10 INCREDIBLE PS2 Games You Still Need To Play

The console might be twenty years old, but these are essential.

By Marc Smith /

It's hard to believe that this year marked the twentieth anniversary of what is arguably the greatest console of all time, the PlayStation 2.

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Seriously, where has the time gone?

Sony's little black box still stands as one of the biggest achievements in the world of gaming. For its time, it represented a revolutionary step forward for the medium as a whole, and was home to some of the finest games ever made.

Other systems may have surpassed it in terms of graphical power or technological integration, but the real reason why the system is so beloved is the incredible roster of games. With approximately 3,800 titles released for the system in its lifetime, the sheer variety, quality and quantity of what was on offer made the console irresistible to consumers.

But for every Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 2 and Final Fantasy X, there was a whole host of other incredible games that still hold up today. Many of which never found the success they deserve but are still worth your time.

So dust off that console and find yourself a memory card, because here are ten incredible PlayStation 2 games that you definitely need to play.

10. Champions Of Norrath

Many of us out there have such fond memories of the Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance games which were incredibly popular back in the day. They were the perfect combination of exploratory dungeon-crawling, hack-and-slash combat and RPG elements; with the added bonus of being able to play the game with a friend making them an essential purchase.

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And yet despite the adoration for those titles, Champions of Norrath (as well as its sequel Champions: Return to Arms) remains largely unknown. The Champions series took all the elements that made the Dark Alliance games so great and bestowed upon them the ultimate blessing.

Four-player couch co-op.

That's right, you and up to three friends could embark upon a high-fantasy adventure, hacking and slashing your way to glory. The combat isn't especially deep and the RPG elements aren't as robust as other games in this ilk, but Champions is still an absolute joy to play. The variety in the stages, enemies and boss encounters always keep the game feeling fresh and with three friends fighting alongside you, the fun never stops.

It's fairly rare these days, but if you're fortunate enough to snag a copy, you're guaranteed a good time.

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