What Were PS2's Launch Titles?

[Niku-Sama]

was just kinda curious about this the other day.

what were PS2's Launch titles?

[Snapple]

Armored Core 2 (Agetec, Action)
DOA2: Hardcore (Tecmo, Fighting)
Dynasty Warriors 2 (Koei, Action)
ESPN International Track and Field (Konami, Sports)
ESPN X-Games Snowboarding (Konami, Sports)
Eternal Ring (Agetec, RPG)
Evergrace (Agetec, RPG)
FantaVision (SCEI, Puzzle)
Gun Griffon Blaze (Working Designs, Action)
Kessen (EA, Adventure)
Madden NFL 2001 (EA, Sports)
Midnight Club (Rockstar, Racing)
Moto GP (Namco, Racing)
NHL 2001 (EA, Sports)
Orphen (Activision, RPG)
Q-Ball Billiards Master (Take-Two Interactive, Simulation)
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 (Midway, Sports)
Ridge Racer V (Namco, Racing)
Silent Scope (Konami, Shooter)
Smuggler's Run (Rockstar, Racing-Adventure)
SSX (EA, Sports)
Street Fighter EX3 (Capcom, Fighting)
Summoner (THQ, RPG)
Swing Away (Paradise Golf in Japan) (EA, Sports)
Tekken Tag Tournament (Namco, fighting)
TimeSplitters (Eidos, First-Person Shooter)
Unreal Tournament (Infogrames, First-Person Shooter)
Wild Wild Racing (Interplay, Racing)
X-Squad (EA, Action)

Source: http://ps2.ign.com/articles/080/080661p1.html

And I don't have a single one of those games. I got my PS2 in 2001, along with Onimusha Warlords, the Bouncer, and maybe one other game I can't remember at the moment.

[cyberfluxor]

And out of those I own only Silent Scope with disc only. There are some games I want out of those:
DOA2: Hardcore, Ridge Racer V, TimeSplitters, Unreal Tournament

Was Gun Griffon Blaze any good? I've seen it a few times and haven't really hated any of the Working Design games I own but most Mech games are a let down to me (I loved Battletech on the Genny).

[Daria]

You know as much shit as Working Designs used to get for notorius delays I find it very amusing they released a PS2 launch title.

[DigitalSpace]

I just own Midnight Club, Smuggler's Run, and Wild Wild Racing. Out of those three, Smuggler's Run has aged the best. I still like randomly crusing around the cities in Midnight Club, though.

I used to own Q-Ball Billiards Master, but traded it off. Decent pool sim, but pool sims are too boring for my taste.

I'm mildly interested in Ridge Racer V and Moto GP.

[s1lence]

And out of those I own only Silent Scope with disc only. There are some games I want out of those:
DOA2: Hardcore, Ridge Racer V, TimeSplitters, Unreal Tournament

Was Gun Griffon Blaze any good? I've seen it a few times and haven't really hated any of the Working Design games I own but most Mech games are a let down to me (I loved Battletech on the Genny).

Well this would be other letdown, its not very good if my memory serves me right.

[Aussie2B]

For some reason whenever I want to make fun of the PS2's launch I always bring up Oni, but I guess that wasn't out at the very beginning, but it did seem like that was all everybody was playing back then, struggling to convince themselves that the game was any good in order to justify their purpose of buying the PS2 beyond getting a DVD player.

Eternal Ring is still really good and worth playing if you like From Software's games like King's Field and such, though.

[Trebuken]

Wasn't Gradius II + IV a launch title? It's not on that list. IGN reviewed it on Nov. 15th so maybe it was a week or two later, and not day one. The release list I have has it as the first release, but I found it in a random google search...

http://www.psxa2z.com/ps2/PS0332.php

[eric nintendo]

Gun Griffon is fun, it's basically a very arcade-like Armored Core.

[Niku-Sama]

I'm mildly interested in Ridge Racer V and Moto GP.

wow of that list i have 3 launch titles
Ridge Racer V, DOA2 Hardcore and FantaVision...

