20 GREAT PS2 Games You've Probably Never Played
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00:00 But at this rate I'll be a bloody grandmother before they give me a real assignment.
00:03 You can always go back to burglary and pickpocketing if you can't live without excitement.
00:08 Welcome to Mojo Plays and today we're taking a look at 20 great PlayStation 2 games
00:14 you probably have never played before. Before we begin we publish new videos all week long
00:20 so be sure to subscribe to Mojo Plays and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
00:26 iNinja. Ninja listen up complete a mission for me and I will give you a grade. With grades you will
00:32 earn belts to show your mastery of the ninja way. On the surface iNinja looks like some dumb kitty
00:38 fair trying to look cool and action-packed. It's so easy to talk the talk but walking the walk is
00:44 a different story and it does so rather well. iNinja though simple in design manages to provide
00:52 enough depth to keep the gameplay interesting while gradually bumping up the difficulty over
00:57 time. It isn't too tough it isn't too easy but it's right in the center where just about any
01:02 player can enjoy it regardless of age. Plus the music helps encapsulate that feeling of being a
01:07 badass ninja and there are plenty of awesome gameplay ideas that you will explore throughout
01:13 the campaign. Psyops the mindgate conspiracy. Don't be fooled by the look of Psyops. While it
01:29 does look like another one of those bizarre shooter games like fear or one of those clunky
01:34 third-person action games like blood rain there is much more than meets the eye. As amnesiac spy
01:40 Nick Skryre you will utilize a variety of psychic abilities to bring down a malicious terrorist
01:45 organization. Thanks to the then revolutionary physics engine Havoc 2.0 Psyops allows you to
01:51 create the ragdoll power fantasy of your dreams. Let loose, have fun, throw every enemy and every
01:58 object you see and turn them into your plaything. You sick, sick psychopath.
02:08 Rumble Racing.
02:09 There were so many fantastic racing games on PS2 that many others were bound to get overlooked.
02:20 Rumble Racing, which is a spin-off by the way of NASCAR Rumble, was among those that never got
02:26 its moment in the spotlight which is a real shame. Whereas many racing games focused on simulation
02:32 or kart racing, Rumble Racing took arcade racing and added some more elements for vehicular combat
02:38 and just crazy power-ups in general. Do tricks to get a boost, use power-ups to take down opponents
02:44 and wreak havoc on the track, all with engines roaring and drivers ready to take home the gold.
02:50 Why EA didn't try to advertise this more is beyond us, especially given the critical praise
02:56 it received at launch. Chulip.
03:03 Chulip might be the most wonderfully weird game you'll see on this list. We have another 17 or 16
03:19 entries to go, so we'll see, but this truly is one of the weirdest games we'll be recommending here.
03:25 In this comedy-adventure game, you play as a young man who tries to win the affection of a young lady
03:30 with a simple love letter. Just one problem, the letter has been stolen. With the power of kisses,
03:36 you must track down the thief while becoming the best man of the neighborhood. Yes, it is an
03:41 incredibly weird game, but the various scenarios you'll find Chulip in are absolutely hilarious.
03:46 And uh, be careful who you go around kissing, because you will get the crap beaten out of you.
03:52 If you still have a PS3, it is still available for purchase through the PlayStation Store
03:57 for 10 measly bucks. Seek and Destroy.
04:05 Tank games are a dime a dozen these days, but before online gaming became a staple of console
04:16 gaming, there were some awesome tank games. Seek and Destroy was among the best and most
04:22 underappreciated. This was THE tank game to play on PlayStation 2. In addition to a fun campaign
04:29 and solid gameplay, Seek and Destroy boasted more than a whopping 100 tanks for you to commandeer
04:36 and blow up enemies with. With destructible environments providing only temporary cover,
04:41 this game demanded a good balance of strategy and total warfare on your part.
04:46 Snoopy vs. The Red Baron
04:53 When it comes to a video game based on the Peanuts comic strips,
05:04 our expectations can only go so high. But honestly, Snoopy vs. The Red Baron is an
05:09 immensely fun dogfighting game, more so than some gave it credit for at launch.
05:14 With a delightful campaign that doesn't overstay its welcome, and a roster composed of just about
05:19 the entire Peanuts cast, this was one of the biggest surprises we saw on PS2. It was simple
05:25 fun with some explosive dogfighting and lighthearted mayhem. It almost makes us feel
05:29 bad that not every platform got to see this title. Blood Rain
05:39 Unlike many other games from the early to mid-2000s, Blood Rain has had the fortunate
05:51 opportunity of finding new audiences thanks to getting a couple of remasters for modern hardware.
05:57 Why is it worth your time? Well, you get to play as a sexy half-vampire lady with some crazy brutal
06:03 powers. You can even use dudes as a meat shield as you're sucking their blood for your own health.
