhabitants have become demons and are to remain that way if the curse was not broken. However, a young man named Adell was the only human unaffected by the curse. Wanting to save his family and return them back to their true form, Adell decides to seek out Overlord Zenon and defeat him. The gameplay in Disgaea 2 builds directly upon that of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness; players control a party of characters to do battle on a 3D isometric grid map.
8.4 - 67
Maximo vs. Army of Zin
2003 · Adventure
The story of the game follows on from Maximo: Ghosts to Glory, with Maximo still searching for his lost love, Sophia. He is again accompanied by Grim (a Grim Reaper). However, their search is interrupted as a series of mechanical creatures start to attack villages and slaughter the village folk. These creatures are the Army of Zin, an ancient army powered by lost souls, who were supposedly locked in the vault of Castle Hawkmoor after the last battle with them 500 years ago. However, they are now free, due to the actions of the mysterious warlord, Lord Bane.
8.6 - 68
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
2001 · Platform, Racing, Adventure
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is a 2001 platform video game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the Sony PlayStation 2 on December 4, 2001, as the first game of the Jak and Daxter series. The game follows the protagonist, a young teenager named Jak, as he tries to help his friend Daxter after he is transformed into an "ottsel", a fictional hybrid of an otter and a weasel. The game offers a large range of missions, collectables and objectives, often in the form of minigames, which provide a variety of gameplay experiences, as well as puzzles and platforming stages, which are completed by the player to proceed with the story.
8.0 - 69
Jak II
2003 · Shooter, Platform, Adventure
Jak II is an open-world platform, third-person shooter, and an action-adventure video game. It is the second game of the Jak and Daxter series and a sequel to Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy.
8.0 - 70
Shadow Tower: Abyss
2003 · Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Shadow Tower Abyss is a dark fantasy role-playing video game, developed and published by From Software in Japan for the PlayStation 2. The game is a sequel to Shadow Tower, and features a number of genre and mechanical elements that can also be found in Demon's Souls and the King's Field series.
8.5 - 71
Twisted Metal: Black
2001 · Shooter, Racing
Twisted Metal: Black is a vehicle combat video game developed by Incognito Entertainment (formerly Incog Inc.) and published by Sony Computer Entertainment America for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It is the fifth installment to the Twisted Metal series and was released June 18, 2001. An online enabled multiplayer-only variant, Twisted Metal: Black Online, was released later as a free update.
8.1 - 72
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3
2004 · Fighting
The third installment in the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai series begins another tournament of champions where only one fighter can prevail. As one of the characters from the Dragon Ball Z animated series, you can master an all-new fighting system that lets you teleport, juggle opponents, fly, and attack in a variety of ways. As you progress through the tournament, you can unlock up to 40 bonus characters from the DBZ universe. You can also post and retrieve character profiles from the Internet.
8.0 - 73
SoulCalibur III
2005 · Fighting, Strategy
Soulcalibur III is a fighting game produced by Namco as a sequel to Soulcalibur II and the fourth installment in the Soul series. The game includes three new modes and a larger character roster with 24 characters playable in Tales of Souls mode and an additional 18 playable in all other modes.
8.0 - 74
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
2004 · Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a direct continuation of Shadow Hearts; Its story starts a year and a half after the first one in the midst of World War I. It focuses on Karin Koenig, a lieutenant in the German Army who assists in the exorcism of a man able to turn into demons, Yuri Volte Hyuga. However, after learning of Yuri's caring nature, Karin goes on a quest with him to save him from a spell inside him and are drawn into a conflict involving demons of demonolatry.
8.1 - 75
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses
2001 · Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Card & Board Game
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses is a video game developed by Konami based on the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and anime series. Its main characters, Yugi Mutou and Seto Kaiba, play opposing teams known as the Lancastrians and the Yorkists. Each team is playable, battling various characters throughout the plot to prevent a ritual summoning by using sorcerous rose cards.
8.1 - 76
Cold Winter
2005 · Shooter, Adventure
In "Cold Winter", you play the role of Andrew Sterling, a former member of MI6, the British secret intelligence service. Andrew is caught preparing to assassinate someone in China, and is thrown into prison. There he faces torture and imminent execution. But a former friend from his MI6 days arranges to rescue him and offers him a job, having planned in advance to manipulate him so that he is unable to refuse. The first task seems fairly ordinary: to track down a weapons dealer who has been supplying terrorists.