RidgeRacer V is pretty good especially for the $5-$10 it goes for any more
pick up a copy digital space i think it'd be worth it. the game is a tad short but its more arcade like than RR4 was

[exit]

I have Eternal Ring and unlike the King Field games, it's extremely bland and boring.

[meancode]

For some reason whenever I want to make fun of the PS2's launch I always bring up Oni, but I guess that wasn't out at the very beginning, but it did seem like that was all everybody was playing back then, struggling to convince themselves that the game was any good in order to justify their purpose of buying the PS2 beyond getting a DVD player.

Eternal Ring is still really good and worth playing if you like From Software's games like King's Field and such, though.

Wow, Oni was so much better on the Mac. I don't even know why they released it on the PS2.

[roushimsx]

You know as much shit as Working Designs used to get for notorius delays I find it very amusing they released a PS2 launch title.

Well, in true Working Designs fashion, it was actually a few days late for launch. Silpheed: The Lost Planet was also supposed to be a launch title but wasn't officially released until a week later, too.


I'm mildly interested in Ridge Racer V

I've heard the US release of Ridge Racer V cleaned up the graphics a bit from the japanese version (much like how SFEX3 wasn't riddled with the slowdown from the japanese release), but I've never really bothered to plunk down the money to find out. The japanese release runs in a wacky resolution (like 640x240) and it makes actually driving nigh impossible. You have to memorize the courses because you just can not see corners coming up until you've already passed them and slammed the hell out of the wall.

But yea, if it's only going for $5 or so used, it's worth getting for the soundtrack even if the gameplay is so broken :)


Wow, Oni was so much better on the Mac. I don't even know why they released it on the PS2.

It was better on PC :P It's a shame that they removed the multiplayer aspect, though. Did Bungie ever say why they removed it, specifically? I remember people raving about it at the trade shows and then when the game finally shipped there was no multiplayer love to be had. Would have been an awesome LAN party game.

[sisko]

Armored Core 2 was available a couple of weeks before launch.

[scooterb23]

I had Madden 2001, Swing Away Golf, Q-Ball Billiards, and Ridge Racer V at launch

Of those 4...I don't own any of those anymore :)

[Kid Fenris]

Silpheed: The Lost Planet was also supposed to be a launch title but wasn't officially released until a week later, too.

Months later, actually. It didn't ship until April 2001. At any rate, it's a mediocre shooter that wouldn't have added much to the system's launch.

[Zadoc]

Also, DOA2 didn't make the launch.

PS2 had one of the absolite worst launch line-ups in history.

[tonyvortex]

Armored Core 2 (Agetec, Action)
DOA2: Hardcore (Tecmo, Fighting)
Dynasty Warriors 2 (Koei, Action)
ESPN International Track and Field (Konami, Sports)
ESPN X-Games Snowboarding (Konami, Sports)
Eternal Ring (Agetec, RPG)
Evergrace (Agetec, RPG)
FantaVision (SCEI, Puzzle)
Gun Griffon Blaze (Working Designs, Action)
Kessen (EA, Adventure)
Madden NFL 2001 (EA, Sports)
Midnight Club (Rockstar, Racing)
Moto GP (Namco, Racing)
NHL 2001 (EA, Sports)
Orphen (Activision, RPG)
Q-Ball Billiards Master (Take-Two Interactive, Simulation)
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 (Midway, Sports)
Ridge Racer V (Namco, Racing)
Silent Scope (Konami, Shooter)
Smuggler's Run (Rockstar, Racing-Adventure)
SSX (EA, Sports)
Street Fighter EX3 (Capcom, Fighting)
Summoner (THQ, RPG)
Swing Away (Paradise Golf in Japan) (EA, Sports)
Tekken Tag Tournament (Namco, fighting)
TimeSplitters (Eidos, First-Person Shooter)
Unreal Tournament (Infogrames, First-Person Shooter)
Wild Wild Racing (Interplay, Racing)
X-Squad (EA, Action)

Source: http://ps2.ign.com/articles/080/080661p1.html

And I don't have a single one of those games. I got my PS2 in 2001, along with Onimusha Warlords, the Bouncer, and maybe one other game I can't remember at the moment.
i worked at funco during the ps2 launch and i know alot of these were not out day 1.i remember our store had street fighter and gun griffin weeks early though.i know unreal didnt come out till right before christmas too.

