PlayStation 2

"Live in y⚪ur w✕rld. Pl△y in ⬜urs."

This is the best-selling game console ever, so you will find it has an absurdly vast library. It's backwards compatible with the original PlayStation, which was the best-selling game console ever before that, so... say what you will about the PS2, but a lack of games is never a problem. As a downside, it also got a ton of shovelware, so let us help you get the good stuff.

Any model of the PS2 will get you by. There's a few notes though. The Launch window systems (3000X) are pretty awful. The disc drives are a known point of failure. Some might still work. But the 3900X and 5000X systems are rock solid. The 3900X has the i-link port while the 5000X replaces it with a IR port for remote functions. Most slims are good too. The first models are essentially 5000X but in miniture. The later modes consoldiate chips to make everything smaller. The 9000X reduces things so much Sony was able to integrate the power supply into it. All other slims have a brick. The slims might have some issues with a tiny list of PS2, and PS1, games. But 99% of games will work A-OK.

A point of contention is the controller - unlike the Gamecube and Xbox, it gave the "sweet spot" to the d-pad, not the left analog stick. While most people are okay with that, some find this design aggravating; if you do, don't fret. Some third party controllers, like the Saitek PS2700 (aka Cyborg V.3) or the Radica Phoenix Revolution, let you swap them to their more usual, ergonomically correct positions. There are also adapters to use Xbox controllers on the PS2.

A new open source adapter called Blue Retro lets you use modern controllers like PS4 or Xbox One on the PS2. Visit https://github.com/darthcloud/BlueRetro for info on how to build your own, or buy one of the clones on Aliexpress. It plugs right into the controller port and need no additional wires.

SOFTMOD NOTICE - FUCK YEAR PIRACY

If you're using a PS2 today, using a softmodded is easier than ever. If you're using anything other than a 9000X system, FreeMCBoot is where its at. Thanks to a new exploit, you can just burn a DVD with a file explorer and launch the FMB installer from a usb device. Cool. For a while, most 9000X systems couldn't be softmodded, but folks found a new exploit as well, Fortuna. There's also FunTuna, which does the exact same thing, just open source. Some 9000X systems can run FreeMCBoot. Check this handy chart.

Regardless, use a softmod to launch OpenPS2Loader to launch games from you USB device, HDD (if you have a fat system), or SMB (network share). It'll save your laser from wear and tear. Using OPL will allow you to run games from any region. USB loading works for a lot of games, but some that stream data off the disc won't work. Again, the PS2 community has created a handy Raspberry Pi image called PSX-Pi-SMBShare. It allows you to load games through a network share while using the Pi's faster usb ports (USB 2 / USB 3). Fat systems will need the network adapter while the slims have that shit built in. It also has XLinkKai built in so you can play LAN games over the internet. Cool Huh!

As for how to rip games, its pretty simple. Just use any software that can rip CDs or DVDs. ImgBurn on Windows works, though you'll have to convert your CD BIN/CUE to ISO. DVDs will rip as ISO always. If you're on Linux, Gnome Disks works great. Or just use the terminal to rip it. These same steps go for PS1 games as well.

As for homebrew, there really isn't a lot. Retroarch is on the system and is up to date. So if you wanna play some 8 and 16-bit era games, there's that. The software GSM selector will allow you to force games to run in a different display mode. YMMV though. The same can be done by editing ISOs. OPL does have GSM built in. Just go to the game options menu (Triangle on the game selection screen). If your game doesn't work with OPL, try HDLoader. It might run your game better or at all. But OPL is still in active devlopment, so most issues will eventually be fixed. And if you still wanna run disc based backups, for some ungodly reason, there's ESR.

For playing your games in the best image quality on a modern display, just get a good set of Component cables (Sony/Monster/HD Retrovision) and an upscaler. PS3 era component cables will work on the PS2. If you need a cheap solution, there's this one recommended by RetroRGB. The RetroTink2X Pro gets the job done, but won't display anything greater than 480i. For 480p games, the 2X Pro Multiformat will pass the signal through. The OSSC will run anything you throw at it. The Framemeister works well, but might be too expensive and hard to come by for most folks. And yes, despite rumors, PS1 games played on the PS2 will work with Component cables. Your TV just needs to be able to display 240p content. If you have a 4k TV, it most likely will.

Emulation

The PS2 is reasonably emulatable, provided you have a decent PC (recommended 3.0 GHz dual-core). Some games work flawlessly, better than the hardware, others work well, and some don't work at all. It's highly recommended that you don't go farming downloads for ISOs or ripping games to your PC en-masse without checking whether they will work or not.

The best (and most actively developed) emulator is PCSX2. However, you will need to find your own BIOS file for it.

Also, although many of the PS2 classics were, or are going to be remade\re-released in next-gen consoles, emulating with PCSX2 might be a great way to improve the visual experience of some titles. Tried to play something with your ol' PS2 on a HDTV and the graphics looked awful? Hardware Mode allows you to increase the native resolution of the game in order to fix that. Still not happy? Enable the visual hacks and add some MSAA to the mix.

ALSO, note that emulating isn't magic, and the "core material" will be in 480p at best, which means that 3D\polygon-heavy games will benefit much more from those changes than 2D\sprite-based games: You better off sticking closer to the native resolution with titles like Disgaea, Soul Nomad, Tales of Series, etc. For every game you decide to emulate, check with the PCSX2 Wiki for compatibility info and contribute your own if possible. It's also worthwhile to look up any widescreen or no-interlacing patches that may be available for your games. Many PS2 games utilized interlacing as part of their render pipeline and if this is not disabled the game will look blurry on a modern display.

Because PS2 games can be read on any PC, you can just stick your game in your disc drive and run it from there. No ripping or piracy required! Ripping them will improve load times, however, and may alleviate issues with stuttering FMVs that are often present when playing from the disc.

Have you played these games? They need a description to be added onto the list:

