The video game industry has exploded in tremendous ways. Video game hardware and games continue to become more impressive, but as far as the industry has come, there’s still a ton of affinity for the PlayStation 2. Sony’s formative console changed video games in unprecedented ways and helped establish many of their traditions, which are now the norm.
Online gaming is a given when it comes to the majority of current generation PlayStation titles, but the technology was still in its infancy during the PlayStation 2’s release. However, there are still a number of titles for the retro console that took advantage of this feature.
10 Twisted Metal: Black Online
Sony’s Twisted Metal franchise has cooled off in recent years, but for ages these destructive racers were some of the defining titles for the PlayStation. The series effectively pairs together exaggerated characters with chaotic gameplay and although the demolition genre of racers can be a mixed bag, Twisted Metal gets a lot right.
Twisted Metal: Black is the series’ big PlayStation 2 debut and the online edition allowed players to take this destructive combat to a bigger playground. Twisted Metal: Black Online can be a shallow experience, but online competition adds a ton to the title and its unpredictable energy.
9 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
The Marvel: Ultimate Alliance series take the popular beat-‘em-up genre of action titles, but injects it with dozens of popular Marvel characters, placing them in non-stop combat. Subsequent Marvel: Ultimate Alliance games have gotten too big and missed their mark, but the original title is a satisfying, well-balanced experience.
The incorporation of online play in this PS2 game makes such a difference to the replayability and enjoyment factor.
8 Need For Speed: Underground
The racing genre continues to experience ebbs and flows with audiences, and while crazier racers often perform better, the Need for Speed franchises has remained relevant due to its realistic approach to racing. Need for Speed: Underground for the PlayStation 2 is actually the seventh game in the franchise, but it perfects a lot of what the previous games introduced. The detailed and expansive racing title is satisfying in its own right, but the addition of online play makes this title mandatory for any racing fans. It adds a whole other level of competition to the game.
7 Monster Hunter
Capcom’s Monster Hunter franchise has been around for a long time and while the series has always been big in Japan, it hasn’t been until recent gaming generations that the series has really found popularity in America. The current titles have become sprawling in their size and scope, but the PS2’s Monster Hunter is still a gigantic endeavor for its time. Monster Hunter is exactly the kind of immersive open-world game that benefits from online interaction and the PlayStation 2’s servers were running for four years, which allowed players to team up for quests and hunting.
6 Tony Hawk’s Underground 2
There are many video games that excel at conjuring severe nostalgia, but the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series is one of the best due to its retro soundtracks and soothing gameplay. The majority of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater entries are enjoyable and deep games, but Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 is often viewed as the peak and the point before everything started to go downhill. In addition to the already excellent skating mechanics, challenges, and surprising roster of characters, the presence of an online mode makes this title even more fulfilling and hard to put down.
5 Call Of Duty 3
The Call of Duty games helped define how shooters work. New Call of Duty titles are basically tradition and dozens of different approaches to war have been explored. Before the series was so overdone, the original games were still exciting and original. Call of Duty 3 pushes the series forward without making it become convoluted. However, the main advantage here is that Call of Duty 3 brings online play into the equation. At this point, many consider a Call of Duty game without online play to be a waste of time and Call of Duty 3 helped set that precedent.
4 Star Wars: Battlefront II
Star Wars video games are in the middle of a Renaissance, but for many gamers the peak of Star Wars gaming was achieved in the PlayStation 2’s Star Wars: Battlefront II. At the time, it was unbelievable to utilize online capabilities and pull off raids & missions with players from elsewhere in the world. The Battlefront series has been revived for modern audiences, but the soul is missing and they only better illustrate the truly special nature of the original Battlefront II on the PlayStation 2.
3 Resident Evil Outbreak
The survival horror genre is incredibly popular, and Capcom’s Resident Evil series has largely dominated these kinds of frightening games. Many mainline Resident Evil titles have strong reputations, but the spin-offs are less established. A very ambitious experiment on the PlayStation 2 was Resident Evil Outbreak Files 1 & 2 , both of which moved the chaos of Raccoon City to an online experience. Survival and problem solving with real people is a new kind of thrill and even though Outbreak received criticism upon its release, there’s been a deeper appreciation for it that’s grown over time.
2 Phantasy Star Universe
Phantasy Star Universe has struggled outside of Japan. Sega’s popular franchise that started as lengthy RPGs slowly made the transition to MMORPG and absolutely nailed it. There’s so much personality in Phantasy Star Universe, whether it’s the characters, environments, or even how the battles work. A game that’s as big and interactive as Phantasy Star Universe doesn’t realize its true potential unless online play is offered. Back during the era of the PlayStation 2, there were few online titles on the console that were as complete as Phantasy Star Universe.
1 Final Fantasy XI
The Final Fantasy franchise has been the crown jewel for JRPG fans since the series originally debuted. The PlayStation 2’s Final Fantasy XI marked a major deviation for the series as the franchise shifts over into MMORPG territory for the first time. The shift was a surprise for many traditionalists, but it resulted in the best example of what the PS2’s online capabilities could accomplish. Final Fantasy XI went through numerous expansions and updates, all of which pushed the console’s online features to their limits. It also helped prove that Final Fantasy can work in an online context.
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