06:09 Sure, the controls may come off as a little arcadey at first, but for the most part,
06:13 this is one of the best vampire games you could play, and one of the most fun
06:16 action games that came out at the time. It's still a riot to play today, too.
06:20 Whiplash
06:34 Whiplash has got to be one of the most out-of-pocket games we have ever played.
06:39 In this action platformer, you take control of Spanx the Weasel (yes, that is actually his name)
06:45 and use your buddy Redman the Rabbit to bash scientists, destroy various equipment in the
06:50 facility, and solve puzzles as you try to escape. Even though it doesn't do anything super innovative,
06:56 the charm and personality on display makes this an incredibly fun title to experience.
07:01 It's just such a shame that Whiplash never got the attention it truly deserved,
07:05 and all it got was some criticism for allegedly promoting animal cruelty,
07:10 even though the game is against that, clearly.
07:14 Looney Tunes back in action
07:22 "Ha ha ha! Soon the whole world will be helpless before me!
07:27 Watch as I transform you into my simian swathes with this!"
07:31 While we're on the subject of cartoon animals, Looney Tunes has seen its own
07:35 helping of excellent video games. On the PlayStation 2, we did have Space Race,
07:40 but the game based on the Looney Tunes back in action movie was truly looney. Rather than follow
07:46 and adapt the flick beat for beat, back in action was like an evolved Time Busters. Explore wondrous
07:52 environments as Bugs or Daffy in your quest to retrieve the legendary Blue Monkey from the evil
07:58 Acme Corporation. It's as basic as that, and with all the gags you've come to expect from Looney
08:03 Tunes, you're guaranteed to have a great time with this title.
08:06 Urban Rain
08:12 "Justice is an illusion."
08:15 Throughout the PS2's lifespan, Namco tried desperately to take the refined combat of Tekken
08:21 and turn it into a beat 'em up. Say what you will about Tekken Force in Tekken 4,
08:26 but Urban Rain got the closest to nailing it. With original characters and two Tekken guest
08:32 characters, Urban Rain brought a fresh new cast and setting to potentially sell the idea.
08:37 While many did not bite, those who did found a brawler that was immensely fun to play with
08:42 friends. Yes, the controls do take time to grasp, but once you get the hang of the basics,
08:47 you'll be beating down thugs in no time. Perhaps with some more depth,
08:51 it would have garnered more attention.
08:52 Metal Arms - Glitch in the System
09:06 Metal Arms was robbed of every ounce of success it could have had, had Sierra Entertainment,
09:12 under the Vivendi Universal Games name, marketed this game way more than they did. Come on,
09:18 a third person shooter set in the midst of a robot war, and it has hilarious writing and
09:23 top notch voice acting from some of the best actors in the industry, and it had an excellent
09:29 multiplayer mode and mechanics tied around possessing enemy robots? This was one of the
09:33 biggest diamonds in the rough back in 2003, and not a single soul in the media was talking about
09:40 it. Straight robbery, man. You owe it to yourself to track down a copy and experience this gem.
09:46 And hey, if you still have an Xbox 360, you can buy this game on the digital storefront still.
09:52 Kaya - Dark Lineage
10:18 Atari was really struggling throughout the 2000s, but among the many middling titles they shoveled
10:24 out was a treasure worth digging up. Kaya - Dark Lineage was their attempt at an epic action
10:29 adventure game where a young woman uses the elements of wind to explore, solve puzzles,
10:34 and fight bad guys. It was perhaps their most creative title the company had put out in years,
10:39 and unfortunately, it did not receive much attention from the press. As for customers,
10:44 who can say? Sales numbers were never given out for Kaya - Dark Lineage,
10:48 and so many slept on what could have been a cult classic.
10:51 MDK2 - Armageddon
11:10 This might be one of the weirdest shooters we have ever played. Seriously, where else are you
11:15 going to find a six-legged dog sporting pistols and four arms? MDK2 boasts an immensely fun
11:22 campaign where you take control of three characters, each with their own mechanics
11:26 to change up the way you play. Whether you like platforming, shooting, or puzzles,
11:30 MDK2 offered up plenty of exciting scenarios and ways to play. And hey, when you manage to
11:36 outclass your own original PC iteration, you deserve the praise. We only wish it had sold more.
11:42 Maybe we would have gotten an MDK3 by now.
11:45 Roadkill
12:02 Many of us hardcore PlayStation fans will forever lament the cancellation of Twisted Metal Harbor
12:07 City, which was to take the franchise into an open world format much like GTA. But Roadkill
12:13 managed to carry that torch and serve up an exhilarating package. Drive around Hell County
12:19 and bring an end to the sinister gangs that have taken over the isolated district. Along the way,
12:24 you'll compete in races, bulk up your car with a variety of weapons, and of course,
12:28 meet some of the deranged faction leaders. It was twisted, it was metal, and it was one of
12:34 the most fun vehicular combat games we had played at the time. Still holds up today.
