i have entered the twentieth century!

[jazzfish]

This weekend I ordered a laptop and bought a PS2.

So tell me, o lazyweb, what cheap PS2 games should I be acquiring post-haste? Note that I don't do CRPGs (I have no patience for an endless stream of nigh-identical random battles, nor do I believe that pressing a button to slowly read through dialogue counts as "gameplay"). I'm partial to "action-adventure" games, and non-twitchy puzzle games if such things exist. I already own Frequency, am on the lookout for Amplitude, and am contemplating Gitarzan (or, as the rest of the world refers to it, "Guitar Hero"), and that will probably tide me over for rhythm games.

Comments

[plumbob78.livejournal.com]

Dunno your opinion of shooters, but I find the Grand Theft Auto games very fulfilling, if you like shooting people.

GTA: Vice City is one of my favorites.

[jazzfish]

Vice City's a possible, but in general the GTA games rub me the wrong way. There's probably a rant brewing in that somewhere.

[heptadecagram.livejournal.com]

Even Bully? It's got a "good" message through the anti-hero.

[ndkid.livejournal.com]

Except for how said anti-hero is allowed to go beating up any other kid on campus. We're getting into "one man's terrorist..." land, but, based on my play-through of Bully, the message was "if you can kick the shit out of the other bullies, you'll be the king of the school".

[jsciv.livejournal.com]

Obviously I am biased, but Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is a good actiony choice. It has a teensy bit of RPG in that your weapons upgrade, but it's really just a lot of fun shooting and light platforming.

THE gateway game for the PS2 (and it is a ton of fun) is Katamari Damacy. You owe it to yourself to get that.

Most of the rest of my favorites are either CRPG's or action titles with lots and lots of combat, so I'll leave it at those two for now and see what else people say and re-comment appropriately...

[jazzfish]

Katamari is required, yes.

Will keep an eye out for R&C.

For reference, Metroid:Prime and Eternal Darkness are probably my favorite GameCube games.

[jameshroberts.livejournal.com]

I mostly play RPGs which as you've already said do not appeal to you. I would suggest ICO, Katamari Damacy, and Spyro the Dragon. None of those have much dialog, and are all fairly short (as far as PS2 games are reckoned). Actually, I'm pretty sure Spyro is PS1, but you can play it on a PS2.

[jazzfish]

Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, yes yes yes. I played Ico some years ago but it's the kind of game that would be worth replaying every few years just for the OMG Pretty.

[jameshroberts.livejournal.com]

I also want to say I got my copy of Ico for only $15, which makes it a very attractive buy.

[jazzfish]

Since it's only like, what, ten hours of gameplay, yeah. :)

(PS stick around through the credits, if you haven't.)

[jsciv.livejournal.com]

I recommend R&C because basically that's the latest incarnation by the team that did Spyro back when it was good (other than the obvious bias of my name being in the credits... :) ). So basically if you're looking at that kind of gameplay the last of its kind on the PS2 would be that and maybe the original Jak & Daxter (because the J&D sequels got too gimmicky IMO).

[ndkid.livejournal.com]

I think you would appreciate several things about GTA3: Vice City, and it is relatively close to the concept of Action-Adventure, I think.

While I can understand your distaste for random battles, I would still advise you to give Disgaea and/or Final Fantasy Tactics tries, since they aren't *quite* CRPGs, instead being the leaders of the "tactical RPG" variety. And Disgaea's Prinnies are just too *cute*! (And if you're going to knock CRPGs, don't forget to mention how they're structured around the assumption of using spoilers, these days.)

I consider Shadows of Rome to be interesting hack/slash fun, but the action/adventure/stealth portion is somewhat annoying... YMMV.

Soulcaliber 3 (actually, if you want cheap, Soulcaliber 2) can also be fun hack/slash on occasion. So can the Dynasty Warriors series, which is absolutely mindless.

I'm trying to think of puzzle games for the PS2, and am unable to. I hope this is more a function of me than a lack of PS2 puzzle games...

[jazzfish]

I don't mind the (concept of) tactical RPGs, since they strip out most of the annoying elements. I had high hopes for Fire Emblem but the maneuvering necessary to make sure that the right character got the kills was frustrating.

Will look into Shadows of Rome.

SC3? But I already have the original . . .

