What Were PS2's Launch Titles?

[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!