The PS1 was a success for Sony’s first console but the company claimed an even bigger market when the PS2 launched in 2000. As the years went on, the library grew to an outlandish degree. This was also the era when a lot of video game companies were making M-rated games.
Games like Ratchet and Clankand Final Fantasy 10 were great on the PS2 but they weren’t M-rated. Kids who grew up with the NES were now turning into adults or just older teens and seemingly demanded something more to cater to their growing needs. These are some of the standout M-rated hits that graced the PS2 throughout its longevity.
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8 Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
Metacritic Score: 84
Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening was a great recovery from a sequel that nearly all fans disliked. This one was a prequel technically as it showed a young Dante on his rise to the top as a demon hunter. The smarm and charm were dialed up to eleven here as Dante threw quips out like Spider-Man shoots webs. The combat system was faster and even more fluid than before thanks to the additional styles to master which also added to the variety. It was a sequel that fired on all cylinders, making it a hard one to top.
7 Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
Metacritic Score: 85
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
- Released
- October 1, 2002
- Developer(s)
- IO Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Stealth
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Strong Sexual Content, Violence
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin was the first game in the series to hit consoles after its PC debut. From then on, most games would also be released simultaneously. What made this game stand out was the experimentation. Players could go into a mission and take out all enemies and the target with a fully loaded arsenal. However, this was not an easy approach for the game. It was much simpler to be patient and to follow NPCs around to learn their patterns. As the series went on, the costumes and scenarios would become more and more elaborate beyond disguising Agent 47 as a flower delivery man.
6 Silent Hill 2
Metacritic Score: 89
Silent Hill 2 is often regarded as the peak of the series but there were two other great sequels on PS2 worth noting. What fans loved about this first sequel though was that it was everything and more than the original. Silent Hill was redone into a town with a truly haunting atmosphere with graphics beyond what the PS1 was capable of. Since the new hero, James, wasn’t a father, his character was a bit more complex and dealt with darker themes such as suicide. Silent Hill 2 could be getting a remake this year on platforms like the PS5 which would be a great way to celebrate this PS2 horror classic.
5 Persona 4
Metacritic Score: 90
Persona 4
- Platform(s)
- PS2 , PS4 , Xbox One , Xbox Series S , Xbox Series X , Switch , PS Vita
- Released
- July 10, 2008
- Developer(s)
- Atlus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
Persona 4 is a favorite for a lot of fans of this series although a lot of that fandom happened when it was ported to the PS Vita. While that’s the superior version gameplay-wise, the core of the PS2 original was solid. It was an RPG detective game wherein a bunch of high school students tried to solve murders around town.
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There was a supernatural twist to things as well since another world could be explored via TVs. It was a complex game that nearly took a hundred hours to complete, but the cast was so solid that it felt like those hours floated on by.
4 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metacritic Score: 91
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater pushed the limits on what the PS2 was capable of. A new Snake was born for this mission as it was a prequel starring the original clone daddy himself, Big Boss. Set during the Cold War, Naked Snake had to stop a bunch of Russian defectors from starting World War 3 through tactical espionage action but on the jungle floor. Players could could disguise themselves in camouflage to get the jump on enemies which was a bit clunky in the menus but effective. Like Silent Hill 2, it looks like this remake might hit in 2024 too.
3 God of War 2
Metacritic Score: 93
God of War 2
- Released
- March 13, 2007
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
- Genre(s)
- Action
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
God of War 2 was a late release for the PS2 as it launched in 2007 which was after the PS3 came out. Even though fans were ready to move on to a new piece of hardware, they stuck around to see how this sequel shaped out. The original game was bloody, crude, and full of action and the sequel certainly didn’t disappoint.
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Kratos was seemingly more unhinged here as the Gods of Olympus were not happy with him taking the throne of the titular God of War. Kratos did not care though, as he sliced and diced his way through monsters and gods alike all in the name of vengeance and to find peace beyond carnage.
2 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Metacritic Score: 95
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Released
- October 26, 2004
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Genre(s)
- Action , Adventure
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas completed the PS2 trilogy of Grand Theft Auto games with a bang. There were so many new features in it that it almost felt next-gen. The protagonist, CJ, could be leveled up through menial tasks. Riding around on a bike would improve stamina, for example, but eating like garbage would also backpedal progress. Swimming was a big improvement too as players typically died in the other games once they hit the water. The territory mini-game also kept players on their toes and there were so many other great things about the game, but these notes are good for starters.
1 Resident Evil 4
Metacritic Score: 96
Resident Evil 4 was made famous on the GameCube, and ruled on the GameCube, but it also had improvements on the PS2 that made it better. This game, no matter the platform though, changed the series for years to come let alone the industry. It was a reboot of sorts that ditched the typical zombie antagonists and gave Leon a bunch of tentacle monsters to deal with in some vague Spanish territory. The story was new as was the environment plus Leon was given a lot more agency in his adventure. From weaponry to the ability to dive through windows, Leon was not messing around on this one.
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