8.2 - 77
Metal Slug 6
2006 · Shooter, Platform, Adventure, Arcade
Metal Slug 6 returns to the Rebel-Martian alliance featured in Metal Slugs 2, X, and 3, but on a much broader scale. Rather than repeating the previous games' events of the Martians breaking the alliance and the Rebels assisting the player in turn, the player now teams up with the Rebels and Martians to combat an even greater threat. Metal Slug 6 introduces a new play mechanic dubbed the 'Weapon Stock System'. Two gun power-ups can now be carried at the same time. Players can switch between the two weapons, or simply put them both away in favor of the default weapon. When obtaining a new weapon power-up, it will automatically occupy the inactive slot, or, if both are holstered, replace the less recent weapon of the two. The score is now multiplied by powers of 2. The faster the speed at which enemies are killed, the higher the power, as a meter at the bottom of the screen shows. When it says "Max" enemies and destructible objects will drop coins for an extra high score.
8.0 - 78
Fatal Frame III: The Tormented
2005 · Adventure
Rei Kurosawa suffers a strange dream each night, since she took a photo of her dead boyfriend in an abandoned old mansion. Every night the dream will take her deeper and deeper in an old mansion, when she will have to find out what is going on.
8.0 - 79
World Soccer: Winning Eleven 6 International
2002 · Simulator, Sport
Pro Evolution Soccer 2, known as World Soccer: Winning Eleven 6 in Japan, is the second instalment of Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer football video game series. The Japanese version was succeeded by the updated World Soccer: Winning Eleven 6 Final Evolution. It was the last game of the series released in Europe for PlayStation and the only game released for the Nintendo Gamecube.
8.0 - 80
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner
2003 · Shooter, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
The sequel to Zone of the Enders is based around mecha combat with the player once again controlling the "Orbital Frame" Jehuty. Unlike its prequel, the game is now centered on action elements with the player not needing to protect civilians in need and instead Jehuty contains more weaponry than in the previous game. The plot is set two years after the events from Zone of the Enders and focuses on Dingo Egret, a former member from Mars' military organization BAHRAM whose leader Ridley "Nohman" Hardiman wants back with him. Nohman shoots Dingo following his rejection but the agent Ken Marinaris saves Dingo by connecting his body to Jehuty and forces to work in order to defeat BAHRAM. The game had a new director, Shuyo Murata, who producer Hideo Kojima appointed in order to provide a different experience. The team worked to cover the criticism the original Zone of the Enders received resulted in The 2nd Runner having more action elements. The game received generally favorable critical response due to the improvements it has in comparison to the previous game. Critics praised the game's graphics and gameplay elements but criticized its short length and presentation. Despite the positive critical reaction, the game suffered mediocre sales. North American & Japan got regular ZOE2, but the regular edition of ZOE2 was never released in Europe. Europe directly got the ZOE2 Special Edition.
8.0 - 81
Suikoden V
2006 · Role-playing (RPG)
Suikoden V, like its predecessors, features unparalleled in-depth gameplay, a riveting storyline as well as the series' trademark 108 Stars of Destiny.
