I got through phases of games, and right now I’m in the one I like to think of everything-modern-is-making-me-angry-so-I’ll-turn-back-to-vintage-games - and that’s in the form of PCSX2 on my Steam Deck.
Playing the PS2 generation on the Steam Deck is kinda the ‘perfect’ generation: I can upscale the resolution without a performance hit, I can apply HD texture packs, Retro Achievements and I can drop the TDP to extend the battery life.
Anyway, I never had a PS2 (it was just a touch before my time), so there’s so many games I’m yet to discover there. I’d love to hear any suggestions you might have for what I can play on there:
Just a couple notes:
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No GTA games because they’re better with the PC versions. While I’ve bought the games, the account that Rockstar demands people have to play their games makes me angry on principle (a single-player game forcing an online check each week to be able to play it? No thanks), so I’ve got cracked versions to play.
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No Final Fantasy because I’m not even sure where to start!
So if anyone was around back in the PS2 era, and has some recommendations for games they’ve loved, I’m all ears. I’ve been having such a fun time playing these.
Some big thanks to my friends who made and run RetroDECK (my choice for emulating on the Steam Deck), and to the PCSX2 team (who I’m chatting to right now actually, so keep an eye out and in a week or so I’ll share that chat with them all about creating and maintaining the PS2 emulator!)
Also, if you do have a Steam Deck, and want to play with the HD texture packs I do, then it’s really simple. Just download the pack, and name then according to their game’s I.D. code - SLUS-20743 for example, then place it in the texture_packs folder:
From there, go into PCSX2, then right-click the game, select properties, graphics, texture replacement and tick the two boxes I have:
Then you’ve got the games looking the best they can be!
Here’s a link to a stack of pre-done HD textures for a lot of PS2 games, to help you on your way!
Just a side note on Final Fantasy games: you can literally start anywhere. They are all (except like X-2 which is explicitly a sequel to X, and the first time they did that) completely independent of one another.
And since you’re talking PS2, I think most people would tell you to start with FFX. It’s a fantastic game and a great representative of the PS2 era. The graphics hold up surprisingly well.
Most of my favorite games are already on all the “Top PS2 Games” lists, but my absolute favorite video game of all time is Steambot Chronicles, which got pretty much no attention at all. It’s really fun, with nice cell-shaded graphics and a bunch of stuff to do from piloting a big customizable robot to shooting pool to excavating fossils to decorating an apartment to playing a bunch of musical instruments with unique rhythm minigame mechanics! There are a bunch of dialogue options, too, affecting things from minor shifts in how your friends talk about you to a complete alignment shift to the enemy’s side, which obviously leads to a few different endings. Regardless of what ending you get you can still do the postgame content, though, so you don’t have to worry about getting any kind of “bad” ending. I’ve played it more times than I can count, and just keep coming back every year or two.
Black.
Mortal Kombat. The one that actually plays like a linear world story, not limited to arena.
Sweet jebus. You’re jumping into one of the biggest (if not the biggest) game console libraries ever. There’s a lot to pick from, and… there’s a lot of trash too.
It may not be to everyone’s taste, but I really enjoy the Burnout series. Each title brings something new to the table, and the music and energy just don’t let up. The only problem here is the brutal load times between every level, which on emulation, probably aren’t going to be an issue for you. The licensed soundtrack is also something of a time-capsule now, so it may be worthwhile on that point alone.
There are a few Castlevania titles for the PS2 as well. These are a fun departure from the side-scrolling formula, and seem to have learned a few tricks from Devil May Cry. They deliver on mood and challenge, but I wouldn’t rank them as high as the GBA or PS1 titles. Still, they’re fun to play.
If you wind up short on recommendations, I’ll add that PS1 titles should get an honorable mention here. The PS2 is fully backwards compatible with the PS1, so those cream-of-the-crop titles kinda/sorta count. For a lot of us, that was a big part of the experience of owning one of these machines as your library just kept growing into the new console gen. But you’ve probably already heard of Metal Gear Solid, Symphony of the Night, FFVII, WipeoutXL, Tony Hawk, and so on.
Dark Cloud
SingStar.
I found Ratchet and Clank 3 in the thrift store today, they gave it to me free because I bought a large stack of large plant pots too
Ace Combat games are so much fun.
I really recommend Genji and THUG2
One of my favorite games of all time is Dark Cloud. It starts feeling completely alone, and you bring the world to life. The atmosphere and soundtrack are top tier.
I played Shadow of the Colosses on my Potato PC with PCSX2. Took a bit of fiddling with the settings but it ran great afterwards. It’s one of my all time favourites. It’s an open world boss battler where you defeat giant climbable monsters. They are only vulnerable in specific spots though so in order defeat them you need to figure out how to reach those. The atmosphere is incredible though and the best part of it. If you want try it I highly recommend being hesitant to look up hints for this one since figuring out bosses is the most fun part.
Thank you!
I have got it on my Steam Deck, but rather the PS3 version (using RPCS3/RetroDECK), and I’m wondering which one I should play when I do try it! Everyone speaks so highly of it, I’m looking forward to!
I’d just play the ps3 version then, it plays like how my nostalgia filter made me remember the original. do ico also if you haven’t.
Imho the remaster looks too ralistic. Haven’t played it tho
Gitaroo Man is a pretty deep cut thats hard to find, but I lost plenty of hours in that game. If you find a copy let me know…my disc is torn to shreds.
Bombastic
The holy trinity of PS2 platformers is, in my order of preference: Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, and Ratchet and Clank.
For Jak and Daxter and Sly Cooper in the first game in the series is pretty different from the rest so if you bounce consider giving the sequel a go.
Silent Hill 2. The game can feel quite dated, but it is an iconic horror game nonetheless