• Drakan: The Ancients' Gates
• Mark of Kri
• Primal

The List

Box Art	Title	Genre	Description
	007: Agent Under Fire	FPS	Standard Brosnan-era James Bond FPS with a decent single-player campaign and solid, GoldenEye-esque multi-player for up to four people. Can be used to install MCFreeBoot on your console. Also on GCN and XBox.
	007: Nightfire	FPS	Standard Brosnan-era James Bond FPS with decent single-player campaign and solid, GoldenEye-esque multi-player for up to your people. Also on GCN and XBox, with up to six-bot multi-player matches. PC version had online play (now defunct).
	007: Everything or Nothing	Action TPS	Third-person action shooter with more varied sequences and fun driving sections, as well as solid, GoldenEye-esque multi-player for up to your people. Also on GCN and Xbox.
	10,000 Bullets	Character Action	Stylish action game directed by the creator of Suikoden. Features multiple characters with different play styles and "bullet time" mechanics. Mediocre gameplay, but strong "Euro crime thriller" art direction and jazzy soundtrack.
	Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana	JRPG	Anime fantasy JRPG with an in-depth crafting system. Cute, sprite-based presentation, typical turn-based combat, and cliché story. A solid option for fans of cute JRPGs, and/or games with a prominent crafting aspect.
	Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny	JRPG	Anime fantasy JRPG with an in-depth crafting system. Cute, sprite-based presentation, typical turn-based combat, and cliché story. Less cluttered and menu-based than the first game, but also less in-depth in its systems.
	Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm	JRPG	Divisive final entry in the Iris saga. Features a stronger emphasis on combat and a mission-based structure with time limits, which can be infuriating. The Atelier series continues on handhelds and next-gen consoles.
	Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies [NA] / Ace Combat 4: Distant Thunder [EU]	Air Combat	High-tension plane combat with solid gameplay and fantastic production values. Surprisingly great story and soundtrack as well. Includes a fair deal of aircraft customization and replay value through branching paths.
	Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War [NA] / Ace Combat 5: Squadron Leader [EU]	Air Combat	High-tension plane combat with solid gameplay and fantastic production values. Surprisingly great story and soundtrack as well. Features one of the longer campaigns in the series, with more fleshed-out characters.
	Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War	Air Combat	High-tension plane combat with solid gameplay and fantastic production values. Surprisingly great story and soundtrack as well. Fantastic campaign with two-player co-op. Arguably the best entry in the series.
	The Adventures of Cookie & Cream [NA] / Kuri Kuri Mix [EU]	Platformer	Fromsoft-developed co-op platformer. Designed for split-screen local play where cooperation between both players is required to clear levels. Cute, and pretty unusual.
	The Adventures of Darwin	Sim Adventure	A budget game about leading a prehistoric tribe towards prosperity and evolution. Explore stages for resources and mob enemies to death by commanding your followers, Pikmin-style. Short, but cute and unique.
	Alien Hominid	Run-'n-Gun	Console port of a popular NewGrounds shooter inspired by Metal Slug. Tacky, cartoony, and gorey. This version features local two-player co-op, making it a much more attractive proposal.
	Ape Escape 2	Platformer	Explore colorful cartoon stages and use an assortment of gadgets to catch escaped monkeys. Each monkey behaves differently and represents its own mini-puzzle. Very solid gameplay.
	Ape Escape 3	Platformer	Explore colorful cartoon stages and use an assortment of gadgets to catch escaped monkeys. Each monkey behaves differently and represents its own mini-puzzle. Much more expansive, but less focused than 2.
	Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia	JRPG	Gust-developed JRPG with dating sim elements. Sci-fantasy setting and nice, 2D graphics, with a cool frontline/backline take on the turn-based combat system. Some racey bits. Fantastic soundtrack.
	Ar tonelico 2: Melody of Metafalica	JRPG	Gust-developed JRPG with dating sim elements. A straight improvement over the first game, with an almost-entirely new cast. Equally great soundtrack. Shoddy localization, but there is a fan translation.
	Armored Core: Nexus	Mech Combat	Dystopian sci-fi game where you take on missions and use the money to upgrade your mech suit. Customization is extremely varied and in-depth. Controls get some getting used to. Has memory card-based local versus play.
	Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance	Action-RPG	Diablo-style action-RPG based on the D&D Forgotten Realms setting. Has few playable characters, but a solid campaign playable entirely in local co-op. Also on XBox. Remastered for PC and ninth-gen consoles.
	Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II	Action-RPG	Diablo-style action-RPG based on the D&D Forgotten Realms setting. A straight improvement over the first game, with more characters and content. Also on XBox and PC, with slightly better graphics.
	BCV: Battle Construction Vehicles [EU Only]	Vehicle Combat	Wacky, low-budget game about pitting construction vehicles against each other, with over-the-top special moves. Hilarious British voice acting. Mostly good for a laugh with some friends.
	Beatmania [NA]	Rhythm	Beatmania is a series of Konami DJ rhythm games with over a dozen entries for the PS2 alone; only one was localized. It's recommended that you import or emulate the JP releases, and get your hands on a proprietary controller. It's an excellent time.
	Berserk: Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Shou [JP Only]	Action	Action game adaptation of the acclaimed dark fantasy manga. Similar to the original Devil May Cry, but somewhat dry and lacking content. Features voice work by the original anime cast, and has an English fan translation.
	TearRing Saga: Berwick Saga - Lazberia Chronicle Chapter 174 [JP Only]	SRPG	An obscure but excellent SRPG made by Shouzo Kaga. the creator of the Fire Emblem series. The story follows Reese, the son of a nobleman in the frontier lands of the Kingdom of Veria and delves into a deep and engaging plot reminiscent of games such as Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics. This game has a radical departure from the typical Fire Emblem mechanics such a hexagonal grid instead of square grid and a base/town where the player can manage their units and items and many more that makes it a unique and compelling gameplay that requires intensive strategy and planning. If you want an SRPG with a challenge or a refreshing change from the usual Fire Emblem formula, look no further. Has an English fan translation. Gameplay.
	Beyond Good & Evil	Action-Adventure	Critically acclaimed sci-fi adventure following a journalist uncovering a conspiracy in a colorful world. Fluid combat broken up by puzzle and stealth sections. Short, but very fun. Also on GCN.
	Black	FPS	Mission-based FPS with fairly impressive gun physics and environmental effects (but no blood for ratings reasons). Terrible, live-action story scenes. Sadly no multi-player whatsoever.
	Blood Will Tell: Tezuka Osamu's Dororo	Action-Adventure	Underrated samurai adventure based on the classic manga. Features a grand total forty-eight boss battles, broken up by stealth and platforming sections. Charming feudal Japan setting.
	Bloody Roar 3	3D Fighting	Fast-paced 3D fighter where every character can transform into a powerful were-beast mid-combat. Very stylish, with robust single-player content. Not the most competitively balanced fighter, but quite fun.
	BloodRayne	Action-Adventure	Fun and pulpy action-adventure where you play as a sexy vampire lady hunting down sci-fi Nazis. Great production values and a decently long campaign. Also on GCN, XBox, and PC, the latter two with better graphics.
	The Bouncer	Action-Adventure	Bizarre SquareSoft adventure with their typical cinematic sci-fantasy flair. An action brawler where you play as one of three characters, which affects story outcomes. Short, and more than a little repetitive, but cool.
	Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter	JRPG	Divisive final entry in Capcom's fantasy JRPG series. Strikes a much darker, post-apocalyptic tone, and features a survival-oriented combat system that encourages dying and restarting the game multiple times. Unique.
	Bujingai: The Forsaken City [NA] / Bujingai: Swordmaster [EU]	Character Action	Stylish, DMC-esque action game inspired by wuxia films and post-apocalyptic action movies. The main character sports the likeness of Japanese pop star Gackt! A neat game for action junkies.
	Bully [NA] / Canis Canem Edit [EU]	Action-Adventure	Rockstar-developed game about ruling your boarding school with an iron fist. Join gangs, beat up rivals, torment teachers, and explore a fairly well-realized story. Great sense of humor.
	BurnOut 3: Takedown	Combat Racing	Not a realistic racing game, but a very fun and good-looking one, which incorporates spectacular crashes into its various gameplay modes. One of the best racing games for the system.
	Bust-A-Move: Dance Summit 2001 [JP Only]	Rhythm	Final entry in the series known as Bust-a-Groove internationally. Input commands to the rhythm as part of a three-person dance team. Gets insanely complex and hard. Fantastic visual style.
	Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 1 & 2	Arcade Compilation	Two volumes of Capcom arcade games, including shooters, beat-'em-ups, fighters, and more. Mostly arcade-perfect, but sadly missing a ton of arcade-only licensed games. Mainly for collectors.
	Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millenium	2D Fighting	Fantastic crossover fighter with a huge roster and three-man tag-team battles. Sprite quality is dodgy, but presentation and music are unforgettable. One of the best Capcom Versus games.
	Castlevania: Curse of Darkness	Action-Adventure	Introduces "Innocent Devils" you command and evolve, inspired by JoJo stands (but feel more like pokemon in practice), and a crafting system complimented by a stealing mechanic. Improves on the previous 3D entry with actual camera control, better load times, warp rooms, and more variety in enemies, weapons, and levels (many of which are outdoors). However, it can become repetitive and is fairly linear, and the simplified combo system may greatly disappoint big fans of Lament of Innocence. Still, Castlevania fans may find it entertaining and many prefer it over Lament. Has more humorous elements to discover compared to Lament, like joke weapons, and armor with amusing flavor text. Also, be sure to sit in any chair you find.
	Castlevania: Lament of Innocence	Action-Adventure	A prequel to the whole Castlevania series, featuring combo-based combat against memorable boss fights, open exploration, secrets, a realtime inventory, and "orbs" that allow you to get a variety of attacks from the same sub-weapon (like spell books in Harmony of Dissonance). It's marred by repetitive gameplay, lack of camera control (devs often like to hide goodies out of frame), and a castle mostly composed of the same few segments copy-pasted together. Despite that, it's generally regarded as a pretty competent game, and even "the best 3D Castlevania" by some. And of course, who could forget the lovable Rinaldo.
	Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest	Action-RPG	Diablo-esque action-RPG developed by the team behind Dark Alliance. Gameplay is virtually the same, but the EverQuest setting and characters give it a different flavor. Essential for genre fans.
	Chaos Wars	SRPG	Disgaea-esque SRPG with turn-based grid combat and sprite-based presentation. Is a actually a crossover between a bunch of obscure IPs. Mediocre, with notoriously terrible NA voice acting.
	ChainDive [JP Only]	Action	Stylish, arcade-style Capcom action game about swinging through the air while cutting up enemies with a laser sword. Short, but challenging, with score-based replay value. No language barrier to speak of.
	Monster Attack [EU Only]	TPS	First entry in the Earth Defense Force series. A silly budget game about mowing down hundreds of giant bugs in destructible environments. Simple, repetitive fun.
	Global Defence Force [EU Only]	TPS	More low-budget monster-shooting in large, destructible environments. Now with local two-player co-op. Also on PSP. The series continues under the Earth Defense Force name.
	Cho Aniki: Seinaru Protein Densetsu [JP Only]	Shoot-'em-Up	Famously weird horizontal shmup, featuring homoerotic bodybuilders destroying enemies with the power of protein. One of the stronger entries in the series, in terms of visuals and gameplay.
	Chu♥lip	Adventure	Bizarrely charming small-town adventure developed by a Love-de-Lic offshoot. Get to know your neighbors and help solve their problems in an absurd world inspired by Showa-era Japan. Lots of kissing!
	Clock Tower 3	Survival Horror	Capcom-developed final entry in the slasher horror adventure series. Plays like a classic survival horror game, where you must run and hide from persistent enemies. Shoddy gameplay, but lots of atmosphere and scares.
	Contra: Shattered Soldier	Run-'n-Gun	Revival of the Contra series, with 3D graphics but the same 2D gameplay. Darker, grittier aesthetic. Two-player co-op as always. Features three swappable weapons instead of weapon upgrade drops.
	Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex	Platformer	A lot of people give the PS2 Crash games a lot of flak, but fuck them. They're actually not bad, even quite good. Play as Crash, travel the world and collect crystals so you can defeat Doctor Neo Cortex once more. The closest you'll get to the original trilogy and a must play if you're a fan of the franchise.
	Crash Twinsanity	Platformer	This game is weird as fuck and completely different from the other Crash games. It's still made by Traveller's Tale like the previous one (see above) but instead of recreating the feel of the original PS1 trilogy, they made something else entirely, with a more open-world element (kind of Jak & Daxter inspired), and pretty diverse gameplay, depending on whether you're playing as Crash, Cortex, both at the same time, or Nina, Cortex's niece. The game is buggy as hell (it's pretty much unfinished), the humor is downright bizarre, but it's very unique and if you're looking for something original in the Crash series you might very well love it (or hate it).
	Crimson Tears [NA/EU]	Action-RPG	Interesting action brawler where you progress through randomly-generated dungeons collecting loot and upgrades until you die or reach the end. Boasts the structure of a roguelike and the gameplay of an ARPG.
	Dark Cloud	Action-RPG	Atmospheric action-RPG with a "dark fairy tale" ambiance. Has mild roguelike and sim elements as well, making it very engrossing. The story's nothing to write home about, but it does have a unique style.
	Dark Cloud 2 [NA] / Dark Chronicle [EU]	Action-RPG	Bigger and better sequel to the original in almost every way, with over a hundred hours' worth of content and tons of side-activities. Sadly has a bit of a cookie-cutter ambiance compared to the darker first game.
	DarkWatch	FPS	A mostly forgotten FPS with a big budget for its time, its Western/Gothic horror setting and monstrous characters still look kind of cool today. The story's totally ridiculous, obviously. You play as a vampire and abuse supernatural powers by night while fighting with firearms by day. A morality system determines which path you take and the special abilities you unlock as consequence. A neat and short ride worth a try, which good voice-acting and high production values. The XBOX port featured online multi-player, but this one features local co-op, so yeah.
	Def Jam: Fight for NY	Beat 'em Up	A hilarious game featuring various then-popular rappers as playable characters in over-the-top street fights, including Snoop Dogg as the final boss. Features customizable clothes and an extensive unlockable array of outfits. The combat system is surprisingly deep (and challenging) for a game of its kind, plus it features an extensive licensed soundtrack. Laughably silly blaxploitation storyline.
	Destroy All Humans!	Action / TPS	A slapstick alien invasion where you play as a rank-and-file alien soldier in one of six large sandbox environments. Though the game tries to provide for stealth as an option, it's much more fun to rip through the levels with your arsenal of weapons, psychic abilities, and flying saucer. One of your weapons is quite literally an anal probe. The cutscenes and humor have a Mars Attacks! vibe and the game does not take itself seriously at all. It's a bit lacking in content, though.
	Devil May Cry	Character Action	Originally developed as a Resident Evil game, it ended up as a cheesy, Gothic combo-action game that set the stage for games like Bayonetta. Has a bit of a stronger horror vibe compared to later entries in the series.
	Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition	Character Action	Considered the pinnacle of the series thanks to its fluid, combo-based action, multiple movesets to choose from, tough-as-nails bosses, and reams of extra content, including the ability to play as Vergil in the Special Edition. Essential.
	Disgaea: Hour of Darkness	SRPG	An irreverent, sprite-based SRPG where you create and level up a party in grid-based battles. Grinding is encouraged to rack up game-breaking damage numbers (but isn't strictly required if you just want to finish the game).
	Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories	SRPG	The sequel to the grind-heavy SRPG breakout hit boasts pretty much the same gameplay and graphics, but has a more fleshed-out main cast and a more focused story. Which is better is up to personal preference.
	Disney Golf	Sports	Basically Mario Golf with Disney characters. Surprisingly good, and very relaxing. Oddly, Mickey is not a playable character, just the commentator.
	DoDonPachi DaiOuJou	Shoot 'em Up	Very good port of one of the best shmups ever made. Training mode was added, it's extensive configuration options will be helpful in learning game's mechanics. This version also includes Death Label mode which is basically very hard boss rush mode that is exclusive to this port.
	Dog's Life	Adventure / Dog Shitting Sim	You are the Dog. Shit everywhere. Save your Dog gf. Shit some more. Game of the year all years.
	Dokapon Kingdom	Party / Board Game / RPG	One of the strangest concepts turned into one of the most fun party games ever. Think Mario Party or Monopoly combined with Dragon Quest; it's all about who has the most money, and you go around leveling up and conquering towns to make it. Tons of things to do as well; multiple classes, weapons, hidden dungeons, etc. Worth picking up if you'll have friends to play it with. There's a Wii version that is arguably better, because four players are better than two Four player works perfectly fine on PS2 with a MultiTap.
	Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3	Fighting / 3D	One of the best Dragon Ball Z games ever to be released and fixes all the small problems the previous games had. Over 40 characters, including new ones like Bardock, Broly, Cooler and Omega Shenron and the ability to go Super Saiyan 4 (even Gogeta). Budokai 3 introduces Dragon Universe where you travel around Earth or Namek, leveling up your character and collecting capsules and characters. Has a ton of replay value because of the optional battles (fighting Gotenks as Gogeta, Broly, Omega Shenron, ...) and diversity of characters to play as. Also features Dragon Arena, where you can continue leveling your characters as you fight countless of opponents. Also available on the PS3/X360 together with the first Budokai, but without the (plagiarized) original music.
	Dragon Blaze	Shoot-'em-up	Europe-only release of a medieval fantasy-themed shooter developed by Psikyo. The four playable characters ride dragons, which can be dismounted in order to shoot from two places at once. It gets predictably brutal, with bullet hell-style projectile patterns and speed. Though the visuals are simple, the art design and attention to detail are great. Also released as part of a compilation along with Sol Divide; both releases are very rare and expensive now.
	Dragon Quest VIII: The Journey of the Cursed King	JRPG	Fantastic and very long JRPG with traditional turn-based combat, anime fantasy setting, and world-saving story. However, everything is fantastically executed, and there's tons of stuff to do. Also on 3DS with extra content.
	Drakengard	Action-Adventure	Dark fantasy adventure with an outstanding story and cast. Mind-numbingly boring hack-and-slash gameplay; it's recommended that you change the difficulty to Easy and play it for the story. Related to the Nier series.
	Dynasty Warriors 5 / Xtreme Legends	Hack 'n Slash / Being a Badass	Arguably the pinnacle of the DW games, which are very much a love-it-or-hate-it series. Play any one of 50-odd fighters in ancient China, wreak havoc in massive-scale battles, with killcounts in the thousands. It is advised that you not pursue Lu Bu. Has sequels after this, one well-loved one being DW7. Xtreme Legends adds new characters, modes, weapons, items, etc., but requires the original DW5 to access all features from both games.
	Enter The Matrix	TPS/Beat'em'Up	A pretty good Matrix game with over an hour's worth of original live action directed by The Wachowskis. Very satisfying combat system, decent enough plot, especially for the fans of the series. Two characters to play as, both with different plotlines. Goes for cheap, so pick it up.
	Fantasy Zone Complete Collection	Shoot-'em-up	Japan-only compilation of the colorful, psychedelic Fantasy Zone games, which are free-roaming shooters with mild RPG elements. This collection is notable for including Fantasy Zone II DX, a brand-new game done in the style of the original titles, and arguably the best Fantasy Zone game overall. (It was later ported to the 3DS as a standalone, download-only release with some extra additions.) A great collection for fans of oddball shooters.
	Fatal Frame [NA] / Project Zero [EU]	Survival Horror	Spooky haunted-house horror that combines survival horror conventions with a photography-based combat system that gets very addictive. Somewhat short, but very competently made. Also on XBox.
	Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly [NA] / Project Zero II [EU]	Survival Horror	Considered the pinnacle of the series, an indirect sequel set in a haunted rural village. Fantastic ambiance and photography-based combat. One of the best survival horror games on PS2. Also on XBox. Remade for Wii [JP and EU-only].
	Fatal Frame III: The Tortmented [NA] / Project Zero III [EU]	Survival Horror	Conclusion to the original survival horror trilogy, which attempts to pull together the stories of the first two games with mixed results. Gameplay remains largely the same. A weak link, but still worth playing.
	Fatal Fury Battle Archives Vol. 1 & 2	2D Fighting	Compilations of SNK's celebrated arcade fighting series. The first volume includes Fatal Fury 1-3, while the second has the Real Bout series. If you get just one volume, get 2. Garou is sadly not included here.
	Final Fantasy X	JRPG	Ultra-linear JRPG with turn-based combat and class-based party progression. Visually stunning and well-paced, with an emotionally affecting (but rather confusing) story. Remastered in HD with extra content.
	Final Fantasy X-2	JRPG	Direct sequel to FFX with roughly the same gameplay, but a very fun system that allows you change character classes in the middle of battle. The story's pretty silly. Looks great. Remastered in HD with extra content.
	Final Fantasy XII	JRPG	A more "Western" FF with a massive, lovingly-detailed world to explore, and tons of optional content. The contentious, semi-real time combat system feels like playing a single-player MMO. Remastered with extra content.
	Final Fight: Streetwise	Action-Adventure	Weird 3D follow-up to the arcade beat-'em-up series. Too dark and serious for its own good, but not entirely lacking in silly moments. Makes for a halfway decent brawler if you're a series fan.
	Fire Pro Wrestling Returns	Wrestling	Like other titles in the series, Fire Pro Wrestling Returns distinguishes itself from other wrestling games by focusing on timing and complex strategy, as opposed to the button-mashing tactics with which most wrestling gamers are familiar for 2-D games. So what wikipedia is telling you is that it's fun. Tack on a rather large create a character and over 500 usable slots, and you have a very customizable game. There's also a pretty healthy editing community for the game as well, so you can have other more talented (aspies) fill those slots for you. Fuck that box art is hideous. Also available on US PSN, and it's compatible with the internet saves as well!
	Forever Kingdom	Action-RPG	Sequel to Evergrace, with the same off-kilter fantasy ambiance and divisive soundtrack. Now features party-based combat with team-up attacks. Slightly less frustrating than Evergrace, while hitting a similar proto-Dark Souls vibe.
	Freedom Fighters	Action	Underrated shooter with a similar plot to the Patrick Swayze movie Red Dawn. Noted for its fantastic squad system. Made by the same team behind the Hitman series as well as Kane and Lynch (Its spiritual sequel).
	Front Mission 4	SRPG	A slightly disappointing entry in the mecha strategy RPG series. Pretty much everything stays the same: complex political storyline, turn-based combat, and expansive mecha customization. However, the game has a sort of bland look and the lack of extra content makes it feel rushed. It's still a fairly lengthy and difficult game that will satisfy series fans, but not the best entry point for newbies. No European release for this one.
	Front Mission 5: Scars of the War	SRPG	The final entry in the series is also the best, a culmination of the franchise's dense and powerful story. The visuals and music received a major upgrade, and the massive-scale battles of Front Mission 2 return. The story's great on its own, but it has hundreds of cameos and references for dedicated fans. Combat has improved mechanically and aesthetically. You are also allowed to recruit your own pilots, and explore an optional "dungeon" for gear. Japan-only, but an English fan translation has been completed.
	Galaxy Force II: Special Extended Edition	Rail Shooter	Japan-only port of the classic SEGA rail shooter, which used scaling sprites to simulate 3D, After Burner-style. The game is still visually impressive and a blast to play today, and this port includes a better-looking, smoothed-out mode as well as widescreen support, which immensely improve the experience. Also available on the 3DS with simulated cabinet motion effects.
	Garouden Breakblow: Fist or Twist	Fighting / 3D	Almost unknown 3D fighting game from Japan (was never released outside of it). Have very interesting game mechanics, such as - ability to break arm/leg/skull, lack of standard health gauge, lack of fireballs and teleports. Fight can take from 20 seconds to 3 minutes. Based on the Garouden manga (from the author of Baki The Grappler).
	Galactic Wrestling: Featuring Ultimate Muscle	Arcade Wrestling	Arcade Wrestler featuring characters from Kinnikuman/Ultimate Muscle. Loads to choose from, tons of modes, and MURDEROUS super moves (Including Tag Supers!) Uses a modified AKI engine so you know it's good. More characters than the GameCube game, but no story mode.
	Gitaroo Man	Rhythm	A rhythm game with a unique, vibrant art style and a zany story about a boy with a magic guitar rebelling against an alien empire. The input system is different from most rhythm games, and gets very hard pretty fast. Once you beat the game you unlock Master Mode, which is plain brutal. However, the story and characters are very charming. Ported to PSP with a bit of new content, including versus and co-op play (requires a second copy).
	Gladius	RPG	Awesome turn-based fantasy RPG set in Roman times. Made by LucasArts back before they sucked. The premise of the game is to recruit and train a school of gladiators in order to compete in gladiator arenas and stuff. There are 16 different classes to choose from, 15 different landscapes, and a fuck ton of different gladiator arenas. Sold like shit and hard to find now, but since it hasn't caught anyone's attention that it is a good game(despite getting really good reviews), if you can find a copy, it is most likely an inexpensive purchase. Note that the GCN version has signiciantly better load times (which are horrible in this game, sometimes approching a minute mid-match for some abilities on the PS2 verison), so it is prefered.
	God Hand	Character Action	Incredible "3D beat-'em-up" with customizable movesets and a score-based difficulty modifier that keeps you on your toes. Fiendishly hard, but fun. Irreverent and low-budget. Clover Studios' last game.
	God of War	Action-Adventure	Devil May Cry-inspired action game set in mythical Ancient Greece. Plenty of gore and nudity. An enjoyable spectacle despite its over-reliance on quick-time events, especially for boss battles.
	God of War II	Action-Adventure	One of the most visually spectacular PS2 games, improves upon the first game in virtually every way while directly continuing the story. The ultra-gorey special kills and boss fights are worth the price of entry alone.
	The Godfather	Sandbox	Fucking badass fedora wearing GTA clone that is really polished and has a great story. Has a level system that you can use to power up your moves or guns and it allows for a lot of open world play. Kill the dirty red, blue, and green mafia bros and take their territories. Go into shops and take over their businesses for "protection money". Sometimes they have black market businesses upstairs, such as a brothel. Rob banks and blow up safes. Basically 1940s GTA. Also available on Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, and PC
	Gradius III & IV	Shoot 'em Up	Includes both Gradius III (the original balls-hard Arcade version, not the SNES one) and Gradius IV, with stage select options and other small tweaks.
	Gradius V	Shoot 'em Up	Developed by Treasure, so prepare for a boss-heavy laser-blasting ride! Contains an awesome soundtrack by Radiant Silvergun composer Hitoshi Sakimoto. No Moai Level this time... :(
	Gran Turismo 4	Racing	Fuck year Gran Turismo. Race pretty realistically and go VROOOOOOM. Enjoy tweaking the shit out of your car. Almost any single thing can be tweaked. Not recommended for NFS fans, because it's really fucking realistic (enjoy blowing every single turn you arcade bastards). You can pick up the third one for almost no money if you just want to check the series out, but 4 is prettier and has more content. Supports 1080i!
	Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy	Sandbox Action	Pack-in trilogy containing GTA3, Vice City, and San Andreas. Three era-defining games where you can go anywhere and wreak havoc any way you want within vast, detailed urban landscapes. Essential.
	Grandia II	RPG	Grandia is your typical fantasy JRPG with a fantastic battle system that lets turn-based commands play out in real time, placing importance on countering and interrupting enemies. Compared to the first game on PS1 this has a bit of a darker story and edgier cast, but the focus on character development and dialogue brings out the charm in all of them. Graphically it has aged badly, but it's still playable. Word of warning: this version is very buggy compared to the DC original. Or you can try the (patched) PC port. Grandia III (PS2) has the prettiest graphics and best version of the series's battle system, but has a braindead story and zero charm.
	GrimGrimoire	RTS	A great-looking, sprite-based RTS that puts you in the shoes of an aspiring witch in a Harry Potter-esque school of wizardry, with the typical unit-summoning, resource-gathering, and upgrades of the genre in place of standard JRPG battling. It works surprisingly well on a console due to the vertical layout and the ability to pause to select your next action, surprisingly. The story is what you would expect from NIS, with a host of bizarre characters often named after cocktails for no apparent reason. Available on PSN.
	Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus	2D Fighting	Final entry in the heavy metal anime fighting series before its revival with Xrd. Gorgeous animations, pumping soundtrack, and over-the-top action. Competitive players will want the revised PC port. Otherwise essential.
	GunGrave	Action / TPS	Conceived by the author of Trigun, this is a super-stylish action game where you play as a coffin-swinging, gun-slinging badass. It's completely action-packed and never lets up for anything else, but as a result it's very short. (You're encouraged to replay stages for higher scores and collectibles.) Still, the experience is a blast, with great graphics, art direction, and soundtrack, as well as memorable boss battles and a moody story. It was even adapted into a very watchable anime series.
	GunGrave: OverDose	Action / TPS	Aside from slightly worse story presentation, OverDose improves on GunGrave in every way: a more extensive combat system, three playable characters with different fighting styles, a longer campaign (but not by much), and some unlockable features. It's still a very stylish, balls-to-the-wall action game where you mow down waves of enemies. Shame about the crappy English voice acting, though.
	.hack://IMOQ	Action / RPG	.hack://IMOQ (IMOQ stands for Infection, Mutation, Outbreak, and Quarantine, all different games in the series) revolve around the mysterious happenings in a fictional MMORPG called The World. The main character is a boy named Kite. On his first day playing, Kite's friend, Orca, falls into a coma, and Kite is given a mysterious item called the Twilight Bracelet by someone named Aura. Very fun game, but definitely not for everyone. Check out the .hack//G.U. trilogy below if you enjoy these.
	.hack://G.U. (trilogy)	Action / RPG	Three games: Rebirth, Reminisce, and Redemption. The sequel to above. Good gameplay, but can get a bit repetitive. Has fucking awesome cutscenes and animation that Cyberconnect is well known for, really great character developments in the story and a lot of epic moments. Soundtrack is also really good if you liked the previous .hack music style. Tons of sidequests, characters and stuff to collect if you're into that. Ported to PS4 and PC with an additional, fourth chapter.
	Haunting Ground	Survival Horror	Underrated Capcom survival horror game clearly inspired by the Clock Tower series. You spend most of the game running, hiding, and solving puzzles. Fantastic atmosphere and intriguing story. Essential for genre fans.
	Headhunter	Stealth / Action	Take the Metal Gear Solid formula, streamline the action, drop the overwrought plot for something that might as well be taken from some 1980s B action/sci-fi movie, and what's the result? Awesome. Originally on the Dreamcast; also had a PS2/Xbox sequel.
	Hitman: Blood Money	Stealth / Action	Almost as much of a puzzle game as a action/stealth, as there are tons of ways to accomplish your goals in each mission. If you have a small attention span, look elsewhere; this game is for perfectionists. Blood Money introduces a payment system, where the amount of money you make from a mission is dependent on how well you do on your objectives. This money is then used to upgrade your weapons and equipment in different ways. Also has multiple difficulties that actually change the AI, change the difficulty, and reduce how many quicksaves you get, which allows for tons of replayability.
	Homura	Shoot-'em-up	Europe-only release of a shoot-'em-up with a sort of steampunk feudal Japan theme. The character art is great, but the game itself is sadly really bland-looking. It also lacks more than one playable character or any extras. However it's a really solid shooter with a cool mechanic: aside from shooting, you can draw your sword to deflect enemy bullets and activate devastating slash chains. This feature is surprisingly addictive and adds some replay value.
	Ibara	Shoot-'em-up	Japan-only port of the beautiful-looking but brutal arcade shooter. Ibara's hidden Rank system means that the game actively tries to kill you as soon as you start doing too well in it, so you have to play while managing your own performance. This is a flawed but playable port, with a training mode and an all-new Arrange mode that makes the Rank system slightly more friendly. Recommended only for veterans.
	Ico	Puzzle Adventure	Cinematic, painterly adventure with a cryptic story. Solve environmental puzzles to escape a massive, forsaken castle. Hugely influential along with its follow-up, Shadow of the Colossus. Remastered in HD with restored content.
	IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix	Combat Racing / Mech Combat	A flawed but unique game based on an underrated cartoon about high-speed mecha combat racing. It's hard to explain, but races consist in managing a team of three pilots while engaging your rivals in direct combat and trying to keep them from crossing the finish line first. There is a lot of mecha customization, and the basic gameplay is really fun. Unfortunately the presentation is shoddy, the game modes are really repetitive, and multi-player is terrible. Still a cool title to check out if the concept interests you, or if you enjoyed the show.
	The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction	Action	Very fun action game where you play as the Hulk trying to gather resources to cure himself of his Hulk-mutation. You can cause tons of destruction, often destroying objects like cars which can then be utilised as weapons. Was a big influence on the developer's later game, Prototype, including open world destruction and fun traversal options like running up walls.