8.0 - 82
Primal
2003 · Puzzle, Adventure
Primal tells the story of Jennifer Tate, a 21-year-old woman searching for her boyfriend through a series of demonic realms. As the story develops, more is revealed about Jen's past and her relationship with her boyfriend, as well as the nature of the demon worlds. In Primal, the player can control either Jen or Scree as they navigate the realms of Oblivion. As the game progresses, newer demonic forms are obtained, which prove invaluable in solving various puzzles and combat. Control can be switched between Jen and Scree at any time in game. When in control of one, the other will be operated by AI, performing various functions depending on the situation. During play, the characters can interact with one another, performing actions such as asking questions, or siphoning energy. When in control of Jen, the player may transform into one of four demonic forms for various purposes, depending on the situation (provided the forms are unlocked). When in a demon form, Jen experiences a boost in attack, defense, speed, attack range and access to abilities unavailable in a human form. The tattoo on Jen's back also glows when in a demon form, corresponding to various forms. Defeating enemies involves weakening enemies to the point where their hit points reach zero, at which time a finishing move must be performed to kill the enemy. While the moves differ in style and time taken, the final effect remains the same. Enemies can be finished off before the health bar reaches zero, and doing so leaves more residual energy. While Jen can remain in a demonic form indefinitely, taking damage will reduce health. However, hit points here are represented by demonic energy. When an enemy is killed, the remaining energy can be drained through use of Scree, who can store the energy for when it is needed. Jen can then call on the energy, siphoning it off to replenish her own. Scree can store a vast amount of energy, but also has limits as to how much. When in control of Scree, the player is invulnerable; Scree, being a gargoyle, cannot suffer damage, making him an effective scout. Scree is capable of climbing on stone walls, a necessary ability when traversing the realms. Scree can also store drained energy from dead enemies, which can be used to replenish Jen's demonic health, though he must remain immobile when doing so. Scree is revealed to be the long-lost Abdizur, who disappeared following an encounter with the lord of Chaos. In Solus, for a temporary amount of time, the player possesses a life-size statue of Abdizur via Scree, to combat Belhazur when Jen's powers are not fit to do so. The player may also possess other statues in an area under given circumstances. The player may also happen across various energy crystals, which can be stored and used if Scree's energy reserves are not enough and the player is at low health. These crystals are kept throughout the game, the only exclusion being when revisiting previous scenes, at which point they are reduced to a default amount. This means that the crystals function as extra lives, to a degree. If Jen is in human form, her health replenishes automatically if she is not in battle (human form only; demon energy must be replenished by either drawing on Scree's reserve energy or, failing that, by using a crystal). While in human form, Jen's health represents her presence in the demon world. If she loses all her health while in human form, she is returned to the human world, where she is in a near-death state. When this happens, the player must direct Scree to the nearest rift gate within a time limit (not seen on screen, though the voice of Arella warns the player that time is running out). If Scree does not reach a rift gate in time, Jen dies, and the game is over. Throughout the game, constant saving can prove onerous, particularly if the player wishes to backtrack and revisit certain areas. Provided a save game is present, the player may do so, and can revisit nearly all of the locations, once they have been unlocked via an in-game cutscene.
8.0 - 83
Suikoden III
2002 · Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Fifteen years after the events of Suikoden II, the stories of Hugo (the son of a village chief), Chris (the virtuous Knight of Zexen), and Geddoe (the rebellious unit commander) intertwine as they gather the 108 Stars of Destiny. Suikoden III features three different battle systems and three styles of combat in a 3D world. Customize each of your three character's skills, and then pair them together to unleash devastating combo attacks.
8.0 - 84
Shadow Hearts
2001 · Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Shadow Hearts is the first official game in the Shadow Hearts series and is the sequel to Koudelka. Shadow Hearts follows the adventures of Yuri Hyuga, a Harmonixer guided by a mysterious voice in his head. He finds himself thrown into the conflicts prior to World War I where he must save the world and the woman he loves from destruction.
8.0 - 85
Shinobi
2002 · Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
Gamers waited many years for another installment of the Shinobi series. Now they finally get what they have wanted. Shinobi takes place in Tokyo, where a mysterious evil force has taken over, and it is up to you to stop it. You play Hotsuma, who is the leader of a clan called the Oboro Clan. Hotsuma is the only survivor of his clan and all of his dead clansmen are now fighting against him due to this evil force.
8.0 - 86
Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army
2006 · Platform, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Raidou Kuzunoha is a private detective in Japan's Taishou Period of the early 1900s, but he's much more than just a well-dressed crime scene investigator; he also has the power to capture and conjure demons to do his bidding. Take control of Raidou and his otherworldly companions, guide them through thrilling episodes of action and intrigue, and learn the incredible secrets of the Soulless Army. Detailed real-time combat sequence with swords, guns, combo attacks, and devilish helpers. Photorealistic graphics that transport the player to 1930s Japan.
8.0 - 87
Summoner
2000 · Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Born with the mark of the Summoner, Joseph possesses a power greater than emperors and gods. As a child, he summoned a demon to save his village, and watched in horror as those he loved were destroyed. Nine years later, the armies of Orenia invade, and Joseph must confront the prophecy he was born to fulfill.
