Summary
ThePlayStation 2generation was all about testing out the 3D scape. It was literally a new dimension and not every franchise transitioned into 3D well. For example,Super Mario 64was like the gold standard of how a franchise should make the jump from 2D to 3D. Other games likeCastlevania 64did not get received as well.
In thePlayStation 2generation, developers were more confident with their 3D capabilities. Still, some clung to the past and presented 2D games for a new era. From platformers to RPGs to pure action games, these titles proved that 2D still had a place on PS2. Some were even lucky enough to live beyond the PS2 era.
8Contra: Shattered Soldier
Contra: Shattered Soldierwas the first well-reviewed game intheContraseriesin ages. It’s also just the first game in four years after the disaster that both critics and fans agreed was disappointing,C The Contra Adventure.
Contra: Shattered Soldierwas a return to form with the game primarily taking place on a 2D plain. Run, gun, and jump through metal machinations and alien scourge to win the day. It’s a simple concept, butContrahas never been a series about blowing minds with intricate plots. It just likes to blow stuff up, period.
7Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil
Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veildoes not present a lot new from the PS1 original, but that’s okay. This series is different from other platformers because of the titular character’s ring. Klonoa can use it to grab enemies to toss them around or to jump off of them. Klonoa can naturally float a bit as well, sort of like Yoshi’s flutter jump.
This series was big for a short period, but it’s now mostly forgotten save for nostalgic kicks like this. Bandai Namco may never make a new game, but they may make more collections likeKlonoa Phantasy Reverie Series, in whichKlonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veilis included.
6Alien Hominid
Alien Hominidbegan as a flash game in 2002. It became a staple of the website, Newgrounds, which is where a lot of budding creators flocked to. This would eventually get an enhanced console port with upgrades such as co-op in 2004.
The gimmick was easy enough to understand asa run-and-gun shooter. Aliens crash-landed on Earth, The FBI wanted to capture them, but the aliens resisted. It was over the top and a lot of fun solo or with a friend albeit short just like the series it was trying to mirror,Contra.
5Metal Slug Anthology
Metal Slug Anthologyis a bit of a cheat to put on here as it is a collection of games.The Metal Sluggamesgot console ports from the arcade here and there but this was the definitive collection for years. It bundled together every mainline game up to this point, just missing out onMetal Slug7which would release a year after this PS2 port in 2007.
Contrawas a run-and-gun series about the action whileMetal Slugwas a franchise all about comedy and inventiveness. Players should easily be able to get through this entire collection in a weekend with a friend and that’s not a bad thing.
4Viewtiful Joe
Viewtiful Joewas like the child of thePower Rangersseries and the movieLast Action Hero. Super nerd Joe took his girlfriend Silvia to watch an old movie. Suddenly, the movie came alive, Silvia got kidnapped, and Joe got powers from his hero, Captain Blue.
As this new hero, Joe could speed up or rewind time inside this new movie world which was helpful during combat and outside of it. There weren’t many puzzles, but occasionally players had to take a break from the action to figure out where to go next. It was honestly a welcomed retreat because the action could get intense.
3Disgaea: Hour Of Darkness
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, disregarding the sequels, is themost in-depth strategy RPGto this day. What other RPG allowed players to level up their items by going into dungeons? Also, what other RPG broke level-up and stat limits like this? The answer is obvious as in no one else did to this degree.
At some point, the numbers didn’t matter that much, but that is beside the point. ThisDisgaeagame gave strategy fans hours upon weeks upon months of content to get through if they so wished. Things only got more intense from here, but the balance between gameplay, story, and characters has not been perfect since this original odd little darling.
2Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: New Age Of Heroes
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroesheightened the series to new levels.Marvel vs. Capcomwas originally an arcade hit in 2000 before it eventually made its way to the PS2 in 2000. It is the last game to feature sprite-based models, which is why a lot of fans still prefer it over the sequels.
The concept is still mind-blowing even though this was a sequel. Who would have ever thought Spider-Man could fight Mega Man in a game? It’s not the wildest crossover experience, butMarvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroesis certainly a classic in thefighting game community.
1Odin Sphere
Odin Sphereis an RPG that does not get covered enough. It’s one of many that released a bit late on the console, 2007, which was a year after the PS3 launched. It got a second chance viaOdin Sphere Leifthrasirin 2016 with a lot of great improvements plus it fit well on the PS Vita.
The game itself is an action RPG with multiple characters and stories that eventually come together in a cohesive ending. The visuals look like they came out of a storybook, which is the signature ofthe developer, Vanillaware. It is easily one of the best-looking and playing games on the PS2 be it 2D or 3D.
