What’s currently possible in modern games is truly incredible, but it’s also important to not forget the simpler time when Sony’s PlayStation 2 was the height of technology. Gaming has come a long way since the PS2, but there are countless titles on Sony’s groundbreaking console that were crucial towards the growth of the industry and where video games are today.
A lot of PlayStation 2 classics can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages, but there are also certain gems that hit even harder when they’re experienced as an adult.
10 Silent Hill 2 Is A Psychologically Haunting Journey Through Grief And Depression
The survival horror genre has grown into one of the most popular gaming niches, but more often than not, there’s a focus on violence and visceral terrors as opposed to psychologically disturbing content that truly gets under the audience’s skin. Silent Hill 2 is leaps ahead of its predecessor, with its emotionally mature story where James Sunderland searches for his missing wife. Young audiences can complete Silent Hill 2, but the game is a heavy meditation on loss that’s going to resonate much more strongly for older gamers who have experienced the weight of life.
9 Okami’s Artistry Has Maturity And Depth To It
Okami is an ambitious adventure-action title where the audience controls a mystical wolf god, Amaterasu. There's a traditional story of good versus evil in Okami, and its striking art design should bring in audiences of all ages. However, a lot of Okami's story pulls from Japanese folklore and classical history, which is easier for adults to dissect. There's a lot of depth to this creative world, but the finer details can be missed in exchange for heightened action that downplays Okami as a nuanced piece of art.
8 Xenosaga Tells A Sprawling Story That Expects A Lot From Its Audience
RPGs have grown increasingly massive in scope, and there's a fine line between a tedious adventure and a sprawling story that justifies a lengthy expedition. Xenosaga Episode I is a groundbreaking PlayStation 2 RPG that's still telling its story today through sequels, spin-offs, and anime adaptations.
Xenosaga is a bold adventure set in the future, but there's a tremendous amount of detail that goes into the game's many characters and the history of its fractured world. Xenosaga is the type of RPG that rewards repeated playthroughs and those who get lost in its world, which is sometimes a luxury that younger audiences don't have.
7 Metal Gear Solid 2’s Grander Story And Risky Pivots Work Better With Age
Hideo Kojima is one of the most ambitious and influential developers in the video game industry, and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a crowning achievement even two decades after its original release on the PlayStation 2. Metal Gear Solid 2’s biggest obstacle is how much it shifts gears from its previous installment, right down to how it tricks the audience with how Raiden is the real main character. The important ways in which this sequel subverts expectations are easier to appreciate by more seasoned gamers, and the same is true for the existential motivations that drive forward its exaggerated finale.
6 Shadow Of The Colossus Requires A Seasoned Gamer To Properly Appreciate
Team Ico are prolific game developers who create video games that truly feel like art. Shadow of the Colossus is a PS2 title that needs to be experienced, but its minimalist story, open world, and the level of freedom that it gives the player can easily overwhelm less seasoned gamers. Shadow of the Colossus is such a triumph because it forges its own path and feels like something new, but it's easy to quickly dismiss complex storytelling like this as boring for those that don't understand it.
5 Fatal Frame 2 Is A Terrifying Trip Through Japanese Folklore And Spirituality
The Fatal Frame survival horror series has never found the same level of fame as Resident Evil or Silent Hill, but they’re consistently terrifying, pulling from existing Japanese folklore and urban legends.
All of the PlayStation 2’s Fatal Frame games are impressive, but the second entry, Crimson Butterfly, explores some especially dark ideas that may be harder for younger audiences to properly process. The full weight of the horrors in Fatal Frame II is only present for those that dig into all of the game’s hidden mysteries.
4 Kingdom Hearts’ Friendly Characters Are Lost In A Surprisingly Dense World
An RPG that teams up Square video game icons with Disney’s most popular characters and properties is immediately going to appeal to younger audiences. Kingdom Hearts is a bewildering franchise that somehow sticks its landing, but it’s become gradually more complex, and it’s reached a point where the story is practically incomprehensible. It stands to reason that Kingdom Hearts is going to bring in a younger crowd, but most of them will be completely mystified by the story decisions that the game makes.
3 Beyond Good & Evil Wrestles With High-Minded Ideas
There are lots of titles from the PlayStation 2 era that feature groundbreaking ideas and concepts, but the technology hasn't yet reached a point where these bold experiments can be done justice or properly come together. Beyond Good & Evil provides audiences with an unprecedented amount of freedom in what they can do with Jade as she works against a daunting alien conspiracy. This is another situation where the game is layered in heady literary references and philosophical themes, but they can be too much for the uninitiated and make this rich game come across as cumbersome.
2 Bully Risks Influencing A Younger Crowd
Rockstar is a video game studio that’s made a name for itself through a number of games that turn physical violence into an open-world playground of mayhem. Titles like Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption at least provide appropriate contexts for all of this action, but Bully remains one of Rockstar’s more controversial games because it’s set in a boarding school with a bunch of juvenile delinquents. Adults understand that Bully is a game where the behavior isn’t meant to be idolized, but it’s harder for younger crowds to exhibit the same level of discretion, especially if they’re the same age as the game’s angsty antihero.
1 TimeSplitters 2’s Ideas And Humor Work Better For Adults
Shooters have gained a lot of depth in the most recent gaming generations, but there was a prolonged period of time where smooth mechanics and gameplay took precedence over any sort of character development or larger narrative. The TimeSplitters franchise is responsible for some important breakthroughs in the first-person shooter genre, and TimeSplitters 2 is a triumph of action, comedy, and science fiction. The full spectrum of references in TimeSplitters 2 will only make sense to older audiences that are familiar with important events from history.