The library of games for the PlayStation 2 is populated with many classic and iconic titles that people remember vividly. Companies developed and released a ton of games for the console, mostly because the installation base was so massive. In the early 2000s, almost everybody had a PlayStation 2 in their household, whether they were just playing video games or watching movies on DVD on it as well. But with so many people owning the console, there was bound to be an abundance of titles available for it. However, many games on the PS2 have receded into the background over time, prompting many to reminisce about them, and hope to see them get a remake one day.
Not all games that were on the PlayStation 2 deserve to get a modern remake, because as many great games there were in stores, there were just as many bad ones as well. But which PS2 titles do most people want to see get remade for modern consoles? Some of the beloved games for the console didn’t always reach a large audience, but are still heralded as great additions to the PS2 library and receive critical acclaim. While others might be bad for various reasons, fans still want to see things done better. Here are 7 forgotten PS2 classics that deserve a modern remake today.
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7 Dark Cloud
Returning to a unique RPG
Many role-playing game fans will constantly bring up Dark Cloud with fond memories of playing it on the PS2. The game received a lot of praise when it released in 2000, mostly for its willingness to combine different styles of gameplay together. Dark Cloud tries to mesh elements of dungeon crawling, action-RPG gameplay, and world building, along with an epic story to follow. To a lot of PS2 owners, this was one of the more unique RPG experiences in the early days of the console.
The plot of the game involves a group of heroes trying to save their world from an evil genie being used to attack their homes, which leads to all sorts of destruction. By utilizing the power of objects called Atla, the heroes can rebuild their world while fighting against the forces of evil. The game received a sequel in 2002, and was also re-released on the PlayStation Network years later with some minor enhancements. With a brand-new visual presentation and modern controls in a remake of the original, something like Dark Cloud could find a new audience in the modern day.
6 The Bouncer
Bringing back the Square brawling
Source: Squaresoft
One of the earliest games in the PlayStation 2 library is The Bouncer, a 3D brawler that is very reminiscent of other Squaresoft (now known as Square Enix) titles from that era. Many fans of the game cite how interesting the visuals and combat were for the time, despite having issues that most early PS2 games had back then. Instead of the traditional turn-based battles that the company was known for, The Bouncer lets players fight in real-time, executing combos and taking down groups of enemies that appear.
While the plot follows your typical Squaresoft setup, involving stylish characters and dramatic backstories, most fans like the multiple playable characters and arsenal of moves to use with them. Square Enix enthusiasts have wanted to see the company return to The Bouncer in some way for a very long time, often calling for the game to get a full remake with modern controls and quality-of-life changes.
5 The Suffering
A criminal horror return
Horror games tend to benefit the most from remakes on modern consoles. Which is why a game like The Suffering would be a great choice to remake on new consoles. The game was released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2004, and took place in a State Penitentiary with all sorts of criminals. A man named Torque is on death row for murdering his family, but has no memory of doing so. A massive earthquake suddenly affects the island that the prison is on, and waves of supernatural beings begin attacking everyone. Torque needs to fight his way out and survive so he can find out what really happened to his family, as well as overcome his own personal struggle with inner demons.
The gameplay of The Suffering was done in both third and first-person, which lends well to the horror theme of the experience. At certain points of the story, Torque has to decide whether to help or kill different people, which can change the outcome of the game’s ending. With an overhauled presentation and some tweaks to the controls, a remake of The Suffering could end up being a great horror game for home consoles.
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4 Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
The other FFVII side story
Source: Square Enix
The world of Final Fantasy VII contains many characters that people are rabid fans of. Out of the main party from the original Final Fantasy VII, Vincent Valentine was one of the few to get a spinoff game that told a story set sometime after the events of the original. Dire of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII is a third-person action game that puts players in control of Vincent Valentine, blasting their way through hordes of foes. The game was part of what Squaresoft called at the time the “Compilation of Final Fantasy VII” metaseries, which included multiple stories told through different media. The compilation of titles was a hit for the Final Fantasy series, and prompted other sequels to various Final Fantasy games.
