PS2 Newcomer looking for some recs

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Agrippan

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Hey there, I skipped the PS2 last gen in favor of the Xbox and later the GC (pretty much solely for Smash Bros). I recently bought a PS3 and am looking to make up for the lost time, as much as I can.

I am primarily interested in RPG's, and have already picked up Dark Cloud 2, Persona 3, and both Kingdom Hearts games. Does anyone have any feedback on the dot.hack series, both the original and G.U., and the other Shin Megami Tensei games, DDS 1 and 2 and Nocturne? Other titles I was wondering about, just off the top off my head - Growlanser, Suikoden, and Shadow Hearts games.

Additionally, if anyone has any favorites or must-haves, please add; I only mention RPG's in particular because I know I have missed so many triple-A titles over the last few years.
 
Uhmm... okay, well .hack = crap. I played the first 3 games in the original .hack series and they were awful in both story and gameplay. .hack//GU seemed to have better story and gameplay, but the game still played like crap from what I saw.

Shin Megami Tensei... from that series, you want to get Nocturne, DDS 1 and 2, and Persona 3. Those are all fantastic games, though Nocturne and the DDS games are really expensive. Growlanser isn't very good, and none of the Suikoden games were particularly fun IMO. Shadow Hearts... didn't care for the first one, but that's the only one I played.

Other than that stuff, personally I'd recommend Final Fantasy X and XII and the Xenosaga series. Tales of the Abyss is also supposed to be really good.
 
The Shadow Hearts games are good, but people say the 3rd game is a disappointment, I've never played it myself though. Other RPG's I'd recommend are Radiata Stories, Rogue Galaxy, Xenosaga if you like long cutscenes. Tales of the Abyss was also good.

Non RPGs, The Devil May Cry games (1 and 3, DMC2 is not so good), Shadow of the Colossus, Shinobi, Metal Gear Solid 3 (also 2 if you didn't play that on Xbox). Ratchet and Clank games, Jak games, Sly games. Well, there's a ton of stuff worth playing on the PS2 so I'm sure others will name stuff since I feel lazy :p
 
I hope this is some help to you but I really like the Grand Theft Auto series. GTA San Andreas is the best one, Vice City 2nd. If you like James Bond then get the one with Sean Connery, the original 007, it's great!

I just got done playing Hitman 2 & it's good but really short.







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Growlanser = avoid, avoid, avoid. Some better strategy RPGs for the PS2 include Disgaea, La Pucelle, and Front Mission 4.

As for other RPGs, Dragon Quest VIII is a must-have. I also second the rec for Final Fantasy X. Final Fantasy X-2 is something of an acquired taste, but I really liked it.
 
[quote name='Agrippan']Hey there, I skipped the PS2 last gen in favor of the Xbox and later the GC (pretty much solely for Smash Bros). I recently bought a PS3 and am looking to make up for the lost time, as much as I can.

I am primarily interested in RPG's, and have already picked up Dark Cloud 2, Persona 3, and both Kingdom Hearts games. Does anyone have any feedback on the dot.hack series, both the original and G.U., and the other Shin Megami Tensei games, DDS 1 and 2 and Nocturne? Other titles I was wondering about, just off the top off my head - Growlanser, Suikoden, and Shadow Hearts games.

Additionally, if anyone has any favorites or must-haves, please add; I only mention RPG's in particular because I know I have missed so many triple-A titles over the last few years.[/QUOTE]

To answer your questions first..

Get Suikoden III, and V. V is the second best one in the series IMO, a great rpg all around. Avoid IV at all costs.

Shadow Hearts and Shadow Hearts: Covenant are two of my favorite games from last gen. Very dark atmosphere. Play them in order obviously. Avoid the third entry. It screams mediocre.

Tales of the Abyss is another great game, although it's very long.

I liked Atelier Iris 1 and 2, light-hearted games that are fun.

I disliked Rogue Galaxy, very bland story with a decent combat system. All depends what you like.

SMT games are brutally hard, usually long, but are pretty unique games that have a cool draw to them. Nocturne and Persona 3 are the cream of the crop for me. I didn't like DDS that much.
 
First Dragon Quest VIII, Final Fantasy X and XII are must get, and they are GH so it is a good price. The Xenosaga is also worth getting.
 
I disliked .Hack but it had a cool (albeit long) story.

Breath of Fire V Dragon Quarter had a cool story and good gameplay.

Radiata Stories had an awesome world/atmosphere with good gameplay.


Onimusha, Okami, Zone of the Enders 2, Viewtiful Joe, Valkyrie Profile 2, Star Ocean 3, Wild ARMs 3, Suikoden III, FF X, FF XII, Jak series, Ratchet and Clank series, Sly series, Tales, Maximo, Devil May Cry series... the list goes on and on.

Just go one game at a time, you'll be busy for years.


SMT series best are Nocturne and Persona 3, Nocturne is slightly better.

If you like fighting games at all, pick up Street Fighter Alpha Anthology, it is amazing.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions.

Ok, so I'm looking at DQ8, Suikoden's III and V, DDS 1 and 2 and Nocturne if I can find them, Shadow Hearts 1 and 2, MGS3 Subsistence, FFX, and possibly Atelier Iris, Radiata Stories and the DMC games.

Anyone care to weigh in on Suikoden Tactics or throw anything else into the ring?


