Summary
The sixth generation of video game consoles was one of the most important ones in the history of the industry. It was just when game developers were refining brand-new 3D graphics and perfecting their incredible new technology. While the competition was fierce,Sony’s PlayStation 2is often consideredthe best console of its generation.
There were a lot of reasons why the PS2 made such a big impact on the world, but the biggest one is its catalog of incredible games, most of which took massive strides in innovating the video game industry. The best part is that a lot of these titles still feel fresh & unique to this day, so here are some of the most remarkable examples.
Few games manage to maintain that balance between artistry and mind-blowing gameplay as well asShadow of the Colossusby Team Ico. This is a dark adventure in which players have to face and defeat16 different gigantic bossesthat present a sense of scale and wonder so incredible that a lot of games still try to replicate it nowadays, but very few are actually able to match it.
That’s not even mentioning the impressively detailed graphics that madeShadow of the Colossuslook like a brand-new PlayStation 3 game, more than a year before that console was even released.
God of War 2shares some similarities withShadow of the Colossus, in the sense that it presents some of the most enormous bosses and enemies in the PlayStation 2 catalog. But Kratos’ second adventure is far less artistic and way more over-the-top. That’s perfectly fine, because that’swhat this franchise was always about.
God of War 2is one of the most epic tales of its generation, one that will leave players with goosebumps because of its amazing set pieces and ruthless combat. This game came out when the PlayStation 3 had already been out for an entire year, yet a lot of people kept their PS2s solely to play it, and it still holds up to this day.
The originalResident Evil 4basically founded the modern third-person shooter genre. Its fluid control scheme and precise shooting mechanics were so revolutionary that they influenced a lot of important games that followed, fromUnchartedtoGears of War, but it is still a legitimately entertaining experience on its own.
Even thoughResident Evil 4 Remakewas released in 2023, there are still a lot of fans who prefer the original release because it still feels better in some aspects, and they can’t be blamed. At the end of the day,both versions of the game are equally goodand can co-exist in peace.
Grand Theft Auto 3changed the open-world genre forever, and its sequel,Vice City,added even more to it. Yet it wasn’t untilGrand Theft Auto: SanAndreasthatRockstar Games truly managed to perfect this new open-world formula they successfully created.
San Andreafeatures a huge map that is brimming with content, with tons of vehicles to drive and places to visit. There are brand-new open-world games that feel bare-bones next to this game, including some of the most recent entries in the franchise. That’s why most fans are hopingGrand Theft Auto VIwill learn a lot from its design.
The PlayStation 2 had the power to generate stylized graphics that manage to look good even now, and Capcom’sOkamiis the best example. This video game was crafted to look exactly like a traditional Japanese painting and not only is ita breathtaking piece of art, but it also looks better than some of newer releases with more realistic graphics.
It’s not just about the visual flair, sinceOkamialso has this interesting gameplay mechanic in which everything that the player paints will result in some power or ability that protagonist Amaterasu can use. These painting controls feel surprisingly smooth for the PS2’s DualShock 2 controller.
Sometimes, all it takes is a creative gameplay mechanic to innovate the industry forever.Ubisoft’s reboot of their classicPrince of Persiaseriesdelighted players with its impressive mechanic of time manipulation, which lets them rewind time at any point to fix mistakes duringplatforming challenges.
This was mind-blowing in 2003, and it still is nowadays. It’s no wonder thatUbisoft is having troubledeveloping the remake of this game, since it’s almost impossible to replicate or surpass. Not to mention that the witty dialogue between the Prince and Farah is cleverly written and feels quite modern.
Even though the first installment in theKingdom Heartsseries feels outdated by today’s standards, its sequel remains as one of the best action games ever made. The combat system ofKingdom Hearts 2is so dynamic, precise, customizable, and addictive that Square Enix still tries to replicate it, with similar releases that are inspired by it, likeFinal Fantasy 7RemakeorFinal Fantasy 16.
Kingdom Hearts 2not onlychanged the hack & slashgenreforever, it also has a colorful cell-shaded art style that has aged extremely well, coupled with one of the best soundtracks in gaming history. There’s a reasonKingdom Hearts 3took a lot after its predecessor.
Hideo Kojima and his team always knew how to push a console to its limits. WhileMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Libertywas a revolutionary video game,its sequel somehow managed to raise the bar even more.Metal Gear Solid 3has some of the most complex and clever game mechanics of its time, with a lot of eccentric little moments that are still being discussed by players.
The camouflage system, the survival mechanics, the creative boss battles, this game is like nothing players have played before. The tragic tale of Naked Snake and The Boss is one of the best-written stories in gaming history, and it’s on the level of some of the most thrilling Hollywood films. While most fans are still excited about the remake,Metal Gear Solid Delta, others remain skeptical because the original release is still a perfect video game, and it’s almost impossible for Konami to replicate this success, especially without Kojima at the helm.