8.0 - 88
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
2006 · Role-playing (RPG)
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria is the second installment of the Valkyrie Profile series. Taking place hundreds of years before the original game, the story revolves around two characters living the same body, named Silmeria and Alicia. Together, the two characters work to stop a catastrophe that could cause war between the people and the gods. The game received generally positive reviews, citing its similarity to the original Valkyrie Profile game and its beautiful graphics, but had a convoluted interface and a high degree of difficulty. The game went on to be re-released as a Square Enix "Ultimate Release".
8.0 - 89
Fate/unlimited codes
2008 · Fighting, Arcade
Fate/unlimited codes is a fighting video game based on the visual novel Fate/stay night.
8.0 - 90
Bloody Roar 4
2003 · Fighting
During the XGC (X-Genome Code) Incident one year ago, riots raged over the earth by beasts that did not show the XCG, and all over the country small earthquakes shook the land. The cause was unknown, but as the Crest Incident came to an end and the rioting and earthquakes subsided, people began to claim that all was due to the influence of the Stone Seal. Although the Stone Seal has been locked away, the rioting and earthquakes have returned. This time, the incidents are on a larger scale than those of a year ago. What could be behind it all? Bloody Roar 4 is the last title in the series, and is once again a full-3D fighting game featuring the series' trademark transformation abilities. Unlike previous titles in the series, the beast gauge now acts as its own health bar; if a character's health gauge is depleted, they will automatically transform. The game features 18 playable fighters and a variety of game modes, including standard arcade, versus, time-attack, training, and survival modes. Of special mention is the career mode, in which fighting battles will earn so-called "DNA points," which can be spent on abilities and equipment to customize a character for use in other modes.
8.0 - 91
Wild Arms 3
2002 · Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Wild Arms 3 (titled Wild Arms Advanced 3rd in Japan) boasts major technological improvements and a number of new gameplay elements. Featuring "stroke-shaded" animation-style graphics, a "Wild West" setting, and a completely 3D game engine (not just for battles, as in the previous games).
8.0 - 92
Contra: Shattered Soldier
2002 · Shooter
In A.D. 2642, Earth remains scarred from previous alien conflicts as environmental problems grow beyond humanity's control. 80% of the planet's population was completely devastated by a malfunctioning hyper-magnetic weapons grid during development. Bill Rizer, the hero of the Alien Wars, was held responsible for the incident, as well as for murdering his partner, Lance Bean, who reportedly tried to stop him. He was given a sentence of 10,000 years in cryogenic prison. However, five years later, in 2647, Earth faces another threat as the terrorist organization "Blood Falcon", led by a mysterious and superhuman commander, spreads panic over the world. The ruling government, referred to as the "Triumvirate", decides to release Bill Rizer prior to completing his sentence, in view of his previous successes in defending Earth, in hope of neutralizing Blood Falcon. Lucia, an advanced cyborg soldier built by the government from Dr. Geo Mandrake's research, is sent to accompany and assist Bill's endeavors. Bill eventually finds out that Lance is still alive and is in fact the commander of Blood Falcon himself. After defeating Lance, it is revealed that the aliens from the past games attacked because the Triumvirate secretly stole a mysterious, powerful "Relic" from them. With this information, Bill and Lucia have to confront Triumvirate and uncover the secret of the alien Relic.
8.0 - 93
Radiata Stories
2005 · Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Radiata Stories is a fantasy role-playing game set in a world where humans and fairies have peacefully coexisted. Now a war has broken out, and you must guide two young protagonists in a mission to save Radiata from destruction. Combat features a real-time link system in which multiple characters can combine abilities to form more powerful attacks. Radiata Stories also features an interactive environment and more than 175 characters that you can recruit to join and help you on your quest.
8.0 - 94
Grandia III
2005 · Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Grandia III is a role-playing video game developed by Game Arts and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2 console. Set in a fantasy world where technology has allowed man to fly in magic-powered aircraft, a boy named Yuki is determined to become a great pilot like his idol, the Sky Captain Schmidt. When he and his mother encounter a girl named Alfina who has the ability to communicate with the spiritual guardians of the world, they become involved in the plot to discover the secrets of the world's past and face an evil rogue guardian named Xorn.