[WanganRunner]

IMO, PS2 had a realy good launch lineup. I own all of the following:

DOA2: Hardcore (Tecmo, Fighting)
Dynasty Warriors 2 (Koei, Action)
FantaVision (SCEI, Puzzle)
Gun Griffon Blaze (Working Designs, Action)
Kessen (EA, Adventure)
Ridge Racer V (Namco, Racing)
SSX (EA, Sports)
Tekken Tag Tournament (Namco, fighting)
TimeSplitters (Eidos, First-Person Shooter)

I bought all of these within 3 months of launch except for Fantavision, which I picked up for like $5. I didn't regret any of the purchases.

Lots of people rip on the PS2 launch lineup, but I thought it was one of the best in history next to the DC.

[maxlords]

I don't remember Timesplitters or SSX being available at launch. Same goes for Eternal Ring, Tekken Tag Tournament, and Street Fighter EX3. I'm pretty sure all of those were released quite close after the launch, but I don't remember any of em being on shelves at the time. I'd swear that list is a list of games that were supposed to be released on launch day, not ones that actually hit shelves.

I still have Gungriffon Blaze (which isn't technically a release game either) though it's not that good, and Dynasty Warriors 2, which is probably the best PS2 release game IMO.

[Anthony1]

I don't remember Timesplitters or SSX being available at launch. Same goes for Eternal Ring, Tekken Tag Tournament, and Street Fighter EX3. I'm pretty sure all of those were released quite close after the launch, but I don't remember any of em being on shelves at the time. I'd swear that list is a list of games that were supposed to be released on launch day, not ones that actually hit shelves.

I still have Gungriffon Blaze (which isn't technically a release game either) though it's not that good, and Dynasty Warriors 2, which is probably the best PS2 release game IMO.

SSX was definitely available at launch, I know, cause I bought it on day 1. I also bought Madden. Those were the two games I took home with my PS2. I also got Smuggler's Run about a week later, but that was available on day 1 too. Personally, I think the PS2 launch was absolutely horrid. The only redeeming game in my opinion was SSX. At first, I thought Madden was amazing, but then after playing it for a few weeks I came to realize that NFL 2K1 for Dreamcast was actually a significantly better game from a gameplay standpoint. Smuggler's Run was relatively fun, but mostly because all the other games in comparison were so craptacular. The PS3 launch is just as horrible, and it's hard to say which launchl lineup was worse, PS2 or PS3. The PS3 has Resistance, and the PS2 had SSX. The other games for each basically cancel each other out, but I think I would give the PS3 the title as an even worse launch lineup. At least the PS2 had a few more exclusives and a better selection of diversity among the genres.

[DaBargainHunta]

I really liked Gun Griffon Blaze on PS2. In fact, I just bought the Xbox sequel. I know it got bad reviews, but I picked up fairly cheap and I think I'll end up enjoying it.

The best PS2 launch game, IMO, was easily TimeSplitters.

Other launch games I own or used to own (though I didn't buy any of them - or a PS2 - at launch):

Dynasty Warriors 2 (Koei, Action) - Had this, traded it in (I've since stopped doing trade-ins). Too damn repetitive and dull after a while.

FantaVision (SCEI, Puzzle) - Bought this a few years later on the cheap, hated it. Nothing more than a glorified tech demo IMO.

Midnight Club (Rockstar, Racing) - Had it, traded it in. Amazing for its time, a precursor to GTA3 in a lot of ways. But I either got sick of it or it was too hard - can't remember which.

SSX (EA, Sports) - Got this with the system, found it to be overrated. Mean Gene Okerlund doing voiceovers was cool though. :)

Swing Away (Paradise Golf in Japan) (EA, Sports) - Okay golf game, nothing amazing.

Unreal Tournament (Infogrames, First-Person Shooter) - Another launch game I loved. Maybe the second or third best launch game on the system (along with Gun Griffon Blaze and TimeSplitters).

