The PlayStation 2 is nostalgic for a lot of who grew up with the system. I keep in mind spending numerous hours repeatedly enjoying the Ratchet & Clank titles and exploring the completely different planets in-game, and so they’re reminiscences that may persist with me without end. No surprises, then, that I used to be ecstatic when the superior remakes hit the PS4 and PS5 years later.
A few of PlayStation’s most important titles again on PS2 have now obtained modern-day remakes, similar to Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy, and Spyro Reignited Trilogy. However there are such a lot of extra which might be nonetheless trapped on the old-school {hardware} and deserve a second probability!
After contemplating the huge pool of worthy PS2 video games, right here’s our listing of the 15 greatest PS2 video games that deserve a modern-day remake.
TimeSplitters
TimeSplitters was, on the time of its launch, famend for having stable gunplay and well-crafted ranges. 20 years later, it hasn’t aged particularly properly, nevertheless it’s a franchise that lives fondly within the reminiscences of many PS2 lovers who I’m positive would completely like to see a remake.
Among the many options that set Timesplitters aside again then (and definitely would right now too) is split-screen multiplayer, which allowed you to truly play by your complete marketing campaign with a buddy. Sofa co-op is a characteristic that’s so typically neglected with numerous trendy video games in favor of on-line multiplayer. It might be nice to see an FPS recreation like TimeSplitters put a give attention to sofa co-op along with all of the common multiplayer modes common right now.
I might completely see a Timesplitters live-service model expertise happening a deal with, too, that includes all the everyday unique occasions, recreation modes, and new characters we see in different trendy shooters. In both case, TimeSplitters’ infinite amusement makes it greater than worthy of a comeback to the world of contemporary gaming. Sustaining the important simplicity of the sport is essential, however updating the graphics, making minor changes to the gameplay, and including new settings and characters would lead to a recreation that may be a blast to leap into and journey by time.
Jak and Daxter
Jak and Daxter is an action-adventure online game sequence that tells the story of two buddies by platformer, motion, racing, and puzzle-based gameplay. Following Daxter’s transformation into an Ottsel after falling right into a Darkish Eco silo, Jak units out with him on a mission to get Daxter again into his human kind. The Jak and Daxter video games are thought-about a number of the greatest 3D platformers ever made, and they’re wonderful adventures with such enjoyable mechanics that there’s one thing for everybody to take pleasure in.
At any time when I wanted an action-adventure platformer that I might love simply as a lot, if not much more, than the likes of Ratchet & Clank, I’d flip to the Jak and Daxter trilogy. I’d even recommend that a number of mechanics of the Jak and Daxter video games outshone its opponents fully. A private favourite recreation within the sequence is Jak II, which featured extremely entertaining fight methods and thrilling time-trial races that had been a complete blast to overcome.
A Jak and Daxter trilogy remake would generate equal hype and obtain comparable success to the Crash and Spyro remakes. It might be an immense pleasure to witness main Jak & Daxter gameplay scenes and ranges in a reimagined state. Simply think about how the fantastical, cyberpunk and steampunk elements of the Jack & Daxter universe would possibly seem with trendy graphics to create a contemporary expertise. The comfort of a transportable system just like the Nintendo Change or Steam Deck might do wonders for Jak & Daxter, reigniting the nostalgia of enjoying the sport with the bonus choice of doing so wherever and at any time when the craving requires it.
Ape Escape
PlayStation as soon as had a success sequence for all ages with Ape Escape, which supplied limitless leisure throughout the preliminary PS1 launch, in addition to each sequels on the PS2. The Ape Escape franchise is a unending supply of enjoyable, set in a weird universe the place a depraved monkey named Specter has gained super-enhanced intelligence. Specter gathers a military of monkeys and scatters them by time to wreak mayhem on the world. It’s as much as you to save lots of the day by leaping by time to intervene, utilizing numerous instruments, similar to radars, golf equipment, and nets, to trace down the apes earlier than they trigger main hassle.
After the success of earlier remakes like Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Ape Escape could be the best franchise to have a trilogy-styled recreation remake. Ape Escape’s 3D platformer gameplay is easy, pleasant, and interesting, making it the best recreation to play whereas enjoyable or on the go. In gentle of this, I can see an Ape Escape trilogy remake succeeding on trendy consoles, significantly on extra transportable methods, similar to the Nintendo Change.
