The PS2 was a console with a stacked library of hits; that’s without question. However, due to the sheer popularity of the system, for every incredible smash hit, there was a litany of cash grabs, licensed games, and half-baked ideas.
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That’s how things go when everyone wants a slice of the pie, but amongst those ambitious and audacious attempts to make a quick buck, quite a few games punch way above their weight.
These are games that, at face value, look like titles that wouldn’t be much to write home about, but in reality, these games go harder than you could ever imagine.
Despite whether these games were put out as shameless cash grabs, tame annual releases, or weird ideas that would otherwise have been left on the cutting room floor.
The takeaway here is that we are glad they exist, as these PS2 titles are better than they have any right to be.
10Ratchet: Gladiator
All-Out Action
Ratchet: Deadlocked
We kick things off with one that some might find a little controversial, asRatchet and Clank is a beloved PlayStation IP. But hear me out on this one, as Gladiator really has no right to be as beloved as the rest of the Lombax’s outings.
You see, Gladiator, or Deadlocked, depending on where you hail from, is a game that strips all the platforming and exploration of the standard Ratchet and Clank experience, opting for all-out combat instead.
It’s a game that essentially leans into the battle arena aspects of previous games, asking players to master combat, defeat wave after wave of space nasties, and eventually, beat the big boss monsters that punctuate each challenge.
While combat in the game was always fun, having just gunplay and nothing else seemed like a recipe for a poorer final product on paper. After all, who wants less of what they love?
But in the end, Gladiator turned out to be a great game, and one you really should check out if you missed it.
9Smackdown: Here Comes The Pain
Cause Stone Cold Said So
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain
To say that wrestling games are a bit of a mixed bag would be an understatement. Whether we are discussing old cash-grab games like the Twisted Metal clone Crush Hour or talking about more modern 2K titles, the general synopsis is that you may’t trust a WWE game on quality.
However, in the 2000s, the series delivered a game that goes way harder than it has any right to, and that’s Here Comes The Pain.
This game offers some of the most accessible yet entertaining gameplay WWE games have ever boasted. It provides a gripping story mode, customization out of the wazoo, authentic game modes like Royal Rumble and the Elimination Chamber, and one of the best rosters in the franchise’s history, but maybe I’m a little biased on that last one.
Many would argue that the Smackdown Vs Raw games would elevate the formula further, but in my eyes, nothing has ever come close to topping HCTP. Which, considering both the WWE andTHQ’s track record,is nothing short of a miracle.
8Scooby Doo: Night of 100 Frights
Let’s Split Up & Look For Clues
Despite being one of the most beloved classic cartoons in history, and producing a variety of different video games over the course of decades, there aren’t many Scooby-Doo games worth playing in truth.
Whether we look back to games like Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase or Mystery Mayhem, a lot of these titles flattered to deceive.
However, despite the poor track record, one game stands alone as the best Scooby game by a distance, and that’s Scooby Doo: Night of 100 Frights.
This one is a superb platformer with comedic combat, rewarding exploration, clever puzzles and platforming sequences, and a world that really captures the essence of the Hanna Barbera classic.
It’s a rare example of a 2.5D metroidvania, a game that offers the closest thing to an authentic mystery involving the whole gang, and it’s surprisingly atmospheric, too. All great reasons to hop in the Mystery Machine and get to work.
7The Simpsons: Hit & Run
GTA For Kids
The Simpsons Hit and Run
When you think of childhood PS2 classics, Simpson’s Hit & Run is often touted as the best of the bunch and the object of much nostalgia. But we need to remind ourselves of how much of an anomaly this is.
The Simpsons as a franchise was an active entity in the gaming space for sure, but the output was pretty bad, to say the least. From Simpson’s Skateboarding, to Wrestling and Road Rage, everything with the Simpson’s name attached was usually a lazy cash grab.
But, despite the fact that Hit & Run is little more thana kid-friendly GTA clone, it’s one that is full of charm and quality. With loads of funny gags, a wacky story, loads of vehicles to unlock, a wealth of fun missions, and so much more, this one manages to act as a love letter to the source material.
Not to mention, it actually provided a GTA-adjacent experience that didn’t send anxious parents into a frenzy. It’s proof that not all licensed games are blatant cash grabs, just most.
6Scarface: The World is Yours
Say Hello To My Lil' Friend!
Scarface: The World Is Yours
It’s fair to say that the PS2, or any console for that matter, was not known for its library of shooters back in the day, as FPS games were almost always better when played on PC.
However, there were some exceptions to the rule, and one unlikely hero on PS2 was none other than Tony Montana of Scarface fame.
The World is Yours re-imagines the ending of the classic film, and in this alternate reality, Tony survives to exact revenge and reinstate himself as the main drug kingpin of Miami.
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This one, much like the aforementioned Simpsons Hit & Run, was another shameless GTA clone, but one with undeniable class and quality in terms of its execution.
