As someone who grew up in an era where the term ‘console wars’ actually meant something, I know the importance of a good console exclusive.
These games are the cornerstone content for each flagship gaming company, and a good exclusive released at the right time during a console’s life cycle can be a lightning rod that ensures that particular console becomes the biggest seller of the era.
We’ve seen it happen with games likeThe Last of Us, Halo, and Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, just to name a few. However, there are so many exclusive games that might not move the needle on console sales, but definitely serve as tempting reasons to go with one console over another.
10 Best Competitive Couch Co-op Games
Get ready to fight from the comfort of your couch.
you may argue all you want, but for my money,PlayStation has always been the home of great exclusives, and lots of them, too. So many, in fact, that some just don’t get the love they deserve.
So, here are some amazing PlayStation PS2 Exclusives that may have slipped under the radar back in the day.
10Airblade
If Marty McFly Was In THPS
We kick things off with a forgotten gem that served as a futuristicrival to the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series,and a quality one at that.
Although Airblade had a weirdly mature storyline offering a dystopian urban setting where you need to Airblade your way through a barrage of snipers and henchmen, whereas from a gameplay perspective, it very much leaned into what the Birdman’s successful series was doing.
You could put together slick combos and complete tasks against the clock in a format not too unlike Crazy Taxi, but with the added caveat of low-gravity hoverboarding with a built-in booster.
Sure,there’s a touch of jankto contend with, but if you’re a THPS fan, this is a forgotten gem you need to check out.
9Haven: Call of the King
An Unfortunate Cliffhanger
You may associate Traveler’s Tales with the best Disney-licensed games of the era and, later, various LEGO games. However, they have more in their locker than working on other people’s intellectual property, and Haven: Call of the King is proof of that.
At its core, it’s a typical platformer of the era, with varied level design, and intuitive movement and combat. I’d even be as bold to say thatit’s Jak and Daxter & The Precursor’s Legacyin all but name, minus a little polish.
However, where Haven shines is through its story, which is a much more mature, dark, and engaging tale than you would expect from a game within a genre where an opening cutscene vaguely offering some sort of conflict and primary goal will usually suffice.
It’s a game that had a planned trilogy locked and loaded, but because no one gave Haven its flowers, it now remains forever on a cliffhanger. Shame on you guys; I want those games.
8Jade Cocoon 2
A Sublime Sequel
If you’re on the huntfor a creature-tamer JRPG,then you’re able to’t go far wrong with Jade Cocoon 2.
While the initial game was a fantastic outing, it wouldn’t be until the PS2 exclusive sequel hit the shelves before the series got some traction. But even still, this gameremains a cult classicfor those who gave it the time of day.
But, if you did, you made a smart choice, as Jade Cocoon 2 is a staggeringly well-put-together monster tamer. The game offers a simple-to-follow Pokemon-adjacent battle system with a wheel to swap out your beasts with ease.
Plus, the game has an intricately designed world where attention to detail is key. Partly because every area looks more or less the same, but thanks to an engaging battle system, nothing ever feels stale or repetitive.
I’d be lying if I said the story is anything to write home about, but the richness of the battle system in place makes this one worth checking out.
7Maximo Vs. Army of Zin
A Grim Adventure
Anyone who has earned the self-appointed accolade of veteran gamer will be aware of the Ghosts n' Goblins series, a runaway success during the days of the NES.
However, aside from the occasional retro anthology collection here and there, there isn’t really much buzz around the series these days.
That was something that Maximo Vs. Army of Zin aimed to change, offering players a hack-and-slash platformer based in the world of Ghosts N' Goblins, but sadly, it’s one of those games that has only ever achieved cult classic status among the chosen few who took it on.
But, those who didn’t really missed out on a polished and grueling adventure that feels as if a mascot platformer wasmade by FromSoftware,as this game is tough as old boots.
Granted, it’s nowhere near as punishing as its predecessor, but I promise you, it’s a game that will take pleasure in kicking your ass. But, truth be told, I love that, and I reckon you, too, will love Maximo if you give it a chance.
6Rule of Rose
Underrated and Overpriced
Rule of Rose is a game that will be familiar to many, but not for the reason you might think.
It’s a game that is often talked about due to the insane price tag attached to the few copies of the game in existence today.
I can’t say that the game is one that lives up to that price tag, but if you’re someone who loves unforgiving survival horror games, it’s certainly one you should try and seek out in some shape or form.
10 Best PS2 Games That Never Left Japan
These fantastic PlayStation 2 games that never made it out of Japan shouldn’t be forgotten.
This isn’t down to the gameplay because, aside from the lovable dog companion, it’s more or less a vague blend of all horror titles of the era, like Silent Hill and Resident Evil.
