20 PS2 Games That Still Hold Up

Despite the fact rhythm games were a dime a dozen during the millennium, Gitaroo Man truly felt like one-of-a-kind.

Rather than relying on button-matching like Dance Dance Revolution, NiS' quirky gem mostly focused on analog stick tracing. The gameplay utilised action and strategy elements, so it rarely felt repetitive. 

Every song involved a boss battle or our hero developing a relationship with somebody he cared about, so each section was either emotionally riveting or grandiose. The music spanned a multitude of genres, from metal to funk to pop, often mixing them seamlessly.

Due to its distinctive personality, unique mechanics, and catchy tunes, Gitaroo Man should've been a showstopper, especially since rhythm titles were on the rise at the time. Sadly, Gitaroo Man never took off, not even after Rock Band and Guitar Hero redefined the genre.

Even though rhythm games have evolved exponentially over the last 20 years, Gitaroo Man still proves to be one of the most imaginative and underrated games in the genre. It's refreshing to see Gitaroo Man garner cult-classic status over the years, but it deserves so much more.