EDIT: Cal, you mention that Suikoden V is your second favorite in the series. What was your favorite?
 
Cool thread. I was looking for something like this since I need to catch up on PS2 games too.

BTW, TRU has B3G1 free this week. Works great for these bargain bin games too!
 
[quote name='Agrippan']Thanks for all the suggestions.

Ok, so I'm looking at DQ8, Suikoden's III and V, DDS 1 and 2 and Nocturne if I can find them, Shadow Hearts 1 and 2, MGS3 Subsistence, FFX, and possibly Atelier Iris, Radiata Stories and the DMC games.

Anyone care to weigh in on Suikoden Tactics or throw anything else into the ring?


EDIT: Cal, you mention that Suikoden V is your second favorite in the series. What was your favorite?[/QUOTE]

I thought Suikoden Tactics was horrible.

This is how I'd rank them:

II, V, I, III, Tactics, IV

II is one of the finer RPG's of all time. Also very expensive, runs $120 easily on ebay. Disk only is like $90, pretty crazy.

So you can skip tactics and IV and still get the whole Suikoden experience IMO.
 
Thanks for the Suikoden rundown, Calamity.

Dr. No, I was particularly interested as I'm looking forward to the B2G1 sale at GS/EB starting 12.26 if that helps you out at all.
 
I'll also vouche for Suikoden V, one of my favorite RPGs. You could pass on Suikoden IV, and while I loved III I don't think it held up well over time.

The SMT series is also great.
 
For action/monster fighting:

Monster Hunter- hunt and take down numerous large creatures with your oversized and comical anime styled sword. It is very tedious, but apparently the real meat and potatoes of this title, is its ONLINE play.

War Of The Monsters- battle other monsters as you destroy small scale replicas of Vegas and other major cities. This game is reminiscent of the NEO GEO monster battling games in the 80's and 90's that were popular in the arcades.

For giant robots:

Robot Alchemic Drive(also called RAD)- You pilot a giant robot from the perspective of a kid on the ground with what looks like a Playstation controller in their hands. Best vantage point when not in a battle is perched atop the robots shoulder.

For GTA games or clones of them:

Mercenaries- GTA clone with a military feel to it. You can call in airstrikes including bunker buster bombs and many more special attacks. Almost fully destructible enviroments.

GTA Vice City-great game if you were a kid in the 80's, lots of references, including an appearance by Miami Vice if you get a high enough wanted level. Tons of actors lent their voices to this game(Ray Liotta, Dennis Hopper, Gary Busey, even porn star Jenna Jameson lent her voice to a character in the game)

Scarface: The World Is Yours-a 'what if' title, showing what may have happened if Tony Montana had survived in the movie. VERY violent and loaded with f bombs, amongst other uhhh 'choice words'.

For unique/weird games:

Mister Mosquito- You suck peoples blood and in order to calm them down, you routinely have to hit uhhh 'sensitive areas' with a bite

Katamari Damacy- Your father(the king of all cosmos) accidentally destroyed the stars and the heavens and you have to use a Katamari(glue ball that sticks to and picks up ANYTHING and EVERYTHING basically) to grab as much stuff as you can to make giant balls of stuff to replace the stars,etc

Psychonauts- very trippy game with many unforgettable characters. Many of the levels are played out inside the minds of characters from the game.

Beyond Good & Evil- typical world in peril action/platformer title, but with cutesy characters. I didn't like it, personally, but MANY did.

Just thought I'd give you a taste of all of the rest that you've missed and decided to stay to my realm of knowledge, that being NON-RPGS. Although, if you get a chance and haven't played them yet, try the Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance RPGs, as well as the comic book themed ones(Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Justice League Heroes).

I hope this helps to give you a wide range of games to think about. I've played almost all of them, save for the Marvel and DC action RPG titles.
 
I've actually played most of those games on the XBox, but for anyone else looking through the thread Mercenaries, Psychonauts, and Beyond Good and Evil are fantastic games.

Monster Hunter does sound interesting though.
 
I actually played it on the PC when it came out. The first three quarters of the game are great, but the end is kind of rushed. I'd still recommend checking it out, especially since it's easy to find cheap these days.
 
Thanks again for all the help, people. I just took advantage of the B2G1 sale at GS (and a bunch of store credit) and picked up Nocturne, DDS 1 and 2, Suikoden 3 and 5, At. Iris 1 and 2, Shadow Hearts 1 and 2, MGS: Subsistence, Tales of the Abyss and Radiata Stories.
 
[quote name='Sofa King Kool']You must play Shadow of the Colossus.[/quote]

Heh, forgot to throw them in there, but picked up Ico and SotC as well. God knows when I'll get around to playing all of these, but at least I'm pretty well set for a long time.
 
Ico's really short so you can beat it in a weekend.

No FFX? I would've gotten that over Suikoden 3, Shadow Hearts, and Radiata Stories.
 
I didn't buy FFX because I've actually played it before - a friend of mine loaned me his PS2 a couple of years ago.

[quote name='thelonepig']Good grief, your GS was LOADED.[/quote]
Actually, I used the online availability guide and pinned down the three best stores that were pretty close. For future reference, that guide was pretty accurate

I checked the next day and it had updated for the games I had bought. Don't know if it's so accurate for newer releases though, as those probably have a short turn-around time.
 
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