PS2 hidden gems...

[heybtbm]

Godhand: One the most underrated games of all time. Everyone needs to play this at some point in their gaming life. Solid beat'em up + Japanese insanity = win.

Stella Deus: A fantastic Atlus Japanese SRPG that few people cared about. It's admittedly shallow compared to its Nippon Ichi brothers...but that's its greatest strength. Sometimes you don't want to play a SRPG where your characters level up to 9999 (I love Disgaea as much as anyone...but c'mon, who has the time?). Bonus: the soundtrack was composed by the same guy who did Final Fantasy Tactics and FFXII.



Mobile Light Force 2: Did you know Castle Shikigami 1 (Shikigami No Shiro) was released in the US? Most people have no idea (thanks to XS games bizarre translations/omissions). This is that game...



It's worth the $5 you can find this for anywhere.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Is it okay to say Rygar can join this list? I sort of liked this 3D Rygar.

[TurboGenesis]

Godhand: One the most underrated games of all time. Everyone needs to play this at some point in their gaming life. Solid beat'em up + Japanese insanity = win.

Mobile Light Force 2: Did you know Castle Shikigami 1 (Shikigami No Shiro) was released in the US? Most people have no idea (thanks to XS games bizarre translations/omissions). This is that game...

co-signed for God Hand

Shikigami no Shiro 2 is far more refined than the first game and Castle Shikigami 2 offer proper TATE where it was left out of Mobile Light Force 2

AND
no hidden gems/sleeper/overlooked PlayStation 2 game list is complete unless it include

The Red Star

[ScourDX]

SNK release KOF XI & Neogeo Battle Colosseum not too long ago and they are worth buying.

[davidbrit2]

Heatseeker is an absolutely fantastic arcade flight combat game. It's like Ace Combat, but even less realistic. The controls are really accessible, and it's completely balls-to-the-wall, sort of like After Burner but with freedom of movement.

[josekortez]

Cold Winter is a decent FPS that doesn't seem to get talked about.

I own Cold Winter and I finally rebooted it today. Then, when the game told me I need 2610 KB to save, I remembered why I never played it. It might be a good game, but games that require that much memory space should come with a free memory card...

[Nate Nanjo]

Stella Deus: A fantastic Atlus Japanese SRPG that few people cared about. It's admittedly shallow compared to its Nippon Ichi brothers...but that's its greatest strength. Sometimes you don't want to play a SRPG where your characters level up to 9999 (I love Disgaea as much as anyone...but c'mon, who has the time?). Bonus: the soundtrack was composed by the same guy who did Final Fantasy Tactics and FFXII.

You know, the game was great, but the terrible voice acting kind of killed the game.

Oh, and I second Shadow of Destiny.

[mEgAsHoT]

Here are some games I own that I consider as hidden gems on the PS2:

-Psychonauts: Almost no one cared about this game, regardless of all of the critics raving on the game. It's a great platformer with awesome voice acting. Some of the item collecting is tedious, but it doesn't detract from this great game. It may be the most well known hidden gem, but it deserves to be one since it didn't sell too great.

-NHL Hitz 2002 (practically the whole series): Not too sure how much this game sold, but this a personal hidden gem to me. One of the most fun arcade hockey games out there! It's pretty much NFL Blitz in a hockey ring. This is a fantastic multiplayer game. I think there were only two follow ups to this; NHL Hitz 2003 and NHL Hitz Pro.

-Crash N' Burn: I really don't understand why critics hated this game so much. This is a pretty cool destruction derby game. The crashes are great, and the game plays great. The only issue is that it's one player only. But if you like destruction derby games and want something other than Flatout and Destruction Derby Arenas, this is a good alternative.

[PsychoCandy]

Bombastic.

[snes_collector]

Glad to see Fire Pro Wrestling Returns on the list, definatly my favorite game I've played this year.

[RadiantSvgun]

I'll have to add Ar Tonelico and the first Atelier Iris. Both are great games with incredible music and slipped under the radar for most gamers.

Honestly, I am suprised that Culdcept didn't get mentioned sooner. It is a unique game that I have yet to see again since I bought mine in 2004.

[ALAKA]

i agree with Culdcept being a hidden gem. Aetiler Iris is good, but has a little to much backtracking from what I remember. I played Asterix & Obelix Kick Buttix until I got to one part where you have to kill like 700 soldiers(i kid you not) and i just can't get past that part. i'll have to give it another try down the road. all in all it was a decent game.

I am currently playing deus ex: the conspiracy for ps2 and its a really good game with questionable a.i., but fun nonetheless. I just don't know if you would consider this game "under the radar."

i might think of some more hidden gems i played later...

[yok-dfa]

What about Gitaroo Man? (or is that too high-profile to be considered a hidden gem?)

[koster]

Beyond Good & Evil
Killer 7

Both of these games are excellent, although I prefer the Gamecube versions.

A few other cross-platform releases I consider 'hidden gems':
Aliens vs Predator: Extinction
Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde
Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku (mediocre reviews, but I found it enjoyable)

Everblue 2. A wonderful game of the shamefully neglected underwater genre, great game design, great missions, the "pacing" (to use a fashionable word) is perfect, collecting and exploration (two basic important elements of game design) are at times brilliantly executed. Worthwhile having, worthwhile playing, a gem of every collection.

Truly a hidden gem - I've put more hours into this game than any other PS2 game I've played. I am eagerly looking forward to its 'sequel' Endless Ocean for the Wii.

[jcalder8]

Having just bought a PS2 I'd love to hear some more peoples opinions about this topic.

[Neil Koch]

-Crash N' Burn: I really don't understand why critics hated this game so much. This is a pretty cool destruction derby game. The crashes are great, and the game plays great. The only issue is that it's one player only. But if you like destruction derby games and want something other than Flatout and Destruction Derby Arenas, this is a good alternative.

I had this on Xbox and didn't think too much of it. It came off as a poor man's Burnout to me.

[ScourDX]

I'm looking forward to Heavenly Guardian. The game reminds me of Pocky & Rocky for SNES.

[TurboGenesis]

I'm looking forward to Heavenly Guardian. The game reminds me of Pocky & Rocky for SNES.

Nice find!

Look good indeed. I think I am pick it up upon release.

[The Great Dane]

You have to include ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. ICO especially, though, as no one really knew much about the game. SotC got way more attention. But, both are great games.

[RickHarrisMaine]

I'll second that for Mobile Light Force 2. I bought mine recently at Gamestop, for $3.99. Hellofa deal, because I played the thing all day.....just a great shooter....