During much of the month of July, PS2 Gamers have a bit of a draught, with only five games scheduled to be released. Well, we here at GamingWorld X know that the best way to beat a game drought is by looking into the past. So, to make it easy, the staff of Sony GamingWorld has put together a genre-by-genre list going through some of the best titles in each genre, all of which are worth checking out. Spend some time dwelling in the past, because once the online system kicks off next month, all your time will be spent in the present. Today - Adventure
Fatal Frame
by Brendon Hivner
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Perhaps one of the most underrated games on the PS2, Fatal Frame never disappoints those who are looking for a good scare. While it's easy to dismiss Fatal Frame as just another survival horror title, the game can surely hold it's own against the genre's finest. The game is actually much more gruesome in nature than what is depicted onscreen, to the point that I somewhat disagree with it's "Teen" rating. Frightening as hell, Fatal Frame manages to give Silent Hill 2 a run for it's money in the creepy crawlies department.
Interesting play mechanics accompany Fatal Frame's Blair Witch Project-like atmosphere. Using an upgradable camera to capture spirits, your character walks the halls of a japanese mansion with a violent and mysterious past. Action is primarily in third-person, but when in combat with ghosts, the game reverts to first-person gameplay. Plenty of exploration, combat, and mystery solving await the player, in one of the scariest games ever made. Add in lots of bonus material and awesome replay value, and you have what may be the sleeper hit on PS2 in 2002, besides being one of the finest adventure titles. If you get the chance, pick this up. You will never be the same again.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
by Kevin Sloan
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When Konami's revolutionary adventure series, Metal Gear Solid, finally hit the Playstation 2 last year, it was surrounded by an enormous amount of hype. The game thankfully lived up to the madness surrounding its release, and fans went gaga over it. Visually speaking the game was, and might still be, one of the best looking games the Playstation 2 has seen, featuring awesome water and rain effects, great character models, and amazing environments. The explosions, the facial expressions, the smooth animation, the awesome weapon effects, and one hell of a soundtrack further added to the experience that is Metal Gear Solid 2. But graphics and sound aside, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty provided gamers with an experience like no other, combining stealth, action, and an awesome storyline displayed through amazing cinema sequences. The game really took players in, making them feel like they're truly a part of the action, something that games can rarely do. And who can forget the dog tags, Olga's infamous hairy armpits, and the ability to shoot up the enemy with as many darts as you wanted and then stare them down and mock them as they sleep? MGS2 really gave gamers one of the best experiences possible when it comes to the adventure genre, hands-down. While the PSX incarnation provided a great experience, Konami was able to finally use the "power of the Playstation 2" to give PS2 owners the ride of their lives.
ICO
by Adam Matlock
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It's fun to see the little guy score. While technically no longer a sleeper hit due to the critical attention it garnered, Ico was an absolutely fantastic game that created an engaging story and a remarkable experience in about 6 hours of gameplay - something that many games fail to do in 15. Telling the story of a young boy named Ico who was buried alive in a castle, the puts you in Ico's shoes as you attempt to escape. Along the way, you encounter Yorda, a princess trapped in the castle by an evil queen, and you must help her escape. This was where Ico's genius kicked in; Ico himself is something of an acrobat, but Yorda is not, and in order to help Yorda escape, you had to manipulate the environment - extend a bridge a little further, unlock a door - so that Yorda could accompany you on your journey throughout the castle.
But even despite the great controls, the game was chock full of charm. The relationship between Ico and Yorda, even though they two spoke different languages, blossomed throughout the game, culminating with one unforgettable scene after another. The graphics didn''t slouch either - Yorda's ethereal beauty was made very evident by her character model, and the young Ico, looking a bit like a Viking, looked extremely desperate as he scrambled around the castle, trying to facilitate his escape and protect Yorda from mysterious shadow creatures as well. Top that off with some absolutely breathtaking views and a great, if minimalist soundtrack, and you have one of the most heartwrenching, entertaining games available on any system.
Our Managing editor, John Luedtke, talked last week about games as an art form - here, my friends, is a prime example.
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