8.0 - 95
Odin Sphere
2007 · Role-playing (RPG)
The nation of Valentine was once a grand kingdom with powerful magic. With the power of a magical relic known as the "Cauldron," King Valentine subdued the neighboring nations and brought them under his control. His kingdom enjoyed a long period of prosperity... but a sudden disaster destroyed it overnight. War broke out between the Fairy Kingdom of Ringford and the warrior nation of Ragnanival over ownership of the now-abandoned Cauldron, and control of the wasteland that was once Valentine. With the battle growing fiercer by the day, Demon Lord Odin, King of Ragnanival, sets forth a plan to conquer Ringford and claim the Cauldron once and for all. Meanwhile, in the neutral realm of Titania, King Edmund had become a puppet king of his court sorcerer Urzur, who schemes to follow a forgotten prophecy and bring about the Armageddon; a prophecy stating that the world will be destroyed in five great disasters, but the survivors will become kings. As the nations struggle for control, the world steadily slips unknowingly toward its demise, and the prophecies become clear...
7.9 - 96
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
2006 · Racing, Adventure
In this port of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories to the PS2, PS3, IOS and Android, former trusted wise guy for the Leone family, Toni Cipriani returns home to Liberty City after spending time in hiding for killing a made man. Now, the streets of Liberty City are in turmoil, as warring families vie for control and the town begins to self-destruct under waves of political corruption, organized crime, drug trafficking and union strikes. Deranged hit men, morally depraved tycoons, cynical politicians and even his own mother stand in the way as Toni tries to bring the city under Leone family control.
7.9 - 97
Kuon
2004 · Puzzle, Adventure
Kuon is a horror game set in Heian period (12th century) in Japan. You control three protagonists in the game. The story revolves around a man named Doman, an exorcist who was summoned by one of the noblemen to investigate a cursed manor. His daughter Utsuki is out to search for him when he doesn't return, and her sister is charmed by demons inhabiting a mysterious castle, turning into a demon herself. A young girl named Sakuya, Doman's disciple, also ventures into the depths of the demonic world, to prove herself worthy of her master. Once the player completes Utsuki's and Sakuya's scenarios, they unlocks the third scenario where they experiences the story from the point of view of Doman himself. The game is a mixture of third-person action and puzzle-solving. As in all survival horror games, your means of defense are limited and scarce. Unlike most games of the kind, physical attacks with weapons are not your only way to defend yourself against hordes of undead creatures. You can also learn and cast spells in the game, and even summon creatures (wolves, spiders, etc.) to fight at your side.
7.9 - 98
Champions: Return to Arms
2005 · Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
An action fantasy RPG that is the sequel to the 2004 Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest, and with the same style of dungeon crawling and hack 'n' slash, Champions: Return to Arms differs from its predecessor by offering the player the ability to fight for either 'good' or 'evil'. With a variety of races and classes to create a character from, the player travels across different acts and different lands combating all sorts of enemies.
7.9 - 99
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus
2008 · Fighting
Λ Core Plus also features a new Story mode. The story is a continuation of the storyline from Guilty Gear XX. All characters have a storyline, and the stories cover the major events involving the mystery of Gears, "That Man" and conflict with the Post War Administration Bureau, etc. The mode uses a full branching path Zapping system with a total of 350 scenarios. The game also introduces a new NPC character: the Post War Administration Bureau scientist Crow, who attacks the cast in the Story mode using mindless clones of Justice.
7.9 - 100
Ape Escape 3
2005 · Platform
Kei and Yumi take the lead as the new heroes. Their quest is to capture all 400 monkeys. You control either Kei or Yumi. The gameplay involves using various methods and weapons to catch them all. The game has many levels with different themes, such as a Haunted Castle, a Racing level, Jungle settings, TV studios and other settings. You can slow the animals down with various objects such as a stun club or a slingback shooter, and then you can capture them with a net. New to the series are the morphing abilities, eight in all. You can morph into various characters, like a knight and perform a powerful attack or a gun fighter and shoot em up or a ninja and run along walls. You can also vehicles such as a race car to knock down the monkeys. Other features are the familiar Monkeypedia and the unlockable Mesal Gear Solid mini-game (a Metal Gear Solid spoof).
7.9