General, Ape Escape is a enjoyable franchise that the entire household can take part in. The unique titles are filled with pleasant puzzles, charming environments, and plenty of ranges to discover, offering a substantial amount of potential for fulfillment as remakes. These options would certainly be enhanced and elevated for contemporary platforms, and I’d leap on the probability to play as Spike or Jimmy once more, time-traveling to trace down monkeys, and getting down to cease Spectre – all in HD.
Sly Cooper
Sly Cooper was at one level among the many most iconic characters and recreation franchises to Sony as a model. It’s fallen by the wayside a bit lately, however the legacy lives on. Sly video games are entertaining 3D-platformer adventures that comply with the hook-wielding thief raccoon often known as Sly Cooper himself. Sly video games contain sneaking, hopping, climbing, and swinging your method by enjoyable and puzzling platformer ranges. There’s additionally an amusing story for every recreation, often involving relocating misplaced gadgets and making an attempt to save lots of Sly’s household historical past from numerous enemies. These easy storylines mixed with the humourous antics and sneaky actions of everybody’s favourite Raccoon thief are what made these video games so pleasant for individuals of all ages.
It virtually comes as a shock that Sly Cooper hasn’t made one other look in current gaming years, as he’s one among Sony’s hottest characters, having landed 4 recreation titles and a bonus bundle recreation assortment. A few of us are even beginning to imagine Sony could also be attempting to find remakes in all of the improper areas, leaving deserving franchises, like Sly Cooper, to wither away over time, regardless of being a success.
With a number of alternatives to enhance and polish the video games, a Sly Cooper remake could be a implausible method for the franchise to reintroduce itself into modern-day gaming. The Sly universe would profit considerably from improved textures and trendy graphics, giving the sport’s intriguing settings a brand new sense of ambiance and thriller. The muse for a contemporary trilogy remake assortment is even already in place, due to the beforehand present trilogy ‘The Sly Assortment.’
Metallic Gear Stable 2: Sons of Liberty
Metallic Gear Stable 2 has been hailed as a masterpiece within the historical past of PS2 video games, delivering the perfect of narrative storytelling and stress. Moreover, the gameplay retains you engaged by bringing motion and pleasure to the display screen nonstop. Set 4 years after the occasions of the primary recreation, you’ll assume the position of Raiden, a FOXHOUND agent trying into the offshore cleanup facility often known as the Huge Shell.
The graphics of Metallic Gear Stable 2 had been groundbreaking on the time, and truly nonetheless look fairly first rate even by right now’s requirements — a outstanding feat given it first launched method again in 2001. It’s intriguing to contemplate how a lot additional a contemporary remake would possibly take them, totally upgrading and giving the cherished recreation a higher-definition look. Many individuals additionally imagine that Metallic Gear Stable 2 was forward of its time as a result of the sport’s narrative included practical depictions of pretend information, politics, and censorship. This story being revisited and given a second shot in modern-day gaming could be exactly what Metallic Gear Stable 2 must rekindle the fervour of longtime followers and depart an impression on any newbies exploring the franchise for the primary time.
Suikoden III
Suikoden III is a JRPG title on PS2, acknowledged for its richly detailed world and vibrant forged of characters. There’s additionally a particular storytelling method within the recreation, permitting gamers to expertise the narrative by the eyes of three particular person characters relatively than adhering to the identical single-protagonist components of different video games within the franchise. You could have full freedom to change between these protagonists on the finish of every chapter in Suikoden III, letting you decide precisely the way you play by the story. It is a fascinating mechanic, because it brings ahead an expertise that showcases a number of views and considers how every particular person can witness the precise string of occasions in another way.
The wonderful talent system in Suikoden III additionally contributes to additional character development and improvement all through your journey. Visually, Suikoden III carried out a stable job within the visible division, showcasing endearing character fashions and environments. Suikoden III, sadly, wasn’t an entire success, regardless of having that side of originality as its core focus. In reality, there are numerous lackluster gameplay parts, which is why Suikoden III deserves a contemporary remake.