[ndkid.livejournal.com]

*laugh*
Well, as I remember SC1 for the DC didn't have much in the way of side stuff to do. SC3 had the best set of side-quest-esque stuff to do, with missions you could take on that had particular rules or special arena events. (Pass the bomb is a cute one.) It's mostly a matter of whether paying more money for variations on beating people up appeals to you. (Since we've established that paying more money for variations of pressing buttons appeals to you *and* me, it's really just a matter of degree. ;-) )

[chaobell]

As has been said, Katamari Damacy. Also Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3. And the Silent Hill and Fatal Frame series, if you're into horror. Disgaea and Suikoden Tactics are the only two tactical RPGs I've ever liked, but the former wins for sheer joy and insanity. And if you find Rez, no matter the price, get it.

[jazzfish]

SH1 was the first game to really seriously freak me out. I forget why I gave up on it. I should look into the other ones.

I've heard dreadful things about the storyline in MGS. The gameplay is worth it, then?

One of the advantages of still having a Dreamcast is that I know the joy that is Rez. Unfortunately my copy has a weird blip that prevents it from saving the fact that I've won the game.

[chaobell]

The MGS storylines can be bad, but they're the awesome kind of bad. And the gameplay is great. But MGS3 wins for all time for one reason: Snake Vs. Monkey. Also for letting you drop hornet nests on enemies' heads.

[jazzfish]

. . . anything with monkeys gets automatic bonus points. MGS3 it is.

[jonny-law.livejournal.com]

Be sure to get the MGS3: Subsistence special edition, not the normal MGS3: Snake Eater. The MGS game mechanic lends itself to 3rd person view, which is only available in MGS3: Subsistence. Also, more Snake vs. Monkey stages.

[heptadecagram.livejournal.com]

MGS1 is pretty neat. MGS2 is important to the storyline, but the play is really not there.

MGS3 is one of the most awesome games out there, because it throws away all the modern storylines and goes back to the great mechanic of sneaking past commies in the jungle. Plus, there's a monkey mini-game.

[shadowsong.livejournal.com]

the only things i play on the ps2 are final fantasy xii and the various dynasty/samurai warriors games.

[baranoouji.livejournal.com]

I second this, and I third rolling up stuff for the King of All Cosmos!

[plumbob78.livejournal.com]

This reminds me. You and your sweetie NEED this shirt (http://www.staccatocomic.com/store-howiroll.php)

[ignis-mcgruff.livejournal.com]

God of War I and II

[jazzfish]

I've heard vague generic good things about those. What kind of game are they?

[rikchik.livejournal.com]

I find it difficult to believe no one else has suggested Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. It is such an excellent game that the store clerks should insist that you buy it when you get a PS2. (I haven't played the 2nd and 3rd installments but I hear they are much less enjoyable.) Ico is fun too, in a similar way.

Of course, buy Guitar Hero. And the Lego Star Wars games are pretty amusing, especially if you have someone else to play with.

[jazzfish]

I actually did Prince of Persia on the GameCube. The first one is extremely awesome. The second one had better puzzles but the fighting was annoying and the less said about the storyline the better. I never actually played the third one.

I liked Lego Star Wars right up until the first starfighter mission. After that I couldn't stand it.

[sir-alf.livejournal.com]

The Devil May Cry series, but especially Devil May Cry 3.

Mortal Combat: Shaolin Monks is pretty good. It's the MK characters in a 3rd person fighting game.

Darkwatch was a fun 3rd person shooter.

I've not played them, but the Lego Star Wars series seems to come with some recommendation.

If I think of more, I'll let you know. Peace.

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

On our PS2--which we only got last summer--we have:

Spy Hunter (the new release): Fun arcade-style play.

Tourist Trophy: Very realistic, rather difficult motorcycle simulator.

LEGO Star Wars: Like Knights of the Old Republic, if you've seen or played that. Action/adventure/quest.

Cars: You'll probably want to skip this one--my 9-year-old stepson loves it. :D

This summer, we got a Gamecube (for about $40, refurb, at Gamestop), and several games for that.

[currentlee.livejournal.com]

katamari.
i bought a ps2 just so i could play katamari.

[rbandrews]

The trouble is finding good PS2 games that you don't already own (or have passed on) for the Cube.

Dark Cloud 1 and 2 are playable Roguelikes, and probably very cheap.

Fantavision is relaxing and fun, and comes with a television-screen-saver sort of mode which you can use to render a television inert.

Culdcept is a CCG crossed with Monopoly, and is more fun than either of them.

Shadow of Destiny is an excellent adventure game centered around time travel. Zarf reviewed it.

