The PlayStation 2 has a storied legacy filled with mostly highs. Sony's second home console eclipsed its predecessor in arguably every way, and that extends to its library. In 2002, the platform was at its peak of relevance, producing dozens of games that have gone on to be regarded as all-time greats. Two decades later, titles like Kingdom Hearts, Ratchet & Clank, Wild Arms 3, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Dragon Ball Z: Budokai are not only fondly remembered but also continue to be discovered and experienced.
Naturally, hundreds of PS2 games were released in 2002, most of which have slipped through the cracks of time. While projects like Dino Stalker and X-Men: Next Dimension should be wiped from memory, some titles deserve a better fate. These forgotten 20-year-old PS2 games are still outstanding.
7 James Bond 007: Nightfire
Every James Bond game exists within GoldenEye's shadow. Rare's Nintendo 64 masterpiece is undoubtedly one of the most important console first-person shooters of all time, arguably just behind Halo. While the 1997 release is far more influential, Nightfire has aged better than GoldenEye. Although released to coincide with Die Another Day, this game does its own thing, although it does mirror the over-the-top spectacle synonymous with the latter-day entries of Pierce Brosnan's era.
Nightfire's campaign cycles through various mission types to ensure things do not get stale quickly. Some of the more open-ended levels can even be tackled in a variety of ways, allowing players to decide if their Bond prefers the silent or explosive approach. Although old-fashioned in some ways, Nightfire is still a blast.
6 The Getaway
The Getaway was well-regarded around the time of its release as an alternative to GTA that focuses on British gangsters. However, an underwhelming sequel brought the series' momentum to a halt, reducing its predecessor to just a footnote in the PS2's history.
As an early adopter of open-world design, The Getaway cannot compare to modern entries in the genre, both in terms of scale and gameplay. That said, the PS2 game does an admirable job of bringing to life London, creating an immersive world considering the hardware it is on. The story, which features dual protagonists, is also quite good.
5 Dead To Rights
There are four Dead to Rights games, and only one of them is worth revisiting. An over-the-top shooter that plays like an '80s action movie version of Max Payne, Dead to Rights is unapologetically dumb, in the best possible way. The game revolves around bullet time, with each section of the campaign tasking players with mowing down an army of enemies. They can even sic a dog on a target, which is always satisfying to pull off.
All things considered, Dead to Rights has aged shockingly well. While repetitive and prone to the occasional difficulty spike, the gunplay is still a great deal of fun. The story is entertaining in a "so bad, it's good" type of way, which works for a game that appears to be aping B-movies.
4 The Thing
A licensed game released two decades after the movie's debut, The Thing is one of those projects that seems like a fever dream. John Carpenter's horror movie is nothing short of a masterpiece, and while the adaptation does not quite reach those heights, it is a well-above-average survival horror game.
The Thing replicates the movie's nail-biting suspense through a trust system that determines an NPC's willingness to follow the player's instructions. This concept is interesting and heightens the game's tension, even if the overall package is not particularly scary.
3 WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth
The PS2's best WWE wrestling game is Here Comes The Pain, a title so amazing that it rendered its predecessor, Shut Your Mouth, obsolete. The 2002 release deserves better as it laid the groundwork for Here Comes the Pain's success, and the latter's strengths are largely present in the former.
Shut Your Mouth has accessible and fast-paced arcade-style gameplay that is still a blast more than two decades later. Except for an unnecessary backstage area, the season mode is plain old silly fun and reasonably long. If Here Comes the Pain is the gold standard of PS2 wrestling games, then Shut Your Mouth takes the silver.
2 Stuntman
In an alternate reality, Stuntman is currently on its seventh entry as people argue whether the franchise was better pre- or post-Ubisoft acquisition. Unfortunately, this timeline only has two Stuntman games. If someone is looking to sample this series in this day and age, they should go for 2007's Stuntman: Ignition since it is better-looking and more polished than its predecessor.
That said, 2002's Stuntman is all sorts of awesome. As the title suggests, players take on the role of a movie stuntman tasked with completing (and surviving) gloriously absurd movie sequences. Taking inspiration from different real-life films, Stuntman features six movies that all bring something fresh to the plate.
1 Shinobi
The PS2 is a haven for obscure hack-and-slash games, and Shinobi and its sequel, Nightshade, certainly fall within that category. Originally intended for the Dreamcast, the death of Sega's console led to the game's PS2 debut, and it was a worthy option for anyone wishing to fill a Devil May Cry-shaped hole in their lives.
Shinobi prioritizes speed and efficiency, as the game actively encourages players to be constantly pushing forward in search of new targets. The combat system is easy-to-grasp but punishingly difficult to master, and players need to properly understand the game's combo system if they wish to survive. While it is no Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi is a must-try for hack-and-slash fans who look back fondly on the PS2 era.