PS2 PS2 Hidden Gems

[XXDaisukeXX]

What are some of your favorite PS2 Hidden Gems? I am looking for some obscure PS2 games to play this Xmas.

 

[Bonkers225]

Blood Will Tell
Legaia 2
Ar Tonelico
God Hand
Radiata Stories
MS Saga
Shining Force EXA

 

[Waffles]

Hey! I recommend checking out these two topics for some good recommendations:

https://retrogametalk.com/threads/c...ps2-games-that-truly-are-under-the-radar.722/

PS2 Thread 'PS2 title you owned that you didn't see many others having?'

Dec 17, 2024

The PS2 has a beautiful library, it's vast, there's hidden gems mixed in everywhere, and many of the games have really good gameplay for their time.

What was a PS2 game you owned that you didn't see very often in others' libraries? For me, it was Rune - Viking Warlord, man I loved that game. I remember finding it at a garage sale years and years ago when I still had a fat PS2. Ragnar was a legend, he had that traditional barbarian name, the sound effects were terrible yet I couldn't help but love em'...

• LUNARMYTH
• Replies: 37
• Forum: Sony Talk

• 

 

[rexfenix]

If you like mechs you should check out Gundam Federation Versus Zeon. It's basically the predecessor to those modern extreme vs games, except it's mission-based. It has a sequel too, Gundam VS Zeta.
If you like action, there's a Nightmare Before Christmas game made by the same people who made Devil May Cry. Actually it is literally just DMC with Jack Skellington.

 

[moonbits]

Gradius V

 

[OldGamesAreNice]

Not sure if they're hidden, and they could be "gems" just for me, but:
* Stella Deus (strategy rpg, I used a guide to recruit all characters, I enjoyed it and I loved everything - the graphics, the story, the characters)
* Atelier Iris 3 (turn-based rpg, colourful, I enjoyed it very much and I liked the use of various classes for characters)
* Suikoden 5, sadly I've lost my save right after the final battle, before the last dungeon, but I enjoyed the journey until there!

 

[Bakuma1997]

D.I.C.E is a good Racing/Beat em up mash up, IDk if it's based on an anime series but it reminded me of Zoids while i played it, i also loved its unique transparent casing, tried to look for it, but no luck, i fear it was sold or went missing, wich is a shame because bein a original disc i could still play it on PCSX2

 

[Leon]

Evergrace and it's sequel forever kingdom, basically from software's prototype for dark souls.

Legaia 2: duel saga, i'm actually surprised how few people even know this game exists, i prefer it over the first game.

God Hand a FRIGGIN INSANE 3d beat em up by capcom of all companies.

Grandia x-treme and grandia 3, x-treme's a odd case where it's a rpg you play for the combat instead of story, grandia 3 is just generally forgotten but is more story based.

Megaman X Command Mission, something you rarely see, a jrpg in the megaman x universe, done surprisingly well.

Breath of fire: Dragon Quarter, this game is the black sheep of the BOF series, it's not a bad game but takes getting used to the way it's restart system works

Metal Saga, a criminally underrated metal saga game and the only one to release in english before xeno, this is one of my favorite ps2 games, basically a open world jrpg with tanks, a rare thing especially back then.

Thunder Force VI, a japan only side scrolling shooter, a bit easy but still plenty of fun, the language issue is only for a couple of screens and is easily dealt with.

Shadow Hearts, the entire series is good but the second game is generally the best game in the series.

Wild arms, a wild west style rpg series, 1 and 2 started on the ps1, alter code F is a remake of 1, 3-5 are on ps2, of them most would say, Alter Code F, 3 and 5 are the best games in the series, the last mainline game, 5 is probably the best game in the series if you ask me though loses some of it's western asthetic.

 

[Cu-Neo]

- Rogue Galaxy (ARPG)
- Dark Cloud 2 (ARPG)
- Project Snowblind (FPS/originally a deus ex game)
- Obscure 1 and 2 (Survival horrors)
- Breath of Fire 5 (RPG)
- Armored Core 3 (Robot action game)
- Zone of the Enders 1 and 2 (mecha hack and slash game)
- Namco X Capcom (strategy rpg)
- Dot hack (both the first 4 Kite and the 3 Haseo games) (arpg)
- RE outbreak File 1 and 2 (Survival horror)
- Odin Sphere (2D sidescroller action game)
- Radiata Stories (action rpg)
- Tales of the Abyss, Rebirth, Destiny and legendia (arpg)
- The force unleashed 1 (the ps2 version)
- Freedom Fighters
- both ps2 Castlevanias
- DBZ budokai AF
- that hack and slash game of The nightmare before Christmas
- Galerians: Ash

 

[XXDaisukeXX]

- Rogue Galaxy (ARPG)

Is Rogue Galaxy similar to a space opera? Because if it is, I wanna play it.

 

[Cu-Neo]

Is Rogue Galaxy similar to a space opera? Because if it is, I wanna play it.

