The Sony Playstation 2 console (or the PS2 as it is known today) cemented the place for Sony as one of the most beloved consoles in the gaming community. The consoles recorded more success than their precursors, paving the way for its successors to expand their market share further
The PlayStation 2 was a significant upgrade from its earlier counterpart and opened a new path for immersive games. Every developer wanted to tie in with the console manufacturers for broader visibility, and with heavy competition came the need for a complex array of games. Some were cherished, while a few left the gamers spiraling down to an infernal rage. These PS2 games can be nearly impossible for players to complete.
7 Contra: Shattered Soldier
Contra games have been known for their absurd difficulties irrespective of the version titles. The side-scrolling shoot-em-ups are notorious for their traps and enemy swarms, while giving players limited lives to play with.
The 2002 installment of the Contra Shattered Soldier series bottled all the difficulties a run-and-gun could muster up and pack in a bottle. But, just as the game shed off its retro tag for a more modern title, a shift took place in its difficulty. The console processors made space for the game to have plenty going on the screen simultaneously, with each a dire prospect for the player's end.
6 Stuntman
Stuntman puts the players in the shoes of a Hollywood stuntman whose only aim is to ace the biggest stunt challenges thrown his way. The game comes with three modes; players are free to choose their toxicity based on their mood.
But make no mistake, every mode in the game is as challenging as any other action game of the era. Although the missions seem similar at the onset, each task feels different from the previous. Players need to be primed for quick action set pieces and collision aversions. One wrong move and it is game over. If anyone thought driving a vehicle through the streets of Hollywood was easy, this game will give them a chance to rethink their assumption!
5 Manhunt
Rockstar games have a tendency to flirt with controversies in the gaming society more. Be it the mature themes or the violent gameplay, the studio never shies away from putting gamers into a more raw and coarse experience. Manhunt was in the news for all the reasons therewith, and it was no surprise.
The game explores snuff themes, putting the player in the position of a hired low-ground assassin tasked with putting down (to put it lightly) targets in alleyways and local surroundings without getting caught. The game takes stealth very seriously, and one mistake can lead to consequences that the player can never recover from. The difficulty spikes with each progression, and completing the game is a challenge on its own.
4 Twisted Metal Black
Twisted Metal Black is a racing game with roots similar to the Death Racemovie franchise. The game provides a unique character creation that allows the players to select the car of their choice, each with its distinctive ability.
Firearms, thunderbolts, spikes, or rocket launchers; choosing the right car and understanding the map in and out entirely is the only way to beat the game. The enemy AI is infuriatingly difficult and can swarm up on the players out of nowhere. One wrong turn (literally) can cause a quick end.
3 Jak 2
Naughty Dog games have been stable favorites for the PlayStation consoles and are known to test the limits of the console. Jak 2 ventured into an open world (without loading times), which was the first for the console, ensuring a smooth gaming experience. However, it was the unintentional difficulty randomizer that took center stage.
Regardless of the difficulty choices, certain levels in the game had a spike in difficulty that was a little extreme compared to the other levels in the game. To make things worse, the checkpoints during such events were either a long way prior or far away from the events, making players replay those annoying challenging stages for eternity.
2 Shinobi
Before Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice turned into a phenomenon, there existed a PlayStation 2 game by the name Shinobi. Dare a PS2 veteran to tell tales of a traumatic experience, and one would open up to a world of anguish and despair.
The game was the Dark Souls of the PS2 era. Everything from a health-draining sword, an enhanced ultra-defensive AI that blocks almost every attack, scarce or non-existent checkpoints, and the annoying mandatory lock-on system played against the player's progress. The game was designed to question the gamer's life choices and was brutally unapologetic about it.
1 God Hand
Capcom is renowned for the beat'em up games like the Street Fighter series, but the mastermind behind their Resident Evil games took a liking to the genre and made something very different for the studio.
The 2006 game God Hand has garnered dismal ratings from critics around the gaming community just for the sheer difficulty. It was as if it was made to enrage gamers to a frenzy. The absurdly difficult boss levels and the complicated gameplay are some things that are better left unspoken.