Great! Already great infrormation about PS2 RPGs here!
Just a heads up, I don't know if this is old news, but here it is:
http://kotaku.com/playstation-2s-hac...-ps-1796049271
The .hack/GU series (3 games) is getting a HD remaster for the PS4. No word yet about the release date, but I guess it won't be this year.
I really like HD remasters of great PS2 games, FF X just looks gorgeous, if done right I'm all for it. Has anyone of you played the dot Hack/GU series? I have to admit, I didn't.
I know that Dragon Quest VIII is not an overlooked game, but I have the feeling that it still doesn't get the appreciation it deserves. For me it is one of the best RPGs I have ever played. Everything is just right in this game, the so called pacing, the proportionate element distribution between storytelling, levelling up your characters and exploration, the humor, the graphics, the story, all of these gameplay elements are in perfect balance and add up to a masterpiece. It gave me the feeling of the old SNES RPGs, and hunting Metal King slimes is just as fun as always. One of the best, if not THE best game in the series. If you have this one on your shelves and haven't played it yet, please do!
I also second Aussie2B's evaluation of Radiata Stories. Certainly an overlooked and underappreciated game. I liked it a lot, it is a strange mix of Shenmue and Suikoden, a mix between hiring lots of characters and living in a city in which you can become part of everyone's live. The city is one of the most charming, well designed locations of all the RPGs I ever played, and it creates an atmosphere of a location come to life.
Another game I'd like to recommend is Okage Shadow King. This one might be a love or hate affair. It is an unusual game which I always understood as a parody of a JRPG. The Tim Burton-style graphics fit the weird but nevertheless entertaining story, the clever written dialogues and quirky humor. It creates a unique atmosphere which thankfully dominates some flaws in the battle system. Button-mashing and some confusion in the battles are certainly weaknesses in game design, but overall this is a unique game well-worth playing and truly underappreciated. It was an early release for the PS2 and it was for years on my shelves unplayed. I wish I had played the game sooner, and I even think about purchasing the game in HD for the PS4 which I'm usually not a friend of.
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