PS2
Here we have all the games in the PS2 Section.
PS2
Sports
Sega Sports goes on the offensive bringing American football a yard closer to ESPN style coverage with ultra realistic replays and slick play mechanics.
PS2
Sports
One of the most realistic sumo games out there that utilises Koanmi’s gaming knowledge to not go too deep down a technical rabbit hole
PS2
Action
Ancient chanbara title set in feudal Japan with lovely period setting cut scenes adding to the atmosphere. Includes a few mini games to boost your stats such as gambling away on the dice. Plenty of weapons to choose from; some looking more at home in the garden shed, but adding to the variety nevertheless. Battles are jammed with speed lines and the fleeting effect screen when the fatal blow is struck does justice to the samurai’s honour – even in death.
PS2
Simulation
Based on the hit manga series that was made into a popular live action drama starring the young conductor and the affections of Megumi Noda or the Nodame of the title. The game involves conducting the orchestra with a few choice clicks making for perfect swishes. The quirkiness of the manga shines through in the adventure sections with the studious Chiaki the attention of more than just Nodames attention.
PS2
Platform
Absolutely lush backgrounds feel like they are bringing a fairytale to life in this spiritual sequel to the much vaunted Princess Crown on the Saturn. Items and experience are important as magical spells are released with a fair heap of graphical gunpowder. But at its core its good old fashioned 2D platform fighting and this cat is lapping it up. Absolutely huge quest with some nightmare inspired bosses.
PS2
Platform
Absolutely lush backgrounds feel like they are bringing a fairytale to life in this spiritual sequel to the much vaunted Princess Crown on the Saturn. Items and experience are important as magical spells are released with a fair heap of graphical gunpowder. But at its core its good old fashioned 2D platform fighting and this cat is lapping it up. Absolutely huge quest with some nightmare inspired bosses.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Including a character named Tony Tony Chopper, you’d be excused for thinking this a 70’s top flight football game. Yet as anime experts will be well aware, One Piece is based on an invigorating nautical quest to find the legendary treasure. Grand Battle 3 boasts sixteen playable characters and seven stages all full of the series high tension energy. The arenas open up as the fight requires and the look is distinctive and very slick. A title to treasure.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Including a character named Tony Tony Chopper, you’d be excused for thinking this a 70’s top flight football game. Yet as anime experts will be well aware, One Piece is based on an invigorating nautical quest to find the legendary treasure. Grand Battle 3 boasts sixteen playable characters and seven stages all full of the series high tension energy. The arenas open up as the fight requires and the look is distinctive and very slick. A title to treasure.
PS2
Action
Plenty of land lubbing high jinx in the One Piece pirate world as every sea dog worth his salt scours the Seven Seas in pursuit of Golden Roger’s treasure. Monkey Luffy is the leader of the motley crew of sailors and his strectchy limbs come in handy in a tight spot, yet the whole cast is worthy of mention such are the rich characters on show. Its possible to select a back-up character too so the fine designs can be savoured some more. Deliriously fine cel shaded graphics sit at ease with the background splendour. Special moves are simple to initiate and power ups pop up at random giving this a feel of Power Stone with its all action gameplay. A variety of innovative mini games gives players the opportunity to unlock hidden extras such as animation clips or sound bites from the hit series.
PS2
Platform
A fine 3D platform escapade with the manga coming to life complete with speed lines and stretchy limbs. The look is 3D, but the action is more 2.5D making it both playable and full of clever gaming twists that bring the vibrant series kicking, screaming and yelling to the PS2. Known in the West as One Piece Round the Land.
PS2
Action
Full on compilation of all out action mini games that utilise the relentless pacing of the anime to be crammed full of visual impact as tough as the attacks themselves. Memorable games include the parachuting sequence with an octopus parachute in a bizarre twist on the Pilotwings series. A rhythm action take on a RPG fight sequence in tidy cel shaded sprites and the mayhem of random objects reigning down from above whilst under attack make it hard to encapsulate the chaos into words.
PS2
Action
Samurai slasher less cerebral than the ‘Biohazard’ series, but the beautifully realised feudal Japanese world draws you in. Capcom’s class oozes through this title along with some sublime action sequences.
PS2
Action
Capcoms polish is more than evident as this epic samurai slasher captures gamers hearts and minds. Beautifully set in a Feudal Japan with plenty of adversaries straight from Japanese mythology. Thankfully the slash of steel can bring down even the biggest and baddest of boss monoliths.