	Indigo Prophecy / Fahrenheit	Interactive Movie	The first of Quantic Dream's narrative adventures, which prompt you to make choices and see how the story plays out. Starts as an interesting thriller, but the story quickly spirals out of control. Still worth a look for the curious.
	Initial D Special Stage	Racing	An excellent arcadey touge racing game that's based on the Initial D Arcade Stage 2 arcade game from Sega. Along with the standard Legend of the Streets/arcade mode and time attack modes where you can race and upgrade your car, this game also includes a story mode that follows the storyline of the series up to the formation of Project D. Sadly, there's no split-screen or any kind of multiplayer mode. Released only in Japan, but the game is easy enough to play to not require a translation guide (except for certain story mode races). Also has a sequel on the PSP called Street Stage, and one on the PS3 called Extreme Stage.
	Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy	Platformer / Super Mario 64-esque	Another great franchise from Naughty Dog, Jak and Daxter is a lighthearted open world 'collect-a-thon' where you collect lots of stuff together with your annoying ugly otter/weasel ottsel.
	Jak II	Platformer / TPS	Goes in a different direction than its predecessor, this combines 3D platforming with Grand Theft Auto and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater gameplay. While it has a rough start, it quickly becomes a very fun and challenging (sometimes nearly impossible) game with a great story and some unforgettable boss battles. The game is drastically different to the first, so give it a chance even if you don't like the changes to begin with. Had a side-story game in PSP's Daxter, which fills in a few plot holes.
	Jak 3	Platformer / TPS	Once again, Jak Turismo 3 innovates upon the previous title in the series. Now, Jak is a wastelander, doing what he must to survive. While this game still has the great platforming for which the series is known, 99% of the missions are driving orientated. The great gameplay (now with less frustration!) driving, the variety in the missions driving, and the story driving make this a fantastic end to the main trilogy. Had a spin-off sequel in The Lost Frontier on PSP/PS2, though opinions are mixed. Give it a shot though, since there's some of each game present in it along with its new story - also, driving.
	Jak X : Combat Racing	Racing	Jak goes racing (which Naughty Dog is partly famous for). You can unlock past characters in the series by having certain game files like Jak 1, 2, 3, and Ratchet: Deadlocked on your memory card as well as hooking up to Daxter on the PSP to get more extra shit. WARNING: SOME VERSIONS HAVE A SAVE GLITCH THAT CAN FUCK YO SHIT UP ROYALLY. There are ways around it, so as long as you do what pros on the internet say, you'll probably be fine.
	Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis	Tycoon / Sim	The best Jurassic Park game out there. You're in control of John Hammond's organization and you have to build a theme park - with dinosaurs. Loads of attractions and tons of details which make up for an awesome and fun experience. PROTIP: Always check the weather forecast. If there's a tornado coming the next month, activate emergency mode immediately and hope that the tourists run out fast enough. Yes, they're that slow and if a tornado catches them it'll wreck your entire economy. Also on the Xbox and PC. The console versions have surprisingly good controls!
	Katamari Damacy	Ball Rollan Games	A quirky Japanese game that became unexpectedly popular. After the King of All Cosmos destroys the stars in a night of debauchery, his lilliputian son, the Prince, must roll up all sorts of objects on Earth to make new stars. The simple and addictive gameplay consists of rolling a ball (the titular katamari) in levels full of objects and people, which you must roll up to make the katamari increase in size; as it grows bigger, you can roll up bigger things, like cars, buildings and islands. The low-polygon, cel-shaded look and psychedelic visuals add to its charm, not to mention the notable, multi-genre soundtrack.
	Killzone	FPS	An ambitious "Halo killer" that didn't quite live up to the hype, but still impresses with a gritty, hard sci-fi design. Also available as Killzone HD on PS3.
	Kill Switch	TPS	You play as a soldier which is mind controlled by the bad guy while you go through some missions. Also, your memory has been erased and your wife is now dead, so you're seeking for revenge. Yeah, the story is shallow and forgettable, but that's not the point of the game. The thing is this game is the precursor (along with WinBack) of the "cover system" used in pretty much all TPSs of this generation. The gameplay is based on taking cover on corners, boxes and other objects to avoid getting shot and then try to flank them. It has a nice arsenal of sub-machineguns and assault rifles, decent enemy AI, but it's linear as fuck and somewhat repetitive. Anyway, if you're looking for a Gears of War on the good and old PS2, this is your best shot. Also on Xbox and PC.
	The King of Fighters 2006/Maximum Impact 2	Fighting / 3D	A 3D King of Fighters game, sequel to Maximum Impact (in fact, its JP/EU name is Maximum Impact 2), but much better done. Unlike MI1, it's quite enjoyable. However, the roster is sadly thin in numbers until you unlock more characters. Even then, there's a fuck ton of other unlockables, many of which will appeal to fans of other SNK games/series. Depending on your nostalgia, you might want to change the voices from English to Japanese, though the English VA's are quite amusing at times. Has a Japan-only upgraded version (Regulation A) that adds four more characters and restores the classic 3-on-3 gameplay from other KOFs in exchange of the Story Mode and cheap-ass Armor Ralf.
	The King of Fighters '94 Re-Bout	Fighting / 2D	A HD remake of the the first game in the series, with all new 3D backgrounds full of cameos from later games. Now with the ability to edit your team an including Saisyu and Rugal as playable characters.
	The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga	Fighting / 2D / Compilation	Collects KOFs 94, 95, 96, 97, and 98. That's a lot of KOF! Enjoy your team battle games! Each is just different enough to warrant various play-styles. Note that the Japanese release doesn't include 94 or 98.
	The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match	Fighting / 2D	One of the best King of Fighters just got better! Adding in every character from '94-'97, more EX versions, added stages, customizable fighting styles, and updated selectable 3D backgrounds. It even includes the original '98. Any SNK fan will tell you that the underdog Sports Team rocks! Also available on Xbox 360 and PC
	The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match (Tougeki ver.)	Fighting / 2D	Unlike 98 UM, this game isn't much a remake but a whole new game based on the original KoF 2002, with all new high-res backgrounds, illustrations, more moves for the characters and a awesome new soundtrack. It has the most characters yet in the whole series (a whooping 66 characters), including practically everyone from the NESTS saga plus some, as well as replacing Totally-Not-Tetsuo with a original character with the same gameplay. Tougeki version adds a few balancing tweaks here and there, thus being the preferable version. Also available on Xbox 360 and PC
	The King of Fighters XI	Fighting / 2D	The first official main-series King of Fighters game not to be named by the year it came out. As the eleventh game in the series, KoF XI starts the series with a fresh new faces and story, gameplay adjustments like full tag-team gameplay and Dream Cancels, and nice new 2D sprites. Not the height of the series exactly (you'll have to determine that yourself, though!), but definitely a great game and a must for any fighting fan. Has some exclusive characters and stages to the PS2 version, along with being able to edit sprite colors on every character for your own personal pallet swaps.
	Kingdom Hearts / Final Mix	Action / RPG	Disney/Square crossover that became super-popular. Sora is a kid whose home was destroyed by "The Heartless", and he journeys to different Disney film worlds with Donald and Goofy to rescue his friends, home, and "The King". There's a cornball story to explain this, but combat is the main meat. It's fun and active, with melee, magic, and special techs. Even customize your abilities and what style to main. There's also some (bland) shooting segments as you voyage between worlds. Everything looks quite pretty, the music's great, and the bosses are quite impressive. Final Fantasy 7 and FF8 characters also appear. Even if you don't keep up with the series, at least give this a try. Final Mix includes the additional bosses, English voices, and new difficulty level from the localized version and adds exclusive content. Released worldwide as HD 1.5 Remix. Also available on PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
	Kingdom Hearts II / Final Mix+	Action / RPG	Three Hour Tutorial. If you survive that, there's lots of new Disney worlds to explore and revisit, and presentation is polished and impressive. Combat has sped up to be a hectic melee fest and downplays magic thanks to quick-time events. Boss battles get even bigger and more visually assaulting here. The melodrama has been amped-up significantly, so you may end up scene-skipping. If you like the story, Chain of Memories comes before this chronologically. If you have an emulator or a modded PS2, the Final Mix version has been translated into English. As usual, there's an extra boss that explains a couple "wtf" moments in the story, extra keyblades, but most importantly, that awesome Roxas fight that was originally a cutscene is fully playable. Released worldwide as HD 2.5 Remix. Also available on PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
	Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories	Action / RPG	A remake of the GBA game Chain of Memories which helps fill some gaps between KH1 and 2. This version includes several new story scenes and boss battles. Battling is a real-time card-based affair, which takes some getting used to, but still plays like KH. The Disney worlds take the form of randomly-generated rooms which you have some control over; the worlds themselves are all recycled from KH. Other KH games are on PSP and DS. Remastered version included with Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix on PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
	Kinetica	Racing	Think Wipeout meets Extreme G, meets Rollcage, meets SSX, and you'll nearly be there. This game is an absolute blast to play. Fans of Wipeout will love this, although the AI can be unforgiving at times.
	Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil	Platformer	Unrelated to the first Klonoa game plot-wise, but has the same addictive 2.5D platform action and puzzle-esque boss encounters, along with similar themes and surprising twists. The fully-3D graphics are impressive and bring the mind the early 3D Sonic titles, and while the game is short, it packs an emotional punch and a handful of amazing setpieces.
	Last Bronx	Fighting	Arcade-perfect, Japan-only port of a somewhat underrated SEGA fighter. Unlike Virtua Fighter, Last Bronx is very fast-paced and brutal, with the timer set at 30 seconds by default. However, it does have depth and challenge. Also an amazing "urban beat-'em-up" style, an involved story, and a cast full of outlandish gang members with martial arts weapons (and hilarious alternate weapons to unlock). A hidden gem. Also on Saturn and PC, but uglier-looking.
	Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2	Action / Adventure	Followup to the original Soul Reaver that continues Raziel's narrative as he uncovers his own past while torn between the dueling machinations of Kain and Moebius. The game features considerably less clunky combat and more interesting puzzles than its predecessor while maintaining an ahead-of-its-time deep philisophical narrative combined with excellent voice acting.
	Legacy of Kain: Defiance	Action / Adventure	The final entry in the series. This time you play as both Kain and Raziel, with Kain serving as a more combat oriented character and Raziel being more like the traditional Soul Reaver-style puzzler. The controls and combat are much improved compared to the previous games. The story and characters maintain their exceptional quality, and the game serves as a fine, if unintended, conclusion for the series.
	The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers	Hack 'n Slash	Okay, this game is fucking awesome. Play as Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, or Islidur, and fuck shit up. Also on Xbox and Gamecube.
	Makai Kingdom	SRPG	Play a strategy game by NIS (Disgaea, Phantom Brave, Mana Khemia, Soul Nomad) where you find a book with a villainous soul inside. Great time-waster, very humorous. To unlock everything, you have to play through it multiple times. That said, it's easy to blow through with your new game+ parties, but the unlocked bosses can be assholes. Has a (Japan-only) PSP port with an extra scenario and other stuff.
	Mana-Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis	RPG	Cook up some danger with alchemy in this spin off of the Atelier series. Sorta like the Japanese version of Harry Potter. Has a fantastic soundtrack, great characters and one of the better turn based battle systems.
	Mana-Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy	RPG	Same as the above but even better, its alchemy role-playing at its best. Direct sequel to the first, so play that one before you grab this. Just stay away from the PSP ports because of, what else, LOAD TIMES!!!!
	Marvel vs. Capcom 2	Fighting / 2D	I WANNA TAKE YOU FOR A RIDE! 56 4 characters from both sides duke it out for the hell of it in this arcade port. Expensive and rare as dicks. Sequel is out on PS3/360, so that may be an easier option. Also on Dreamcast, but even more expensive and rare as male genitalia, keep in mind the PS2 and Xbox versions changed hitboxes on several moves, also removing certain invincibility frames on several moves.
	Maximo: Ghosts to Glory	Action / Platformer	The newest cast of characters and series of adventures in the Ghosts 'n Goblins universe, Maximo follows tradition by being damn hard. The game is funny and has that certain 'taste' to it that definitely reminds you of the older Ghost 'n Goblins games. Very underrated, this was an early release on the PS2... and yes, you do lose armor until there's nothing left but boxer shorts. Fun Fact: The artwork for this game was done by the artist who did many of Famitsu's covers and also some of the old Adventure Island covers.
	Maximo vs. Army of Zin	Action / Platformer	The sequel to Maximo: Ghosts to Glory, this game continues Maximo's unfortunate adventures into the realms of life and death and the escapades required in saving that goddamn princess. Considerably easier than the first game, Army of Zin is also much more polished. It's semi-rare because it did not sell well in it's initial release, due to stiff competition from Devil May Cry (another Capcom game!) and Ninja Gaiden. Sadly, the third game was cancelled.
	Mega Man Anniversary Collection	Action / Platformer	Very good compilation of Mega Man 1-8. MM7 has some graphical issues and MM8 is based on the PS1 version instead of the superior Saturn one, but otherwise it's all good. As an extra it includes Mega Man: The Power Battle and Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, two cute fighting games previously exclusive to arcades, which are worth playing.
	Mega Man X Collection	Action / Platformer	Did you enjoy the Mega Man X series? This is pretty much the best of it on one disc, with save files so no more passwords. (Though if you really want them, X and X2 still use them.) Mega Man X and X2 are basically perfect emulation of the SNES originals, and X3 through X6 are all running in a strange pseudo PS1 backwards compatibility mode. This means you have to live with X3's shitty Bossa Nova sounding OST superior arrangements from the PS1 port. Still ridiculously cheap for a sealed new copy on Amazon. HDTV Users Beware: If your TV doesn't support 240p mode, do not use Component video cables with this game. X3 and on run in 240p and will not display, use Composite video cables instead.
	Mega Man X 8	Action / Platformer	The last main title in the X series, X8 is basically everything that X7 should have been. It returns to the good old 2d sidescrolling gameplay, makes Axl into an actually useful character and X is back to his old badass self instead of the agnsty emo from X7. New to this game is the choice between three navigators before each stage, each with their own specialization, as well as a shop where you buy upgrades with metals collected on the stages, basically replacing the old heart and sub-tanks. Also on PC.
	Mega Man X: Command Mission	RPG	A turn-based RPG spin-off of the X series which actually takes place after X8, you can play with X (who got a weird redesign), Zero and Axl as well as a bunch of newcomers, with a simple yet dynamic battle system and tons of customization as well as lots of sidequests to keep you entertained in between missions. Also on the GameCube.
	Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction	Action / Adventure	Play as a mercenary doing various destructive jobs for multiple warring factions in a completely destructable open world North Korea. You can take missions at any time or just mess around blowing up everything you come across and making everyone mad at you.
	Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance	Stealth / Being a Badass Ladyboy	The stealth action of the famous MGS1, now with a whiny main character nobody likes! Do cartwheels! Strip naked! Manage to avoid drowning! Prepare to face the consequences of your betrayal! I NEED SCISSORS! 61! The Substance version comes with plenty of neat extras, including a lol-tastic Tony Hawk-esque skateboarding minigame. Still, one piece of a great game. Also available on PC and Xbox. Xbox version is generally considered inferior while PC version requires fan mods to work well on modern systems. Was also released as part of the HD collection on PS3, PS Vita, and Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 version works on Xbox One.
	Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence	Stealth / Being a Badass	Become the badass you've always wanted to be. Eat wild animals. Meet strange and violent new people. Be groped and tortured by large men! Reconsider your mental stability! Kill the people you love and be PROUD OF IT. The Subsistence edition comes with two modes of camera (classic and behind-the-back) switchable at any time during gameplay, plenty of neat extras (a theater, Ape Escape minigame, and others), "online play" (not available anymore), and even updated versions of the MSX games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2. This is perhaps the best fucking special edition of any game ever, and the game itself is beyond awesome. Was also released as part of HD collection on PS3, PS VIta, and Xbox 360. Xbox 360 version works on Xbox One.
