Yesterday marked the 10-year anniversary of the PlayStation 2 in North America, so we thought it would be fun to ask a few high-profile game developers and journalists to name their top three “must play” PS2 games. Word quickly spread, the project swelled in scope, and the result is what you see here — a definitive list of “must-play” PS2 games by some of the greatest living game developers in the business.
A few quick numbers: Ico earned the most mentions at six, while Grand Theft Auto III and Shadow of the Colossus tied with five mentions. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, God of War, Okami, and Katamari Damacy were also popular picks.
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Cliff BleszinskiDesign Director, Epic Games (Twitter: @therealcliffyb)
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Ed BoonCreative Director, NetherRealm Studios (@noobde)
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Scott CampbellCo-Founder and Co-director, Eat Sleep Play
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David CageCo-CEO, Quantic Dream
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Alex EvansTechnical Director, Media Molecule (@LittleBigPlanet)
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Chet FaliszekWriter, Valve Software
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Nate FoxGame Director, Sucker Punch Productions (@SuckerPunchProd)
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Tasha HarrisProject Lead, Double Fine Productions (@tashascomic)
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Todd HowardGame Director, Bethesda Game Studios (@BethBlog)
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Hermen HulstCo-founder and Managing Director, Guerrilla Games
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David JaffeCo-Founder and Co-director, Eat Sleep Play (@davidscottjaffe)
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Ken LevineCreative Director, Irrational Games (@IGLevine)
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Steve PapoutsisExecutive Producer, Visceral Games (@leveluptime)
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Ted PriceFounder and CEO, Insomniac Games (@InsomniacGames)
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Tim SchaferPresident and CEO, Double Fine Productions (@TimofLegend)
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Warren SpectorCreative Director, Disney Interactive Studios
*Note: These are excerpts of Warren’s full responses, which you can read at the bottom of this post. Please do: As always, Warren is brimming with passion and insight into the art of great game making. |
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Evan WellsCo-President, Naughty Dog (@naughty_dog)
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Tim WillitsCreative Director, id Software
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Press & Community
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Dan “Shoe” HsuCo-Founder and Editor, Bitmob.com (@bitmobshoe)
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Ben KucheraGaming Editor, Ars Technica (@benkuchera)
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Greg MillerExecutive Editor, IGN.com (@GameOverGreggy)
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Gary SteinmanEditor in Chief, PlayStation: The Official Magazine (@tinymanrages)
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Ricardo TorresEditor in Chief, GameSpot
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Sid ShumanSenior Social Media Specialist, PlayStation (@sidshuman)
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Rey GutierrezSenior Social Media Specialist, PlayStation (@r3yguti3rr3z)
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Jeff RubensteinSocial Media Manager, PlayStation (@jeffrubenstein)
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*Appendix: Warren Spector’s Full Comments So what is it that makes Ico great? It’s the characters, and, more importantly, their relationship to one another. And even MORE important than that is the relationship the PLAYER has with those characters – the boy in the horned helm you play and the girl that boy has to protect. The first time your character holds hands with that girl who needs protecting, you feel something never before felt in a game. It’s an almost indescribable feeling born of the power of touching, even virtually, another person. The fact that the girl is weak and slow, the fact that you have to wait for her, putting yourself in peril?… That’s design genius, friends. And then, toward the end when there’s a magic moment of role reversal? That’s when I knew I’d played one of the best games I would ever play. If you haven’t played it do so. Now. It takes, like six hours to get through, so no excuses. Beg, borrow or steal a copy and get ready to FEEL something as you play – and that’s a statement that can’t be made about many games, sadly. 2. Ratchet & Clank – I’ve always found the Ratchet & Clank series oddly inspirational. I don’t typically make games like them and don’t really love playing them as a rule. They’re action adventures, mostly, I guess. But I think what I love about them is the way they defy genre definitions. They feature RPG-ish character development and action-adventure story and puzzle-solving. Plus there’s some platforming. (If that sounds a little like Disney Epic Mickey, that’s no accident.) And beyond gameplay, the character designs of Ratchet, Clank and the rest of the cast are on par with anything Hollywood has ever put on the silver screen. The list of good things goes on: The writing, animation and cinematics work are all first rate. These games are fun to play, witty to watch and just fine entertainment. Now, for my money, the series has gone from good to even better with each installment. But the core goodness was all there in the PS2 entry in the series. I’ve been more influenced by these games than I like to admit. Gotta have a place on my list. 3. Grand Theft Auto III – I’ve gone on record – somewhat foolishly, I admit – as being annoyed with the GTA games. But I’ve always tried to be clear that while the CONTENT makes me feel this way, I’m in awe of the DESIGN thinking behind GTA. And I’ll be damned if the level of execution doesn’t match the conceptual brilliance. I’m a huge believer in the idea that games should be vehicles (pardon the pun) for player expression. The groundbreaking, open world, freeform, sandbox gameplay of GTA (with a story thrown in for good measure) takes that idea – that games are about the PLAYER’S creativity as much as, or more than the designer’s creativity – to ridiculous heights. I still don’t quite get how Rockstar pulled this off on a PS2! |
In any order:
– All the Jaks
– All the Ratchet and Clanks
– All the Sly Coopers
– All the God of Wars
Way too many great games on a great and awesome system but if I had to pick my top three it would be:
1) GTA Vice City: It was my first GTA game and still one of my all time favorite games.
2)Devil May Cry: Never had I experienced such a fun fast-paced, stylish game.
3) God of War 2: I would have put the first but the sequel made what was great in the first even more epic. I shall never forget the battle with the Colossus of Rhodes. Quite easily one of the best boss fights in the series.
Honorable Mentions: Kingdom Hearts 1+2, God of War, Gran Turismo 3, Resident Evil 4, Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3.
What the heck dudes!? No ape escape?!
1.metal gear solid 2
2.ape escape 2
3.dragonball z budikai 2
4.gran turismo 4
1) God of War one and two.
Two of the greatest games ever made, awesome story, game play/combat, visuals, soundtracks, just everything. And Kratos is the baddest muther….
2) Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence.
Another overall outstanding title, unlocked the 3D camera control, brought MGS online, and came with Metal Gear and MGS 2.
3) Gran Tursimo 4.
The Real Driving Simulator. I think that sums this one up.
Just a few of my other favorites.
Resident Evil 4, Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, and San Andreas, Okami, Katamari both of them, Bully, Red Dead Revolver…… I’ll stop there it seems that I could go on and on.
My top 3 PS2 games are:
1) God of War – A perfect game, bloody, fluid and awesome animation. It showed what PS2 was capable of with its graphics, gameplay and etc.
2) Metal Gear Solid 3 – The perfect stealth-action game for PS2. Also the best choice of MGS for PS2. Surviving in the forest by killing animals and getting some fruits too. It’s also really addictive.
3) God Hand – A 3D beat’em up game made by Clover Studios with really fun and nostalgic feelings. Tons of moves, many ways to punish the enemies. Insanely good and funny.
1) Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
2) Shadow of the Colossus
3) Devil May Cry
1. Gran Turismo 4
2. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
3. Final Fantasy X
Then theres like 50+ games that tie for 4th :)
Tekken Tag Tournament is definitely my favorite PS2 game. My older brother got it when he got his PS2 and it’s lead me to be a Sony fan ever since.
is it just because this is post of the PS blog, or none of them mentioned any xbox games?? (i dont like xbox, but im just wondering)
still awesome list and devs are actually gamers.
you guys are awesome!!
All PS2 games! It’s the PS2’s 10-year anniversary :)