PS2
Action
Capcom’s polish is more than evident as this epic samurai slasher captures gamers hearts and minds. Beautifully set in a Feudal Japan with plenty of adversaries straight from Japanese mythology. Thankfully the slash of steel can bring down even the biggest and baddest of boss monoliths.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Capcom once again recreates the period splendour of a feudal Japan setting for the Onimusha series to delve into a Samurai Spirits style fighting melee. An element of the supernatural is provided by the spooky Nobunaga whose clan of undead warriors must be laid to rest before seeking revenge on the leader himself. Oozes atmosphere with blood red skies, enchanted forests and spine tingling sound effects. There are also plenty of extra items to go back for the completist. Also known as Onimusha Blade Warriors.
PS2
RPG
A real triple A title that brings to mind the delights of Goemons romps with a feudal Japan setting. The graphical look is innovative and feels like an animated New Years greetings card with such delightful execution. Played as the young wolf setting out on an epic adventure which we would hate to ruin. A real treat for lone wolfs from start to finish and worthy of higher accolades.
PS2
Simulation
Genki is just pleased its more than a slot or fruit machine simulator with Ken and the post-apocalyptic scenes adding to the atmosphere, rather than just menacingly crunching their knuckles and waiting to mutter the immortal words of the series.
PS2
Simulation
Evangelion themed pachinko title which captures the frantic action, noise and detailed video used as a background in a lot of Japanese pachinko and slot titles. The footage and characters draw heavily on the Evangelion world and add much to this sleek production.
PS2
Simulation
Sammy has fine lineage in the pachinko stable and excels here once again in recreating the parlour at home with colourful eye candy graphics and toe tapping tunes.
PS2
Rhythm
The Para Para dance craze swept Japan like the cherry blossom front with deeply tanned girls and bleached blond boys tossing about there limbs in the clubs from Shibuya to Sekijo. The game involves flicking out arms and legs in time to the beat and onscreen prompt proving a fine work out and building up a fine ability to para para!
PS2
Rhythm
Genki is a massive fan of Master Onion and its great to see him in such good form teaching martial arts. Beard Burger is also great fun as Parappa must flip and toast hamburgers in style under the pressure of the watching, hungry crowd. The 2D look works a treat and has aged like a fine claret.
PS2
Sports
Gekitou Pennant Race is a fine baseball game taking a realistic approach to the sport with superb looking graphics and scintillating sounds. All that’s missing is the smell of hot dogs. Or perhaps tako yaki being distinctly set in Japan. Enix has its own distinctive approach to the sport which feels fresh next to the usual big hitters. Prefixed in Japanese by ‘Ore ga Kantoku da.’ Or ‘I am the coach.’
PS2
RPG
Such a monstrous, epic series with a real motley crew of devotees worthy of such attention with triumphant orchestral score and a very distinct look. Combat is superbly executed by the fight engine with imaginative special attacks.
PS2
RPG
Pushing the PS2 to the limits of graphical splendour with painstaking attention to small detail wherever you may wander in the Phantasy Star Universe. Combat is not as drawn out as previous incarnations and the controls are very intuitive aiding enjoyment no end. As you’d expect from such a weighty series the presentation is lavish with immaculate cut scenes preparing players for the quest ahead. Enjoy the ride.
PS2
RPG
Whilst it definitely dances to its own strategy system, those adventurous grey importers will find plenty to celebrate here with its dramatic story and colourful characters.
PS2
RPG
Whilst it definitely dances to its own strategy system, those adventurous grey importers will find plenty to celebrate here with its dramatic story and colourful characters.
PS2
Rhythm
The classic rhythm action series hits a real epoch setting height on the PS2 with street savvy graphics and some cracking tunes to send tingles along the spine. Plenty will ascertain these are the definitive versions and much desired on the system. Genkis secret pleasure is to work on the anime versions of DragonBall Z and Crayon Shinchan for the karaoke. But perhaps that would be better kept in house.
PS2
RPG
Delightful, child-like look to the rounded graphics, matched by xylophone like music and fine use of light and dark. The look is distinctive and the evidence of the hard yards Sony has invested is plain to see with responsive camera angles.
PS2
Sports
The ultimate in gaming fantasy escape at the time of its release with a British major title being possible due to the appearance of Tim Henman in this slick tennis sim. Reveals its arcade roots in its simplicity to pick up but with a fiendish difficultly gradient after the opening rounds. The finest realistic tennis game. Brilliant with four players.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Tough guy fight title that uses elbows, knees and no holds barred as pugilists become wrestlers when bouts crumble to the floor with a submission as good as a knock out. The legendary Brazilian Gracie features alongside Japanese wrestler Sakuraba with a lot of work having gone into making a great resemblance only for players to bash away at their chiselled features. But its not just the players features that have been carefully mapped out: each individuals moves add a lot of depth and make for a very well rounded fight fest.