	Metal Slug Anthology	Run 'n Gun / Arcade / Being a Badass	The first six Metal Slug games (+X) in one convenient package! Also released on the PSP and the Wii. The PSP version is inferior to the PS2 due to loading. The Wii version may be better than PS2 depending on the control scheme you use, but has less loading than PSP overall. For Wii, a Gamecube controller is HIGHLY advised. Sadly, outside of an art gallery, it's just the arcade games with none of the console version extras of previous releases like Training School and such. Still, it's all kinds of cool. As a space-monster-killing soldier once said: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!? GET THIS SHIT, FOOL!
	Michigan: Report from Hell	Adventure / Survival Horror	A zany Suda51 game where you play in first-person as a perverted cameraman reporting on a monster outbreak in Michigan. By focusing on different objects you can help your crew navigate obstacles and avoid death, while also focusing on the sexy reporter to boost your "Erotic" score. Different actions will result in distinct characters showing up, and the ending changing. Has the ridiculous and grotesque sense of humor that characterizes Suda games. Received a very limited PAL release in English, but no NA release at all.
	Midway Arcade Treasures (volumes 1, 2, 3)	Compilation	A collection in three volumes for a total of 52 arcade games, including gems like Defender, Gauntlet, Joust, Paperboy, Rampage, Robotron 2084, Sinistar, Smash TV, Xybots, Hard Drivin', Pit Fighter, Mortal Kombat II, Primal Rage, Hydro Thunder, and San Francisco Rush 2049. That's some hardcore shit there. See the complete listing here: vol.1, vol.2, and vol.3. Also on Xbox, Gamecube, and PS3.
	Mister Mosquito	Action Flight Sim	A strange PS2 launch title. You fly around the house of a typical Japanese family as a mosquito, looking for opportunities to suck the blood of the attractive teenage daughter. While avoiding insecticide and flyswatters, you have to hit your gigantic target's "Relax Points" in order to stop them from chasing you. The premise is accompanied by zany and unnerving scenes as your host family does everything and more to rid itself from you. Has a few unlockables and New Game+ mode.
	Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front	Mech Strategy Shooter	A third-person strategy game where you command a squad of pilots from Zeon, the antagonists of the original Gundam series. Before each mission you map out your path and strategy for the AI to follow and during the missions you can swap between squadmates in order to execute on the plan. Better mechs and pilots are unlocked as the game progresses. There are post-game unlockable simulator missions where you can play as various heroes from the series.
	Monster Hunter	Action / Adventure / RPG / MMO	Kind of hard to describe, Monster Hunter is like a mix between Phantasy Star Online and Pokémon, except instead of trying to catch 'em all, you're trying to kill 'em all. The game is divided into two parts, half the missions for your character are purely single player, where the other half are online where you can join a party of up to three other people. Unfortunately, Capcom has canceled Monster Hunter's North America servers in light of all the modern sequels; still a worthy pick up for single player, plus the "early Final Fantasy meets Jurassic Park" atmosphere is priceless. Joystiq best describes the series in saying, "Find it, stab it and then make it into a nice hat!"
	Monster Rancher 4	Sim / RPG	Arguably the best Monster Rancher game on the system. In this game, you can create hundreds monsters made from scanning any number of CDs, DVDs, PS1 games, or PS2 games. Seriously, you could spend hours, not even touching the main game, just rummaging through your house to try and find your favorite CD's to check out what monsters are in them. You can raise up to 5 of these monsters on an ever growing ranch, feeding them, training them, going on adventures with them, and competing in really awesome tournaments. Try not to get too attached to your monsters, because they age and die. And you'll miss them. ;_;
	Monster Rancher EVO	RPG	This game gets a lot of flak from being different from the first four Monster Rancher games, and you know what? That's retarded. As far as summoning monster from CDs/DVDs goes, it's exactly the same. So is battling. The difference is in the training. Instead of signing your monster up for some job and then watching a pass/fail clip, you play a short mini-game where they take part in the circus you live in. The game also tries to add a story (it's not very good, but hey you don't gotta care about it), and actually let's you EXPLORE with your monster, which is totally new. The rest is the same; same battling, same cryogenically freezing and fusing, and all that other junk. It's a good game, and in some ways, better than 4, if you can get past the shitty story segments. I miss my Suezo ;_;
	Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks	Beat'em Up	The PS2 era was a dark age for the Mortal Kombat franchise, with the games varying from mediocre to awlful. But a gleam of light existed in the form of Shaolin Monks, an awesome beat'em up which retells the events of the second game and features one of the best multiplayer experiences ever!
	Namco Classic Fighter Collection	Fighting / 3D / Compilation	A three-in-one package that includes Tekken Tag (good), Tekken 4 (great) and Soulcalibur II (absolutely amazing). Any of these three are justifiable purchases on their own, but this collection is a blessing for those looking to fill up their fighter collection.
	Namco Museum: 50th Anniversary	Compilation	A nice package of old-school gaming, with 16 arcade classics like Pac-Man, Galaga, Pole Position, Rolling Thunder, Rally-X, Bosconian, and Xevious.
	Nightshade	Hack 'n Slash / Platformer	A direct sequel to Shinobi that follows the story of Akujiki (some cursed sword), but this time you play as Hibana, a female ninja. Plays exactly as Shinobi, so if you liked it, get this one also. Anyway, difficulty stays the same so expect having a hard time on some missions and specially on some bosses. This one has a great soundtrack too.
	Neo-Geo Battle Coliseum	Fighting / 2D	A crossover fighter that pulls characters from every corner of the SNK universe, including Metal Slug, Samurai Shodown and Athena, to name a few. Other than the off-beat roster it is a somewhat lackluster game without much lasting appeal, but a real treat for SNK fanatics.
	Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle	RTS / Historical Strategy	Another excellent entry to the longtime japanese historical simulation series by KOEI. This entry marks the series' transition from a turn-based strategy to a real-time strategy in a fully-rendered map where every actions and battles of each clan can be seen and paused in just one push of a button allowing you to plan each action by your own leisure. Besides the usual build up your economy and military to conquer Japan, the importance of researching technology is the main focus of Iron Triangle, either you have to research it yourself(Which requires officers with a specific aptitude for a specific technological tree and a heavy cost of time and gold to research it) or you have to negotiate another clan for it by diplomacy. Despite being a massive strategy game for the PS2, it controls rather well and gives you enough shortcuts that you'll be able to handle it well for the most part.
	NiGHTS Into Dreams...	Action / Adventure	Japan-only release as far as the PS2 is concerned, but still every bit as good as the Saturn original. Fly through rings in mindfuck levels, listen to the funky SEGA music, figure out boss patterns and all that good stuff. Definitely recommended if you don't feel like getting a Saturn and your PS2 is up to the task.
	Odin Sphere	RPG / Beat 'em Up	2D side-scrolling RPG that takes place inside a book. Choose one of five heroes armed with magical soul-sucking weapons and stab/shoot/spear/whip the hell out of anything that gets in your way. Gorgeous bosses and engrossing story; quite a bit of lag in certain areas/against certain bosses, but it's fixed somewhat for Europe.
	Okage: Shadow King	RPG	While the gameplay is very typical RPG flair, this game sets itself apart by having a fantastically gloomy and humorous atmosphere that feels like a Tim Burton/Henry Selnick movie animated by a Japanese mangaka. An early release on the PS2, it still stands out as a cult classic. This game wasn't programmed very well, so there's an annoying bug triggered by saving that results in your latest save file disappearing. Either save twice, or emulate this game and use save states. Don't let this bug ultimately put you off, though, it's a great game with a good sense of humor and superb soundtrack.
	Ōkami	Action / Adventure	Plays much like a Zelda game, but with a well-implemented painting mechanic, a wonderful sumi-e inspired art style, and plenty of stuff to do in a feudal Japanese world. Not a lot of challenge for power gamers, but still a great game. You will think you're fighting the final boss about three times before you actually do fight the final boss. Average play time is about 50 hours+, so be happy. It was ported to Wii (not great) and PS3 in HD (very good).
	Oni	Action / Beat 'em Up	What, a Bungie game on the PS2? Yeah, this is from before they were bought by Microsoft. You play as Konoko, a sexy but deadly cop in future Tokyo who needs to stop future crime and shit. It arguably feels more like a Ghost in the Shell game than the actual Ghost in the Shell games. Has a small, but dedicated modding community. Anniversary Edition mod is recommended for the PC version.
	Onimusha: Warlords	Action / Adventure	Boasts similar gameplay to the Resident Evil series, with fixed camera angles, tank controls and tight resource rationing, but takes place in a fantasy feudal Japan and focuses on melee combat with various magical weapons. Though not particularly flashy, the game builds tension nicely and presents a beautiful setting, along with some awesomely grotesque monsters. Longer than your average RE title. Also available on Xbox with enhancements as Genma Onimusha. Was later ported to PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC, but without extras from Xbox version.
	Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny	Action / Adventure	Takes place in the same setting but features a different protagonist. Length has been sacrificed in exchange for multiple story paths, and while combat remains pretty much the same, the controls can be somewhat difficult to deal with.
	Onimusha 3: Demon Siege	Action / Adventure	Marks the return of original protagonist Samanosuke, now in a time-traveling story that switches constantly between feudal Japan and modern-day Paris, also under assault by demons. In Paris you play as police officer Jacques Blanc, modeled after and voiced by Jean Reno (in French), whose combat style is substantially different. Generally considered a return to form for the series and a strong conclusion.
	Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams	Action / Adventure	A radical shift for the series, with an all-new cast and gameplay that leaves fixed camera angles, pre-rendered backgrounds and limited resources behind in favor of more typical action-RPG combat. Play as one of multiple characters while the others fight under A.I. control. Can be very tedious, but the level of challenge is more even than in previous games. Has lots of silly extras, including Street Fighter costumes for everyone.
	OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast	Driving	Official sequel to the classic eighties arcade game were you speed across picturesque highways on a Ferrari Testarossa with a beautiful woman by your side. The vacation-y visuals and smooth framerate are wonderful and keep to the core of what made the original so fun. There's fifteen cars to pick from, three game modes, and a massive selection of songs. Most side-content has to be unlocked by spending points, which can be lame.
	PaRappa the Rapper 2	Rhythm	The return of the best rapping dog series ever. Got poor reviews for being the much of the same as the first game, which doesn't make sense, considering the first kicked ass, and you can never have too much of a good thing.
	Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie	Action / Adventure / FPS	That's right, a good movie tie-in! Made by Rayman/Beyond Good and Evil creator Michel Ancel. Apparently Peter Jackson liked BG&E so much he chose Michel's team to create the game! Play in first person as Jack, or in third person as Kong himself. Really fun, really atmospheric and very faithful to the movie, with some great voice acting from the movie's cast. One of the first games to throw away the HUD and rely on visual/audio cues to let you know what's up. While it's short (4–6 hours) and could use a few more Kong levels it's a great game and worth checking out. Also on the Xbox 360, Xbox, Gamecube and PC. The Xbox 360 version is superior due to heavily upgraded graphics.
	Phantom Brave	SRPG	Loli necromancer and her phantom companions overcome prejudice, do odd jobs for money, save the world. Distinguished from other NI SRPGs in that the movement is not grid-based (which can be exploited, especially on ice levels) and that you can use literally anything you can pick up as a weapon. Even a fish. Even your opponents. The Wii port revamps a number of aspects, such as streamlining stat displays, adding a new scenario, some new items and attacks. Ports on Wii, PSP, and PC/Steam with an extra scenario and other stuff.
	Pop'n Music series	Rhythm / HAMBURGER SMASHAN'	Beatmania's colorful and equally difficult younger brother. The songlist covers a wide variety of genres, to the point they designate some songs by sticking adjectives together. Japan-only. Console editions of the first six games were on the PS, while 7 through 14 were released on the PS2. There's also a "Best Hits" version, with the fan favorites of those first six mixes. Provided you have some place to buy spare arcade buttons, the special controller is relatively easy to build.
	Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time	Platformer / Action	An attempt to reboot the Prince of Persia franchise, Ubisoft succeeded with stellar results. A fun platformer where you run on walls like a ninja and can control time in case you fuck up (aka rewind, bitches). The storyline is pretty cool but overall forgettable, and the fighting is decent. They reprinted the game when the (lame) movie came out, so it should be easy to find.
	Prince of Persia: Warrior Within	Platformer / Action	Picks up where The Sands of Time left off. Has a much darker tone compared to the previous game. Lots of blood, violence and oversexualized Sexy women. The combat system has been revamped so that you can now dual wield weapons and execute enemies in style while the platforming is still amazing.
	Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones	Platformer / Action	The third game in the series. This time around, both the platforming and fighting gameplay are on par, but the storyline is just confusing and dumb. Still, a nice end to the trilogy overall. Had later side-stories on other systems revolving around similar concepts, though your mileage may vary on those.
	Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy	Action / Throwin' Muthafuckers Across The Room	Pick soldiers up, smack them into walls and then throw them across the room, WITH YOUR MIND. You control your telekinesis (one of four mind powers, one of which, when used on an unaware enemy, has you make their head explode in a graphic display of blood and brain matter AND restore quite a bit of your energy) with the analog sticks. One of the few games on the ps2 to use the havok physics engine for ragdoll fun.
	Psychonauts	Platformer / Adventure	Explore a summer camp for psychics as Psychonaut-in-training Raz. Levels consist of platforming through manifestations of the charming and quirky instructors' minds. Things become more interesting in the latter half of the game, where you're tasked with rescuing the camp-goers while entering more deranged minds. Plenty of collectibles and unlockable abilities assist in progression, à la Banjo-Kazooie. A sequel has been announced for 2018. Also available on XBOX and PC.
	The Punisher	TPS / Being a Badass	Play as the baddest anti-hero ever. Shoot shit up with 15 different guns including a fucking awesome flame thrower. Awesome interrogation mode that lets you make an enemy's face interact with many different sharp objects(such as fan blades and buzz saws) to squeeze out info. The game makes you feel like a total badass the entire time. Also, it's made by the same guy's who made the Red Faction and Saint's Row games, so you know it's guaranteed to be fun.
	R-Type Final	Shoot 'em Up	Stop the Bydo menace for the very last time, unlocking 101 different ships with unique Wave Cannons, Force Devices and Bits. This includes everything from the previous games and even ships from Irem's other shoot-em-ups. Unlocking the ships takes time, and because most of them require using a certain ship for anywhere from 1 minute to 3 hours of flight time, it's kind of tedious, but the sheer variety of weapons can make it all worth it. There's also five difficulty levels, and the two easier modes let you keep your Force and Bits after losing a life if you need the extra edge.
	RAD: Robot Alchemic Drive	Action / Giant Robots	You pick one of three characters and drive one of three giant robots called Meganites to fight against an oncoming alien invasion. The gameplay is interesting since you don't actually pilot inside your Meganite directly, rather you control from a distance to avoid getting hit (just don't go too far away or your control will miss up). The actual controls are pretty sweet, like whipping your fists like the motherfucking Big O. This game also has some of the worst voice acting ever - which actually helps with the whole 80's anime/monster movie vibe going on.
	Radiata Stories	RPG	A JRPG where you play as a typical unruly teen boy in a fantasy world. The game's main draw is its persistent world filled with hundreds of characters with unique dialogue, backstories and schedules, most of which can be recruited. Fights are carried out in real-time, but all your allies are A.I.-controlled. Also, you can kick anything and anyone to find loot or start fights. A very fun game for collectors (requires multiple play-throughs to recruit everyone) that's light on story. Has post-game content.
	Ratchet & Clank	Shootan / Platforman	Be a cat-thing with a robot friend. Use various guns and gadgets (some traditional, some outrageous) as you traverse various planets and kick ass third-person shoot. Some platforming elements, as well as tons of hidden items in every level. Don't be put off because the sequels have more content, all three are worth getting. Had many other sequels and spinoffs after PS2 trilogy on Sony PS3 and PSP.
	Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando/Locked and Loaded	Shootan / Platforman	The sequel to Ratchet & Clank. More weapons, more gadgets, more variety, more humor. More RPG than the first. Can be hard, especially at the glider segments. This game made Ratchet legendary in Japan for his colossal eyebrows on their boxart. It's like a reverse "American Kirby".
	Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal!	Shootan / Platforman	The third (and best) game in the series. EVEN MORE CONTENT! Even more RPG than the second, and more mission-segmented and shootan-oriented. Definitely worth picking up. Has (off- and on-line) multiplayer, but the PS2 servers have been shut down, so expect to fuck around with XLink Kai if you want to play it online. Trilogy's available on PS3 with some bugs, but the multiplayer servers are still up.
	Ratchet: Deadlocked	Shootan / Gladiatan	This game deviates slightly from the gameplay of the first three Ratchet games, as platforming is all but taken out, and Clank is merely a story character. Deadlocked is an entire game made out of the Galactic Ranger missions and arena combat of Up Your Arsenal, with fun extras thrown in, 2 robots that will do your bidding, and a great 2 player co-operative mode. Play the first three R&C games before checking this one out, but it is very much worth playing. Also on PS3 with online multiplayer, but expect a fair deal of performance issues and minor bugs.
	Rayman 2: Revolution	Platformer / Action	A port of Rayman 2: The Great Escape. Play as Rayman, a limbless hero that has to save Glade of Dreams by defeating the Robo-Pirates. Features many improvements including better graphics, voice acting, a full coherent 3D world, new bosses, minigames and so on. Give this a try if you haven't played any of the Rayman 2 ports.
	Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc	Platformer / Action	Rayman is back in the third major installment. Rayman has to stop André from taking over the world. This installment is more light-hearted compared to Rayman 2 and doesn't itself too serious, don't want be all DARK 'N EDGY in a children's game. An HD version is available on the PSN/XBLA.
	Red Dead Revolver	Shootan / Cowboyan	Play as multiple Wild West characters and kill everyone. Multiple characters with different play-styles/weapons make for an interesting single-player and multiplayer experience. Make money and buy new weapons by playing well. Most likely the best Wild West game yet, along with its successor, Red Dead Redemption - unless you're super old and hold a torch for Lucasarts' Outlaws.
	The Red Star	Beat-'em-Up / Shoot-'em-Up	Based on a mostly unknown comic of the same name, though the game's plot is different. The setting is an alternate-universe revolutionary Russia that combines steampunk and magic. Play as one of three distinct characters through isometric beat-'em-up stages, then fight bosses in overhead-view, shoot-'em-up affairs where you'll have to memorize the bullet patterns. There are also straight-up horizontal shoot-'em-up sections interspersed throughout the game. There is two-player co-op. All in the all the game is rather short, but highly replayable, challenging and rewarding.
	Resident Evil Code: Veronica X	Survival Horror	It's the first in the series to use 3D backgrounds instead of pre-rendered ones, and features dual-wielding weapons. It's also somewhat more forgiving (you can retry failed scenarios). You play as Claire and later Chris Redfield in an Umbrella HQ infiltration mission. It doesn't look quite as good as the DC original and the voice acting can be taxing, but this version includes new cutscenes mostly focused on Wesker being the camp-tastic badass he is. Also features a battle side-game similar to "The Mercenaries" where you can play as him. This is possibly the best of the classic Resident Evil titles before the shift with RE4. Also on the PS3, but the supposedly "HD" version looks hardly any better.
	Red Faction	FPS	Be an anti-government violent rebel communist in the future in a colonized Mars. Great setting and awesome fun. Plus you can blow holes in shit using Geo-mod.
	Red Faction II	FPS	Not as good as the first, but still a solid shooter. Multplayer is awesome fun with a friend as games can last up to one hour.
	Resident Evil 4	Survival Horror	Turned the series into a more action-heavy third-person shooter with minimal puzzles and more generous ammo/items, and brought back RE2's Leon Kennedy. Fortunately the results are amazing and while the game is no longer scary it still gets quite tense (not to mention gory). The story is the typical nonsensical RE melodrama, now with added self-awareness. An absolute blast to play through, with wonderful level design and pacing. The GCN original has better graphics, but this has lots of extra content over it. The Wii version is the "best of both worlds" and has the best controls. The PSN HD port is based on this version and boasts PS Move compatibility.
	Rogue Galaxy	RPG	Developed by the people behind Dark Cloud and similar in style and approach, but with a Star Wars-esque space opera setting. The story and characters are pretty nondescript but the gameplay is very fun, with active-time combat allowing for pausing to issue commands. The game boasts ridiculous amounts of side-content including massive optional sub-systems, which will keep you busy for weeks if not months. The cel-shaded graphics are pleasant and the world design is unoriginal, but colorful.
	Romancing SaGa	RPG	Delicious JRPG/WRPG fusion. Start the game as any of eight characters, each with their own quest. You don't have any fucking EXP or levels as your stats will levels up semi-randomly after battles with no apparent rhyme or reason. No hand holding bullshit here, either. After a character's opening quest, you have access to pretty much the entire world. You gotta find your own quests and figure that shit out on your own. Trying to understand all the systems, subsystems and other technical stuff going on will make your brain explode. You're better off to let things happen and enjoy the ride. This game is for masochists or for people who want something different in their JRPGs. English remake of the first game in the original SNES trilogy, of which the first and third game have fan-translations and are also worth a shot. New Game + Feature will allow you to carry some stuff over (Shop Clout, etc). It's even required to play more than once to access the secrets.
	Rule of Rose	Survival Horror	An incredibly cinematic game, Rule of Rose puts you in the shoes of Jennifer, a schoolgirl trapped in a world ruled by a group of young girls and their psychotic whimsies. Gameplay is chapter-based and consists of Jennifer and her loyal dog Brown searching for objects or fulfilling specific tasks, encountering enemies and bosses along the way. The game generated some controversy for its perceived sexual themes between minors. The atmosphere, narrative and soundtrack of Rule of Rose are all top-notch, but unfortunately playing the actual game is terribly frustrating due to repetitive tasks and clunky combat. Unless you really want to experience the game firsthand, you may be better off watching a Let's Play of it. and the gameplay is nothing too difficult or frustrating if you're used to the general clunkiness of Silent Hill. Play it. It's good.
	Rygar: The Legendary Adventure	Action / Adventure	A spiritual remake of the 80's Arcade/NES title Rygar (which is on the recommended NES games list), you are put in the shoes of the titular hero as you travels through levels in the land of Argool, a fictional island province of ancient Greece, to destroy the Titans who have scoured the land. Your main weapon is a shield known as the Diskarmor, which can be thrown and summoned back via a long chain, and shreds foes with spikes protruding from it's sides. It's usually accepted that God of War ripped off paid great homage to this game, though nobody likes to talk about that. There is a Wii remake, stay far, far away from it.
	Samurai Shodown Anthology	Compilation / 2D / Fighting	Samurai Shodown 1 to 6. Sadly it lacks SS5 Special (because that was sold separately - but it never got an US release), but otherwise it gets everything right.
	Samurai Western	Arcade / Beat 'em Up / Being a Badass	Actually a spin-off to the Way of the Samurai series, this game places you in the shoes of a Samurai named Gojiro who travels to the old west to kill his brother. That's fucking awesome. Actually has a level system making it similar to the beat 'em ups of old (although I would call it a slash 'em up), with a score card and everything. Character customization is present, and so is multiplayer, but it's sub-par and has to be unlocked. Can be quite challenging. You can slice through cowboys like a knife cuts through warm butter, and the opening intro wants you to KNOW how badass you are. You can play as other, gun wielding characters in other modes.
	Saru! Getchu! Million Monkeys	Action	Japan-only spin-off of Ape Escape with much harder, fast-paced gameplay. The monkeys have taken over Tokyo with high-tech weaponry, and it's up to you to catch them all with a diverse array of gadgets, including a jetpack and laser blaster. The game starts with you fighting a giant mech and doesn't really let up. Excellent cel-shaded graphics, multiple playable characters (including series antagonist Specter), a surprisingly intense story, and lots of additional modes, including four-player free-for-alls. The best Ape Escape.
	Second Sight	Stealth / Shootan	Think simplistic splinter cell with crazy psychic powers and a government conspiracy plot. Made by free radical, makers of the Timesplitters Series. Some fun powers and well-designed levels.
	Sega Ages 2500	Compilation / Remake	A budget series spanning 33 volumes full of Sega classics, either updated, remade, compiled, or all of the above. Not every release is created equal, as a lot of the early volumes are specifically low-rent, but the series got better over time. Notable for porting rare/obscure titles and even Saturn titles onto the PS2 with updated graphics like Dragon Force, Die Hard Arcade, Fighting Vipers, & Panzer Dragoon. Also, the later compilation volumes are about as complete and perfectly emulated as possible, containing all series' titles, ports, continental releases, and sometimes even prototypes. If you can't play imports, see the Sega Classics Collection below.
	Sega Classics Collection	Compilation / Remake	While the USA and Europe missed out on most of the Sega Ages 2500 series, at least they got this pack as a consolation prize. It includes Monaco GP (not to be confused with Super Monaco GP), Fantasy Zone, Space Harrier, Golden Axe, Bonanza Bros, Columns, Virtua Racing, Out Run, and Alien Syndrome (not in the PAL version).
	Shadow Hearts	RPG	A JRPG where you play as Yuri, a "Harmonixer" who can basically turn into demons, who meets a girl named Alice, contemplates raping her (not even kidding), then decides to protect her. Do NOT play the first sequel, "Shadow Hearts: Covenant", without finishing this game first!
	Shadow Hearts: Covenant / Director's Cut	RPG	A turn-based JRPG with a cheekily dark and eccentric setting, an alternate-universe Europe during World War I where monsters and magic are commonplace. The bizarre party and supporting characters, coupled with its offbeat humor, are major points in favor, but when the story gets serious it also gets boring. Fortunately combat is great with a timed hits system to keep players engaged, and graphics, art direction, etc. are very strong. There's also quite a bit of side-content to be explored. The Director's Cut (JP-only) added some extra content.
	Shadow Hearts: From the New World	RPG	A lighter-hearted sequel to Shadow Hearts taking place in the United States in the 1920's/30's (it's hard to tell). The cast of characters is much more zany than the first game, and the plot much less serious, but the creatures are still just as messed up as always.
	Shadow of Destiny / Memories	Adventure	A really underrated adventure game where you play as Eike Kusch, a guy that's destined to die and given a second chance to prevent his death by travelling back in time. Some pretty mind fucking twists unveil themselves by the end. Worth a shot if you're a fan of games with time travel or just in the mood for a short adventure game. Also has a PSP port with a completely different cast of voices.
	Shadow of Rome	Action / Adventure / Gladiatan	Sure it looks like another generic Greco-Roman combat game, but it's by Capcom! Combat is very gory and guaranteed to satisfy, and the story is actually interesting for a change. Probably its biggest shortcoming involves the highly awkward stealth sections in between massive orgies of blood, as the controls were definitely not designed with sneaking in mind and it generally breaks the flow of what is otherwise an explosive and violent action title. Something that might somewhat compensate for this is how unintentionally hilarious said stealth segments might get, which usually involves Octavianus's slug-like resistance to anything. It's also pretty hard to come across, though.
	Shadow of the Colossus	Action / Platformer	A cinematic game with very few "game-y" elements and a vague, open story. Your task is to travel a barren land, seek out and slaying sixteen lumbering giants. There is very little to do in between these fights other than soak in the atmosphere and ride your horse around, but the fights themselves are visually impressive puzzle-like battles with multiple stages. The size of your enemies and the ability to climb them makes the experience unique. Beautifully melancholy story and ambiance. This is distantly related to Ico (PS2); the next game in the "series" is The Last Guardian (PS4).
	Shining Force EXA	Action-RPG	This game has nothing to do with the original Shining Force series, but it's a neat isometric action-RPG. Play as two different characters with various companions and explore a cozy anime world with gorgeous, cel-shaded graphics. Surprisingly, the voice acting is competent and the cast is likable. A bit of a hidden gem if you want a Diablo-like game with weeaboo graphics.
	Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army	Action / RPG / Solvan Mysteries	A dame shows up at your detective agency and shit goes down. Find and rescue the dame as you uncover the mystery of the Red Cape, fightan demons and unearthing a conspiracy along the way. Skulk around Tokyo finding clues and using demon abilities to manipulate people and the environment. As with the sequel, random encounters leave you in an arena to shoot, slash, and summon demons to help you. While many prefer the second because Gee Bill, your mom lets you summon 2 demons! this one still has fun combat and Tokyo, the story, and boss designs are arguably better in this one. Unless you want the mystery spoonfed to you and love BUGS.
	Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2 - Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon	Action / RPG	An action RPG by Atlus, in which you play as the titular Raidou, a demon-taming private detective in 30s Japan. The story has you investigating some mysterious occurences in the city that eventually lead you to a far-away rural village. It's an unusual setting for the series, but ends up being pretty interesting. As for the gameplay, it's got awesome real-time combat, but you can also do the classic negotiations with demons to get them to join you. Demon fusions also have a greater emphasis on passive skills, unlike other games in the series. In general, it's an all-around improvement over the first Raidou game, and a different experience for SMT fans.
	Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga	RPG	Another sub-series within SMT, Digital Devil Saga is about gangs fighting for control in a God-forsaken world who suddenly gain the ability to transform into powerful demons that cannibalize their enemies to absorb their powers. As you may have guessed, not everyone feels comfortable with this. You control a group of friends desperately fighting for the promise that, if they are the victors, they will reach Heaven and escape this world. Has an overarching Hindu theme. The skill system is more customizable than usual. Combat itself is standard SMT fare, although you learn new abilities by eating your enemies. The stark visuals are typical for the series and the story is practically a prologue for the sequel, cliffhanger ending and all.
	Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2	RPG	Obviously, the whole heaven thing didn't work out like you thought it would. Now, you eat more people, and want to kill God in the process.
	Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne [EU: Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call]	RPG	You control the Demi Fiend, a schoolboy turned into a demon whose actions will determine the shape of the world to come (our world has already ended). You can align yourself with one of several ideologies, which will affect the game's progression and ending. Recruit, fuse and use demons in battle; the Press Turn system heavily emphasizes exploiting the enemy's weaknesses to succeed. A very tough, intelligent and rewarding game. Did I mention that Dante from Devil May Cry is a recruitable demon? Was remastered in HD for the Switch, PS4 and PC.
	Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES	RPG / Sim	The Persona series shares many motifs with mainline SMT, but features teenagers summoning mythological avatars (Personae) to fight evil. This game features a school life/dating sim portion where you establish relationships that influence your party's abilities. The other half is dungeon crawling, featuring a streamlined version of the Press Turn system from Nocturne. Its main shortcoming is your inability to directly control your companions, which can lead to some silly Game Overs. The FES version includes a lengthy quest separate from the main game with Aigis as protagonist. The PSP port fixes the party control issue but lacks FES's extras, as well as the surprisingly excellent cutscenes. on PSN, so get that shit. Also, the warning you get about time in the beginning of the game should not be taken lightly, especially on Hard Mode: Make sure you have a backup of your save file set a few days before every full moon, or you might get stuck in an unwinnable situation in case you didn't prepare well enough, which may happen because some bosses are TOUGH, not tough, but TOUGH. Not finishing the game because of that makes you a casual of the worst kind.
	Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4	RPG / Sim	Features streamlined mechanics compared to its predecessor (you can now control your party and get around more easily). This time you're the new guy in a sleepy, rural town solving a supernatural murder mystery with your Persona-using friends. It's more unabashedly Japanese than P3, as you will quickly discover, and takes even more time time to get going than its predecessor. Social Links are more interesting (though the characters are polarizing) and the aesthetic is YELLOW EVERYWHERE as opposed to P3's BLUE EVERYWHERE. Remade/ported as Persona 4: The Golden on Vita and PC. It's pretty much a straight upgrade, but if for some reason this is the only version you can play it's fine as well.
	Shinobi	Hack 'n Slash / Platformer	Hack through linear levels with occasionally repetive design. Has a steep difficulty curve: you will die a lot. The AI can vary from seemingly unconcious to absolutely punishing. Has a great soundtrack, and despite some glaring flaws, this game retains a certain charm, and I find myself coming back to it again and again. Worth way more than the it costs on eBay.
	Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut	Survival Horror	A separate story from the first game. Great graphics, incredible plot, suffocating atmosphere and legendary soundtrack; horror doesn't get better than this. Includes multiple endings and replay-only extras. The Greatest Hits re-release and ports to other systems include a new intro sequence.
	Silent Hill 3	Survival Horror	Unlike Silent Hill 2, this is a direct sequel to the original, so play that first. This time you play as a teenage girl, which leads to some cheeky humor, but it's still Silent Hill, with the best graphics on the PS2 to boot. As per usual, the soundtrack is fantastic. For SH4: The Room, opinions skew towards NOT recommending it, but some still feel it's worth a play. Some say, "It has some good ideas of survival gameplay, but all very poorly executed." while others feel its "warm reception" is justified, but worth a shot. Couldn't hurt to try it at least once, maybe. Past that entry, it tends to be agreed upon that only Shattered Memories is worth a damn.
	Silent Scope	Rail Shooter / Sniperan	Play as Falcon, the bad enough dude to save the President while armed with but a sniper rifle and Metal Gear references. A step-away from the usual rail shooter mantra, imagine every bit of sniper action in other games put into one solid bit of gameplay. Be prepared to cry when you miss that very final shot. Two sequels exist and they are all just as awesome. Note: There exists an actual rifle just for the Silent Scope series for authentic arcade action, if you can find and purchase one.
	The Simpsons Hit & Run	Sandbox	A Simpsonized version of GTA. Catches the feel of the show very well and is great fun. Lots of fan service with references to various episodes. The best Simpsons title since Konami's original Simpsons Arcade game, and way better than the semi-recent next-gen EA offering. Also on the Xbox, Gamecube and PC.
	Sky Odyssey	Flight Simulator	Ride your plane through various missions searching for a treasure. Lots of great moments, like refueling while flying over a moving train or avoiding falling rocks while flying through a narrow cliff. Very fun.
	SkyGunner	Flight Combat	Simplified Ace Combat with beautiful manga-style art and good voice acting. The controls are one of the best features, as handling is fun and responsive. Use different secondary weapons and your machine gun to create chains of destroyed enemies to increase your cash multiplier and score better. Different characters have different ships with different special abilities and statistics as well.
	S.L.A.I. - Steel Lancer Arena International	Mech Combat	Sequel to Phantom Crash on the Xbox. Kind of like Armored Core, but with lighter customization and much smaller selection of parts and accessories. However, it is varied enough to make from lightly armored melee mechas that can jump over buildings to over-9000-health behemoths with rocket launchers up the wazoo, but which can't outrun a slug. Skill evolution happens through robotic AIs you can recruit and put into the mech chassis; each one has a different status growth pattern and personality. Remote controlled mechas duke it out in arenas over the world in a futuristic sport tournament. Story in single player is about an unknown serial killer offing human players and their robotic partners, apparently at random...or is it? All the player can do is fight and buy parts, though. Players can use their SP mechas in multiplayer, or simply use one of the premade ones.
	Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus	Platformer	While not particularly difficult, this platformer has a ton of charm and is fun to play. Great level design, a good grapple-based platforming system, fun objectives and puzzles, and simple stealth mechanics. Pretty funny in the script department as well, with enjoyable characters and plot. As the first game in the series, the design is a bit more formulaic than the others, and lacks certain things like health meters (you get hit, you die) and the wide open levels of the second two games. Still plenty of stealthy, platformy fun. The whole series recieved a decent HD collection on PS3.
	Sly 2: Band of Thieves	Platformer	Either the best or the worst in the series depending on who you ask. Introduces two new playable characters for more variation: Murray punches and fights, while Bentley uses bombs and other gadgets. The game is constructed as a series of heists, but with a much more solid plot arc structure and actual heists and plans as opposed to arbitrary key-finding.
	Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves	Platformer	You liked it when they included Murray and Bentley? Now you get a whole squad to work with. While the thievery aspect takes a bit of a backseat, the variation keeps things quite different throughout. Also now with multiplayer and expanded post-game challenges.
	Sniper Elite	Shooter / Sim	Realistic sniping sim. Interesting take on WWII and the Cold War. Sometimes unfair difficulty but worth the price if you can find it. Also available on PC, Xbox and Wii.
	Sonic Gems Collection	Compilation	A fun collection entry filled with some old school Sonic games. Classics like Sonic CD, Sonic The Fighters, Sonic R, and some Game Gear titles are included. The PS2 port is only available in Europe and Japan, and versions outside of Japan had games removed. Also on Gamecube in America, Europe and Japan.
	Sonic Mega Collection PLUS	Compilation	A sort of "update" to the Gamecube original. Really neato with pretty much all of the blue blur's pre-Saturn games along with Sega Genesis classics we know and love. Framerate is slower on this one. But thats what I heard I'm not sure of it.
	Sonic Unleashed	Platformer	Forget Sonic Unleashed for the PS3/360, this version is top chili dog. The 2.5D sections are fantastic and are a bigger emphasis, and the boost system has been replaced with one that requires only a single button press. Even the Werehog is more platforming heavy and features minimal combat, making it simply an enjoyable and atmospheric platformer. The puzzle rooms (which have you alternate between Sonic and Werehog) are great also. Also on Wii, with the option to use classic controller. There's just something about the PS2 version tho. It's ~magical~.
	Soul Calibur II	Fighting / 3D	Often considered the high point of the 3D weapons fighting series, with an eight-way run system, a large roster, a dozen weapons for each character, a lengthy story mode, detailed character models and lavish stages. Heihachi Mishima of Tekken is playable on the PS2 version. Holds up today as the most balanced and well-rounded SoulCalibur offering.
	Soul Calibur III	Fighting / 3D	Most of the SCII cast returns, with a handful of new characters and the same basic system, but less balanced for competitive players. Its main draw is the tons of side content, including an SRPG-esque single player mode, an engrossing and detailed character creator, and loads of extra modes and bonuses. Some important stuff takes place, plot-wise. Sequel on PS3. Note: Early copies of the game have a memory card-ruining bug activated by deleting any save created before that of SoulCalibur III.
	Soul Nomad	SRPG	Play a strategy RPG where you are a pretty cool guy who doesn't afraid of eating souls. Superb, interesting game that is probably the best of the NIS SRPG games thanks to many aspects, but especially story and characterization. This says a lot considering how good the Disgaea series is. Ported to PC.
	Spider-Man 2	Action-Adventure	The best open-world Spider-Man experience (at least until Spider-Man PS4). Adapted from the film of the same name but kinda doing its own thing, you get to play in a pretty impressive open-world Manhattan, with physics-based swinging gameplay that works really well, easy to learn but kind of hard to master, and lots of upgrades. The gameplay is most of the appeal of this game, but the story expands on the movie with new villains and arcs, and tons of side-content. It's a classic. Also the voice acting is hilarious. PIZZA TIME!
	Splatter Master	Action / Platformer	A budget game where you play as a cute scarecrow-boy wielding dual chainsaws, going up against the demon who created him. The gameplay revolves around earning money through powerful combos and then using that money to buy upgrades and new moves. The environments are surprisingly detailed and attractive, and there's substantial replay value thanks to various unlockables. Europe-only.
	SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom	Platformer / 3D	An incredibly underrated platformer and one of the best out there. They got most of the cast from the show to reprise their roles (Minus Clancy Brown and a few others) And you go around solving missions to get golden spatulas (This game's equivelant to Power Stars) as you fight robots, defeat bosses, and go through levels full of platforming with FUCKING AWESOME music to back it up. If you're a fan of platformers, don't miss out on this one.
	SSX Tricky	Sports	Snowboarding. It's fun. And maybe tricky?
	SSX3	Sports	Pretty much improves everything from Tricky.
	Star Ocean: Till the End of Time	Action / RPG	A lengthy sci-fi JRPG, unrelated to previous Star Ocean games in terms of plot and more similar to the Xenosaga series in setting and themes. Active battle system comparable to the Tales series, there are several party members which you may recruit or miss depending on your choices. Detailed and varied worlds, but you'll spend way too much time on some of them. Get ready for a potentially infuriating twist. Takes a few hours to get going, mainly after goddamn Sophia leaves. Series continues on PS3/360.
	Star Wars Battlefront II	TPS / Combat	Only the coolest motherfucking Star Wars game ever. Fight in huge battles from the movies in either the Clone Wars or the Imperial. A surprisingly good shooter, with multiple classes who each have their own specialty. BF2 introduces new units (like the Clone Commander) and heroes, such as Boba Fett and Mace Windu. The heroes control great and can sway a match.
	Steambot Chronicles	RPG	A non-linear real-time RPG. Play however the fuck you want, from good to evil, without having to do it all through text choices. Think a steampunk Grand Theft Auto combined with Katamari's controls and Dark Cloud's levels of customization. Play music for a living, get a boring job, become a criminal, get an apartment, get laid, become a cage fighter, etc... Has some very obvious technical issues such as loading times and framerate, but it's not unplayable.
	Street Fighter Anniversary Collection	Fighting / 2D / Compilation	LET'S GET IT ON NOW! Ports of both Hyper Street Fighter II (an update to Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo that lets you choose your character's gameplay style from all the past SF2 games) and Street Fighter 3: Third Strike in one convenient package, very awesome to own. Not released in Japan or PAL territories, but both were released individually there. Tough break. Also includes SF2: The Animated Film in SFII's Gallery Mode. Sadly, it's the censored version, so no delicious Chun-Li shower scene.
	Street Fighter Alpha Anthology (US/EU) Street Fighter Zero: Fighters Generation (JP)	Fighting / 2D / Compilation	Contains Alpha, Alpha 2, Alpha 2 Gold, Alpha 3, Alpha 3 Upper and Super Gem Fighter: Mini Mix. Wow! That's a lot of awesome shit! They're all arcade-perfect ports that include dip switch settings, sound tests, and character color pallete editing. There's also an unlockable game called Hyper Street Fighter Alpha. Which is similar to HSF2 in that you can select which version, from the Alpha games, of a character to play as. It's versus-mode only. Although you can still set 2P to CPU, you'd need a second controller or switch ports to select your opponent. Japanese edition of this compilation has even more games because when localizing it, Capcom cut out two variations of Alpha 2 (known in Japan as Zero 2). So Japanese PS2 owners got original Japanese Zero 2, it's American version Alpha 2 (included in US/EU SFA Anthology), Zero 2 Alpha (Japanese rerelease of American version) and Zero 2 Dash (console port of Zero 2 Alpha, known in the US as Alpha 2 Gold and included in US/EU SFA Anthology). Each subsequent revision added new characters and changes to the game. Every game in compilation also has character's movelist in the pause menu. So if you care about such stuff Japanese edition of this collection is the way to go.
	Street Fighter EX 3	Fighting / 2.5D	Never heard of this game? Not surprised. This seris is often looked down upon since it was only published by Capcom, not developed. Made by Arika, the same people who also made Super Dragon Ball Z. The 3rd of a series of the very first 3D Street Fighter, it has its own type of 3 on 3 fighting, character customization, and some pretty nice visuals for 2000. There are also characters originally from this series mixed with II/ALPHA characters in.
	Stretch Panic	Platformer	One of Treasure's lesser known titles, so much can be said about this weird fuckin game. Your 12 sisters have been possed by the demons of vanity granting their deepest desire, you must use your scarf-hand-thing to pinch and stretch the fuck out of your sisters, who have all been morphed into twisted monsters, to exorccise the demons. It seems to have a moral standing, maybe against vanity (it was all a bit pretensious). I highly recommend it though, being very experimental and fun and would recommend it. Think 'Power Puff Girls' meets 'Speed Grapher'. Known as Freak Out in Europe.
	Suikoden III	RPG	The first 3D entry in the series maintains series staples like a factional war story, 108 recruitable characters and growing a castle, but tried some different things like characters moving around the field of battle and replacing the large-scale army battles with a boardgame-style strategy system. The story takes place 15 years after Suikoden II and features some returning characters and references to previous entries, including some bonus lore if you import a save from Suikoden II. Overall a weaker mainline entry for the series but still a fine RPG.
	Suikoden V	RPG	Chronologically takes place two decades before the first Suikoden title, but knowledge of the series isn't necessary to enjoy this. Recruit 108 different characters to build up your HQ. Quick, six-character battles with a skill customization system and lots of flavor and background to the world. Graphics, pacing and writing are all better than the last game, and this is considered the best Suikoden since the PlayStation days.
	Super Dragon Ball Z	Fighting / 3D	Real nice DBZ fighting game made by Street Fighter 2 members and Arika. Originally an arcade game, then ported to the PS2. Worth your money because of how it's done well and it's fighting mechanics are actually done like a big name fighting game.
	The Sword of Etheria	Hack 'n Slash	An excellent and great-looking action title that has been largely ignored, mostly because it did not get an US release. You control a young swordsman named Fiel who fights alongside Almira and Leon, two powerful spiritual warriors (who are AI-controlled). The hectic combat is focused on generating lengthy air combos and finishing them off with spectacular Deathblows. The story is chapter-based and actually quite satisfying for what could have been a mindless action title, and has an overarching The Wizard of Oz theme, which is especially brought out in a secret mission in which you play as Fiel's little sister, Dorothy. Developed by the same team behind most of Castlevania. If you can find the PAL version, get it.
	Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror	TPS	The comeback from Gabe Logan into the PS2, surpassing the crappy Omega Strain in every way. This is direct port from the PSP version. It's pretty much the same game with somewhat upgraded visuals and a right stick on your DualShock controller, but lacks the online multiplayer sadly. I'd recommend the PSP version for that matter, but if you need a decent TPS on your PS2 you can get this and have hours of fun. Includes a Story mode composed of 28 missions, lots of weapons, collectibles, achievments, etc.
	Taito Legends (volumes 1 and 2)	Compilation	Taito was one of the arcade giants back in the day, and here's 68 games to show you that! Among them you will find classics like Space Invaders, Jungle Hunt, Elevator Action, Rastan, The New Zealand Story, KiKi KaiKai, Gun Frontier, Metal Black, RayStorm, Darius Gaiden, and G-Darius. Complete listing here and here. Also on Xbox/PC with a slightly different game list.
	Tales of Legendia	Action / RPG	An oddball entry in the long-running Tales series. Senel and his sister Shirley are adrift at sea when they come across a colossal island-ship where a bustling community has formed. Combat is the usual Tales fare, but lacks multi-player and Mystic Artes (or another form of "super attacks"), while character designs are more exaggerated and colorful than the usual high fantasy anime look. It's original in that the game is divided into an initial main quest which, after its conclusion, gives way to shorter quests that explore each main character's past. There are also fairly frequent anime scenes. Somewhat ignored by fans, you should give this a try for a different kind of Tales.
	Tales of the Abyss	Action / RPG	A successful entry in the Tales series and a fan favorite, it takes place in a world made up of six elementary particles called Fonons; when a seventh is discovered, it generates chaos and instability. The cast is varied and full of personality and there are abundant skits. It could also be said that the protagonist is a subversion of the typical silent protagonist, as he tends to say exactly what you're thinking. Combat is very fun, with free-range motion and several techniques and Mystic Artes. Likely to remind players of Symphonia. The USA version actually has extra content, so don't get the JP original if you were considering it for some reason. If you want the skits voiced (golden hilarity awaits) then get the undub version, it's floating around. Also on the 3DS with less loading.
