Happy 10th Anniversary, Playstation 2!

Sony has been in our hearts so long now, it’s hard to imagine there was once a large era in game history where they were nowhere to be seen. With the Playstation 2, Sony dead-bolted itself into our memories and is now anchored in to stay. In America, it’s now officially entering its double digits, since its release on October 26, 2000. It’s been so successful; the console is still being sold today, long after the release of its younger brother, Playstation 3. There are even still special bundles being released, with the release of Toy Story 3 on Playstation 2. To commemorate its birthday, NoobFeed got around seeing who enjoyed which games the most.

Playstation 2: Also for chicks.

Congratulations, Playstation 2! May your cup keepeth to overflow.

Daav's Playstation shelf

Brian Craig:

Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec

Why is the Gran Turismo series one of my favourites from the PlayStation 2? Well, it’s quite simple. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec could have sat back and rode the plaudits that its PlayStation predecessors had stirred up before it. All it needed was a few new cars and some folding around the edges and it still would have broken sales records.

Polyphony Digital had different plans, though, and instead brought us a racing simulator that its rivals simply couldn’t compete with and quickly became a revelation. It would be silly to say it was perfect, but for its time it came damn close.

Gran Turismo 3: Attention To Detail.

Then Gran Turismo 4 came along, and while it didn’t make as much noise it still brought new levels of realism to the racing genre, pushing the graphical capabilities of the PlayStation 2 to its limits. Then, just for kicks, took it one step further.

There have been so many great moments had with these two games over the years but my favourite would have to be the day I bought the Audi TT on GT3 and tuned it to the hilt. That car helped me go on to dominate just about every championship I entered into and eventually achieve that elusive 100%.

David Decker:

Gun:

Gun was one of my personal favorites on the PlayStation 2. As a longtime fan of the western genre it always seems hard to find solid games to play in that area. One night I saw a commercial for the game and went right out to get it the next day; and I sure wasn't disappointed. I lost count of the hours I spent in this game, and loved every minute of it.

As Colton White you set out to avenge the murder of a loved one in traditional western style, which is simply killing anything and anyone that stands in your way. It has a very good story, great voice over, and an open world to explore, with plenty of varied side missions. I simply never got bored or tired of this game. Although it did leave you wanting more when you were done, because of how short the game is. I still felt it has the most replay value I have ever had in a game. It's not very often that you get that special feeling when you play a game you truly love, but this game was it for me and it was an experience I will never forget.

Red Dead Revolver:

Red Dead Redemption took me back to a time I remembered from my childhood. It was designed more towards the old spaghetti westerns you might have seen your grandfather or father watching when you were young. Or at least that's what it reminded me of when I played this wonderful game. Even though I didn't like watching the old spaghetti westerns on television as a child, it still made for a memorable gaming experience.

The story is pretty linear and the world isn't that open which doesn't make for a lot of exploring. But it more than made up for that with gameplay, graphics, story, and the characters you came across and were able to use throughout the game. With a stellar music selection, it really helps bring you back to the good ole days of the west and really adds to the overall feeling of the game. The game has an intriguing journal to unlock as you progress and entertaining challenge modes to unlock special rewards, which you can use to help you along in story mode. I found myself immersed from start to finish. This may have been a short adventure, but it was definitely worth the ride.

David Gabriel:

Ratchet & Clank (series):

Out of Sony’s “platformer trio” (Sucker Punch, Naughty Dog, Insomniac), I always found myself going back to the Ratchet & Clank games the most. Every Ratchet & Clank installment has modified and refined the gameplay, while not straying much from its roots. Not only that, the developers somehow managed to think of creative ways to keep each iteration enjoyable. As a result, the games still hold up—and the series itself going strong—even after 9 years since its inception.

Ratchet and Clank

Not only is the idea of causing absolute mayhem and wanton destruction towards hordes of enemies incredibly rewarding, you felt like a total badass doing so. The Ratchet & Clank games also boast a massive array of some of the most eccentric but effective weapon load-outs the world has ever seen; all satisfying and worthwhile to use and customize to your heart’s desire. While also cartoonish-ly and appropriately exaggerated in many ways, the universe of Ratchet & Clank is just chock-full of quirky and likable characters that most of them left a lasting impression in my mind. Developer Insomniac has successfully created a colorful franchise that I believe has still got enough juice to last them another decade. If Insomniac puts out more R&C games, I gladly welcome the idea.

