Summary
ThePlayStation 2console, released more than two decades ago, boasted a huge catalog of games that have now become classic entries in video game history. For many gamers, even today, the PlayStation 2 evokesfond and nostalgic memoriesof games such asTekken 5,SSX 3,Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,andTony Hawk’s Pro Skater,among many others.
One of the genres thatthrived on PlayStation 2 was platformers. These are games that consist primarily of jumping or climbing between platforms while battling various enemies and bosses with a range of weapons. Platformers were originally designed for 2D gameplay but turned out to be just as exciting in 3D.
I-Ninjais a light-hearted and humorous game about a young Ninja with a hot temper. After touching a Rage Stone, Ninja accidentally kills his Sensei (or teacher), who returns as a ghost and helps Ninja on his quest to collect more Rage Stones to kill the evil Emperor O-Dor.
The game has pretty simple mechanics - Ninja can jump, double jump, or use his sword to keep him in the air for a while - and it has kid-friendly graphics and design. However, the game has proven itself as a challenge for many players, keeping one engaged for hours on end.
Battle for Bikini Bottom,released in 2003, is a platformer based on Nickelodeon’smuch-loved cartoon,SpongeBob SquarePants.The game allows the player to explore various parts of Bikini Bottom as any of the three characters - Sandy the squirrel, Patrick the sea star, or SpongeBob himself.
Players mainly have to defeat robots while traversing various platforms with characters that each have different abilities. The game is fun as a platformer, as it also includes a surfing level and great boss fights, but for fans of the cartoon, it also contains great easter eggs and fun encounters with other characters from the series.
Released in 2001,Lunatea’s Veilis the direct sequel to the firstKlonoagame released for PlayStation in 1997,Door to Phantomile. The game is interesting in the sense that in terms of gameplay, it is a standard side-scrolling 2D platformer, but the events take place in a 3D environment.
With its engaging puzzles, surfing levels, and fun boss fights, the game was praised for itsaddictive gameplay. Even for an older game, the “Visions” - or game stages - are beautiful and immersive, makingKlonoa 2a worthy entry for the best 3D platformers for PlayStation 2.
Psychonautswas released for PlayStation 2, among other platforms, in 2005. The game follows the story of a young boy withpsychic abilitieswho escapes from a circus to join a group of psychic spies and become a “psychonaut.” The player controls the main protagonist, Raz, as he navigates the “psychonauts” training camp in an attempt to uncover its hidden secrets.
Psychonautsis an adventure-type game with a third-person perspective. Raz can jump and run across platforms, while later gaining extra abilities, such as telekinesis, levitation, invisibility, and pyrokinesis, with which he can take on enemies. The game was praised for its innovation in terms of NPCs that can change the outcome of the game, as well as for its unique characters and bizarre setting.
Released in 2000 for PlayStation 2,Rayman 2: Revolutionis a remake of the originalRayman 2game.Revolutionmade several improvements to the original game, resulting in a classic platformer that ishard to put down. Apart from significantly improved graphics,Revolutionallows more free-roaming and introduces new characters and bosses.
The game is a third-person platformer that features Rayman, who is on a quest to save his friend Globox. The game is set in the mythical land of the Fairy Glade, where Rayman fights off various robotic pirates while solving puzzles and collecting magical energy in the form of “lums.”
Like its predecessor,Ape Escape 2is based on a very simple premise: catch monkeys with a net (among other things) while running and jumping on and over platforms. The hero, Jimmy, has various gadgets with which he can catch the primates, including the newly added Bananarang, Water Cannon, and Electro Magnet.
The game was first released in Japan in 2002, and to the rest of the world in 2003. While the gameplay might seem simple,Ape Escape 2is surprisingly engaging and fun. Players might find themselves even becoming addicted to catching and collecting the various types of monkeys in the game.
One of the more violent and action-packed 3D platformers released for PlayStation 2 isMaximo: Ghosts to Glory.The game was released in 2001 in Japan, and the next year in other countries worldwide. The gameplay is dynamic and revolves around defeating multiple enemies in one round.
The player can run, jump, and crouch while attacking enemies with a sword and a shield, as well as a range of special moves.Maximois likely one of themost challenging 3D platformers on PlayStation 2, and well worth one’s time.
Another great platformer released in 2001 was the first installment in theJak and Daxterseries,The Precursor Legacy.The game follows the story of a teenager named Jak, who is on a quest to help his friend Daxter, who managed to turn into something between an otter and a weasel.
This game is a classic platformer in many ways, with Jak having the ability to double jump, and being able to do a spinning kick, as well as a gliding punch. Jak can also gather “eco,” which gives him special powers. The game is light-hearted and funny and seems to be able to hook players, despite its basic mechanics.