Wild Wild Racing (Interplay, Racing) - I *think* I have this. If it's the one I'm thinking of (I picked up a bunch of older games on the cheap about a year or two after launch), it's not bad.

[Overbite]

i thought the bouncer was a launch title too

[dendawg]

It seems that Super Bust a Move counts, also.

[j_factor]

I really hated GunGriffon Blaze. I was a big fan of the first two, and Blaze was just a letdown in every way. The Xbox one was even worse, though.

[JPeeples]

i thought the bouncer was a launch title too

That came out in '01. I was looking forward to it being a launch game, and was bummed when it ended up not being one.

[GrandAmChandler]

I bought Timesplitters and Dynasty Warriors 2 on launch day, so I can confirm those.

[Oobgarm]

I did some research on this for the DP Guide, here's what I came up with, coupled with my knowledge from working at GameStop during the PS2 launch:

Armored Core 2
Dynasty Warriors 2
ESPN: International Track & Field
ESPN: Winter X Games: Snowboarding
Eternal Ring
Evergrace
Fantavision
GunGriffon Blaze
Kessen
Madden NFL 2001
Midnight Club: Street Racing
MotoGP
Orphen: Scion of Sorcery
Ridge Racer V
Silent Scope
Smuggler's Run
SSX
Street Fighter EX3
Summoner
Swing Away Golf
Tekken Tag Tournament
TimeSplitters
Unreal Tournament
Wild Wild Racing
X-Squad

These games were either released before launch or day-and-date.

Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore, Super Bust-A-Move, and The Bouncer were released shorty afterward.

[RJ]

I bought TimeSplitters on Launch Day w/ my PS2.

I also now have:
Armored Core 2
GunGriffon Blaze
RR 5
Smuggler's Run
Swing Away Golf (if I ever have a heart attack playing a game, it'll be this)

Also had Midnight Club, X-Squad, & Unreal Tourn. but got rid of them here & there. Not to say they werent good games...MC was great, esp. Capture the Flag against carbots. X-Squad was OK up until a certain level (5?) where a roomful of enemies always did me in.

[Niku-Sama]

what about strech panic?

[tonyvortex]

what about strech panic?
that unloved treasure game came out far later.

[Flack]

I don't remember Timesplitters or SSX being available at launch.

I picked up Madden and SSX launch day. I got RR5 and Smuggler's Run about a week later.

[theshizzle3000]

Orphan is a good few hours of my life that I will never get back....Jesus I hated that game.

[davepesc]

I have:

Dynasty Warriors 2 (Koei, Action) It was a lot of fun for a short period of time.

Eternal Ring (Agetec, RPG) I always had a thing for the King's Field games. I'm sure at least 5 other people do to!

FantaVision (SCEI, Puzzle) Well, a friend had this, little more than a tech demo to me.

NHL 2001 (EA, Sports) Terrible. The game moves soooo slllooowwww.

Smuggler's Run (Rockstar, Racing-Adventure) Friend had. Fun game.

SSX (EA, Sports) Still one of the best games in the PS2 library!

TimeSplitters (Eidos, First-Person Shooter) I'm not much into FPS, but this is OK.

All in all, not a bad launch line-up at all.

[Calfcramp!!!]

i thought the bouncer was a launch title too

Yeah,same here.


Craig

[Oobgarm]

Yeah,same here.


Craig

It was released Stateside in early March of 2001. It was supposed to be a launch title if I remember correctly.

[Nature Boy]

I don't remember Timesplitters or SSX being available at launch. Same goes for Eternal Ring, Tekken Tag Tournament, and Street Fighter EX3. I'm pretty sure all of those were released quite close after the launch, but I don't remember any of em being on shelves at the time. I'd swear that list is a list of games that were supposed to be released on launch day, not ones that actually hit shelves.

I agree with your last statement, but I actually bought SSX a couple of days *before* the system launched (at an EB), and when I actually bought my PS2(at TRU), I came home with Midnight Club and Tekken Tag Tournament, so maybe it was a region thing or something.

I'm happy to say I still own all 3 of them, and although I haven't played them much lately I'm pretty happy with them still, and with my launch day PS2!