Summary
- Some forgotten or lesser-known open-world games on PS2 are worth revisiting for their unique gameplay mechanics and compelling stories.
- Open-world games thrived on PS2, offering unprecedented levels of graphical quality, gameplay mechanics, and world-building.
- PS2 featured unique games like Steambot Chronicles and Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction for varied gaming experiences.
It’s been a quarter of a century since the PlayStation 2 made its initial mark on the video game industry, going on to become the best-selling console of all time, a record it still holds to this day. Some of the most compelling stories, state-of-the-art gameplay mechanics, and impressive graphics of the time can all be found on the follow-up to Sony’s hardware debut.
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These are the best FPS games that remain trapped on the PlayStation 2 and are worth dusting off the classic console for.
Open-world games thrived on the PS2, with series like Grand Theft Auto and Yakuza finding their footing on the remarkable console. Not all their open-world contemporaries have stood the test of time, gradually disappearing into obscurity in the decades since, despite being awesome, and they are certainly worth dusting off old copies to experience once again.
8 Lego Racers 2
Freely Explore Different Worlds And Participate In Races
Lego Racers 2
- Released
- September 9, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Racing
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Game Boy Advance
One of many great but forgotten LEGO games, LEGO Racers 2 expands on its predecessor with more player freedom and more bricks. There are five open worlds with distinct environments to explore across the galaxy, ranging from the frozen Arctic and Sandy Bay to Dino Island, Mars, and the planet Xalax, each featuring hidden collectibles and multiple races to participate in.
Every world has a final boss to defeat, whose vehicle is specially designed for the terrain of the location, and the goal is to defeat Rocket Racer, the current galactic racing champion. Racers must pay close attention to the amount of damage done to their car, unless they feel like running to the nearest pitstop on foot.
7 Total Overdose: A Gunslinger’s Tale In Mexico
Pull Off Incredible Kills In Slow Motion
Total Overdose: A Gunslinger's Tale in Mexico
- Released
- September 16, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- Action
A third-person shooter with some very satisfying gunplay, Total Overdose takes place in the seedy criminal underworld of Mexico. After starting the game as Ernesto Cruz in 1989 on a mission in the heart of the Mayan jungle, players take control of his son, Tommy, and then spend the rest of the game undercover in a drug cartel, playing as his brother, Ramiro.
While the story received some criticism, as did the slightly outdated graphics for the time, gameplay is the main selling point, as pulling off impressive combos is great fun. Across the 18 diverse regions, from the red-light district to the arid Mexican desert, players can attempt outrageous stunts and blast enemies in slow motion with their vast array of weaponry.
6 Steambot Chronicles
Unique And Complex RPG That Is Unparalleled
Steambot Chronicles
- Released
- June 30, 2005
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Irem Corp.
Steambot Chronicles is a PS2 JRPG that debuted late in the console's life. Inspired by the industrial revolution, the game combines sandbox elements and real-time combat, along with mech customization.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
An action RPG with mechs, rhythm minigames, and a functional economic system, Steambot Chronicles is a truly unique experience that is hard to pin down. The protagonist, an amnesiac named Vanilla, can be either a hero or a villain depending on the player's choices, and is accompanied by a band known as the Garland Globetrotters.
There is a high degree of freedom offered while exploring the world, and the fully customizable giant bipedal mechs called Trotmobiles are integral to traversing the land, as well as combat and trade. The controls can be a sticking point for some, but those who persevere will enjoy everything on offer in Steambot Chronicles, from its sublime music to its quirky premise.
5 The Getaway
London-Based Action Game That Feels Like A Movie
The Getaway
- Released
- January 19, 2003
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Often unfairly labeled as a Grand Theft Auto clone, The Getaway focuses on two characters in a highly detailed recreation of parts of London. Only released for the PS2, it remains a cult classic for many, despite some reviewers at the time finding flaws with the script and its similarities to Rockstar’s popular series.
Following the stories of an ex-bank robber and a police officer, the story unfolds over the course of a single day. It features minimal HUD, lending a more cinematic feel to the proceedings. Players can explore real locations in the UK capital and drive many licensed vehicles that would have driven on those streets at the time of release. It’s a captivating time capsule.
4 Gun
The Brutal And Lawless Wild West
Gun
- Released
- November 8, 2005
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Shooter
The creators of the Tony Hawk series of skateboarding games also developed Gun, an Old West epic set across the frontier in 1880 from Dodge City, Kansas, to the surrounding canyons, mountains, and settlements. A brutal and realistic shooter for its time, Gun features many famous voice actors and an Apache protagonist whose only goal is revenge.
The game world is full of activities to keep players occupied, with many side missions that help to upgrade stats and minigames like poker to try and win some extra money. As the name suggests, gunplay is the main selling point, and there is a plethora of authentic firearms to utilize against outlaws, corrupt lawmen, and other rogues encountered on those dangerous adventures.
3 Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition
High-Octane Racing In An Open-World
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition
- Released
- April 12, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Racing
One of many great open-world racing games on the PS2, Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition allows players to explore and race in recreations of San Diego, Atlanta, and Detroit, plus Tokyo in the Remix version. Vehicles in the game are licensed for the first time in the series and can be customized in both appearance and performance.
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Realism is not necessarily the goal of Midnight Club, as speed and over-the-top action dominate, plus there are some elements of vehicular combat in certain game modes. The arcade style may not appeal to all, but there is an impressive photo mode to capture the most special moments and possibly even some spectacular crashes.
2 Scarface: The World Is Yours
Build A Drug Empire In 1980s Miami
Scarface: The World Is Yours
- Released
- July 25, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Scarface: The World Is Yours is set one year after the events of the classic film in an alternate timeline where the titular drug lord survives the climactic assault on his compound that concluded the film. In it, Tony Montana seeks revenge against those who wronged him as he re-establishes his position atop Miami’s criminal underworld. Gameplay is similar to Mafia 3, as Tony takes control of businesses and manages them to act as fronts for his criminal activities, adding to his influence within the city.
Al Pacino’s likeness is used in the game, but not his voice, and several other actors from the film reprise their roles. Despite selling well and receiving fairly positive reviews, Scarface: The World Is Yours has been overshadowed by the 3D GTA games, and the many planned sequels never came to fruition.
1 Mercenaries: Playground Of Destruction
No Limits In North Korea
Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
- Released
- January 11, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
One of the most appropriately named games in history, Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction is set in North Korea, offering a sandbox environment where players have high levels of freedom. They may travel anywhere on the map and even raze it to the ground if they so wish, given that everything is completely destructible.
Playing as a mercenary, there are five warring factions, with which players may be on friendly terms or currently engaging in hostilities. Missions vary between theft, delivery, assassination, and destruction, with the ultimate goal being the overthrow of the isolationist government in the country. Its sequel is also highly regarded, but no other entries in the franchise have materialized in the decades since.
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