Revisiting and modifying the underwhelming battle system, plus streamlining the transition between characters, could be components that might make a large enchancment to the sport. Suikoden III can also be worthy of a visible upscale as a result of it was the primary Suikoden recreation ever to have 3D visuals. Think about how unimaginable the character and environmental graphics would look in the event that they had been remastered in HD for contemporary consoles.
The Simpsons: Hit and Run
Likelihood is, in the event you’re conversant in PS2 video games, you’re conversant in The Simpsons: Hit and Run. It’s simply a type of titles that ended up in everybody’s collections and gained notoriety as a basic. The Simpsons Hit and Run is broadly considered top-of-the-line licensed video games of all time and provides numerous hours of chaotic, tire-screeching enjoyable. You’ll be dropped into Springfield, the place the Simpson household investigates weird incidents utilizing a mixture of racing and action-adventure gameplay. The sport’s design resembles Grand Theft Auto in some methods, albeit in a milder, cartoonish method, which is why it has confirmed to be such an addictive title through the years.
The driving controls in The Simpsons Hit and Run are undoubtedly the sport’s strongest characteristic. They’re so fluid that they may have competed with most racing video games revealed on related dates. The characters within the recreation additionally collect tokens and interact in legal exercise and moderately-violent acts much like GTA. In fact, it’s extra family-friendly.
Whereas The Simpsons Hit and Run isn’t pushing any boundaries or doing something overly-spectacular, it does the whole lot it must do to offer an entertaining expertise with out being overly bold in what it was making an attempt to realize. A recent remake could be the best probability to advance the gameplay, modernize Springfield’s visuals, and even perhaps add contemporary options fitted to trendy methods, similar to multiplayer racing and co-op missions.
Past Good & Evil
Past Good & Evil is an action-adventure title that hurls you into the adventures of Jade, an investigative reporter working alongside a resistance motion to unravel the sinister conspiracies of the DomZ, an alien species who drain the life from people and switch them into slaves by implanting spores. Jade’s mission revolves round trying into the DomZ’s deeds and stopping this stuff from taking place to an orphanage of kidnapped kids. The gameplay in Past Good & Evil is pretty interactive, however the actions are saved at an inexpensive degree of issue to maximise the influence of the narrative.
Alongside your journey as Jade, you’ll discover puzzles to unravel, conditions to stealth, and adversaries to evade. Nevertheless, it’s in the end the sport’s brilliantly cinematic storytelling that may preserve you glued to the controller. A whole remake of Past Good & Evil would solely elevate the sport and restore a contemporary sense of life to the greater than deserving story. With such an attention-grabbing apocalyptic sci-fi phrase to navigate, a full graphics replace and remaster might see Past Good & Evil competing with the quite a few common trendy action-adventure titles.
Viewtiful Joe
Viewtiful Joe is a side-scrolling beat-em-up PS2 recreation that has made an influence world wide as a result of its distinctive, comic-influenced model of the in-game visuals. In Viewtiful Joe, you’ll take management of Joe, a median man with a ardour for superheroes. After Joe’s girlfriend, Sylvia, is pulled by a display screen right into a superhero world, Joe chases after her solely to be thrown into this world himself. Solely coaching from Joe’s favourite hero, Captain Blue, on controlling your VFX Powers will allow you to outlive on this world and save Sylvia.
Viewtiful Joe solely amplifies using comic-inspired graphics with a fascinating, entertaining and humorous story, in addition to difficult and thrilling gameplay mechanics, making it really feel like a real comedian e book expertise in online game format. As Joe progresses by his mission, he develops his VFX Powers, permitting you to decelerate and pace up time for some significantly satisfying beat-em-up motion. Related time-manipulating mechanics are extra widespread in trendy gaming, however the truth that Viewtiful Joe was working these with success all the way in which again on PS2 solely makes it much more deserving of a revival.
Plus, the sport has a gentle issue that will catch some off guard and supply a real problem and excessive replay worth, making it the right title for a modern-day reboot. In any case, who wouldn’t to beat up on these enemies after a graphics revamp and gameplay replace? Particularly with the recognition of handheld/travel-friendly consoles turning into a extra widespread factor, Viewtiful Joe might make the right recreation to get misplaced in whilst you’re on the go.