12:38 Graffiti Kingdom
12:57 There were a few make-your-own-game games floating around during the PS2's lifespan.
13:02 Of them all, Graffiti Kingdom was one we wish more folks gave a try. You play as Prince Pixel,
13:08 who accidentally frees a demon after taking the magical graffiti wand. To restore order,
13:13 you will have to transform into various creatures and even edit their anatomy from time to time,
13:19 draw their limbs, capture monsters to recruit to your cause, and more as you seek to imprison
13:24 the evil menace once again. We know that the PS2 isn't an ideal platform for drawing games such as
13:30 this, but the concept and gameplay was too entertaining to let that spoil our time with it.
13:36 Yes, the combat is basic, and the story is… very so-so, but for the most part,
13:42 you will have fun with it. The Operative No One Lives Forever
13:49 We don't really get a lot of zany spy thrillers in the gaming market anymore,
14:03 much less any that are like The Operative. Inspired by 1960s spy movies, players take
14:08 on the role of Kate Archer, a secret agent working under the Unity Organization who
14:14 travels the world fending off mad geniuses hellbent on global conquest. With excellent
14:19 gunplay and imaginative gadgets to use, The Operative saw some unfair reviews when it was
14:24 ported to PS2. Yes, the lack of multiplayer and quicksaves did hurt, but it was still
14:30 the same fantastic FPS we saw on PC. We dream of the day this game and its sequel finally get
14:36 ported forward to modern hardware, or at the very least get a remake with modern controls.
14:42 "Agent Archer, what does harm stand for?"
14:44 "I haven't figured that out yet."
14:47 "See if you can't find out. And be careful."
14:51 Oni
14:51 Did you ever think a game would be formed under a partnership between
15:01 Bungie and Rockstar Games? Well, neither did we. But many remember Oni for good reason,
15:07 and it's kind of the same reason people play Bungie's games today. It's the combat. While
15:12 critics complained about environmental details, players were too busy getting lost in the extensive
15:17 amount of moves you could mix up. It was a game that made you feel like a total badass. Sadly,
15:22 sales were less than stellar. Only a mere 50,000 units were sold by the time the game was a year
15:29 old. Don't hold your breath for a sequel, but please, if you can, go and check this out for
15:34 yourself. "Catch him, Konoko. Don't let him reach the alarm console and activate it."
15:40 Reckless, the Yakuza Missions
15:42 Perhaps it was a victim of the declining popularity in vehicular combat games,
15:52 or just driving games in general, but Reckless, the Yakuza Missions was insanely great.
15:58 As cops or spies, your mission is to follow, chase, or wreck those associated with a notorious
16:03 Yakuza in hopes of shutting the clan down. While the game did suffer from performance issues on PS2,
16:10 it was still a blast smashing our car into enemies and replaying missions with a variety
16:15 of other vehicles in an effort to beat our own times. If only we were still getting games like
16:20 this one, but we'll admit that maybe Reckless was simply a product of its time.
16:31 Gregory Horror Show
16:33 Did anybody play this game? Probably not, as the game was only ever released in Japan and Europe.
16:50 What's more is that Gregory Horror Show was based on an anime that didn't get much exposure to
16:55 western audiences. It is a fascinatingly strange game, albeit an entertaining one.
17:00 Sneak up on and chase down various characters to capture their souls.
17:05 It might get a bit stale when played for several hours, but for the most part,
17:09 the visuals, mechanics, and humor make Gregory Horror Show an absolute delight.
17:13 Grim Grimoire
17:28 Did you love 13 Sentinels, Odin Sphere, or Dragon's Crown? Then you absolutely must,
17:35 you must play Grim Grimoire, as it was one of Vanillaware's very first games,
17:40 and it was exceptional in every way. Unfortunately, its late release on the PlayStation 2,
17:45 just as the PS3 was taking off, caused it to become a massive commercial flop. In this game,
17:51 players can command groups of mythical creatures to save their school of wizardry.
17:56 In between these missions, you will meet various teachers and fellow students with
18:00 their own personalities and stories. Of course, Grim Grimoire also boasts some of the most
18:05 breathtaking artwork Vanillaware has ever put out. If you haven't played this one for yourself,
18:09 and you really want to, Grim Grimoire did get a remastered version in 2023. It's called Grim
18:16 Grimoire Once More, and you can find it on PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. Go check it out!
18:23 So you're the magician today? This better be worth it!
18:26 There are some demons around, but don't worry, the fairy's arrows are strong!
18:31 Which PS2 game do you feel no one got to experience? Did it make our list? Let us
18:37 know down in the comments below, and be sure to subscribe to Mojo Plays
18:40 for more great videos and more great recommendations every day!
18:50 [Music]