The PlayStation 2 accumulated quite an impressive collection of ghoulish, terrifying, or amusing horror games. Be it RPGs, action, or survival titles, Sony's console has all of its nightmarish bases covered, and some of these releases are still fondly remembered by aficionados of the macabre.
Naturally, not every PS2 horror game managed to leave a lasting impression like Resident Evil 4, Silent Hill 2, BloodRayne, and Manhunt. While some titles have been rightfully forgotten, others deserve better, even if it just to become minor cult classics. Unfortunately, physical copies of obscure PS2 horror games tend to be (unsurprisingly) difficult to find, and the few that do exist cost quite a bit. Let's take a look at some of these games that are available on Amazon.
Shadow Man: 2econd Coming
Release Date | February 28, 2002 |
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Developer | Acclaim Studios Teesside |
Genre | Action-Adventure |
1999's Shadow Man is about a hero who travels to essentially hell in order to fight off a horde of serial killers. It is bizarre, difficult to follow, and reasonably atmospheric. Although obscure, the game does have something of a cult following, and its remaster is also playable on Amazon Luna.
Conversely, Shadow Man: 2econd Coming has been mostly forgotten to time, even though it garnered a respectable reception upon release. Like its predecessor, the sequel has expansive worlds filled with puzzles and demons to slay, and these aspects are generally superior to the original Shadow Man. The game's visuals also ooze style and creepiness.
Shadow Hearts 2: Director's Cut
Release Date | March 10, 2005 (JP) |
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Developer | Nautilus |
Genre | Turn-Based JRPG |
Shadow Hearts might be the most underexposed JRPG franchise of all time; the games have a unique battle system and take place in a Gothic and horror-themed world, setting them apart from the likes of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.
Covenant is the best entry in the series, featuring a gripping story with a strong sense of mystery, a great soundtrack, and a huge roster of awesome characters. The combat system is also pretty good. The vanilla version that came out in Western countries is already a relatively obscure title, but that goes triple for the Director's Cut that was only released in Japan. This version comes with new dungeons, playable characters, and scenes.
Fatal Frame 3: The Tormented
Release Date | November 8, 2005 |
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Developer | Tecmo |
Genre | Survival Horror |
The most well-known horror game in this article, Fatal Frame 3 tends to be overshadowed by its immediate predecessor. While Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly is the best and scariest entry in the series, The Tormented still retains most of the elements that put the franchise on the map: vulnerable protagonists, atmospheric settings, and fantastically designed ghosts.
The story features three main characters and attempts to tie together the events of the first two games. This decision does somewhat hurt the campaign's pacing, but when The Tormented focuses on delivering frights, it nearly always hits the mark.
Blood+ One Night Kiss
Release Date | August 30, 2006 |
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Developer | Grasshopper Manufacture |
Genre | Action-Adventure |
Based on the Blood+ anime, One Night Kiss comes from the creative mind of SUDA51, the designer behind Killer 7 and No More Heroes. This adaptation is nowhere near as good as either of those properties, but it does have a couple of things going for it.
Blood+ One Night Kiss utilizes a cel-shaded art style that not only does an admirable job of reflecting the look of the anime but has also allowed the graphics to age gracefully. The game is also consistently stylish, be it the presentation of its combat or even simple things like the menus. Unfortunately, One Night Kiss falls short in the gameplay department as it is just not that fun, but big fans of the anime might still get a kick out of it.
Evil Dead: Regeneration
Release Date | September 13, 2005 |
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Developer | Cranky Pants Games |
Genre | Hack And Slash |
Evil Dead: The Game is not the first attempt by the gaming industry to capture that Ash Williams magic. The license does not have a particularly great track record, but 2005's Evil Dead: Regeneration is an exception to the rule. A hack and slash game in the vein of something like X-Men Origins: Wolverine or Onimusha, Regeneration arms players with a broomstick and chainsaw before cutting them loose on an army of Deadites.
Although not especially deep, the combat is satisfyingly impactful, reasonably challenging, and enjoyably gory. The story also has its share of funny moments, and Bruce Campbell even voices Ash.
Shadow Tower: Abyss
Release Date | October 23, 2003 (JP |
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Developer | FromSoftware |
Genre | RPG |
Nowadays, FromSoftware is predominantly known for its Souls-like games. At a stretch, die-hard fans of the studio's projects might also have played an Armored Core or King's Field title, but these brands are just a drop in the bucket of everything FromSoftware has produced. Shadow Tower: Abyss is one such game that has been mostly forgotten to time.
In some ways, Shadow Tower: Abyss feels like a precursor to Demon's Souls, especially in its expansive weapon collection, progression system, enemy design, and map layout. It is also a dark fantasy game with unmistakable horror overtones.
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