ThePlayStation 2andXboxera was among the most lucrative for gamers. Both systems saw countless memorable titles released, and some of the biggest franchises in the business left their mark on players. Given the sheer number of games produced during this time, it makes sense that plenty of others slipped under the radar.
Related:The Best PlayStation 2 Games Ever Made (According To Metacritic)
Several such titles displayed passion and creativity rivaling the greats. For whatever reason, though, they either fell off the grid or failed to hit the mainstream altogether. Now, the advent of PS Plus Premium gives pluckyPS2gems a second chance at success. These are just a few titles that ought to be added.
7The Legend Of Spyro Trilogy
This is an odd chapter inSpyro’s history. It re-imagines the mischievous purple dragon as a noble hero, placing him amidst a deadly war for a ravaged fantasy world. The developers used his prophesied status to expand on his breath attacks more than ever before. Rather than simply shoot fire, ice, electricity, or earth from his mouth, Spyro creatively manipulates these elements for both combat and puzzle-solving. It’s fairly standard for a beat-‘em-up of this period, but it’s exhilarating fun regardless.
The trilogy’s real strength, however, lies in its presentation. The games achieve a surprising pathos through reframing aspects of Spyro’s world in a more serious light. At times, it feels like watching an animated epic. That sensation is further enhanced by the downright beautiful music and compelling voice work. This darker approach may not be for everyone, but the developers deserve credit for breaking away from the formula of Spyro’s previous outings. At least it’s more dignified thanwhat they did to him inSkylanders.
6The Hobbit
When people think ofHobbitadaptations, they picture either the 1977 Rankin-Bass cartoon or the epic Peter Jackson trilogy. The forgotten middle child, though, is a hack-and-slash platformer from 2003. It fashions its own version of Tolkien’s tale, boasting several qualities rivaling its peers.
Related:Lord Of The Rings Games Tier List
The title uses these beautifully to capture the spirit of adventure. Although the gameplay is somewhat clunky, it’s perfectly fine as far as third-person mechanics go. Not to mention, like with Spyro, whatever shortcomings are offset by the presentation. The appealing art style is akin to an illustration, and it’s flanked by some of the catchiest music to ever grace an adventure game. As weird as it sounds, this isamong the more inspired works to come from Tolkien’s books. Fans and gamers alike should get the chance to experience it.
5The Tak Series
The PlayStation and early PS2 eras were rife with mascot platformers. Naturally, a new kid like Tak would be lost in the shuffle, but he shouldn’t have been. His Juju adventure spawned a whole series, and a simple glance will immediately reveal the strong foundation behind it. The tribal flavor lets theTakgames stand out amidst a crowded market. The vision is apparent in the gorgeous jungle levels, sporting countless cool watercolors and exotic areas to explore.
At the heart of it all lies a distinctive style, which informs the caricature designs and, by extension, the gameplay mechanics. The developers clearly enjoyed crafting the various Juju spirits and their powers, and they go hand-in-hand with the sharp writing. Slapstick and witty comebacks combine for hilarious results. It’s no wonder whyNickelodeonlater made a TV show based on theTaktitles, as they’re among the best contributions the company has ever made to the gaming world. In truth, they deserve a remake akin to the recentSpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom, but a place in PS Plus is the next best thing.
4Rise To Honor
Outside the fighting genre, gaming has seena surprising shortage of kung fu. Sure, titles likeSleeping DogsandSifuoccasionally break through the mold, but these are the exceptions. Why not revisit an experimental kung fu clash from years ago, boastingone of the greatest martial arts stars of all time?
Yep, Jet Li heads this beat-‘em-up. That may sound like a standard cash-grab, butRise to Honorhas a rather unorthodox control scheme. Players attack by flicking the analog stick. It’s not as awkward as it sounds, allowing a bit more finesse than mindless button mashing. That finesse lays a strong foundation for a fully playable Hong Kong action flick.
3Gun
People creditRed Dead Redemptionwith the open-world western. WhileRockstar’s hit definitely fine-tuned the formula, a viable Old West sandbox actually came a few years prior withGun.
ThisNeversofteffort presents a vast frontier for would-be cowboys to explore, pioneering many mechanics later seen inRed Dead. Players can get into shootouts, take on bounties, hunt big game animals, and mess around with numerous other activities to strengthen their immersion.
Tying it all together is an engaging story by theMask of Zorroscribe. For some welcome variety, it’s less spaghetti style than competing titleRed Dead Revolverand more akin to the soulful John Wayne epics. Westerns are rare, both in film and gaming.Audiences should enjoy one when it comes along.
2War Of The Monsters
Another genre scarce in video games is the kaiju flick. Granted, players have seen someGodzillagames, but that’s about it. Only a few of these are any good. Plus, they obviously don’t coverthe myriad of other monsters out there.
Related:Awesome Monsters From Kaiju Movies That Do Not Get Enough Love
War of the Monsterspays homage to all that and more. This arena fighter provides a plethora of creatures of choose from. Though they’re not the iconic monsters themselves, the archetypes should be instantly familiar to genre followers. They then battle it out in dynamic, destructible environments; they can even use pieces of these places as weapons. For the icing on the cake, the whole brawl is presented like a cheesy ’50s creature feature. It’s a similar technique to the one used inDestroy All Humans!, and it has a similar appeal as a result. Combined, these elements makeWar of the Monstersany kaiju fan’s dream.
1The Lord Of The Rings: The Third Age
Here’s anotherLord of the Ringstitle, this time based on the films. That said, it’s not the same hack-and-slash affair as most of the franchise’s movie tie-ins. Instead, it’s a turn-basedRPG. Specifically,it copies the system seen inFinal Fantasy X. The recentMiddle-earthgames may take heavy inspiration fromAssassin’s Creedand theArkhamgames, but this is virtually the exact same coding. It’s shocking that the developers didn’t face a plagiarism lawsuit.
What’s more shocking is that it works. Much like Tidus and his party travel across Spira, Berethor and company follow in the Fellowship’s footsteps. They visit the same locales and fight in the same battles. While they’re not quite as interesting as the mainline group, they’re downright Shakespearean compared to most characters inLOTRgames. More important is how they lend themselves to gameplay. The different archetypes suit the various character classes. Similarly, the escalating threats inherent in Tolkien’s story parallel the enemy progression in a JRPG. If you ever wantedFFXwithout the whiny melodrama or awkward silliness, then this might be for you.