Killer7:

Most of you probably don’t know about this cult hit, though it has become one of my favorite PS2 titles of all time (it also came out for the Gamecube, but that’s not the point!).  Killer7 had a pretty impressive (though occasionally dull), stylish, cel-shaded visual style that had a specific noir feel. It also contained an original, mind-blowing storyline that had me thinking about the game long after I finished it. Characters were as peculiar as they were memorable, and the gameplay—while unorthodox and fairly simple—still provided some enjoyment throughout my playthroughs. I’ve also come to like the game’s soundtrack; while incredibly moody and atmospheric; the Killer7 score is pleasing, chilling, and captivating to the ear. Killer7 is not for everyone, but if you’re into good weird games, this game might be right up your alley.

Daav Valentaten:

Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time:

Star Ocean is a fairly longstanding franchise, but my first real experience came from the third release Till The end Of Time. I had played The Second Story before, but it didn’t nearly captivate me as much as the release on Playstation 2, which enthralled even my brother and mother.

The secret to this game is its huge amount of content, giving it a serious feeling of grandeur. The clean graphics set a world that is so large and epic, it gives you over 200 hours of gameplay if you let it. The story takes you through a universe of medieval beliefs, with runes and symbols, to advanced genetic science. From rural villages to outer space, meeting wenches and aliens alike; Star Ocean TTEOT offers so very much. The item creation and immensely vast dungeons alone took hundreds of hours from my life.

Another secret to its longevity is the fact the battle system is so fun and fluent. Rather than traditional methods, it uses a system that lets you instantly switch characters and use tactics at lightning speeds. This made battles spectacular, intense, interactive and very entertaining. It’s so entertaining, I spent the equivalent of a month trying to beat it all!

Final Fantasy X:

The franchise knew only a short life on Playstation 2, but at least it made it last. Aside from Final Fantasy VII, which is unbeaten as a game, period; the Tidus adventure was a sight to behold. Beginning with the boldest of soundtracks and scenes of doom, it portrayed a visual marvel from the start and kept that going strong.

Like many iterations before it, it also spawned an immense amount of content and brought back the best side game since cards in FFVIII. Blitzball didn’t only create one of the funniest characters, with the seemingly Jamaican Wakka, it also created a capturing and exciting pastime with the sport itself. Like with the Golden Saucer in FFVII, I spent dozens of hours merely wasting time by defeating the damned Al Bhed.

But most of all, a compelling story, beautiful landscapes and even more beautiful characters captured your hearts and made a following playthrough of hundreds of hours self-evidence. Rikku and her enchanting eyes, which you could only see for a second, could last you a life time in memory. Also, she’s pretty hot in that dress-up game, which served as a sequel somehow.

Final Fantasy X: It's also a game.

Dark Chronicle:

For me, this is where Level-5 set up shop in my heart. This RPG came by fairly unnoticed back in 2003, but it offered so very much; you just couldn’t keep your hands off it. The innovative storyline that messes with time and space was only one of many things that made this game so original.

Coated in rich and illustrative cel-shading, Dark Chronicle was a marvel to gaze at. With its implementation of steampunk and cartoons, it felt both magnificent and endearing. I still remember striking foes with a giant frozen tuna as a weapon!

Level-5: Dark Chronicle

That weapon system was just one more of the marvels available. By using a separate level system for weapons, Dark Chronicle layered depth upon depth. The truth is, you could go on and on, but the bottom line is, this game had literally tons of content. It made playing a single playthrough last for well over 100 hours! There was city building, random dungeons, fishing and fish contests, inventions, photography and even a golf game!

No game ever had so much content that was all so thoroughly worked out, so deep and had it all working for it like it was its own game! Words fall short to describe Level-5’s genius here, so try and find a copy and play the best damn RPG ever created.

Daav Valentaten, NoobFeed.