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PS2 Hidden gems

Serviam

Member
I liked the first one quite a bit but in this sequel I was shooting soldiers in a sewer at some point and just out it down out of boredom never to pick it up again.

It got better later on. Especially when you got to the crack house with screaming baby needle demons, soo good!
I actually only played the second one. Got the first for xbox but never bothered to play it.
 

GeNoMe

Member
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Did not even buy this game. Came in trough the mail, after I have apparently won some contest online.

Had so much fun playing this title. To this day, i'm still bummed that a sequel was never announced.
 

Vertti

Member
Playstation 2 has too awesome library and I'd like to play all these games but I don't have the time and money. (((

Here's my recommendation though. My friend had this game and I liked it back in the day. It's pretty simple 3D action platformer with robot battles similar to Goemon-series.

 

Imbarkus

As Sartre noted in his contemplation on Hell in No Exit, the true horror is other members.
It got better later on. Especially when you got to the crack house with screaming baby needle demons, soo good!
I actually only played the second one. Got the first for xbox but never bothered to play it.

Welp I'll take another crack at the second one if you try again with the first! Pretty sure PC versions of these were released onto the 'net for free at some point, as Midway descended 'neath the waves.
 

KAL2006

Banned
Suikoden II gets a lot of live round here but I feel Suikoden V is underrated people should definitely check that out. At the time I really liked Suikoden 3 as well but depending on the person that game may have aged badly as it has a lot of back tracking and early PS2 era graphics.
 

Taruranto

Member
lrOTxp4.png


AKA Bumpy Trot.

Definitely an interesting game, too bad it kinda goes to shiet during the second half of the game. But the first part is bbbeautiful, imo.

A shame the 360/PS3 sequel got canned.

Just discovered it last year. I blazed through the first game, enjoyed the second a TON (one of those rare cases where it had one of the most unique/interesting endings I've ever seen), and still need to play the third.

I'd actually LOVE if something like this was made a TV series. Pre-war ghost, goblins, horrors, vampires, etc.

FtNW has the best gameplay, but the plot is reeaaally bad. Overall 2 remains the best in the series.
 
I was going to say Shifters but it seems I'm the only one who liked it because it has been received poorly. I really like it back in the day

ps2_shifters.jpg
 
18196_front.jpg


Did not even buy this game. Came in trough the mail, after I have apparently won some contest online.

Had so much fun playing this title. To this day, i'm still bummed that a sequel was never announced.

This game is great and I have only good memories about it. Definitely worth playing
 
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I'd love to see a current-gen version of this.

Granzella (a company started by the guy that created Raw Danger) recently acquired the Raw Danger/Disaster Report IP and they're currently developing a new game. No platforms have been announced, but they seem primarily focused on Playstation platforms.
 

Yawnier

Banned
Okage: Shadow King - Turn Based JRPG, visit different towns and dungeons with your party of characters. Funny characters and dialogue carry this game for a lot of it. This game also has a super, super unknown soundtrack that is great too. I found this game got overshadowed by Dark Cloud and FFX at the time but it is still good in it's own right.


Dual Hearts - Action Adventure game with some platforming, puzzles, and combat (including boss battles). Has a few JRPG elements as well (published by Atlus so duh :p). Like Okage, has some fun characters and dialogue as you visit the dreams of various characters in the game.


Gitaroo Man - One of those weird games that are hard to describe, but it is among one of the best rhythm games on the PS2 alongside Amplitude and Frequency imo. Also has a great soundtrack of course.


Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil - Best 2.5D platformer on the PS2, still looks and controls great too.

 
Didn't see any mentions of this so possibly its not hidden or its not a gem, haha. However, I loved the art style and arcadey action. Ran like a slideshow at times though...

skygunnerusaps21.jpg


Honorable mentions to:

War of the Monsters
Freedom Fighters
Metal Arms
 

Teknoman

Member
So this thread has me thinking, why were developers and publishers so keen on localizing niche Japanese titles for the PS2 but hardly if ever have done it this generation? Was the PS2 just that much easier and cheaper to develop for that a localization was just easy money?

Probably because it was a time when anything resembling "anime" in the least bit was hot.
 
Sky_Odyssey_Coverart.png


Retronauts did an amazing little comic that really sold me on this game. It was the very last game I bought for the PS2, and it was one of my favorites.

I wish I could find that comic again...
 

Syril

Member
Is Kouldelka (forgive if I spelt that wrong) also worth looking into?
Koudelka's very odd in comparison to the Shadow Hearts games. The tone is extremely serious and dark, and the gameplay is a weird fusion of survival horror and turn-based RPG. The consensus I've seen is that it didn't work very well. The story is actually pretty well done though, the character animation is very well-done and the voice acting is surprisingly good for a 90s Japanese RPG. It's worth watching a playthrough if you don't end up playing it. It's not very long and it ties in with Shadow Hearts in ways that aren't initially apparent.
 

