The PlayStation 2 is the best-selling video game console ever made, so it’s no secret that it has some fantastic games. Many of these games are absolutely perfect and have become staples of future PlayStation systems.
But many other great PlayStation games have been forgotten. This could be due to the large size of the PS2 catalog, lackluster sales at launch, or other games in their respective franchises stealing the spotlight. But these five games are still worth checking out if gamers are feeling nostalgic.
Spider-Man 2 Was The Movie Tie-In Game That Became a Must-Play
Spider-Man swings across Manhattan in Spider-Man 2 for the PS2.Image via Treyarch
The Marvel’s Spider-Man series, created by Insomniac Games, has quickly established itself as one of the best modern superhero video game franchises out there. Before this, there were a vast number of other Spider-Man games that have either been original stories or tie-ins to the Sony film series. The original Spider-Man game tie-in was a solid experience, but Spider-Man 2 was lightning in a bottle.
The game follows the movie’s plot while also expanding the world by featuring several other classic Spider-Man villains to fight. The game also featured an open world and improved web-slinging mechanics that would be adopted in future games featuring the character. It also helps that several actors from the films reprised their roles for the game, making it feel like a true tie-in.
CBR Exclusive · Quiz WHICH MARVEL CHARACTER ARE YOU? Your Powers Are About to Be Revealed The Marvel Universe is full of extraordinary people — genius billionaires, super-soldiers, sorcerers, and gods. Twenty questions stand between you and the truth. Answer honestly. Your true self will assemble.
Iron Man
Captain America
Black Widow
Thor
Spider-Man
01
You’re outnumbered and outgunned. What do you do? A hero’s instinct is defined in their darkest moment.
02
Your team disagrees with your plan. How do you handle it? Every Avenger has their own idea of teamwork.
03
What does your hero identity mean to you? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
04
How do you typically make big decisions? A hero’s process shapes their outcome.
05
Someone takes credit for your work in front of everyone. You: Pride is the armor and the weakness of every hero.
06
A government agency wants to oversee your activities. Your response? Accountability is the line every hero must face.
07
When facing a villain, your strategy is: Every fighter has a philosophy.
08
Your biggest personal flaw is: Every hero has a crack in the armor.
09
A rookie hero is overwhelmed on their first mission. You: How a hero mentors others reveals their character.
10
What drives you more than anything else? The “why” behind the hero is everything.
11
You’ve just suffered a crushing defeat. What’s next? A hero is measured by how they get back up.
12
You could end a threat permanently — but it crosses an ethical line. You: The hardest choices define a hero from a weapon.
13
What do you actually fear most? Even the mightiest hero has something to lose.
14
People who just met you would describe you as: First impressions carry a grain of truth.
15
What’s your ideal base of operations? Where a hero operates reveals how they think.
16
What does “being a hero” actually mean to you? The philosophy behind the power is the real definition.
17
What do you want to leave behind? The mark a hero leaves is their truest measure.
18
Someone you love is in danger. Your first move is: Crisis strips away everything but the truth.
19
Your power — where does it come from? Origin shapes destiny in the Marvel Universe.
20
The final battle. Everything is on the line. You: This is the moment that defines everything.
THE MARVEL UNIVERSE HAS SPOKEN YOUR HERO IDENTITY
Your scores are shown below. The character with the highest number is your match. Read their description to discover which hero the universe chose for you.
Iron Man
Cap. America
Black Widow
Thor
Spider-Man
Brilliant, driven, and uncompromising in your ambition. You believe that the right technology — in the right hands — can solve any problem, and you’re confident enough in your own abilities to back that up. Beneath the armor and the bravado, you carry the weight of responsibility deeply. When it truly matters, you’re willing to sacrifice everything.
Principled, courageous, and steadfast. You have an unshakeable sense of right and wrong, and no amount of pressure, politics, or power can make you compromise it. People trust you instinctively — not because you demand it, but because you’ve earned it. You lead not by authority but by example, and you will always get back up.
Strategic, precise, and formidably self-reliant. You don’t need a suit or a superpower — your greatest weapon is your mind and your nerve. You keep your cards close, trust slowly, and operate three steps ahead of everyone else. Your past is complicated, but you’ve turned it into something that makes you nearly impossible to stop.