However, the game offers a rich, creepy story that is worth its weight in gold, an atmospheric setting, and decent graphical fidelity for the era of release. It’s a flawed gem, but a gem nonetheless.
The game will cost you upwards of $250, just in case you were wondering.
5Shadow of Rome
Are You Not Entertained?
In the PS2 era, Capcom was pretty good value for original IPs with oodles of quality, but for the most part, none of them got the love they perhaps deserved, and Shadow of Rome is a prime example of this.
We have seen many games that try and fail to offer polish and focused combat in a Roman Empire setting, but Shadow of Rome was a game that managed to offer just that. Essentially taking Capcom’s wealth of hack-and-slash pedigree and using that to bring this one to market.
There’s so much to love here: the gripping story centered around the death of Julius Caesar, the varied gameplay with chariot racing deathmatches, Arena challenges, and more.
Not to mention, the Salvo system behaves not too unlike Devil May Cry’s stylish system, rewarding you for flair when button-mashing, allowing you to ask the adoring crowd, ‘Are you not entertained?’
It’s a forgotten relic, but one that still has a lot to offer, so seek out a copy of this one at your earliest convenience.
4Cold Winter
More Than A Simple Shooter
I suppose this one comes with the immediate caveat that pretty much all FPS games on PS2 were unintuitive, as anything on the system was leaps and bounds better to play on PC. This arguably is still the case now, but console shooters are far more equipped today than they were then.
However, awkward control schemes aside, there were still a few that broke the mold and stood out regardless, and Cold Winter is certainly one of those, even if it didn’t see the commercial acclaim for doing so.
This is mostly due to the fantastic, mature writing that culminates in an espionage epic that can go toe-to-toe with anything the James Bond IP brought to the PS2.
Not to mention, the game offers a robust crafting system, interactive in-world elements, and optional objectives that enhance each level and promote exploration.
Many wrote this one off as just another awkward console shooter, but it’s probably one of the finest of these awkward shooters, making it worth a try at the very least.
3Gregory Horror Show
Resident Evil For Kids
Oh, would you look at that, it’s Capcom again. Damn, they were busy in the 2000’s, and as mentioned, it was mostly killer, not filler.
Another example of this is Gregory Horror Show, a game that is often lovingly spoken ofas ‘Resident Evil for kids.’ This one places you in a Hotel California-esque purgatory, and your goal is to walk the creepy halls, meet the residents, and hopefully escape in one piece.
But as the song says, you may check out any time you like, but you can never leave, and that’s the vibe you get throughout as you seek to collect the souls of those around you.
It’s a game ahead of its time, with characters following set schedules you need to map out, surreal plot points, and detective-based puzzles that really urge the player to put on their thinking cap.
And if you end up really liking this gem and want more, it’s actually based on a TV show, so be sure to check that out, too.
2Haunting Ground
Absolute Remaster Bait
Another entry, another forgotten Capcom gem of the 2000s. You would think this is me being biased, but honestly, there was a slew of absolute Capcom bangers that slipped through the cracks back in the day.
Haunting Grounds is the last I’ll mention, but boy, does this one deserve its place on this list. Not to mention, this gives the aforementioned Rule of Rose a run for its money when it comes to rare and expensive retro games.
Haunting Ground is a chilling game originally planned to be part of the Clock Tower series but was decidedly pivoted into its own IP, and it seems all the better for it, as the game offers incredible visuals, eerie horror, and a narrative that centers on a grotesque depiction of the male gaze.
Then you also have survival horror staples like obtuse puzzles, intentionally clunky combat, and, again, much like Rule of Rose, a dog companion.
It’s a game I can’t recommend highly enough, but due to the steep price tag, maybe see if you can emulate this one and save a few dollars.
1Champions of Norrath: Realms of Everquest
Dark Alliance 2.0
Then, to wrap up, I aim to appeal to the modern gaming generation. I hear you guys like Baldur’s Gate 3. Well, how about a hack-and-slash epic that uses the Dark Alliance engine?
You still have the couch co-op functionality, you still have the rich RPG systems and DND-adjacent world, and it also feels a little like a brutal LEGO game. What’s not to love?
It’s a game that really focuses on character builds, forcing the player to take each upgrade choice and synergy seriously, as a poor build is essentially a death wish, just as was the case in most CRPGs of the era.
But when you get it right and get to showcase the proof of concept in battle, which is dynamic, varied, and more nuanced than a braindead button masher.
If you like the thinking time that the combat system of Baldur’s Gate 3 offers, simply put, you’re not going to have that here. But if you love real-time chaos, you’ll find that this is a truly incredible PS2 exclusive that is well worth dusting off and playing.
DualShockers Definitives: Best JRPGs of 2024
2024 was a stellar year for JRPG fans, and the DS staff gathered to decide which title reigned supreme among all the impeccable releases.