SOCOM U.S Navy SEALs
SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs is a sequence of third-person tactical shooter video games typically thought-about top-of-the-line PS2 video games of their style and time. SOCOM’s gameplay and storyline give attention to groups of U.S. Navy SEALs finishing missions, typically pairing up with numerous particular operations forces from world wide. Whereas the idea is considerably simple on the floor, the gameplay mechanics made it stand out from its opponents as such a likable sequence title. It might be thrilling to see how a workforce would additional develop these mechanics to suit the fashionable commonplace.
For instance, gamers can method a mission nevertheless they like, commanding their squad to method issues in numerous methods. Whether or not you need to scoot round cowl and shoot it out or pull up weapons blazing and let all hell break unfastened, each selection you make in SOCOM could make or break a mission. This brings a practical feeling to the sport and allows you to actually benefit from the position of a commander together with your workforce. In fact, SOCOM’s graphics are dated, which makes replaying it right now powerful on the eyes.
SOCOM is the right recreation to carry again in a modern-day remake. Think about with the ability to workforce up with associates by way of on-line play and make recreation plans to finish these team-based missions – with all of the potential for flawed plans, humor, and leisure, your complete factor seems like an absolute blast. Apart from, with shooter video games being such a well-liked style, there’s little doubt SOCOM might seize the eye of a modern-day gaming viewers and even perhaps compete with some huge names within the trade.
Twisted Metallic: Black
Twisted Metallic: Black is an action-packed vehicular fight and racing recreation for the PS2, the place it additionally obtained an On-line Version titled Twisted Metallic: Black On-line. Each video games are often known as the perfect of what the PS2 needed to supply, with each variations being reissued as a part of Sony’s Biggest Hits assortment. Twisted Metallic: Black resembles a demolition derby, the place you’ll have the chance of selecting out a car and enviornment to dive into battle in opposition to enemy drivers. You’ll even have the possibility to choose up numerous upgrades and weapons to provide the edge over your opponents and make it to the top because the final one standing.
Nevertheless, Twisted Metallic: Black is a lot greater than only a automotive fight recreation. Not solely does it carry that enjoyable car-crashing craziness, however the world of TWB can also be geared up with an completely creepy and darkish visible aesthetic. When paired with the implausible soundtrack, it feels such as you’re on a survival mission, making an attempt to flee the doom-and-gloom suspense that builds up as you do the whole lot in your energy to be the final within the enviornment. There’s no denying {that a} TMB trendy remake would have followers of each the franchise and the style of automotive racing video games completely dropping their thoughts.
With a remastered soundtrack and on-line gameplay expertise, plus some fine-tuning to the sport mechanics right here and there, Twisted Metallic: Black might develop into a significantly addictive and profitable title. Plus, the visible parts may gain advantage huge time from what modern-day gaming provides, not solely in updates to the arenas and higher resolutions but in addition in new options similar to totally customizable automobiles.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell is a stealth-based action-adventure/shooter recreation for the PS2 that made a mark as top-of-the-line titles on the system, discovering sufficient success to generate a number of sequels. Splinter Cell has you tackle the position of Sam Fisher and stealth your method by the shadows utilizing instruments similar to night time imaginative and prescient and thermal imaginative and prescient goggles. The sport even makes use of a light-weight meter mechanic, which signifies how seen you’re to enemies always, permitting you to sink additional into the darkness to stay hidden or destroy gentle sources to create extra cowl.
With the distinctive give attention to stealth over fight and tactical parts of gameplay, Splinter Cell looks like the right recreation to be introduced again a brand new life for contemporary consoles. Fortunately for followers of the sport, this challenge is already in progress, as Ubisoft at present has a remake within the works. Though the sport continues to be in early manufacturing, Ubisoft has launched a video detailing a number of the recreation’s progress, ideas, and behind-the-scenes work, so be sure you examine that out in the event you’re excited for Splinter Cell to make a grand return.
Satan Might Cry
Satan Might Cry is an action-adventure franchise acquainted to most PlayStation lovers, and it was the unique recreation that first made a giant debut on PS2. It instructed the story of Dante, a demon hunter with a burning vendetta in opposition to evil who, after assembly a mysterious girl named Trish, embarks on a quest to defeat Mundus, the demon lord liable for the deaths of his household. The gameplay is usually a hack-and-slash affair, although there are puzzle-solving and platforming parts too. It was billed as a fast-paced Resident Evil title on the time.