Powerful, honorable, and ultimately humbled by what truly matters. You came into your power believing it was your birthright — and then you learned it had to be earned. Your strength is immense, but your greatest growth came from learning to serve rather than reign. Loyal to your people, terrifying to your enemies, and always magnificent.
Quick-witted, deeply compassionate, and driven by a responsibility you didn’t ask for. You’ve learned the hard way that great power comes with great cost — and you show up anyway. You stay grounded when others would ascend, and your humanity is your greatest strength. You make it look effortless. It never is.
Both the Spider-Man 2 movie game and Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 are great examples of how superhero sequels can improve upon their predecessors in big ways, and how tie-in games can greatly complement their source material.
Raven (left) drawing a tarot card next to Kelly (right) while sitting at a pier in Twisted Metal: BlackImage via Sony Interactive Entertainment
The original PlayStation was rife with Twisted Metal games, with four entries on that console alone. For the PlayStation 2, the series was rebooted as Twisted Metal Black, featuring the same explosive vehicular combat as its predecessors but on newer hardware.
There were tons of vehicles and weapons to pick through, bringing back the explosive combat that made the original PlayStation games frantic and fun. The environments were also highly destructible, allowing players to change arena layouts in ridiculous ways. As crazy as the combat is, it’s the character backstories with dark cutscenes that really stood out the most.
Twisted Metal hasn’t had any new games in a long time, but it does live on in the live-action television series. Even though some have forgotten the game series, Twisted Metal Black is one of the strongest entries that deserves more love.
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy Was Naughty Dog’s Next Great Platformer
Jak and Daxter celebrate the acquisition of a Power Cell in Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy.Image via Sony
Naughty Dog was a PlayStation developer that made a name for themselves with the Crash Bandicoot series. Once that franchise went third party, the developers created a new hero/companion action platformer for the PlayStation 2. And thus Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy was born, and a new trilogy of classic games was born.
The world of Jak and Daxter is colorful and full of fun platforming challenges, and each area that the duo explores is filled with quirky characters and hidden collectibles. Combat is simple enough for everyone to pick up, especially during the boss battles, and the game wasn’t afraid to switch things up with vehicles to ride. But one of the things that made Jak and Daxter stand out was its open world, with little load time getting in the way of exploration.
Naughty Dog is known today for its hyperrealistic narrative games like The Last of Us and Uncharted, with fans hyped for the upcoming Intergalactic. But Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is still one of the best games the developer has ever put out.
Sly 2: Band of Thieves Was an Absolute Steal
Gameplay of Sly 2 Bad of ThievesImage via Sucker Punch
Another PlayStation franchise that thrived during the PlayStation 2 era was Sly Cooper. It followed a talking raccoon who, alongside his two friends, pulled off daring heists to steal priceless artifacts. Developer Sucker Punch Productions has been busy telling samurai revenge stories with the open-world Ghost series, so this franchise has been mostly forgotten about.
For those who are curious to try this series out, Sly 2: Band of Thieves is a good starting point. Each level features missions that blend action and stealth in unique ways. The levels are large and feature distinct visuals and platforming segments, making each feel different from the others. And the story is filled with all the twists and turns one might expect from a heist thriller, but it’s told by a series of silly and lovable characters that fit perfectly in this cartoon world.
Much like Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper is currently waiting in the wings for another chance to shine. In the meantime, fans will have to tide themselves over with a forgotten gem from the PlayStation 2.
Katamari Damacy Rolled With The Punches
Image via Namco
Games like Katamari Damacy are built around simple concepts rather than complex narratives and mechanics. Each level puts players in the shoes of a Prince who must use a magical ball that can allow it to stick to almost anything. The Prince must roll the ball across different levels to build it up to a massive size and create new stars.
Both the simplicity of the gameplay and the quirkiness of the world and characters are what made Katamari Damacy such a big hit back in 2004. Watching your ball become a rolling mass of nonsense was hilarious, especially when there was strategy involved, trying to see what objects could be absorbed to create the biggest ball ever.
There are also various missions to complete, such as collecting specific items or growing the ball to a certain size, that keep the gameplay from getting too repetitive. The original Katamari Damacy started a franchise that continues to release new games, but none have matched the original’s success. Even though the series isn’t what it once was, the PS2 classic is still great to play.
