The PlayStation 2 marked a considerable leap forward from its 32-bit predecessor. With more polygons to work with and the power of the "emotion Engine," developers flexed their more cinematic ambitions with landmark titles such as Ico and Silent Hill 2. Predictably, big-budget studios put more of an emphasis on narrative with elaborate in-engine cutscenes that employed Hollywood talent and utilized techniques such as motion capture.

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Unfortunately, all the tech and resources in the world mean nothing without a compelling story. Just like with every other console, the PlayStation 2 library has no shortage of phenomenal titles that fumble the ending.

10 Escape From Monkey Island Is Held Back By Ridiculous Plot Twists And Puzzles

Guybrush engages in Monkey Kombat with a giant statue of Lechuck

On its own merits, Escape from Monkey Island wasn't a bad game. It sported the same trademark humor and clever puzzles of its forefathers and marked the series' first tentative steps towards the third dimension. Unfortunately, the introduction of pre-rendered environments made interacting with objects and characters more cumbersome, and the writing wasn't nearly as sharp as in prior installments.

Subsequent installments wisely ignored the retcon of Herman Toothroot's backstory and the twist that the eponymous island's monkey head is actually part of a giant robot. Escape from Monkey Island ends with another frustrating Monkey Kombat sequence with a giant LeChuck.

9 Grand Theft Auto III Shows How Far Rockstar's Storytelling Chops Have Come

GTA-III Racing Gameplay

While the first two Grand Theft Auto titles put plot and characterization on the back burner, GTA III finally gave players a face to project themselves onto in Claude. While the protagonist was mute, the people he took orders from were anything but — brought to life by veterans such as Robert Loggia, Kyle Mclaughlin, and Frank Vincent.

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Unfortunately, Grand Theft Auto III's ending is unworthy of its talent. After Claude manages to rescue his girlfriend, he seemingly gets annoyed by her chatter. The game closes with the tired cut-to-black accompanied by a gunshot trope.

8 The Revolution Will Not Be Televised In Beyond Good And Evil

Jade holding a camera and avoiding enemies in Beyond Good and Evil HD

Ubisoft Montpellier's action/stealth title Beyond Good and Evil put players in the role of an intrepid journalist named Jade. She and her fellow revolutionaries sought to uncover the secret connections between the ruling Alpha Sections and a seemingly malevolent force known as the DomZ. After taking several photos which shed light on the underlying conspiracy, Jade comes to a startling revelation.

Turns out that the Alpha Sections have been working for the DomZ the entire time. After defeating the high priest, all seems well for Jade and company. Unfortunately, Pey'j's arm undergoes an unsettling transformation in a cliffhanger that has yet to be resolved.

7 Kingdom Hearts II Makes Players Work For A Commercial

Sora and Kiari in Kingdom Hearts II

After a long, protracted confrontation with Organization XIII, the ending of Kingdom Hearts II sees the trio back to where it all started. Riku and Sora wash up on the beach of Dreamer's Island with the addition of Goofy and Donald. A post-credits sequence then sees the group receiving a message from King Mickey. After all the struggles and hardship, it's more than a little anti-climactic to see everyone back at square one.

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There's also a secret ending that can be unlocked by completing Jiminy's journal on standard mode or by completing the game on proud mode. However, it's little more than a commercial for Birth by Sleep.

6 Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy Has Been Put Into A Coma

Nick Scryer does some pyrokinesis in  Psi Ops The Mindgate Conspiracy

Psy-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy was a third-person shooting title whose telekinesis mechanics and incorporation of ragdoll physics helped make it stand out against its contemporaries. Players were thrust into the mind of "PSI operative" Nick Scryer, who utilized his unique abilities to thwart a malevolent organization known as The Movement.

After defeating the general, Nick and his friend Sara are ambushed by helicopters. The screen then cuts to black, accompanied by text that reads "to be continued." Unfortunately, following the shuttering of Midway and purchase by Warner Bros, the company doesn't seem particularly interested in the Psi-Ops IP.

5 XIII's Unlucky Protagonist's Fate Remains Uncertain

XIII game title art.

The only thing worse than a cliffhanger ending that gets addressed in the next game is when said game doesn't even come out. XIII was a first-person shooter that boasted a distinct comic book art direction bolstered by its cel-shaded art style. The game put players in control of a man who had suffered amnesia and went by the moniker of XIII.

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XIII awakens to find a bunch of assassins ready to kill him. What follows is a high-octane espionage thriller. The game ends with XIII having a stunning realization about the identity of the mysterious Number I as a bunch of bodyguards confront him.

4 Final Fantasy X Ends With A Ludicrous Twist

Tidus hugging Yuna in Final Fantasy X.

Final Fantasy X was a landmark title in the series. It was the first to incorporate voice acting from professional talent, fully polygonal 3D environments, and more cinematic production values. Unfortunately, it was one of the last titles to be produced by long-time figurehead Hironobu Sakaguchi. Additionally, he had no part in its scenario, and the massive dip in narrative quality certainly shows.

The game ends with the realization that Tidus wasn't actually alive, but a holographic representation of a fallen civilization. It's a twist so ludicrous that Square had to make a direct sequel in an unprecedented move for the company.

3 God Of War II's Ultimate Confrontation Is Arbitrarily Interrupted

Kratos kills Athena by accident.

With an opening as epic as God of War II's, any attempt at a finale was going to pale in comparison. However, II's cliffhanger ending sees the ultimate confrontation between the Ghost of Sparta and the Ruler of Olympus artificially cut short in order to milk more cash out of the franchise. Before Kratos can deliver the final blow to Zeus, Athena plunges herself into his blade.

As she dies, she reveals that Zeus is Kratos' father. Unmoved by this revelation, the former god then gathers the titans and proclaims the end of Olympus. Too bad players had to buy the next game to see that happen.

2 Prince of Persia: Warrior Within Betrayed Its Title Character

The Prince rescues Kaileena in the good ending.

From a gameplay and technical standpoint, Warrior Within was first-rate. The sequel addressed almost every complaint towards Sands of Time, such as the combat, and even incorporated a neat metroidvania structure. Unfortunately, its plot, characters, and general aesthetic were a considerable step down.

The Prince, who underwent a phenomenal character arc in the first game, had been replaced by a dim-witted, snarling brute in a misguided attempt to broaden the franchise's appeal. While Warrior Within's multiple endings provide plenty of incentive to backtrack, it's hard to muster the motivation to save Kaileena when she lacks even a tenth of the personality of Farah.

1 Metal Gear Solid II Sons of Liberty Is A Clear Example Of Show, Don't Tell

Snake and Raiden contemplate the final events of the game and the nature of the Patriots

The problem with MGS2 and the series, in general, is that Hideo Kojima has never been particularly interested in weaving these lofty themes and ideas organically throughout the story. Rather, he prefers to stop the story and gameplay dead in their tracks to have characters laboriously filibuster regardless if it's congruous with their personalities or the situation at hand.

None showcase this weakness better than the Patriots' utterly didactic and brobdingnagian speech. It may provoke discussions on manufactured consent, memes, and the folly of in-groups, but it does so at the cost of player interactivity and characterization.

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