Forgotten PS2 Third-Person Shooters

By the time the sixth generation consoles rolled around, the third-person camera angle was becoming extremely popular for action and shooter games, giving the player a clear view of their character and any enemies that might be nearby. While the idea of a cover-based shooter wouldn't become popular until the arrival of Gears of War on the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 2 did still have a fair number of third-person shooters of its own, though there are admittedly some that flew way under the radar.

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Whether it's because they were overshadowed by a much bigger release at the time, or they just didn't stand out enough with their story and gameplay, there are a handful of third-person shooters on Sony's best-selling console that a lot of people have completely forgotten about over time. However, since the third-person shooter genre is still so popular, there's never any harm in re-discovering these titles, and maybe even giving them a spin to experience some of these hidden gems.

6 Iron Man

Metascore: 45

While there's been a plethora of Marvel games released over the last few years, none of them can really be considered third-person shooters, and are often described as action-adventure games instead. However, the very first Iron Man game, which was released alongside the movie in 2008, slots right into the genre, with players taking an over-the-shoulder camera angle where they must use all of Iron Man's explosive weapons to take out the dangerous enemies standing in his way.

The game is admittedly very divisive, primarily because of how linear and straightforward it is, but the core gameplay is still extremely fun and a blast to play around with. Considering how gigantic Marvel is as a brand, it's surprising that this game isn't discussed more often, but the harsh critic reviews probably drove it into obscurity not long after it was released.

5 Dead To Rights 2

Metascore: 54

Dead to Rights 2 manages to combine a fairly serious and gritty story with over-the-top gameplay that feels both ridiculous and badass at the same time. For the majority of a playthrough, players will be leaping around in slow-motion while firing off submachine guns and automatic pistols at their enemies, with the action never slowing down even for a second.

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The game features an auto-aim lock-on feature which allows the player to focus more on movement and switching weapons without needing to worry as much about lining up the perfect shot. This can inevitably lead to some issues, such as the reticle aiming at the wrong enemy, but for the most part, it helps to make this neglected game a lot more fun and fluid in its gameplay.

4 Gungrave

Metascore: 65

Whilst gunning down hordes of ruthless enemies in Gungrave, players will be ranked on how much creative flair they use during gunfights, in a similar vein to the Style system from Devil May Cry. While there is some melee combat involved, the majority of the game plays as a fast-paced third-person shooter where the main protagonist, Beyond the Grave, is able to acquire new guns by performing well enough on specific stages.

The game also has a very striking visual style which makes it a joy to look at in action, and while the story isn't anything to write home about, it's clearly the hectic gameplay that takes center stage here. While it's easy to just fire at everything that moves, players are encouraged to be strategic with their weapons in order to rack up a combo that will net them some valuable rewards for their efforts.

3 Conflict: Desert Storm 2

Metascore: 70

Despite Conflict: Desert Storm 2 being a very obscure PS2 game, it was actually very ahead of its time for how well it merged tactical strategy with third-person shooting. As players take control of one of the four soldiers that make up Alpha One, they'll need to work on taking out enemy forces while also ordering their squadmates into tactical positions which will benefit their personal specialties and weapons.

Despite there being so many commands that can be thrown out, the third-person shooting is still very tight and focused, giving the player plenty of room to maneuver their way around the environment and get the drop on any nearby enemies. It's a shame Conflict: Desert Storm 2 has been largely forgotten about by many players, considering how innovative it was for the third-person genre at the time.

2 The Thing

Metascore: 78

Taking place just a few days after the movie of the same name, The Thing follows a Special Forces team who have been sent to Antarctica in the hopes of finding out what really happened to a U.S. Research camp that went missing. When they finally arrive and start to search the area, they encounter not only multiple gung-ho Black Ops soldiers, but also several iterations of The Thing that must be eradicated to move on to the next area.

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There's definitely a more horror-focused approach to the game, which makes sense considering what it was based on, but there's still plenty of action and over-the-top encounters that ultimately keep the experience engaging from start to finish. What also helps the game stand out is just how many weapons can be acquired, from rocket launchers to sniper rifles, all the way to gatling guns. There's a lot that the player can toy around with during their rescue mission.

1 Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge

Metascore: 80

The cute and cuddly aesthetic of Fur Fighters might not be for everyone, but fans of the third-person shooter genre owe it to themselves to check this game out, as the core gameplay is pretty amazing despite it being released back in the year 2000. While there's a nice mixture of small and large-scale gunfights that players will be taking part in throughout the story, the game is also broken up with some very light platforming sections to keep the experience fresh and fun throughout. There are also a ton of enemy types, which encourages the player to experiment with different guns to see which will prove to be the most effective against certain foes.

Additionally, the player is also able to freely switch between multiple different animals during a level, and since they all have their own pros and cons, it means that mastering each of them can be a difficult, but very rewarding task in the end. While it was received very favorably by those who played it, Fur Fighters is a game that is often considered to be a hidden gem that doesn't get quite as much attention as it probably should.

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