It had the quintessential GTAopen-world sandbox feel, refined 3rd person gunplay, a killer soundtrack, smooth driving mechanics, and a truly gripping narrative that gets Tony Montana right to a tee.
Basically, it’s GTA Vice City, but you play as Al Pacino. If you can’t get behind that, then I don’t know what else to tell you.
5Def Jam Vendetta
A More Literal Rap Battle
Def Jam Vendetta
Back-to-back games starring Scarface. Who would have thought? Okay, it’s not technicallythatScarface, but still.
That’s right, next up, we have a fighting game that, on paper, sounds like the most surefire bargain bin trash to ever hit the shelves. But somehow, this one managed to provide a street fighting beat-em-up experience to rival the big boys of the era.
For those unaware, Def Jam Vendetta is essentially a traditional fighting game with a wrestling edge, but instead of professional wrestlers, martial arts experts, or buff superheroes occupying the roster, you have well-known rappers and cultural figures instead.
This means you could have match-ups like Method Man against Ludacris or DMX against Funkmaster Flex. It sounds laughably stupid, but thanks to the wrestling meets fighter combo, and the surprisingly fun story mode, there is a lot of fun to be had with this one.
4Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets
A Magical Experience
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
As much as I do have a soft spot for the first Harry Potter licensed game on PSX. You know, the one with the disturbing, meme-worthy faces. It’s fair to say that it wasn’t a precursor indicating better things to come.
The first game had its moments, but it was a rather disjointed experience that didn’t always reflect the story beats of the movie or capture the magic of Hogwarts. But that isn’t something you can level at the second game.
Chamber of Secrets offered an experience that allowed players to effectively free-roam around an authenticity-constructed Hogwarts while also offering other iconic locations to explore, like The Burrow, Diagon Alley, and more.
Combine this with tense stealth sections and cleverly designed puzzle dungeons, and you have a game that captures the series' magic.
Sure, it’s nothing like thefar superior Hogwarts Legacythese days, but up until then, we would have been as bold as to say this was the best HP game on the market, and considering this one’s age, that’s bloody impressive.
3Mister Mosquito
An Unexpected Buzz Around This One
Mister Mosquito
The PS2 was home to a variety of truly weird and wonderful games, but we would argue that perhaps none managed to rival the levels of weirdness achieved by Mister Mosquito.
At its core, this game is like a flight simulator where you need to hone your skills as a pilot. Only in this game, you don’t operate a plane or a helicopter. Instead, you take control of the titular Mister Mosquito, and your goal is to navigate suburban homes and suck the blood of annoying NPCs.
It sounds utterly ridiculous and like a concept that doesn’t have the legs to succeed. But against all odds, the game actually offers addictive and challenging levels where you need to fly around with precision, use your environment around you to avoid detection, and much more.
At the end of the day, yes, this one is still a weird novelty at best. But, it’s a game that has no right to be as refined as it is. This means that, despite its stupidity, I would actually recommend Mister Mosquito if you haven’t played this niche little oddity.
2Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
An MK Spin-off That Doesn’t Suck
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
When it comes to traditional fighting games, it’s hard to compete with Mortal Kombat in terms of violence and overall quality.
However, as many successful franchises do, Mortal Kombat made many attempts to break into other genres. Which werepretty much unanimously terribleand loathed by fans and critics alike. However, there is one that bucked that trend.
This game was a classic beat-em-up with seamless co-op, allowing players to play as Liu Kang and Kung Lao in a format that feels like Mortal Kombat meets Streets of Rage in the best way possible, with just a smattering of the classic God of War formula.
The game still offers a wealth of combos to learn, a variety of enemy types to take down, and the ability to perform violent, gory fatalities, as is custom for the series.
Granted, this one still has the corny voice acting and labored narrative that every other MK adventure game was hampered by, but if you may put that to one side, you’re in for a real treat.
1Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
Say That Three Times Fast
Peter Jackson’s King Kong
Throughout gaming and modern film history, King Kong has had a pretty rough go of it, with lukewarm flicks and terrible licensed video games taking the big gorilla and running his name through the mud. However, the PS2 outing starring the big ape was a cinematic epic.
Despite being a console-bound shooter, this licensed title managed to offer truly unique FPS mechanics and approaches that felt completely unique in the field, with a lack of HUD on screen adding to the cinematic immersion, and the dual character approach offering diverse gameplay throughout.
The game was truly ahead of its time with a gripping story that does Kong justice, visuals that push the PS2 right to the limit of its capabilities, incredible action sequences and sound design, and a real sense of freedom in combat, and as scenes play out as the game doesn’t rely on traditional cut-scenes.
Licensed movie tie-in games are all but extinct these days due to the slow pace of game development, so I’ll be bold and say this:
Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie might just remain the best ever movie tie-in game forevermore, and that alone makes it well worth checking out today.
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