Happy Birthday, you old free DVD player! As with so many, a Playstation 2 was at home sooner than later - but only after I admitted that Sega's Dreamcast will ultimately not make a stab against Sony. The probably strongest generation of Playstation of all time had so many milestones to offer and such a diverse portfolio that it stands out of doubt: the PS2 is without the same.
So, let's talk about the games. But instead of chattering about all the gigantic favorite game candidates of God of War about Metal Solid or Gran Turismo to celebrate the day - things that everyone knows anyway - I thought that I picked out a few insider tips that may not everyone had on the paper.
Let’s go!
1. Shadow of Rome 2005)
Hach, PS2-Capcom is still my favorite Capcom. Onimusha, Viewful Joe, Okami, the underestimated Breath of Fire 5 or Shadow of Rome. You had the feeling that you somehow succeeded ... Well, everything, except Shadow of Rome, made a commercial success. And that was a shame. This game in ancient Rome had not only a struggle system that had been battle system as well as beautiful arena mechanics with strength and drastic melee power. Even gave the chart. And then there was the adventure part, in which you can creep in a cute conspiracy. Undoubtedly one of the most unusual titles that Capcom has ever dared to do.
I am still a bit sad that the intended successor never came out.
2. Summoner 2 – 2002
Volition could also do something different than the rioting open world of Red Faction and Saints Row: Summoner 2 was an amazingly deep and wonderfully different action role-playing game in a world that you don't see as often. As a ruler Maia, there is a great responsibility, because according to rumors you are the reincarnation of a goddess. The game provides a lot with this premise and is anything but predictable. This is not a fantasy like any other. At the time, I found it cool that I had to listen to the requests of my subjects regularly and decide on them.
A demanding, unusual West role-playing game that may not be technically ahead of its time, but would find a lot more friends today.
3. Shox: Rally Reinvented – 2002
Between 2001 and 2008, EA BIG was a label that had set up Electronic Arts for Arcade trend sports games. Among other things, the SSX games and FIFA Street appeared. In fact, I had sunk in Shox most of the time, a surprisingly tricky rally “reinvention”, the circular courses of which are divided into three zones. At any time, a beam melts down in each of the zones, which measures whether you put a gold, silver or bronze time. If you create gold in all three zones, a deafening shock wave in front of you rushes along the route with which you have to keep up to get a money bonus and a speed boost. It was as difficult as motivating and audiovisually impressive.
A real intoxication if you succeeded. I still regret that EA has not developed this series. There was so much potential ...
4. Dark Chronicle – 2002
The developer Level 5 did not only come out of nowhere for me. With Dark Cloud and Dark Chronicle, they managed to make an unforgettable double strike, which is still symbolic of all the ambitious genre mixes that are presented to us today based on solid action-RPG mechanics. Dark Chronicle combined completely effortlessly a sympathetic adventure with crafting and assembly elements and thus kept up with the player's joy of experimentation continuously. Thanks to its Cel Shading style, it has aged quite well to this day. In general, Level 5 had an incredible run in the time: Dragon Quest 8, Rogue Galaxy and Jeanne d'Arc for the PSP.
To date, one of the most impressive five-game combo that I can remember-and Dark Chronicle is the game that is exemplary for me for this creative phase.
5. Shadow Hearts – 2001
I am something like the persona hipster of this editorial team ("I thought it was cool before everyone knew it"). But because everyone now knows about this, I am now drumming for the Shadow Hearts series, which in turn is a continuation of the PSX RPG Koudelka. Developer Sacnoth no longer exists and the legal situation is extremely nebulous, which is why I can remove a revival as a remaster. And that's extremely a shame, because we could use this variety cranky horror-JRPG today, especially since the developers had already recognized that it could sometimes be a bit boring to click Drawn through menus. Already here there are first timing mini games in the attacks and the scenario, like this, which is located in an alternative version of the First World War, you don't see every day.
The second part is even better, but part one is so good that you should get in here before you turn to Shadow Hearts: Covenant.
6. Primal – 2003
Primal was rather mixed at the time and I see why. The control is not as round for a long time as the highly polished exterior suggests and the combat system is not particularly smart. But for me it is primarily a forerunner of the film -like blockbusters, for which the Playstation is known today and who then come from Naughty Dog or Sony Santa Monica. To date, it can be looked at properly, the dark atmosphere has lost none of its suction effect and the duo from the actually comatous Jen and Gargoyle-Sidekick Scree is one of the more memorable teams in video game history.
It is crazy how big the hype was around this game and how completely it disappeared in the sinking.
7. Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy (USK 18) – 2004
And a forerunner of many modern trends. In this case of the ubiquitous trend of superpower-driven action games. This Midway title convinced with cool telekinese jokes, beautifully rumbling physics effects and a flowing change between stealth and action. I find the title that was only available in Germany in a cut USK-18 version, to this day. It is one of the smartest designed stupid games that I know. Above all, PSI-OPS is one of the reasons why I seriously regret Midway's decline.
Interestingly, this Psionic Actioner Free Radicals Second Sight appeared in a timely manner, which was quite similar, but not quite as riotous.