The game received mixed reactions when it first released, and has since garnered a small following in the years that followed. The visuals of the game were great on the PlayStation 2, despite the gameplay getting the bulk of criticism from fans. Much like other spinoffs to Final Fantasy VII, multiple characters from the main party make an appearance and interact with Vincent, offering more details to the story and world of Final Fantasy VII. If remade today, Dire of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII could take a similar approach to what Crisis Core FFVII: Reunion did on the PlayStation 5, copying the battle system and overall design that was done for Final Fantasy VII Remake.
3 Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
Rediscovering true stealth action
Source: Activision FromSoftware
There have been multiple stealth action series that have garnered a lot of attention. But the Tenchu series seems to have been forgotten over the years, with very few games being relevant across different platforms. The one entry that gets the most praise is Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven on the PlayStation 2, a sequel to Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins that was released on the first PlayStation console in 2000. Staying stealthy and eliminating foes is the core of the series, which punishes players for being too careless in their approach to each stage. The game was ported to the original Xbox under a new title, Tenchu Return from Darkness, and then ported again to the PlayStation Portable as Tenchu 3 Portable.
With new advancements in lighting and tools to create a great atmosphere within a game, a Tenchu remake would be amazing. Most modern stealth games play around with ideas for using environmental factors to a player’s advantage, which could be ideal for a series like Tenchu. With other franchises pushing new design concepts and ideas for the genre, it’s long past due for a new Tenchu remake to capitalize on what has been done in the past few decades.
2 NBA Street
Rebounding the street ball
So many sports games focus on being simulation titles that emulate real broadcasts. But the NBA Street series was more about the fun and flair of the game of basketball, but through the lens of street culture. Sports fans loved the series of street sports games that Electronic Arts released under their EA BIG umbrella, which really started with NBA Street. The game is looked back on fondly by many who love arcade-style sports titles, most of which followed in the same footsteps as classics like NBA JAM.
However, NBA Street managed to balance the fun of playing basketball with the vivid presentation of street ball, utilizing locations and exaggerated looks to stand out among other sports titles of the era. As a good alternative to what we see so much with the NBA 2K series and other sports games, a remake of NBA Street would be a lot of fun to see done today. There’s so much to pull from for inspiration to remake what could be one of the best basketball games ever made.
1 Resident Evil Outbreak
The lost spinoff everyone wants
Capcom has been on a hot streak with remakes of the main Resident Evil series. Each remake of a numbered entry in the series has been met with a lot of praise from fans and critics, despite some titles doing a little less than others. But one Resident Evil game from the PlayStation 2 era that fans have wanted to see redone for a very long time is Resident Evil Outbreak. Set shortly after the beginning of the events that lead into Resident Evil 2, this game follows eight different characters as they try to survive within Raccoon City during the T-Virus outbreak. While there is no set timeline for specific events, everything leads up to a climax where the remaining people must try to escape the city before the military launches a missile strike to destroy the infected.
The gameplay of Resident Evil Outbreak involves players working together in different scenarios, with the goal of completing objectives within a time limit, otherwise everyone succumbs to the T-Virus infection. This can be done online with up to four players, or offline with two NPC allies. In the online mode, a player who is killed or succumbs to the T-Virus can turn into a zombie and attack other players who are still alive. Like most of the Resident Evil remakes, the controls of the original game could be changed to feel the same as the remake titles, while the rest of the game could be revamped to offer a unique and fun experience with online play that feels like modern Resident Evil.
Remaking some PS2 classics
To many, the PlayStation 2 is one of the greatest video game consoles of all-time. The games that were available for the console were among some of the best to be released, with many wanting to see a return to those glory days. With technology being pushed further these days, seeing remakes of PS2 titles that were beloved by fans would offer a lot of fun nostalgia to some, while others can experience something new they weren’t around for. Not every game within the PlayStation 2 library needs to get a remake, but a good number of games on the console could make for some choices to revisit once again.
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