15 years today, marked the release of the Playstation 2, and the rest is history. After the runaway success of the PS1, the PS2 went on to surpass its predecessor to great lengths and would become the best selling console ever made. There were many things that helped the system become such a success, like the ability to play DVDs, but what everyone remembers the most, is its ridiculously extensive strong library of games, which helped cement it as many people's all-favorite consoles.

 

METAL GEAR -

 

Metal Gear Solid was critically acclaimed when it was released on the PS1, and the series would continue on its success with the sequels on the PS2, MGS2: Sons of Liberty and MGS3: Snake Eater, both of which were as critically acclaimed as the first(despite people's problems with Raiden). They eventually released an "Essentials" collection which included the Substance and Subsistance(updated versions of MGS2&3) as well as a rerelease of MGS1

 

FINAL FANTASY X

Final Fantasy help greatly with the PS1's success, and the series would continue with FFX, which attempted to differentiate itself from its PS1 predecessors. FFX would be the first game in the series to use voice acting(which most would've probably been happier without) as well as a conditional turn system, in place of the ATB system used since FFIV(and would be used in many future JRPGs like Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, Megaman X Command Mission, etc.). FFX would also be the last Final Fantasy game that it's creator Hironobu Sakaguchi would be involved.

 

Also it would be the first FF to spawn a direct sequel which was....yeah.

Unfortunately I never played FFXII

 

Kingdom Hearts

 

 

You'd think a crossover featuring Disney and Final Fantasy would be really stupid, but in a game that shocked everyone, it turned out to be fantastic, and one of the most beloved game series ever. I plan on replaying the series in anticipation for Kingdom Hearts III

God of War

 

 

God of War comes from the heels of Twisted Metal creator David Jaffe, and would eventually become one of Sony's biggest IPs. Also like Twisted Metal, God of War kicks ass....

Despite starring an A-Hole of a protagonist

 

Persona

 

 

While the series has been going on since the PS1, it wasn't until the PS2 where the series began to get noticed with Persona 3, and I'm very glad it caught on, as it would become one of my favorite JRPG franchises ever.

 

Sly Cooper

 

While Sucker Punch made a game before, the Sly Cooper series is what really got them noticed. The series was a stealth-platformer with a cast of lovable characters and was ridiculously fun. While the series went on a hiatus until some time in 2013 where they finally got a sequel. I never got to play, but I've heard that while it's not made by Sucker Punch, it's got the same amount of love and effort as the other games had

 

Ratchet and Clank

 

After Sony had the genius idea of selling Spyro off to Activision(/s), Insomniac moved on to develop the Ratchet and Clank series, with a whopping 4 games on the PS2, each as every bit as awesome as the Spyro series. The series has still continued on through to the PS3 and is still going strong

 

Odin Sphere

 

A hidden gem among the PS2's library. It's one of the most beautiful PS2 games out there using it's 2D artstyle to it's full advantage, as well as utilizing it's RPG playstyle well. The game's story plays through five different stories following the five main characters, each with Unique struggles and gameplay styles that make them each worth playing

 

God Hand

 

 

The game that made everyone hate IGN more than they already did, as well as Clover's swan song and Shinji Mikami's final game under Capcom. God Hand is a ridiculously silly beat-em-up and it kicks ass. Seriously, if you haven't played it you should.

 

Okami

 

 

Another underrated gem by the gents at Clover, and Hideki Kamiya's final Capcom game. Okami was Capcom's answer to the Legend of Zelda series, and is just as good as any Zelda title(if not better than some). If you haven't played it yet, you should, and there's really no excuse(it's available on the Wii and the PS3 via PSN)'

 

Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3

 

http://img.gamefaqs.net/box/9/0/4/59904_front.jpg

 

The Dragon Ball Z Budokai series is really well liked among fans, but many(myself included) consider this to be the best in the series, even going as far as to say it's the best game in the series. Hell this game is worth getting

(which you can't hear in the HD version unfortunately)

 

Smackdown! Here Come's the Pain

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fb/WWESmackDownHereComesThePain.jpg

 

Surprising considering this is a sports game, but I was absolutely surprised when I tried this out, as it would eventually be one of my most favorite WWE games ever, featuring the best of the WWE's roster, and a surprisingly fun career mode. Wish whoever was developing the games now would look back on this game to see how to make the current games as great as this

 

Also it has The Undertaker Chokeslaming John Cena on the cover

 

 

Since this is a blog post commemorating the PS2, and I know I didn't include some notable fan favorite games like Devil May Cry, Jak and Daxter, Xenosaga, and the TEAM ICO games(Ico and Shadow of the Colossus), why don't you share some of your favorite games on the console