Topic: PlayStation 2 Game Recommendations

[Do_What]

Maximo is the ****

[leahsdad]

INTERVENTION!

Listen to me (or read the following words) very carefully, if you want to not waste time on an incredibly crappy game:

DON'T PLAY STAR OCEAN TIL THE END OF TIME

I can't believe no one else in this thread has remarked on this.   For some stupid reason, I played this to the end.  The horrifying, soul-crushing end which will make you want to bash your head into the nearest wall.

The art is mediocre and uninspired, as in, it looks like Evolution (remember that game?)  It's too long.   The combat system is simplistic and boring.  The cutscenes are bad and look really cheap.    But worst of all, this is how that stupid game ends:

   Everything you played was not real.  You were in a goddamn computer simulation! 

Everything else on your list is fine.  Well, except Quake 3, don't even bother. 

[Adrock]

I bought Star Ocean: Till the End of Time when it first came out because I originally missed my chance to get the 2nd game on PSOne (which I heard was fantastic). I couldn't get into it. I didn't like the battle system at all. I ended up trading it in after over a year of collecting dust. I read an article a few years later about its controversial ending and looked it up on Wikipedia. Not sure I like where tri-Ace went with it, but I didn't play through the game to get to the plot twist. I'd probably be peeved if I had, especially if I was a follower of the series.

I would have said something to Mop It Up, but since I didn't get very far into the game, I figured it wasn't terribly fair.

[Louieturkey]

I highly suggest the Xenosaga series (1,2 & 3).  #1 is the easiest to find since they way overproduced it.  If you enjoy one, try to hunt down 2 & 3 as well, but at least get 1.

I also recommend the Growlanser games.  You can get 2&3 in a package together and also #5 by itself (forget their subtitles though).  Those were fun SRPG.

If you like SRPGs, I suggest anything from Nippon Icchi Software.  Games such as Disgaea or Makai Kingdom are fun games and can take up a lot of hours.

And I also agree, God of War 2 is the best in the series.  Still haven't played Ghosts of Sparta yet but I heard it's going to be a real pain if I ever get around to it.

[AnGer]

If you like classic, sprited jRPGs, Atelier Iris is a must-play. Unlike other Atelier Games, this focuses more on RPG elements rather than the other installments which are more like alchemy simulations.

The latter doesn't scare you? Then you should probably check out Mana Khemia. I also recommend .hack//G.U., which is a decent ARPG and improved so much over the first four .hack RPGs. (Note that there's three games).

God of War has already been mentioned, but if you own a PS3, cancel that and get the GoW Saga edition for this console instead. It contains all five Playstation GoW games so far and it should come for a decent price.

In terms of jRPG, I'm also surprised no one mentioned Final Fantasy XII. It's a tad bit lacking story-wise, but in terms of RPG elements, it is so much more free and grand than X. (just saw you already played that)

[Oblivion]

Actually, while the PS2 version Okami is better than the Wii version, get the HD release on the PSN Store. It's freaking amazing. Plus, if you have the PS Move, I think you can use pointer controls if you liked the Wii controls better.

[Ceric]

Actually, while the PS2 version Okami is better than the Wii version, get the HD release on the PSN Store. It's freaking amazing. Plus, if you have the PS Move, I think you can use pointer controls if you liked the Wii controls better.

You can never use Move like Wii Controls... (horrible tech)

Anyway, if you want a weird board/card game I pick up Culdcept.

[AnGer]

I agree with Ceric here. I played the game with PS Move for five minutes, then turned back to the Dualshock. It is a terrible input method (except NMH, were it worked better for me than the DS3).

[Mop it up]

Thanks guys, you've given me a few more to add to my list.

I didn't really get into XenoGears on the PSX, so I don't know if Xenosaga would be any different.

I recall someone else talking about Castlevania: Lament of Innocence. I liked the Castlevania games on the Nintendo 64 so I don't think aging would be a problem with me.

