good PS2 games (for free...uh, me)

[castorp]

I'm about to buy a PS2 as a present for me for potentially passing the midterm exam and wondered what games I should get. My current wishlist looks kind of like this:

God of War

Guitar Hero

ICO

Katamari Damacy (maybe 'We Love Katamari')

Okami

Resident Evil 4

Shadow of the Colossus

What's wrong? What's missing? I'm looking for story-and-atmosphere-and-fun-stuff. Not so much racing, sport, beat'em-up (okay, maybe the one bestest for silly roommate-beat-fun).

Is there something I should know about this whole buying-a-PS2-thing in general?

Thank you for your kind participation in this subtle marketing ploy.

[DanJW]

Good list. Thats pretty much what I would have told you off the top of my head. Only thing I can add right now is how much I'm enjoying Kingdom Hearts 2. I'll come back if I think of anything else.

General PS2 ownership? Not much to know. the things are idiot proof, because thats a major part of their core demographic () heheh. Just know this: at some point, it WILL break, and you will have to prop it up at all sorts of incredible angles to make it work a bit longer.

[loonyboi]

Put Dragon Quest VIII on there for sure. That was excellent (if you like that sort of thing). Also Ratchet & Clank 3.

[Aussie Ben]

Actually, I'd recommend Ratchet & Clank 2 over 3. Seems better to me. That's just personal choice though. But for the love of God, don't get Ratchet: The One That Doesn't Have Clank In The Title. Sly 2 or 3 would also be a good choice (Sly 3 has a Koala that rides on people's heads!) Oh, Ape Escape 2 or 3 is a winner too. Klonoa 2 is great if you can find it. Primal is pretty cool too.

...and, I think that's about it for me.

[miffy495]

That's a pretty damn good list there. I'd also say that Gitaroo Man is a must. And if you haven't played it in some other form by now, Lego Star Wars. You implied that you have roommates, and co-op LSW is great fun. Best fighter? Not requiring that much effort to have fun? Find an old copy of Soul Calibur 2. (or 3, though I've never played that one so I can't be too sure) I have spent many a night just playing that with a friend and not noticing that 4 hours have passed.

[n0wak]

I'm looking for atmosphere

Um... Rez?

Also Okami is out now(ish)

[castorp]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've added Dragon Quest VIII, Rez, Primal and one of the Soul Caliburs to the buy-list and Sly, Gitaroo Man and Lego Star Wars to the maybe-list. The remains seem to be not my thing. The whole Kingdom Hearts concept sounds rather strange. It's my first console (there was an SNES, but that's to long ago) and so not knowing Square but on the other side knowing Disney the setup appears more creepy than fun. Speaking of, is Final Fantasy worth the effort?

Another thing: there are a slim and a fat PS2. And there is modding - something about a harddrive. I don't know, but maybe you do.

Just know this: at some point, it WILL break, and you will have to prop it up at all sorts of incredible angles to make it work a bit longer.

Sounds fun. But with that in mind, is ebay still an option?

[General Fuzzy McBitty]

Depends on when it breaks. My first one broke in the first 30 days, so it was replaced for free. Since then I haven't had a problem. *Knocks on wood*

[brkl]

My cousin has had his PS2 since the early days and it works fine.

[miffy495]

Mine has never had a problem, but whatever.

I also played Kingdom Hearts without knowing Square. This was not because I didn't have any consoles, but because I didn't have the right consoles. I was far too young to be interested in RPGs on the SNES, and didn't have a Playstation until the PS2, so Square was never on my radar. Nevertheless, I did enjoy KH, but not as much as I could have. The Disney is more prominent than the Square, so if you have a fondness for the movies and shows from back in the day (I'll admit it: I love the Hundred Acre Wood bits) you'll still have a good time with the game.

[castorp]

Thanks again. Another question popped up just before I hit the 'Buy' button for Resident Evil 4 and ICO on some english Online-market (btw: is there some better [=cheaper] place than the big A?). Are the regions the same as with DVDs? Can I play my UK-bought games on a german PS2?

and totally not repeating myself:

is Final Fantasy worth the effort?

Another thing: there are a slim and a fat PS2. And there is modding - something about a harddrive. I don't know, but maybe you do.

[DanJW]

Yeah, it's all PAL and all good.

I don't know Final Fantasy much, but I recognise some of the Square Enix names in KH2, and there's a handy journal that has character profiles with a bit of backstory on each.

[Wrestlevania]

Not so much racing, sport, beat'em-up (okay, maybe the one bestest for silly roommate-beat-fun).

I know the excellent Sould Calibur has been mentioned already (get the second game--it's technically superior to the third), but Capcom's forth-coming Godhand looks friggin' ace to be honest. Plus it's just that little bit different to your average garden fighter.

[miffy495]

That's true, Godhand does look phenomenal. Clover Studios has yet to dissappoint me as well (Red Hot Rumble never happened, Red Hot Rumble never happened...) so I'm pretty pumped for it.

As for FF, I honestly haven't played any of the current gen ones. I've played the older PS1 ones on my PS2 and that was awesome, but I don't quite get what you mean by "is it worth it?"