10 Essential PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits

by Andrew Hayward

It doesn't take a whole lot to become a "Greatest Hits" title on PlayStation 2 – more than 250 titles to date have earned the distinction, but for every true classic, there's a Jet Li: Rise to Honor. Or Finding Nemo. Or Dragon Ball Z: Budokai. You get the point.

Luckily, a sizable segment of the games actually deserve the honors for more than just high sales, and from that batch, I've singled out 10 that are still well worth your gaming hours (and dollars) in 2009. I made a conscious effort to avoid annual sports titles and multiplatform releases (unless it hit PS2 first), but whether you're a dabbler or an enthusiast, these games won't disappoint.

10. Twisted Metal: Black (2001)
Car combat was nearly perfected by the series that originated the genre in Twisted Metal: Black, the only Mature-rated entry in the franchise. By fully embracing the dark mythology behind the action, Black delivered an experience that was both entertaining and wickedly disturbing. I mean that in a good way, of course.

9. Guitar Hero (2005)
True, later entries have embraced licensed tracks, online play, and downloadable content, but the game that started the entire modern peripheral-based music sensation is only available on PlayStation 2. It may seem a little simple in comparison, but the original Guitar Hero still rocks and has some of the best songs in the series.

8. Okami (2006)
Okami never quite found the commercial foothold it very clearly deserved, but don't let that dissuade you from playing this brilliant adventure. Set in ancient Japan, this mystic tale includes a lengthy narrative packed with memorable characters and events, not to mention some of the prettiest visuals seen in any game on any console to date.

7. Ratchet & Clank (2002)
PlayStation's premiere platformer debuted way back in 2002, and Insomniac nailed it on the first attempt, delivering likeable characters and an engaging mix of platform hopping and weapons-based combat. Numerous sequels have upped the firepower and visual oomph, but the years have done little to dampen the impact and enjoyability of the original.

6. Kingdom Hearts (2002)
Even now, the combination of the Disney and Final Fantasy universes sounds like a ludicrous proposition, but Kingdom Hearts worked -- and did a damn fine job of delivering a magical action-RPG experience for all ages and experience levels. Even skeptics can't help but smile at this curiously charming concoction.

5. Shadow of the Colossus (2005)
Regarded as one of the most hauntingly beautiful games on the PlayStation 2, Shadow of the Colossus does away with excessive narrative and unnecessary auxiliary characters, choosing to focus solely on one young man's quest to take down 16 massive beasts. An incredibly engrossing experience, despite the relatively short length.

4. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)
Metal Gear Solid 2 redefined the already-excellent 3D Metal Gear template set in the 32-bit era, delivering a modern masterpiece of gaming. Sons of Liberty has been derided over the years for its oft-confusing storyline, but the excellent stealth-action gameplay and cinematic visual approach make for a highly memorable title.

3. Final Fantasy X (2001)
Square Enix has a knack for developing emotional connections with characters over the course of a single game, and glossy role-playing classic Final Fantasy X is no different, delivering a lengthy adventure punctuated by fantastic battles and beautiful events. It's not hard to drop 50+ hours into a game when the storytelling is this strong.

2. God of War (2005)
For pure balls-out action, no series does it better than God of War, and the original game remains the franchise standout. God of War set new standards for visceral hack-and-slash action and visual prowess on the platform, introducing us to Kratos, an anti-hero you'll begrudgingly love, and taking us on an adventure of a lifetime against a bevy of foes both small and (staggeringly) large.

1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)
Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City remain excellent picks for PS2 owners, but for my money, San Andreas is the last-gen series highlight. Drawing on the success of its predecessors, San Andreas offers an astonishing open-world experience full of new features and abilities, plus a greater emphasis on character development and storytelling. You can easily sink 100 hours into this game, and by all means, you probably should.