There are also some good PS1 games:

You know, of course, abot Roll-Away, and the awesome-on-a-disc that is Mr. Driller.

Sorcerer's Maze is like Arkanoid with stuff, and also excellent two-player.

If you find a copy of Team Buddies for less than it's worth, pick it up (it normally goes for almost a hundred, though).

Devil Dice is good, and even though I think I am the only person to like its sequel Bombastic (for the PS2) Bombastic is almost a superset of DD (the DD puzzles are all that's missing. There are puzzles, just not in the DD mode).

[jazzfish]

Hm. I used to see Dark Cloud all over the place and never thought much about it.

SoD, yes yes yes. Tried it on the computer at one point but at the time it wasn't playing nicely with my video card.

Culdcept and Sorcerer's Maze sound good to me as well.

[rbandrews]

When you get a laptop, also, you should see if it will run Age of Wonders. : )

eBay is probably your best bet for Sorcerer's Maze, as I only saw it once, used, at the Valley View Mall.

what's a "non-twitchy puzzle game"?

[cchan8.livejournal.com]

I liked Ico, but it's slow-paced.

I also used to play DDR a lot on my PS2. Good exercise.

Re: what's a "non-twitchy puzzle game"?

[jazzfish]

A "twitchy" puzzle game would be Tetris. It turns rather quickly into reflexes more than thought. I don't think there /are/ any non-twitchy console puzzle games (Brain Age for the DS maybe?) so I'll settle for less twitchy.

I have DDR and pads for the PS1, but I'm really really bad at it.

[jlfranklin.livejournal.com]

Robotech: Battlecry has a good mix of shoot-em-up and sneak-about. If you were a fan of the show, it's worth finding.

The Sims, it's not quite the same as the computer version, but it is a good semi-mindless game.

Gauntlet: Dark Legacy, 3D version of the popular arcade game. Good party game, surprising amount of replay value.

The Bard's Tale has Cary Elwes as a snarky bard turned reluctant scoundrel-hero, coupled with a narrator who spends as much time mocking our hero as telling his story.

Bombastic - high-speed, exploding dice game.

I'll second the Star Wars Lego games, the two Katamari games, Metal Gear Solid, and Spy Hunter. There are a number of good PS1 games to be had as well.

[jazzfish]

Battlecry and Gauntlet (and Baldur's Gate) I've been contemplating for the GameCube for awhile now.

This is the first I've heard of Bard's Tale. Is it still RPGish or is it more action-adventurey?

[jlfranklin.livejournal.com]

Not so much random combat (a la Final Fantasy), more like Devil May Cry (but not so dark). You do a lot of running around through a town or the countryside, but you can see the monsters as they come in off screen, and attack them by wailing away on the X button.

[vt-andros.livejournal.com]

Must concur that you get Ratchet and Clank, Katamari, Metal Gear Solid, Soul Calibur 2 and 3, GTA3 (regular and Vice City), and The Bard's Tale.

Robotech: Battlecry is merely OK, but it's cheap, so get it anyway.

If you want Gauntlet: Dark Legacy, get it for the Cube. 4-player without a multitap FTW.

Also, the MGS storyline isn't horrible -- it just got a bad rap after the WTF-ness that was MGS2. My advice is to play 3, then 1, then 2 -- it'll make more sense. Also, get the special editions of them if you can -- MGS3: Subsistence has the bonus of including the first two Metal Gear games ported from the MSX.

There's a MGS 20th Anniversary pack that has all the Metal Gear games in one package, and they're thinking of bringing it to the States. You may wanna hold out for this.

Anyway, what has not been suggested:

-Armored Core series. Build mechs. Pilot them in missions. Kill things. Fun.
-Midway Arcade Collection (1 and 2). Lots of good old-school arcade games on a disk. Pretty cheap, and the emulations are the best I've seen.
-Star Wars Battlefront. Good strategic FPSes.
-Zone of the Enders series. More mech battling goodness. Made by the same guy who made MGS.
-Worms:Armageddon (PS1). Best Worms game ever, IMO.

[jazzfish]

The anniversary pack sounds neat, but not cheap, and I'm partial to "cheap" right now. :)

Armored Core, perhaps.

I have a visceral aversion to FPSes without mice (or, in my case, trackballs). (Metroid:Prime isn't a shooter due to the lockon feature.)

Had Worms:Armageddon for, um, something or other (PC? DC?). Decided not to keep it, for whatever reason.