The 36 Best PS2 Games

• By The Gamepros
• September 19, 2008 11:20 AM PST
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With over a 1000 PS2 games available, it can be tough to know what to play. That's why GamePro has handpicked the 36 Best PS2 Games!

The PlayStation 2 is almost 10 years old, but the platform hasn't aged a bit and remains the best-selling console to date. Even with the PlayStation 3 being out for nearly two years, its predecessor is still being played today with titles that are still relevant and worth playing. Here is the definitive list of the 36 must-own games for the PS2.

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#36: Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy

Year: 2004
Why It's Great: Midway had a great 2004, launching a trio of successful titles including The Suffering, NBA Ballers, and the surprisingly good Psi-Ops. The gameplay focused on psychic powers, particularly telekinesis. Taking full advantage of Havok's rag-doll physics, flinging bodies to and fro was so much fun that there was hardly any reason to use firepower. Psi-Ops is an undervalued classic from the game studio that went on to create John Woo's Stranglehold.
Also Try: Freedom Fighters

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#35: Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

Year: 2005
Why It's Great: Many players bought Dragon Quest VIII for the demo of Final Fantasy XII, but ended up staying an extra eighty hours to play through this beast of a game. The first fully 3D installment in the franchise, Dragon Quest VIII came alive with beautiful cel-shaded characters designed by famed manga artist Akira Toriyama, and a massive world that rivaled the size of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. From side quests to monster arenas to an epic plot that sucked you in and didn't let go, the eighth installment of the Dragon Quest series was one to remember.
Also Try: Dark Cloud 2

Click here for more screens of Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King.

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#34: The Thing

Year: 2002
Why It's Great: Don't write off this creepy survival-horror game until you've tried it -- The Thing is one of the best horror games on the PS2. Picking up after the events of the classic John Carpenter film, you lead a squad of commandos into an abandoned Antarctic research base and, ultimately, uncover the shape-shifting alien killer and its murderous brood. The eerie graphics are surprisingly effective, and the combat is incredibly tense because you must burn Thing creatures with the flamethrower to kill them. But the real twist is that your computer-controlled squadmates might not be who they seem to be -- at any time, one or more of them may actually be the grotesque Thing. A must-play for survival horror fans!
Also Try: The Suffering

Click here for more screens of The Thing.

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#33: Fight Night Round 3

Year: 2006
Why It's Great: The third title in EA's stellar Fight Night franchise introduced an innovative new way to experience the thrill of boxing by making use of the dual analog sticks to punch, jab, and block. Fight Night Round 3 also introduced stunning new visuals, and real-time battle damage with swollen eyes, cuts, bruises, and streaming blood. Fight Night Round 3 also allowed the player to generate rivalries with other boxers, creating cinematic experiences during press conferences and weigh-ins, allowing you to believe that you were truly part of the action. Simply put, boxing doesn't get any better than this deep, sophisticated fighter.
Also Try: WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain

Click here for more screens of Fight Night Round 3.

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#32: SSX 3

Year: 2003
Why It's Great: SSX introduced us to the world of extreme arcade snowboarding, SSX Tricky upped the ante with insane new tricks and death-defying tracks, but SSX 3 was the first in the series that truly immersed us in the experience, with an unprecedented amount of character customization and one giant mountain that was ripe for the shredding. It was SSX 3's attention to detail, such as courses affected by weather in real time, that made the third title in the stellar snowboarding series one to remember.
Also Try: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3

Click here for more screens of SSX 3.

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#31: Escape from Monkey Island

Year: 2001
Why It's Great: You could hear the jaws of adventure fanatics drop all across the country when LucasArt's Escape from Monkey Island was announced for the PS2. The fourth installment of the Monkey Island franchise was also the first title to take our goofy, but lovable protagonist Guybrush Threepwood into the realm of 3D. With original puzzles, clever writing, and all-around fantastic voice acting, Escape from Monkey Island was an achievement in adventure games, and a nostalgia trip to the days of point-and-click.
Also Try: Indigo Prophecy

Click here for more screens of Escape from Monkey Island.

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#30: Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Year: 2001
Why It's Great: Surprisingly, one of the PS1's biggest weaknesses was 2D games, particularly memory-intensive fighting games. Any fan of the genre who played Capcom's popular "Vs." series had to endure horrific load times and the removal of the series' signature feature--the ability to switch between characters in the middle of a match. Thankfully, the feature was restored in time for the best game in the series to get a picture-perfect port. While we wish the game could have included some sweet online play, the rest of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is amazing enough to make up for it.
Also Try: Guilty Gear X2

Click here for more screens of Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

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