It’s hard to believe that, by the end of the year, the PlayStation will be onto its fifth generation of consoles—assuming thePlayStation 5 launches this holiday season. Sony’s console has come a long way since its early days in the 90s, and, though the PlayStation was the first of its kind, the PlayStation 2 continued its legacy when it released in 2000.
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Many older PlayStation games have been given the remastered treatment, and, when it comes to PlayStation 2 titles being chosen, fans have been pretty lucky. However, it’s still all too easy to think of many more that deserve to make a comeback. With the PlayStation 5 just around the corner, maybe players will see some classic games return in all their upgraded glory.
10The Warriors
Based on the cult-classic film from 1979 of the same name,The Warriorsgame was published byRockstar Gameswhich released on PlayStation 2 in 2005. Certain releases allowed for 720p visuals, making this beat ‘em up the first Rockstar title to feature HD graphics on a home console.
The Warriorswas well received on release and garnered critical acclaim, praising it in particular for its combat system that refreshed the brawler genre. It would be great to get a remaster of the game, though it would suffer from the same soundtrack licensing issues as the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 ports had.
9Escape From Monkey Island
TheMonkey Islandpoint-and-click games are a firm fan-favorite when it comes to the genre. While the first three games in the series were PC based,Escape From Monkey Islandwas the first to release on consoles and was the firstMonkey Islandtitle to feature 3D graphics. The game continues to follow Guybrush Threepwood in his pirating adventures and brings much of the same humor and puzzles that players know from the earlier games.
Point-and-click games still have a fan base out there, as proven by the success ofThimbleweed Park, and we think it’s time to bring some of the classics back for new and old players alike to enjoy.
8We Love Katamari
TheKatamariseries started with the sleeper hit ofKatamari Damacyback in 2004 for PlayStation 2. However, as this title was recently remastered for Nintendo Switch asKatamari Damacy Reroll, it’s time for its sequel,We Love Katamari, to get the remaster treatment.
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This quirky little game features similar gameplay to other titles within the series where players have to roll up items into a ball called a Katamari, collecting more and more until the Katamari grows to a target size. Levels can range from minuscule lego-sized Katamaris to galactic space-size Katamaris.
7Ape Escape 2
Ape Escape 2launched on the PlayStation 2 in 2003 as a follow-up to the PlayStation’sApe Escapefrom 1999. It is set after the events of the first game and continues to follow Spike through various levels catching monkeys with his different gadgets.
This humorous platformer game proved so popular that an animated series was based onApe Escape 2,and the series has had multiple sequels since. However, fans haven’t seen a newApe Escapegame since the PlayStation Move title for PlayStation 3 in 2011, so, maybe it’s time to break that lull with a remaster.
6Psychonauts
Psychonautswas developed by Double Fine Productions and was a quirky, unique platformer game that made its way onto the PlayStation 2 in 2005. The game follows Raz, a boy with psychic abilities, who runs away to join a camp for people with similar gifts in an effort to become a “psychonaut,” essentially a psychic spy. Raz discovers that something sinister is afoot at the camp, and it’s up to him to save the day.
The game utilizes both a “real world” setting and a “mental world” setting where Raz delves into the minds of others to help them overcome their fears. Both worlds differ greatly in visual design and offer up two interesting environments for players to explore.
5Shadow Hearts
Shadow Heartswas anRPG that first released on PlayStation 2in 2001 which proved so popular that it went on to have two additional sequels in the PlayStation 2’s lifetime.Shadow Heartsis technically a sequel to the original PlayStation titleKoudelka, with some events being referenced from this. However, the first title is disconnected from the other games enough to not require playing it beforehand.
The game takes place in an alternate universe in 1913-1914 that mixes real-world history with fantasy/supernatural elements. The story follows the protagonist, Yuri, who is able to transform into monsters that he has captured in his quest to protect Alice from an evil magician.
4Persona 3 FES
ThePersonaseries, orShin Megami Tenseiseries, as it is also known, has grown inexplicably in popularity, and fans have recently enjoyed the release ofPersona 5 Royal.Persona 3offerssimilar gameplayto what fans have grown accustomed to and originally released for the PlayStation 2 back in 2007.
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In 2008, a new version was released titledPersona 3 FES, which added new content to the game as well as an epilogue. The game was ported to the PlayStation Portable in 2010, but what fans really want to see is this title all glammed up with new graphics so they can enjoy it all over again.
3Dark Cloud 2
Dark Cloud 2launched on the PlayStation 2 in 2003 and was a spiritual sequel to 2000’sDark Cloudthat released on the same system. Though both games are great,Dark Cloud 2was praised for its improvements on the first title and for its vast array of things to do in-game.
The game follows Max and Monica in their efforts to stop Emperor Griffin from destroying the world and utilizes a time-traveling mechanic that allows players to change the past in order to save the future.Dark Cloud 2featured some much-loved additional elements, such as fishing, city-building, photography, and more.
2.hack//Infection
The.hackseries features a faux-MMORPG, essentially creating a game within another game, though there is no actual online connection..hack//Infectionwas the first installment of a four-part game series that released on PlayStation 2 calledProject .hack, which was set after the anime.hack//Signand concentrated on the origins of “The World,” the virtual world inside of the game.
The player takes control of Kite as he explores the strange phenomenon where players are falling into comas from playing “The World.” This quartet of games was followed by the trilogy of.hack//G.U.gameson the PlayStation 2, which have already been fortunate enough to receive a PlayStation 4 remaster.
1Persona 4
ThePersonaseries is just too good to stop at one title from the PlayStation 2 deserving a remaster.Persona 4is arguably one of the best storylines in the series, with the protagonist Yu and his classmates attempting to track down a serial killer who is dumping people into the strange TV world to kill them.
Persona 4initially released for PlayStation 2 in 2008, but it received an enhanced version for the PlayStation Vita titledPersona 4 Goldenin 2012 that offered players new features, story content, a new character, additional personas, and more. This game is truly deserving of a remaster, and now is the perfect time, as fans are really hyped about the series since the release ofPersona 5 Royal.
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