10 PS2 Games That Deserved A Sequel

10 PS2 Games That Deserved A Sequel

Welcome to MojoPlays and today we’re looking at PS2 games that had strong franchise-ability but sadly never got the sequels they so rightfully deserved.

“Whiplash” (2003)

The PS2 era was the golden age of platformers. Between Ratchet and Clank, Jak & Daxter and to a lesser extent Spyro and Crash, players had no shortage of options no matter their preference. Some PS2 platformers were even more experimental, such as the unlikely pair of Redmond the Rabbit and Spanx the Weasel, a duo chained together as they attempted to escape an animal testing facility while causing as much financial damage as possible. Redmond’s indestructibility made for some hilarious interactions with the world and watching Spanx whip Redmond around as a weapon was endlessly entertaining. A sequel could have expanded upon this with the duo still being on the run after freeing the rest of the animals from the facility or even infiltrating another testing site to shut down the company for good. Sadly, Whiplash was never revisited as developer Crystal Dynamics soon moved onto Tomb Raider and never looked back.

“Okami” (2006)

While the PS2 was undoubtedly the king of JRPGs, very few series outside of Final Fantasy resonated with gamers the way The Legend of Zelda series did on any of Nintendo’s consoles. However, there was one that managed to stand out as a possible contender, Clover Studio’s Okami. The game featured a gorgeous watercolor graphical style that also carried over to its gameplay with the game’s unique use of the paintbrush that allowed players to paint creations into the world as well as use the brush in battle. The game was a massive hit with critics and developed a loyal cult following but unfortunately the game underperformed and the studio was shut down shortly after. This ended any possibility for the series to continue as its popularity grew due to countless re-releases bringing in an entire new generation of fans.

“Timesplitters: Future Perfect” (2005)

Free Radical’s Timesplitters franchise became a standout multiplayer title in the early days of the PS2, and while the series did eventually have 3 entries ending with Future Perfect, fans of the series have long held onto hope for the franchise to continue. The mix of uniquely cartoony visuals and time-hoping storyline refreshingly wasn’t afraid to poke fun at itself at a time when shooters were becoming all too serious, and the various time periods were wonderfully realized. In keeping with the times, Future Perfect also introduced online multiplayer to the series and a robust mapmaker for players to create their own modes and levels of chaos for their friends to compete in. Fans rejoiced in 2021 when members of Free Radical revived the studio and seemingly began work on a true sequel, but once again it was not meant to be and tragically Free Radical was shuttered at the end of 2023.

“Beyond Good & Evil” (2003)

Beyond Good & Evil was quite a departure for a studio known primarily for their Rayman titles, but gamers fell in love with the world and Jade’s investigative gameplay was a nice change of pace from the traditional 3rd person combat games that were so prevalent at the time. The story of a government cover-up and militaristic control during an alien invasion also broke the mold as players had to focus more on capturing moments with their camera than outright combat. In the years since release, the love for Beyond Good & Evil gained a cult-like following and the announcement of a sequel was met with great anticipation. However, almost 2 decades later, the sequel barely resembles the original game as its ambitions grew in complexity. Most likely vaporware after all this time, no matter what Ubisoft says, gamers have longed for a true sequel to continue the adventures of Jade and Pey’j.

“Black” (2006)

Criterion might be most well-known for the racing games, especially the Burnout series, but the developer has dabbled in other genres, and by far one of their best is the classic PS2 game Black. While the game’s story might have been nothing but a patchwork of cinematics that led the player from one set piece to another, the gunplay was some of the most solid and rewarding the PS2 had to offer. Guns had real impact and the world had a level of destructibility rarely seen in video games on the PS2 or even in most of today’s biggest shooter franchises. Criterion has long returned to their roots in the years since Black, but with the first-person shooter market becoming stagnant with annual releases of Call of Duty and Battlefield continuing to disappoint, Black could have been a serious competitor had the series been able to continue past its original game.

“Cold Fear” (2005)

With the release of Resident Evil 4, Capcom’s horror franchise dominated the conversation in 2005, leaving little room for any other horror titles to share the spotlight. Cold Fear was a survival horror game in the vein of Resident Evil but trapped the terror on the seas. Players need to contend with not only the outbreak of a zombie-like virus on board but the unpredictability of the ocean itself. Featuring ocean physics that would cause the ship to rock back and forth, the player as well as objects in the environment would be tossed like ragdolls according to the whims of the ocean. Cold Fear also managed to improve on the RE4 formula by allowing players to move while shooting, using the now standard over-the-shoulder camera. A sequel could have improved on a number of these mechanics and had the game been released earlier or even a year later, it might have also done better commercially.

“Dark Cloud 2” (2002)

The original Dark Cloud managed to blend dungeon crawling, city building and rewarding RPG mechanics into something wholly unique in the earliest days of the PS2, but its sequel, Dark Cloud 2, or Dark Chronicle depending on your region, perfected the formula. Switching to a cell shaded art style, the characters popped off screen and the switch to a steampunk aesthetic offered more options for combat as well as world exploration and visually distinct environments. Everything about Dark Cloud 2 was tuned and refined, and developer Level 5 seemed on track to go even bigger with a potential sequel, but none ever materialized. Level 5 moved onto Dragon Quest VIII and Rogue Galaxy and eventually the Ni No Kuni series while leaving everything they had laid the groundwork for in a potentially wildly successful series behind. Even after two decades, fans haven’t given up hope, but it looks like the series is gone forever.

“Bully” (2006)

Without a doubt, Rockstar’s most requested sequel besides the next Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead, Bully has managed to maintain its loyal fanbase for almost two decades after release. Taking the classic GTA open world formula and setting players loose as a new student at Bullworth Academy, we were free to explore the campus and surrounding areas while getting up to classic adolescent hijinks and also needing to keep up with our studies in class. Featuring all the trademarks of classic PS2 era Rockstar, the game was rounded out with a likable cast as well as over-the-top secondary characters and NPCs. Although according to former devs, there was a playable version of Bully 2 at one point, it would seem the sequel was scrapped, but that hasn’t stopped longtime series fans from speculating that a true sequel will eventually be released to school players once again.

“Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy” (2004)

The PS2 had no shortage of third person shooters but Psi-Ops’ use of its physics engine more than made it a unique experience. Developed by Midway games, the game follows an amnesiac PSI Operative as he uses his psychic abilities to take down a terrorist organization that also makes use of the same psychic powers. One of the early adopters of the Havok ragdoll physics, players could use their powers to lift and throw objects and enemies around the environment as well as hijack NPCs to get through checkpoints or have them fight against their own. Puzzles were specifically designed to take advantage of the advanced physics and some even offered players multiple solutions depending on their choices of which powers they wanted to utilize. Sadly, despite the game ending on a frustrating cliffhanger, there was never a follow-up and Midway closed down in 2010 ending any hope for a satisfying conclusion.

“The Simpsons: Hit & Run” (2003)

The Simpsons have had no shortage of video games and while many of them were hit or miss, one that managed to become a standout fan favorite was Hit and Run which shamelessly copied Rockstar’s GTA formula to great success. Virtually the entire city of Springfield was open for players to explore, the story was written by the creators of the show, and all the main cast returned to their iconic roles for arguably one of the best Simpsons experiences since the 8th season of the show. Fans have long requested if not a sequel, then at least a remaster or full remake, but with EA sitting on the dormant license, a proper return to Springfield seems unlikely. In recent years, the former developers have explained there were plans for a sequel but due to poor management of the license, the best Simpsons game ever ended after one entry.

Which PS2 game would you have loved to get a sequel? Share your dream lists down in the comments.