Top Ten PlayStation 2 Games

It's been a long time, and the PlayStation 2's success knows no bounds. Still you can buy games at your local Best Buy, Wal-Mart, or other gaming-related retailer easily. I bet you didn't know that it's been ten years since the PlayStation 2 hit the worldwide market. Its catalog of games is one of the most impressive in gaming history. I think only the Super Nintendo rivals it, so picking out ten games to represent the PlayStation 2 is a difficult challenge. I'm up to that challenge, however, with my picks of the cream of the crop, the best of the best that the PS2 has to offer. Note: I have not played all 1,000+ games released on the PS2, so if your favorites aren't mentioned, I probably didn't play them.

10) Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

My favorite of the Jak trilogy before things got dark and stupid, Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is your basic Super Mario 64 clone. Instead of gathering power stars you gathered power cells. Instead of cashing in with coins you collected precursor orbs to purchase a wealth of awesome items and abilities. The levels were colorful and fun to play in, and the difficulty was just right for kids and adults to enjoy this excellent platforming romp.


9) Gran Turismo 4

The ultimate driving simulator is back and better than ever with more cars, more tracks, more weather conditions, and more hours of your life to waste playing this phenomenal racer. Either practice your driving in the training modes or put the pedal to the metal in the hundreds of races and race types to dominate or self-destruct on. My first and only run-in with the franchise, Gran Turismo 4 fits the bill as my favorite realistic racer.


8) God of War

By the gods, this game is great. Play as the bemoaned Kratos as he seeks revenge on the god of war, the deity who tricked Kratos into killing his own family. Use the Chains of Olympus to carve your way through enemies both human flesh and animal beast as you play through this eight hour campaign. Blades will bleed, blood will be shed, and in the end only one man will stand among the gods, and his name will be Kratos.


7) Hot Shots Golf Fore!

FOOOOOOOOOOORE!!! This golf game was awarded the best golf game ever in my top five list awhile back, and now it's back for more gloating. With a kooky cast of primed golfers, twelve courses that could be played in any of the four seasons, and online play, a first for the series, Hot Shots Golf Fore! took the golfing experience to a whole 'nother level. Do not miss out on this title if you're any fan of the game of golf.


6) Sly Cooper and the Thievius Racoonus

This pretty platformer comes in at the number six spot with all sorts of platforming moves in his repertoire. Tip-toeing on pipes, sliding down electrical lines with the use of his cane, and pulling off incredible heists and taking down incredible bosses such as one that is like a music game is what Sly Cooper is all about. The best of the bunch in my opinion, this thieving racoon is after a family heirloom and will steal from and steal his way through anything to get it back!


5) Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando

My favorite and first Ratchet & Clank adventure, Going Commando was an action-platformer that focused 50/50 on action and platforming. With the action you had tons of weapons and firepower to blow baddies away with while with the platforming there was tons of platforms to leap on, dangers to avoid. The protopet problem won't go away with Ratchet and Clank to save the day. Are you a bad enough dude to assist them?


4) God of War II

The God of War is back, and this time he's been betrayed by Zeus. You know the drill, more monsters to carve open, more enemies to massacre, and more blood that will be bled. From the amazing battles with a giant Colossus to the battles with Greek folklore heroes, God of War II outshines its previous game with more action, more bad bosses to beat down, and more perplexing puzzles to solve. If you need some raw action in your life, look no further than the God of War.


3) Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence

It's Solid Snake, but not the Solid Snake of old. Well, technically it is the Solid Snake of old since this is old Snake we're talking about. Y'know, Big Boss. The game explains it so much better. Anyway, the stealth action and combat of the Metal Gear Solid games is here and apparent. With Subsistence you could play the game without fixed camera angles, a fully 3D world instead awaited you. Eat snakes, shoot bad guys, let bosses screw with your head, Solid Snake's oldest adventure in the timeline is one of his best.


2) Resident Evil 4

Originally scheduled as an exclusive to the Gamecube, as a dick move, the PS2 version was announced before the Gamecube version had the chance to shine. Regardless of your opinion of the outcome, the PS2's Resident Evil 4 was the better of the two with more content, more firepower, and more costumes to choose from. Sure, the cutscenes weren't real time, and the game suffered from frame-rate problems, but the game was still complete and a blast to play. It might not scare you as much as older RE titles, but your adrenaline will be pumping like Leon blowing away enemies with a shotgun.


1) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

It may have ended up on the Xbox, but it was originally exclusive to the PlayStation 2. Never before was there such and open world to explore. You had a state with three distinct cities, multiple patches of different land from badlands to desert to trot or drive over, and lots of pedestrians to "unintentionally" run over. Throw in the best story the series has ever seen, multiple options to customize C.J., the main character of the game, and you have the best GTA experience money can buy. Others will call GTA 4 "oscar-worthy" but they've been playa-hatin' to a severe degree. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the best sandbox game you can get.


And there you have it, folks. You might notice games missing such as Kingdom Hearts, Shadow of the Colossus, Okami, and the like. Most of which I have never played. They're in my collection, but I've never got around to them. You know that story, right? Hope you enjoyed this special top ten.