I already played Okami on Wii and didn't find it to be very good. The things I hear people say are better are the loading and the controls, but neither of those would fix my issues with the game.

[SixthAngel]

I'll try to give you some games that haven't been mentioned.

The Red Star-  excellent game like a modern smash tv without the one hit kills and the debilitating difficulty that follows. Multiple characters to choose and amazing coop. I played the crap out of this.  Extremely underrated and under almost everyone's radar.  I can't recommend this game enough.

Katamari Damacy-  there is nothing else like it.  You won't be disappointed

Zone of Enders - short but I liked it.  With the low price it should be now short isn't a problem anymore.

Odin Sphere- makers of Muramasa on the Wii. You are either sold or not by that.  They also made Grim Grimiore which was beautiful but I never was able to play it.

[Adrock]

I think she already has Odin Sphere. I barely played it (my brother loved the game), but I liked what I played enough to buy Muramasa: The Demon Blade day one which I regret only because I barely played that and I could have bought it for like $10. I like supporting Vanillaware though they're pretty much Sony exclusive now. Dragon's Crown on PS3/Vita looks amazeballs.

I forgot to mention Contra: Shattered Soldier. It makes up for the garbage Contra games on PSOne and is a worthy sequel to Contra III, just not nearly as good. I wasn't fond of Neo Contra. If you like Contra, you'll probably like Shattered Solider. Then again, you probably have Contra 4 in that case and that game blows Shattered Soldier out of the water.

I didn't play too many games on PS2 and I didn't have one until like 2004.

[Louieturkey]

I think Xenosaga is different enough from Xenogears to give it a shot.  You can usually find the first game for around $5 so it shouldn't put you out too much to try it, though I will say parts 2 and 3 are better games.  So if you like 1, you'll like 2 & 3 more.

[Mop it up]

I haven't played Odin Sphere and I'm not sure it's my kind of game, but I found it real cheap in a GameStop so I scooped it up. Most of my games are a similar story. I also have Murumasa, never played it either.

I played Katamari Damacy before and I didn't really like it, I'm not into those overly Japanese-y games.

I like to play Contra games only in co-op, does it still have that option?

And yeah, I like to start a series from the first game, so even if it isn't as good, I gotta play it first!

[Ceric]

I haven't played Odin Sphere and I'm not sure it's my kind of game, but I found it real cheap in a GameStop so I scooped it up. Most of my games are a similar story. I also have Murumasa, never played it either.

I played Katamari Damacy before and I didn't really like it, I'm not into those overly Japanese-y games.

I like to play Contra games only in co-op, does it still have that option?

And yeah, I like to start a series from the first game, so even if it isn't as good, I gotta play it first!

I would at least pop Odin Sphere in and play the first level or two.  Just to admire the art more or less.  Then do what you will with it.

[Mop it up]

Been meaning to post this. GameStop started a 75% off sale on all PS2 games and accessories in an attempt to clear out their remaining inventory. About two weeks ago or a little longer, I checked out the three stores nearby that had them in stock, as the stores had shipped their inventories to select locations. This was already a couple weeks after the sale started, and I was worried that I didn't hear about it soon enough and all the good stuff would be gone. And though most of it was indeed gone, there were still a decent amount of good games left, even if nearly all of it was disc-only. I don't normally buy games without a case, but at these prices it's hard to argue. Here's what I picked up that interested me:

Army Men Green Rogue
Bombastic
Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition
Escape From Monkey Island
Evergrace
Genji: Dawn of the Samurai
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Jak II
Jak 3
Kill.Switch
Lumines Plus
Metal Gear Solid 3
MetropolisMania 2
Mister Mosquito
Motocross Mania 3
Music Maker Deluxe Edition
Myst III: Exile
Rachet and Clank
Rachet: Deadlocked
Rise of the Kasai
Robotech: Invasion
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES
Tales of Legendia
The Red Star
TimeSplitters
Trigger Man
Unlimited Saga

2x Memory Card
Controller
Multitap
DVD Remote