Let's see here-PS2 was one of my favorite old consoles. Still have one.

The two Castlevania games-Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness-were fun. They weren't up to say, SotN's or Rondo of Blood's quality, but they were quite fun action/adventure types, sort of like 3D Metroidvanias. The environments could get kinda samey(one of their big flaws) but the music was top-notch, they look decent and control well.

Have to second Shadow of the Colossus. Wonderful game.

RPG-wise, two of my favs were Shadow Hearts and Shadow Hearts: Covenant. I think I might even prefer the first of the two, even though I think the second was the better game, so to speak. The third game I'd stay away from.

A cheap action/adventure you can probably find is Rygar: The Legendary Adventure. Yeah, the 8 bit Rygar. Though it's less a mishmash of mythology and more flat-out based on Greek Mythology, and isn't really linked to the old 8 bit game, but your guy does have the Diskarmor weapon(a shield on a chain.)  I really enjoyed this game.

If you want a balls-hard goofy beat em up romp, God Hand has to be suggested for that.

Also going to second Gauntlet: Dark Legacy, one of my favorite co-op games of that time. Wow we put a shitload of time into that one. I still get kicks from it now and again. Add in another 'second' for MGS2: Sons of Liberty.

Flat-out action? Devil May Cry, the first and 3rd games. I mean these were essentially some of the original stylish action games. The first and third I think remain two of the best games in the series. If you know what's good for you-steer clear of the game that has Devil May Cry 2 written on the box.

Are there any turn-based strategy or wargames? I'm too feeble for real-time strategy.

I know a lot of the Japanese RPGs are turn-based, but i wondered whether there were any non-RPG titles that are.

KOEI does quite a few.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is technically not a JRPG as there is no fixed story, let alone fixed hero or fixed hero continuity.
Nobunaga's Ambition
Daisenryaku series (WWII) is another military TBS.
PTO is a Pacific Theatre naval WWII TBS.

And then there are more traditional JRPG-esque TBS, like Suikoden, Disgaea, Sakura Wars, etc.

Quote from: Opaopajr;718387Rez - available elsewhere, but still just as magical. a beautiful mix of sound, polygonal TRON-esque world, shoot 'em up, and player development/interaction with the background music.

Protip: The non-Dreamcast versions are significantly easier than the DC version, for some reason.  

QuoteOdin Sphere - an entertaining action RPG

I'm surprised no one has recommended the Baldur's Gate or Bard's Tale games yet.

I'll put in a good word for Nobunaga's Ambition. I played a version for the Mac a long time ago, and if the PS2 version is similar then it'll be fun for a few games at least.

Quote from: daniel_ream;719559Protip: The non-Dreamcast versions are significantly easier than the DC version, for some reason.

... and therefore suck more.

Easy is for the casual who wants to toke up, bust out the strategy guide, watch Hideo Kojima cut scenes for hours like some rehash of the Matrix, then slip back to Roster Update "Insert Year Here."


fuck easy.

Nobunaga's Ambition is a series that has been out as long as the NES and original Gameboy (and technically earlier). I always found it personally to be a limited version of RoTK series, but I did here that in the DC/PS2/Xbox generation one of the most definitive and flexible versions came out. So I would give it a spin.

Now what I wish they'd port over from Japan servers was that modern MMO-version of Uncharted Waters (if you remember that old Genesis-Mega Drive/SNES Age of Exploration sailing/trade/piracy game). But it never happened.

Ha. Just realised that i've played for about 1 hour on the PS2 since i've had it.

All the Grand Theft Auto games are awesome.
Manhunt 1 and Manhunt 2.
Canis Canem Edit.
The LEGO Star Wars games are good fun.

Quote from: Ladybird;717120I'd skip Deus Ex if you have a computer that can run it (and as an early unreal engine game, it would be hard to have a computer that couldn't run it); the PS2 port was awful. Horrible loading times, and the game required mouse accuracy with a thumb stick controller (it was before console developers learned how to make that work). If you want an FPS, get TimeSplitters 2 or 3... Or both.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance is good, didn't play the second. X-Men Legends is also worth picking up, too; 2 is much better than 1. But for replayable PS2 hack and slash action, Champions of Norrath is the game to get.

R-Type Final was a very good SHMUP, and provides a good ending to the series.

Deus Ex is a bit fiddly but it is an extremely good game , it's worth perservering with because of the depth of the gameplay and the storyline.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 covered the Civil War storyline IIRC , it was ok but the first one was better. Spider-man 1 is terrible , Spider-man 2 is excellent , Spider-man 3 wasn't bad but not as good as 2 , Ultimate Spider-man is pretty good.

Quote from: Simon Owen;750254Deus Ex is a bit fiddly but it is an extremely good game , it's worth perservering with because of the depth of the gameplay and the storyline.

I agree, but it's a game that pretty much any PC of an even vaguely modern vintage - like, produced within the last ten years - should be able to run, and will give you a better experience than the PS2 version.

Quote from: Ladybird;750331I agree, but it's a game that pretty much any PC of an even vaguely modern vintage - like, produced within the last ten years - should be able to run, and will give you a better experience than the PS2 version.

It depends , some modern graphics cards won't run old PC games. My laptop runs Vista and there were quite a few games that didn't work properly on it because it has a newish graphics card.

13 was indeed cool! Forgot about that one.

I have played and enjoyed:
- X-Men Legends (1 and 2)
- Kingdom Hearts (1 and 2)
- Persona 3
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance
- Final Fantasy X

Any of the God Of War which is quite engaging.
Tekken for fighting, and if you don't mind cartoony I really liked the Ratchett and Clank series, all of which you should be able to find easily for a song.

If you can get it, get Shadow of the Colossus. I haven't felt sad for killing enemies since this game.