While Japanese RPGs were a thriving species on the PS1 and PS2, they have become a rarity on the PS3, which I find kinda regrettable. Remember when Aya Brea, KOS-MOS, and Quistis Trepe rocked the gaming world? Hopefully, this is bound to change soon. Here’s a short list of the PS2’s top ten RPGs for the nostalgic gamers out there.
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Top 10 PS2 RPG Games
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(Developed by Level 5, published by Sony in 2003)
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Borrowing heavily from the Zelda series, Dark Cloud 2 brought some innovations of its own as well, including the georama system, a feature that allows you to build your world from scratch, and the ability to upgrade your weapons using items you find along the way. The game also boasts beautiful cel-shaded graphics and lots of minigames to keep you busy. |
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(Developed by Squaresoft, published by Square EA in 2003)
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Final Fantasy X’s lack of world map stirred controversy, but the game still managed to impress gamers, with an innovative upgrade system and a remarkable production value. Final Fantasy X is definitely one of the most rewarding rpgs for the Playstation 2. |
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(Developed by Nautilus, published by Midway in 2004)
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One of the best Playstation 2 RPGs that is not a Final Fantasy game, Shadow Hearts: Covenat features an assorted bunch of characters and a very interesting battle system. The dark, occasionally funny storyline easily rivals the best games in the market. |
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(Developed by Tri-Ace, published by Square Enix in 2004)
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While Star Ocean: Till the End of Time doesn’t break any new ground, it is a great game nonetheless. Thanks to its challenging, yet fun battle system, gorgeous graphics, and tons of side quests, this game manages to keep gamers entertained. The multiple endings add greatly to the replay value. |
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(Developed by Level 5, published by Square Enix in 2005)
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This latest iteration of the venerable Dragon Quest series is very challenging, but the gorgeous cel-shaded graphics, excellent soundtrack, fun story, and interesting skill system will keep you going through the tough battles. |
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(Developed and published by Konami in 2006)
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This game is not without some annoying flaws, but the huge cast of characters, dramatic battles, and intriguing story more than make up for these complaints. You’ll want to spend some time collecting the 108 stars. |
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(Developed and published by Atlus in 2008) .
This game has a lot going for it, including a mature storyline, great characters, and excellent production values. In addition to the usual dungeon crawling, you’re also going to spend a great deal of time socialising with the game’s inhabitants. |
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(Developed and published by Square Enix in 2006)
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Take the most popular Square games and Disney movies, squeeze them into a single title, and you get Kingdom Hearts 2. This sequel takes its predecessor’s formula and greatly improves upon it, with better gameplay, gorgeous visuals, and a rich soundtrack. |
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(Developed by Monolith Soft, published by Namco Bandai in 2006)
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My personal favorite. While the first episodes of the Xenosaga series were somewhat disappointing, Also Sprach Zarathustra finally managed to get it right, with an improved battle system, more detailed visuals, unforgettable characters, and an epic storyline that moved many players to tears. Too bad the series was put to rest so early. |
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(Developed and published by Square Enix in 2006)
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Final Fantasy XII retains the strong production values the series is known for, but its gameplay is more reminiscent of MMORPGs. The result of this new approach is increased depth and complexity, alongside a lengthy, epic plot. |
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Suggested reading: Top TenPlaystation 2 Games
Dark Cloud 2
Final Fantasy X
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Star Ocean Till the End of Time
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Suikoden V
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES
Kingdom Hearts II
Xenosaga Episode III
Final Fantasy XII
