The PS2 generation was like Konami’s last hurrah on consoles. They still made some great games on PS3 and PS4, but their imaginative output definitely slowed down. It’s a shame, especially when similar Japanese companies, like Capcom, are still doing so well.
Maybe it’s not too late for Konami. They have a whole list of Silent Hill games supposedly coming out and there are rumors of a new Metal Gear game too. Will these games turn out to be classics or duds? It’s hard to say, but for now, let’s look back on Konami’s output on the PS2. Except for one instance, only one game per series was selected to give the list variety.
8 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the first game in what became a trilogy during the PS2 generation of consoles. Konami was the go-to developer for TMNT games, which dates back to the arcades in the 80s.
Not all of their game adaptations were hits, but overall the quality remained strong. This is another classic brawler starring everyone’s favorite turtle team. There are some repetition problems, but it still plays well and looks great today thanks to the cel-shading.
7 Contra: Shattered Soldier
Contra: Shattered Soldier was a big step up for the Contra series Konami put out on the PS1. The PS1 games were universally panned whereas this game and Neo Contra were praised more positively.
Fans can’t go wrong with either of these entries. They are classic run-and-gun shooters with hard-as-nails difficulty levels. Thankfully, this brutal experience can be saved via a co-op partner. These two games may have been the last stellar entries in this series, as sad as that is to say.
6 Suikoden 3
Suikoden 3 had some tough shoes to fill after what its predecessor did for the Suikoden series. Suikoden 2 was an improvement for a sequel in every way and it didn’t need to rely on modern tropes either. It was a 2D game, unlike other RPG hits of the era, like Final Fantasy 7.
So, while Suikoden 3 did not break the mold for RPGs again, it took what made its predecessor great and stayed the course. This sequel did adhere to the times and featured 3D gameplay. The characters are more cartoony in nature, giving the game an overall more wondrous aesthetic.
5 Castlevania: Lament Of Innocence
The jump from 2D to 3D was hard for some developers as they went from consoles like the SNES to the N64. Castlevania was one of those franchises that did not seem to work well in 3D via Castlevania 64 and Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness on the N64.
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence was Konami’s second chance at making the series work in 3D and it was ultimately a better experience. It was a continuation of what Castlevania: Symphony of the Night started with the Metroidvania genre. Both Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness are two good 3D Castlevania games on PS2.
4 Silent Hill 2
For some fans, things have never been as good as Silent Hill 2. It was a big leap forward from the PS1 game. Thanks to the new graphics of the PS2, Konami was able to create a more haunting Silent Hill world set in fog.
The original game on PS2 looks dated in some ways, but it holds up better than when it got an HD remaster. Hopefully, the upcoming remake can finally give Silent Hill 2 the modern port it deserves. Silent Hill 3 and Silent Hill 4 on PS2 are good entries too, although they are not as groundbreaking.
3 Zone Of The Enders 2: The 2nd Runner
Zone of the Enders 2: The 2nd Runner is another case wherein the sequel completely destroyed its predecessor. The game sported a new look that was not quite cel-shading but it was close. It was like an anime in both design and presentation since there were indeed animated cutscenes.
The mech-on-mech action is a big trope of anime so it fits the game well. The music, gameplay, story, and everything in between made it a better experience than the original. Hideo Kojima can be thanked for that.
2 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty
Hideo Kojima’s true first baby on the PS2 was Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Funnily enough, the first Zone of the Enders probably sold more than it was going to because it included a demo for Sons of Liberty. This probably also led to the creation of the sequel, so both series are tied together beyond the Kojima connection.
So, what is there to say about Sons of Liberty that hasn’t been said already? It was an early PS2 game, launching in 2001, and yet it already pushed the boundaries of what the console could do. Kojima and his team knew how to use their resources expertly to create a memorable stealth action game.
1 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
As good as Sons of Liberty was, it did have some divisive fans out there thanks to Raiden taking over for Solid Snake. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was Kojima’s answer to the disheartened fans. Not only was Snake back, but the game also focused on the OG Snake via Big Boss. It was an origin story that began with Snake Eater and continued through various spinoffs. The game is another example of Kojima and his team pushing technology forward.
Being able to sneak around the jungle and take down enemies in a semi-open world was huge on the PS2. Plus, who could forget “Snake Eater,” which was also the name of the boss theme song to the game? It was impossible to write a list and not include both Metal Gear Solid games on PS2. They are some of Konami’s best along with the system’s best.