In the early to mid-2000s, Sony Interactive Entertainment was a juggernaut, with its PlayStation 2 (PS2) console still holding the title of the best-selling console of all time. Despite this, some of the PS2's hit games have fallen into obscurity, despite their commercial success at the time. In this article, I will explore five such games, analyzing why they have been forgotten and what makes them fascinating. I will also discuss the impact of these games on the gaming industry and their potential for a modern resurgence.
One of the earliest PS2 exclusives, Dark Cloud, is an action RPG that draws inspiration from The Legend of Zelda. The game follows the fantasy hero Toan, who must recover elements known as Atla to restore his kingdom. What makes Dark Cloud particularly interesting is its procedurally generated dungeons and quick-time events during duels. Despite its innovative gameplay and impressive visuals for a first-year PS2 title, the game was overshadowed by more prominent early PS2 titles. However, it is now available on the PlayStation 4 as part of their digital classics library, making it a perfect time to revisit this under-appreciated action RPG.
Another game that has fallen into obscurity is Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses. Based on the popular card game and anime series, the game features longtime rivals Yugi Mutou and Seto Kaiba in a card-driven showdown. What makes The Duelists of the Roses unique is its mix of card-oriented combat and grid-based battlefields, which was a nice change from contemporaries like Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors. While the game is best enjoyed by Yu-Gi-Oh! fans, it has yet to be re-released on modern platforms, which is a shame.
Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights is a ghost-busting action-adventure game that follows Scooby-Doo as he searches for his friends in a haunted mansion. The game is chock full of Easter eggs and allusions to various Scooby-Doo cartoons from throughout the franchise's history. Despite the popularity of the Scooby-Doo franchise, the game has fallen by the wayside more than 20 years later. While it takes a more conventional action-adventure approach, it deserves a modern remaster.
The Getaway is an open-world third-person crime action game that follows the dual narratives of hardened crook Mark Hammond and police detective Frank Carter. The game was successful enough to spawn a direct sequel and a spin-off, Gangs of London, for the PlayStation Portable. However, the video game series has remained largely dormant for 20 years. With its emphasis on cinematic presentation and narratives, The Getaway is one of the better games of its era to follow in the footsteps of Grand Theft Auto.
Finally, EyeToy: Play is a motion-controlled game that predates the Wii by three years. The game includes a variety of minigames, such as rhythm games and a boxing game, and was successful enough to receive two direct sequels and a number of spin-offs. While the game is a product of its time, it has since fallen into obscurity as Sony moved into the subsequent PlayStation 3 era. However, with the resurgence of retro gaming, it is possible that these forgotten PS2 games could find a new audience and a new life.