It's about a guy who wants to achieve something in his life and to do that he wants to go to space (like Luke in A new hope). But he ends up in a intergalactic conflict. It's a great game

 

[Leon]

Is Rogue Galaxy similar to a space opera? Because if it is, I wanna play it.

To add to what Cu-Neo said, basically think space pirates that in general don't do piracy, if i was to put it another way, for space nature of the game i'd say it's definitely inspired by different space opera's but i think it's more than likely inspired by japanese space anime more than star wars.

 

[Estein]

I will just add some from my list despite it might have some more known games

Steambot Chronicles
Shadow Heart
Soul Nomad And World Eater
Okage Shadow King
Forbidden Siren
Tear Ring Saga
Shinobido
Odin Sphere
Valkyrie Profile 2
Suikoden 5
Rogue Galaxy
Front Mission 5
Armored Core 3
God Hand
Way Of Samurai 2
The Red Star
Robotic Alchemic Drive R.A.D(aka The Big 0 with tragic comedy moment,not tragic but the execution is funny)
Shadow Of Collossus
Dark Cloud 1 and 2
Ring Of Red
Romancing Saga Minstrel Song
Tales Of The Abyss
Rule of Roses
Gregory Horror Show
Urban Reign
Shadow Tower Abyss
Wizardry Forsaken Land
Eternal Ring
Mystic Heroes
Legend Of Sayuki
Tenchu Wrath Of Heaven
Nightshade/Kunoichi
Eternal Poison
Haunting Ground
The Bouncer
Fatal Frame 1 2 3
Final Fight Streetwise
Skygunner
Crimson Sea 2
Dawn Of Mana
Dragon Quest 8
Dragon Quest 5 Heavenly Bride
Monster Rancher 4
Vampire Panic
Shadow Of Destiny/Memories
ICO
Chaos Legion
Ar Tonelico 1 2
Ace Combat 5

 

[TurnATrigger]

Evergrace is pretty cool
Ichigeki Sacchu
Monster Hunter DOS (I Know its MH but trust me this game is a pain in the ass to find info about it)
Eternal RIng
Coockie and Cream
BCV

 

[Jbranham]

If you like pro wrestling fire pro wrestling returns is a good choice. mashing buttons won't get you anywhere in fire pro timing and patience are the key one you learn this learning curve it's a great way to simutate the stuff you see on TV in a game.

 

[VampireLord1024]

Boku no Natsuyasumi 2. It's even English patched.

 

[kamille]

gundam vs zeta gundam its the peak of gundam games.

 

[despilks]

Give this bad boy a spin: X-treme Express

 

[bobobobo]

herdy gerdy - it's 3D but it's also a cartoon! does it have gameplay? who cares!
scaler - eyecandiest of all 3D platformers!! (has no actual scales)
tokobot plus - it's better than tokobot!!!

 

[Edward]

 

[spectresfrommercury]

crimson tears

 

[bjork]

Raw Danger. It's a sequel to Disaster Report, but you don't need to have played it first to get the gist of what's going on; it takes the setting of a flood and you end up playing as different characters so you see the same event through a bunch of different eyes, it's a cool idea. It's a little clunky, but I consider that part of its charm.

 

[ObscureJigglypuff]

Rule of rose
zone of the enders
baroque
Shadow hearts
The sword of etheria
God hand
Odin sphere

 

[stealthRUSH]

Spy Fiction
ChainDive
Twinkle Star Sprites: La Petite Princesse
10,000 Bullets
Bujingai: The Forsaken City
Demon Chaos
Mahou Tsukai Kurohime
Orphen: Scion of Sorcery
Espgaluda
Kakutou Bijin Wulong
Busou Renkin
Shijou Saikyou No Deshi Kenichi
Mushihimesama
Frequency
Appleseed EX
GetBackers Dakkanya
Drakengard 1+2
Amplitude
Mai-Otome: Otome Butou Shi
Cy Girls
Shinkon Gattai Godannar!!
Trigger Heart Exelica Enhanced
Gantz: The Game
Technic Beat
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou
Steamboy
Magna Carta: Tears of Blood
Samurai Western
Trapt
Ikki Tousen: Shining Dragon
Extermination
Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color
Graffiti Kingdom
Spectral vs. Generation
Genji: Dawn of the Samurai
Echo Night: Beyond
Duel Hearts
Lupin the 3rd: Treasure of the Sorcerer King
Under the Skin
D.N.A.: Dark Native Apostle
Nano Breaker
Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon
Rumble Roses
Red Ninja: End of Honor
7 Blades
S.L.A.I.: Steel Lancer Arena International
Lifeline
Erementar Gerad: Matoe, Suifu no Ken
Stretch Panic
Ibara

 

[kidchaos_amiga]

SHMUPS and action:
Silpheed
Rez
The Red Star
Contra Shattered Soldiers and Neo-Contra
R-Type Final
Space Channel Five - Part 2.