Satan Might Cry is taken into account top-of-the-line video games, and it’s straightforward to know why. Not solely did the sport use cutscenes brilliantly to have interaction gamers within the storyline, nevertheless it had a excessive issue, making it the right problem and essentially the most satisfying title to finish. Satan Might Cry has continued to achieve success past the years of its launch, lots of which have been extremely profitable. However there’s nothing fairly like the unique.
Going again to the roots of what made DMC such a ground-breaking title and elevating these elements might create one thing extraordinary and really nostalgic. The graphics had been spectacular for a PS2 title, however with the visible potential trendy video video games have, Satan Might Cry might look phenomenal with a contemporary reboot – think about the satisfaction of navigating the missions and slashing by demons as Dante in HD. Because it was an absolute PS2 basic, DMC could be an ideal recreation option to carry again a brand new sense of life to action-adventure on the PS5, and even the likes of PC, the place a contemporary remake might stay as much as its true potential.
Ace Fight 4/5
Ace Fight is an arcade-styled flight fight simulator recreation sequence that launched 4 titles for the PS2 system. Amongst them, Ace Fight 4: Shattered Skies and Ace Fight 5: The Unsung Struggle are the preferred and profitable titles, described by devoted followers as the right mix of motion and storytelling and an pleasant mixture of arcade and simulation gameplay. Ace Fight has good environments full with a wonderful soundtrack to take pleasure in as you navigate the skies, and the gameplay offers missions that make you, as a participant, really feel such as you’re in an actual struggle.
Sadly, present technology consoles have left Ace Fight 4 and 5 behind. Though PS4 has its personal Ace Fight title, it doesn’t fairly evaluate to the appeal and pleasure that Ace Fight 4 & 5 dropped at the display screen. Because of this, It’s time we get a contemporary remaster that captures the entire HD expertise that different video games have obtained. Trendy-day methods might benefit from movement controls, VR, and on-line co-op and multiplayer recreation modes, including a good larger cause to play the sport.
Each the concept of making an attempt to workforce up with associates and work collectively as you fly by the sky or going through off in opposition to these associates with honing missiles and evasive maneuvers seems like infinite enjoyable for followers of the style. If Ace Fight 4 & 5 had been saved the identical on the core however remastered with multiplayer performance, improved sound results, and HD graphics and music, there’s virtually no query that it could be a particularly profitable title.
Darkish Cloud 1 & 2
Darkish Cloud 1 & 2 are a duo of very profitable ARPG recreation titles launched for the PS2 and are even referred to by some as Sony’s reply to The Legend of Zelda, which solely signifies how a lot of a mark these titles made for the PlayStation console. Whereas it might appear much like or pay respects to TLoZ on the floor, there may be lots to like about Darkish Cloud that makes it such a novel recreation by itself. Darkish Cloud tells the story of a gaggle of lovable characters who band collectively to combat in opposition to a Darkish Genie that has terrorized and destroyed many native villages. Gamers take management of Toan, a boy with the facility to rebuild destroyed lands.
Throughout your journey as Toan, you’ll navigate combat-based dungeons, use Atla to rebuild the world round you, and degree up your weapons as you’re employed in direction of defeating the Darkish Genie as soon as and for all. Darkish Cloud makes the right recreation for a contemporary remake, because the constructing, crafting, and dungeon mechanics of the sport had been partaking and thrilling and could possibly be pushed additional on present consoles.
Apart from, any such recreation is suited to any console, from PS5, PC, and Xbox to handhelds such because the Nintendo Change and Steam Deck. With graphics reworks and a few fine-tuning to gameplay right here and there, Darkish Cloud might show to be an extremely profitable title on any of those consoles and could be the right recreation for ARPG followers.
And that’s it for the 15 greatest PS2 video games that deserve a contemporary remake! For extra gaming content material, information and guides, try the remainder of our content material right here at Twinfinite. We have now a variety of matters that may provide help to together with your gaming adventures on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and extra.