	Tekken 5	Fighting / 3D	The ultimate Tekken game up to this points. Break faces like you have been, but now much smoother than any previous incarnation. Great game for parties. Enjoy throwing combos against noobs who think they're cool. Also includes the arcade versions of the first three Tekken games unlocked from the start. >inb4 /v/irgin and parties
	Tekken TAG Tournament	Fighting / 3D	Essentially a team battle version of a Tekken game. Now you can pick more than one character at a time, huzzah! Get this instead of 4, it's basically the same game but much improved. The tag element adds a whole new element to the game. In fact, imagine the TEKKEN 3, with early (but still ass-kicking) PS2 graphics and tag-fighting elements. What you'll get? PURE GOLD! Get it! Also, contains the fuckawesome "Fight!" speaking guy from Tekken 3 instead of pussies from later games.
	Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven	Stealth / Being a Ninja	Play as fucking awesome ninjas and go stealthan and ninjan. Also has a couple of great prequels on the PS1. All Tenchu games after this one are pretty meh though.
	Test Drive: Eve of Destruction	Racing	Very innovative gameplay compared to most racing games. Instead of driving pimped-out Civics and fast Ferrari's, you take control of rustbuckets and try to fuck up every other car in the race. Similar to the Burnout series in terms of demolition and car destruction. Has a ton of game modes from the classic demolition derby to the suicide race, which has two groups of cars going in opposite directions.
	The Thing	Horror Shooter	Serves as a sequel to the classic 1982 movie by John Carpenter (who makes a cameo in the game). You play as a special ops soldier who goes to the research facility to try and find out what happened to the crew in the events of the movie, and must eventually confront the shapeshifting monster. You can have up to three NPC AI companions, who you must convince that you haven't been taken over by the Thing, and also must ensure none of your partners have either, as they can be infected at any time. Has some clunky controls but is a must-play for fans of the movie.
	Thunder Force VI	Shoot 'em Up	The final entry on the classic Thunder Force series done by Sega. Very underrated and a bit on the easy side (for shmupfags, that is) but still worth a play.
	TimeSplitters	FPS	People tend to forget that the prequel to Timesplitters 2 is an impressive FPS in its own right. It was a PS2 launch title, and remains a PS2 exclusive.
	TimeSplitters 2	FPS	Goldeneye/Perfect Dark, but faster with tons of content,challenges and game modes. One of the best FPS of the gen, especially on PS2. Great single player and co-op campaign, incredible amount of challenge and arcade missions, tons and tons of levels and characters to unlock, a mapmaker mode, GOOD BOTS for multiplayer, and some great humor. You have no excuse to have never played this classic. Don't forget you can change the controls. The default scheme sucks. May also be recieving a complete remake, depending upon what Free Radical Crytek UK decide to do.
	TimeSplitters : Future Perfect	FPS	Although EA published this, it's still faithful to its predecessor. Once again, tons to do and unlock. You still can't jump. Campaign and mapmaker are more robust, and more weapons with more variety. Better or worse than TS2 depending on who you ask.
	Tokyo Road Race [EU Only]	Arcade Racing	Challenging, touge-style racing game inspired by Initial D. Arcade-style gameplay, but with steep penalties for hitting the side of the tracks or failing to nail hairpin turns. Great ambiance and soundtrack.
	Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3 [NA/EU]	Arcade Racing	Highway arcade racing with great graphics and style to spare. Fairly deep car customization. The US release has a bug that won't let you 100% complete the game. Not part of the same series as Tokyo Road Race!
	Tomb Raider: Anniversary	Action / Adventure	Released a year after Tomb Raider Legend, Cristal Dynamics made this "re-imagining" of the original Tomb Raider. It plays just as Tomb Raider Legend, but with more exploration and puzzles than action. The story and levels are more or less the same of the original Tomb Raider, but with added features and changes that improve the experience pretty much in every way. This game takes longer to finish than Legend, which is a good, and there are a lot of artifacts and relics to collect. By doing so, you unlock outfits, artwork and other extra stuff. This is the best of Lara from the last years. Also on PC, Xbox 360, Wii and PS3 (included in Tomb Raider Trilogy).
	Tomb Raider: Legend	Action / Adventure	A few years after the failure of Angel of Darkness the franchise was rebooted and Tomb Raider Legend was born. The story goes around Lara trying to gather fragments of an ancient sword. The game controls are now more intuitive and all-around better than previous entries, and it have some balanced doses of action, exploring, puzzle solving and platforming. It's a rather short game to finish, but you may still have missed a lot of secret artifacts. Also on PC, Xbox, Xbox 360, GC, PSP, and PS3 (included in Tomb Raider Trilogy).
	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3	Sports	As close as it's gets to a THPS2 on the PS2. Pro Skater 3 is pretty good, the gameplay is a bit more classic compared to the recent games, and includes Darth Maul from Star Wars as an unlockable.
	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4	Sports	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 is another great entry into the franchise. Instead of using a timer for each level, areas are able to be skated through freely. Objectives are placed throughout each level and can be accessed whenever you want. Nine levels in all, same as the previous game.
	Tony Hawk's Underground	Sports	Tony Hawk's Underground is rather different from the previous titles, in that it actually has a story that will make you want to punch your TV from one of the most irritating pricks in gaming ever. It's an excellent game, however, that plays really well. The sequel? Not so much.
	Tony Hawk's American Wasteland	Sports	Remember all those weird and somewhat annoying additions to gameplay mechanics present in every game after 3? Well, they're not so annoying and actually useful here, although that makes the game a bit too easy. A first for the series, THAW is not level based and instead free-roaming, with said levels being substituted for missions. A lot of fun with it's superb character creation, decent soundtrack, and off the wall 80's punk vibe. Enjoying skating the shit out of a pseudo-Hollywood while listening to The Doors.
	Twisted Metal: Black	Vehicle Combat	You play as a clown with fire as hair, who kills enemies in cars while inside his own car. What fucking more do you want?
	Ultimate Spider-Man	Action-Adventure	The lesser known little brother and "unofficial sequel" to Spider-Man 2 (see above) which is a shame because it's kind of a hidden gem. It's still made by Treyarch but they did their own thing this time, inspired by the Ultimate Spider-Man series of comics. The game is gorgeous with its visual style straight out of a comic book, and the story is original. The gameplay is a continuation of the previous game, and it's still great. It's a little more kid-friendly so it's on the easier and shorter side but there's a lot of content. You also get to explore Queens in this one! And most of all: there's a whole side story where you get to play as Venom and fucking EAT people. Seriously, it's great. If you loved Spider-Man 2 and need more this is the game you want.
	Under the Skin	Action / Adventure / Trolling simulator	A short game with a well-formed and fun central mechanic. You are an alien whose mission is to cause mayhem on Earth, so you are let free on various settings where you must disguise yourself as a human and rack up points by humilliating others with a host of unique traps. The game ends before the gameplay can get tiring, though its multi-player mode adds some replay value. Includes a Resident Evil 3 level.
	Urban Reign	Beat 'em Up	Brutally difficult 3D beat 'em up by Namco. Fight through 100 stages utilizing a variety of well-animated fighting styles including wrestling and capoeira. Has an unlockable multiplayer and co-op mode as well as the ability to unlock Law and Paul from Tekken as bonus characters.
	Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria	RPG	Sequel (and prequel-it's complicated) to the cult classic tri-ace game, this time focusing on Lenneth's sister Silmeria. Takes advantage of the jump to 3D to expand the already awesome battle system of the original, with a focus on tactical, position-based gameplay revolving around breaking off specific enemy parts to get items. Overall has a ton of complex, interesting systems, a great soundtrack, and stunning visuals, making it one of the PS2's underrated gems. Unfortunately the plot is lacking the awesome narrative hook of the first game with its tragic Einherjar backstories, but it's still a fantastic game that any RPG enthusiast should give a try.
	Vampire: Darkstalkers Collection	Fighting / 2D / Compilation	Contains arcade perfect ports of Darkstalkers, Night Warriors, Darkstalkers 3, Vampire Hunter 2 and Vampire Savior 2. So if you like the series (or simply good fighting games) it is the best collection available for any system.
	Viewtiful Joe	Platformer / Beat 'em Up / Being a Badass	Henshin a go go baby! An amazing platformer with beat 'em up elements, Viewtiful Joe lets you control an otaku movie fanatic weeaboo with superpowers, just like his favorite tokusatsu heroes! Joe has awesome 'VFX' powers that give him the ability of a film reel, by fast forwarding himself (Mach Speed), slowing himself down (Slow), and Zoom! Live a shitty Japanese action movie in this hilarious romp! The PS2 version has Dante from Devil May Cry as an unlockable character for a new game +, but more slowdown than the Gamecube version.
	Viewtiful Joe 2	Platformer / Beat 'em Up / Being a Badass	More Henshin a go go baby! Plays the same as the first game mostly, except your girlfriend from the first game, Silvia, joins you in your toku-ass-beatin' adventures! Switch between the two at any time, adding a nice bit of depth. Instead of Mach Speed, Silvia (known as Sexy Silvia in-costume) has a Replay power, which lets her re-do any action she attempted up to three times. Sadly, no Dante this time around.
	Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution	Fighting / 3D	Probably the most balanced series of fighting games. Enjoy technical matches, you noob. Evolution is a better package. Includes two new characters, a "Quest" mode (where you go around playing the CPU as if you were in the arcades), and a 10th Anniversary mode that allows you to play the arcade mode in VF1 graphics.
	War of the Monsters	Free Roaming 3D Fighter	Pick a 40 story tall monster and kick the shit out of another, equally huge, classic movie monster ripoff. Each one has a completely unique appearance, feel, and moveset. Matches involve 2-4 monsters duking it out in a fairly large assortment of "arenas" full of environmental hazards like tidal waves and earth quakes. Fully destructable environments, complete with tiny screaming people, make you feel like a 140ish foot tall killing machine. Topping off the cake is some of the most fun multiplayer in existence. There's also a few entertaining minigames, and a couple of badass boss battles. A hugely unappreciated classic.
	The Warriors	Beat 'em Up	Awesome take on the events during and surrounding the cult classic gang movie from the 70's. Beat the shit out of anyone who crosses you, steal car stereos for money, and escape gangs that chase you as you make your way back to Coney Island after being framed for killing the leader of New York's largest gang.
	Warriors Orochi 2	Action / Being a Badass	Dynasty Warriors 5 + Samurai Warriors 2 = epic. Like the others, you'll either love it or hate it.
	Way of the Samurai	Action / Adventure / Being a Badass	The entire point of this game is to be a samurai. Do whatever you want within a day and a half of game time, as a samurai. Side with whoever you want, kill whoever you want, just do whatever you want. As a Samurai. Very interesting game with varied endings depending on your actions, and since it's short, you can keep replaying the same character over and over, improving his wardrobe, sword's stats, etc. You can also take the weapon of fallen enemies/allies and store it or use it yourself, which adds a very interesting collection aspect. Really underrated classic.
	Way of the Samurai 2	Action / Adventure / Being a Badass	The sequel to Way of the Samurai is just a great improvement, with the same great game-play, time and freedom, but with a new set of stories, characters, longer playtime, and a bigger world. A lot more swords to collect too. Story-wise it's actually a prequel. The better of the two, but it's really just worth it to own both since they have different locales. Some people prefer the first game because they feel this game has weaker stories, but again, both are worth owning. Sequel on PS3.
	We ♥ Katamari	Ball Rollan Games	Sequel to the surprise hit Katamari Damacy. Now that the series has a fan following on Earth, the King orders his overworked son to go down there and roll up more stars to please the audience. The gameplay hasn't changed except for a couple ancillary features, and some new levels are very fun; you can also now play as the Prince's many cousins if you can find them (and roll them up) throughout the various levels. The new hub level, a storybook sort of place, is notably cute, and this time each level carries a bit of a story with it (you will also get a look into the famous King's past), but overall it is more of the same. (That isn't necessarily a bad thing.) More Katamari on XBox/360, PSP, PS3.
	Whiplash	Platformer	You play as a weasel handcuffed to a bunny trying to escape the product testing lab where they were forced to have chemicals tested on them. What it lacks in innovative gameplay it makes up for tenfold in hilarious humor and pure fun.
	Wild ARMs 3	RPG	RPG that takes place in a fantasy Wild West setting with a nice cel-shaded sketchbook style. The world map takes getting used to, but it gets better when you get horses. Has a unique battle system that involves firearms, which you can improve the fuck out of, and an unconventional, but nifty, skill points system. Has a New Game+ and it is recommended to play twice as there are plenty of times where early parts contain Easter eggs that will make you shit bricks once you connect the dots. WA1 and 2 are also good, but the graphics take re-adjusting to. WA4 and 5 have mixed opinions, but you may want to look into them if you like this.
	Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht	RPG	The spiritual prequel to Xenogears on the PS1 by Squaresoft. Made by a different company, though, so the story is completely different due to copyright shit. Cutscene heavy, but has a great soundtrack.
	Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse	RPG	The sequel to Xenosaga Episode I. Is generally considered the worst of the three, but still worth playing. Has a more realistic styling to it, a turn off to many people.
	Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra	RPG	Considered to be the best of the series, Xenosaga Episode III concludes the series on a good note. Is also notoriously hard to find nowadays.
	XIII	FPS	Awesome James Bond style story where you play as a secret agent (voiced by David Duchovny, of The X Files fame) framed for murdering the president. Team up with war veteran general Carrington (voiced by Adam West, yes, that Adam West) as you try to regain your memory and clear your name. A decent, not great, first person shooter. The game has cel-shaded graphics, and comic book style cutscenes. Title is pronounced "Thirteen".
	X-Men Legends	Action / RPG	Command the X-Men in an awesome squad-based real-time rpg. Everyone is unique, with tons of powers and abilities to upgrade and equipment to find. Tons of team combos. Runs better on another system though, as the load times can be fucking long as well as frequent.
	X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse	Action / RPG	Same deal as the first game, but now you team up with the Brotherhood, which essentially doubles the roster of characters.
	Yakuza	Beat 'em Up / Being a Badass	Walkin talkin Like a Dragon. Kick everything's ass, get laid. Roam a city doing just about whatever you want, from buying soup at the store to getting laid at the hostess clubs. Combat is fun, with different melee attacks, the ability to use environmental items as bludgeons, and an experience system which upgrades your health and moves. Was remade as Yakuza Kiwami for the PS4, PC, and Xbox One. Lacks the English Dub but plays more like the modern Yakuza games. Also features more appearances from fan favorite Goro Majima!
	Yakuza 2	Beat 'em Up / Being a Badass	Still Like a Dragon, fight gameplay better than the first game as you can now attack different directions mid-combo, now with bare knuckle boxing a tiger. More to do and more ass to kick and names to take. Sequels are on PS3. As with the first, was remade as Yakuza Kiwami 2. Includes a new campaign with Majima that follows up on his storyline from Yakuza 0.
	Zone of the Enders	Action	A third-person mech combat game taking place in the distant future, and brainchild of Hideo Kojima (MGS). A young boy whose space colony is destroyed finds himself in the cockpit of a mecha that everyone in the galaxy seems to be after. It's very pretty and combat is fun, if not somewhat repetitive, but it's over before you can get tired of it and generally sells for little. Multi-player is actually very fun, too. Now available on the PS3 with HD graphics as "Zone of the Enders HD Collection", which also includes 2nd Runner.
	Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner	Action	"Bigger, better, faster." and it lives up to this tagline claim within the first 30 minutes of gameplay. New enemies, new 2nd weapons, a new grapple system, and an overall more polished feel make this a must-buy. The anime cutscenes look great, and the overall graphics push the PS2 to its limits. Pretty good plot too if you like Kojima's convoluted ANIME stylings. Look up ZoE 1 first or the game's plot and references will make little to no sense. Also harder to find than the first one. PROTIP: Get the PAL Special Edition version for improved graphic and shit. Also, ZOMG GRADIUS IN 3D! Use Konami Code in Vic Viper fight to unlock it. Now available on the PS3 with HD graphics as "Zone of the Enders HD Collection", which also includes the first game.

Recommendation copypasta

Sixth Generation
Consoles	Sega Dreamcast - Nintendo Gamecube - VM Labs Nuon - Sony PlayStation 2 - VTech V.Smile - Microsoft Xbox
Handhelds	Nintendo Game Boy Advance - Game Park GP32 - Nokia N-Gage - Nintendo Pokémon Mini - Bandai WonderSwan - Tapwave Zodiac

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