The 10 Most NOSTALGIC PS2 Games

“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” (2004)

Some players might feel more nostalgic towards the revolutionary “GTA III”. Others might value “Vice City” a little bit more. But for us, “San Andreas” is the one we keep coming back to. In addition to exceptional story and humor, “San Andreas” had an incredible soundtrack and gave players various activities to sink their time into and turn the Grove Street Gang into a formidable force. Modern players may not take too kindly to the mindless graffiti and trips to the gym for limited workout sessions. But for those of us who grew up on PS2, it’s a wonderful time capsule.

“Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3” (2001)

Much of “Pro Skater 3’s” nostalgia can be tied to its music just as “GTA: San Andreas” can. Every single “Pro Skater” had some tasty jams that introduced us to bands we hadn’t heard of at the time, and they all fit the attitude. “Pro Skater 3” was more special than just the music. All those sessions spent on maps like Foundry, Cruise Ship, and Warehouse created a place of familiarity for us despite them being virtual. It’s honestly no wonder why folks are amped about the “3 + 4” remake.

“Final Fantasy X” (2001)

“Final Fantasy X” was truly a special game in a handful of ways. For starters, this was the first game in the franchise that was made specifically for the PlayStation 2, and it showcased a major leap in graphics from PS1 to PS2. Second, it had a much different feel to it than the installments we saw on PS1; there was sort of a happy medium between fantasy and industrial future between the worlds, creatures, and character designs. And while we have seen several new mainline entries since 2001, none of them matched the same lighthearted tone as “Final Fantasy X’s”, which has made it stand out even more as time has marched forward.

“The Simpsons: Hit & Run” (2003)

For those of us who grew up with parents who knew the ESRB a little too well, “The Simpsons: Hit & Run” was our own special slice of GTA-style, open world gameplay. Although the game was just three large maps recycled over the course of seven short chapters, there was a lot here that made the game more special than some gave it credit for. Even though many of the missions devolved into racing and collecting things, “Hit & Run” kept it fresh by giving us shortcuts, fun cheat codes, and a litany of unique vehicles to unlock. It basically leaned into the driving more than GTA ever did, and it made it so much fun that it led to us sometimes driving around Springfield and ramming into cars just for giggles.

“Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal” (2005)

Speaking of games meant to be played for giggles, “Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal” was a game that should never have been able to function on a console like the PlayStation 2. With so many objects, characters, and particle effects being on screen at once, frame drops were pretty common in “Up Your Arsenal”. Although, this wasn’t something seen as a problem but rather a comedic edge to the game. Obviously, the PS2 wasn’t going to suddenly ignite from our in-game destruction, but it was fun to see just how nutty we could get before the console started chugging. Unfortunately, games are a little too well-optimized these days to have that sort of fun anymore. Well, unless you’re “Earth Defense Force”.

“Star Wars: Battlefront II” (2005)

Before the greedy EA version reared its ugly head in 2017, we had this magnificent shooter that, to this day, reminds us of a time when “Star Wars” wasn’t completely in the dumps all the time. Even though “Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones” were awful, we had just gotten “Revenge of the Sith” on top of tons of unique games set within the “Star Wars” universe. “Battlefront II” kind of felt like the pinnacle of everything as both the original trilogy and prequel trilogy were working together to make something truly special. That level of nostalgia and the online multiplayer is why so many of us got excited about the “Classic Collection” remasters and why the hatred was so volatile at launch when it launched in such a horrid state.

“Kingdom Hearts” (2002)

The nostalgia for “Kingdom Hearts” is almost similar to why we look back on “Final Fantasy X” so fondly. While there are struggles within Sora about the thought of being alone and never seeing his friends again, “Kingdom Hearts” was much more happy-go-lucky than most of Square Enix’s previous games. Playing the first game also harkens back to a time when the “Kingdom Hearts” lore wasn’t all over the place with its “light, dark, hearts, and emotions” nonsense. But above all, it was also just the weirdest game we had seen at the time in the best ways possible. Really, who could have predicted that the company behind “Final Fantasy” was going to make a game with Disney characters and Donald Duck would trump Sephiroth in being the most powerful character in the universe?

“Twisted Metal: Black” (2001)

After “Twisted Metal 3”, TM4, and “Small Brawl” nearly killed the franchise with its annoyingly zany personalities, “Twisted Metal: Black” was a welcoming refresh for those of us who loved the first two games. The darker, more horrific tone was something we didn’t think would be possible for a vehicular combat game to pull off. And that’s kind of why we cherish “Black” to this day. It felt like series co-creator David Jaffe and his team was always experimenting with something that no one else was doing on the market, and “Black” kind of embodied that level of thinking with its story, level design, and music. And so, the intense attitude has been forever ingrained in our minds.

“Katamari Damacy” (2004)

While we’re on the subject of games that were doing things no one else was doing, “Katamari Damacy” was one of the most special hidden gems the PS2 had ever seen. Sure, we had already seen calm and cozy games like “Animal Crossing” and “Harvest Moon”, but “Katamari” invoked the same level of zen and total concentration as “Tetris” did. Make your Katamari a specific size before the time runs out and let the music maintain your flow. No other game was shooting for this vibe back then, and very, very few ever attempt to implement this kind of game feel today. It’s kind of why the community keeps pestering Bandai Namco for a new game.

“God of War” (2005)

Everything we had seen throughout the PS2’s lifespan felt like it was leading up to “God of War”. This game was the whole reason why you needed this console, and to this day, it is unlike any other video game on the market. The sense of scale, the way the game felt cinematic without actually breaking away from the gameplay, the epic fights against colossal enemies like the cyclops and Ares - this was everything PlayStation and its fans needed. Sure, some segments may not be viewed favorably among modern gamers, but overall, there are reasons why some Kratos fans shun the Nordic games and favor the Greek era. All you need to do is play the OG to see why.

Which PlayStation 2 game are you most nostalgic for? Did it make our list? Let us know down in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to MojoPlays for more great videos everyday!