Imbarkus

As Sartre noted in his contemplation on Hell in No Exit, the true horror is other members.
Woej0vr.jpg


I'd love to see a current-gen version of this.

GOOD NEWS!

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=999788

I mean, #4 as it was will never see the light of day, but something is coming....

Strictly PS2 or other consoles from that gen apply too?

9283.jpg

considering that OP is seemingly just emulating and not actually buying games :)/) i think OG XB games are off the table

Though off-topic, I'd still recommend people track down the PC version.
 
Koudelka's very odd in comparison to the Shadow Hearts games. The tone is extremely serious and dark, and the gameplay is a weird fusion of survival horror and turn-based RPG. The consensus I've seen is that it didn't work very well. The story is actually pretty well done though, the character animation is very well-done and the voice acting is surprisingly good for a 90s Japanese RPG. It's worth watching a playthrough if you don't end up playing it. It's not very long and it ties in with Shadow Hearts in ways that aren't initially apparent.

Thanks for that. I was just afraid any of the Shadow Hearts games might have been a remake of Koudelka. I'm planning to pick them all up one day.
 
Didn't see any mentions of this so possibly its not hidden or its not a gem, haha. However, I loved the art style and arcadey action. Ran like a slideshow at times though...

skygunnerusaps21.jpg
I remember buying this.
An excellent and fun game, but I got rid of it because it felt short. One of my biggest regrets in gaming.

Surprised no one mentioned this gem yet:
51TPQAFVYTL.jpg
 

doofy102

Member

I only played the demo of this, but it really impressed me, looking back.

Basically, every challenge/obstacle has multiple ways of beating it. You get to an electric floor grid. You can jump on something and levitate yourself over it. You can mind-control a guard on the other side to turn it off. You can break it with telekinesis. etc. These are open puzzles.
 

cj_iwakura

Member
&

Castle_Shikigami_2_PS2.jpg


Don't be fooled by the Mobile Light Force 2 cover art. It's the first Castle Shikigami under a different name. Both are decent STGs.

Don't you dare recommend MLF2 to anyone. Those hacks removed the story mode. Just get the PC version and apply the *cough* translation patch(that I spent a year on).
 

Mytherin

Neo Member
If you have anyone to play with locally then Kuri Kuri Mix (The Adventures of Cookie & Cream in the US) is an absolutely fantastic co-op game. It's a stage-based platformer/puzzle game where you have to work together in order to advance to the end of each level.

It's really fun to play together. The game is entirely designed around co-op. The game is also on the US PSN.
 

-Gozer-

Member
Don't you dare recommend MLF2 to anyone. Those hacks removed the story mode. Just get the PC version and apply the *cough* translation patch(that I spent a year on).

I actually wasn't aware of this. I own the jp versions of Castle Shikigami 1 & 2. I just assumed it was the same game with translated menus.
 

Watevaman

Member
Aero Elite: Combat Academy

I'm usually the only person to post about this game. Glad to see someone else got to enjoy it. Shame there's really nothing like it on modern systems. You either have full arcade (HAWX, Ace Combat) or full sim (DCS, Falcon).
 
best console ever

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specifically this entry as it's one of the only games in the franchise where grunts fight back and it's before shit really got bogged down with an insane character count, lame mechanic additions, and pure fodder enemies--this was when the franchise was a relatively lean arpg/beat-em-up hybrid with light strategy elements and is still awesome to this day.

Front_Mission_5.jpg


released in japan only but has a full english translation patch. wonderful mecha srpg with high production values. has a somber tone with a plot focused on the horrors of war. no farging clue why square enix skipped on this localization but clearly everyone wanted front mission evolved instead.

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last good game in the tenchu series and the one that develops the most on the base concepts introduced way back in the first game. did away with the lame demon shit in tenchu: wrath of heaven and has a fun, schlocky tv serial like aesthetic with its story.
 

Skulldead

Member
Looking at all the game you mention, wow the ps2 was really amazing.

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Tsugunai atonement, the music was made by the Xenogears Guys (we heard the style), I think the timing guard system was pretty good when he got release. Summon and Magic system is unique too.

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A Unique and Great action/adventure. Combine Shinobi and DMC combat systeme with platforming and exploration. The story is really bad and the game is really short, still a hidden gems.

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Tim Burton Style JRPG with Final fanatsy ATB battle. A really great atmophere !

I could continue like this for hours...
 

cj_iwakura

Member
I actually wasn't aware of this. I own the jp versions of Castle Shikigami 1 & 2. I just assumed it was the same game with translated menus.

Nope. They totally cut out all the dialogue. It's a travesty. And Shiki 1's story is nuts. Probably why they cut it.
 
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