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: RPGs
Shadow Hearts
by Adam Matlock
Everything about this game is unconventional. From the setting - a real-world WWII Asia and Europe, mostly - to the plot that dealt heavily with religion, Taoist mysticism and dreams, to the wry sense of humor, Shadow Hearts was a surprisingly complete package that is one of my favorites on the PS2.
Telling the tale of Yuri, a young man who is told to protect Alice Elliot, an exorcist with some hidden power, the plot followed them through the world as they avoided the Japanese government and plenty of mysterious people with hidden agendas. The story was mature and well written, and plenty of wry sexual references awaited the open-minded of us. But the most unique thing about the game was the battle system; Sanity Points gauged the time until your character went beserk, each character had specific powers available to them (different types of magic or physical attacks), and an artifact known as the Judgement Ring helped you to gain an extra advantage over enemies if you timed button presses to get more out of an attack or an item.
Unfortunately, the game had the bad luck to be released less then two weeks before Final Fantasy X, and this title was all but lost in the hype - but for much less then the cost of FFX, those with a craving for RPGs can pop this one in their PS2 and enjoy one of the best RPGs available.
Final Fantasy X
by Bill Kerr
The seemingly immortal Final Fantasy series is forever cast upon the legions of its fans and its newcomers, and with the release of Final Fantasy X, Squaresoft once again showed the world that making good RPGs is not a job for the timid. The series had reached its pinnacle at the VI and VII mark, and the release of FFIX disappointed many. So, seeing that the series needed a facelift, Squaresoft refined the battle system to make it both faster and more exciting, two things that it had needed desperately.
It could be speculated that this series was spiraling downward, losing its novelty, and just not keeping up with the standards that the old games had set. However, the tenth installment in the renowned series left many gamers both in awe of what could be delivered graphically and how dedication and hard work from Squaresoft loaned its hand to creating one of the most spectacularly crafted RPGs on the Playstation 2. Unlike its predecessors, Final Fantasy X featured a turn-based battle system and the ability to switch characters in and out of the battle with a twitch of the finger. This lifted the game to an unprecedented level.
Graphically, FFX was a masterpiece, showcasing some of the best CG cut scenes and characters animation seen yet in any game. Final Fantasy X is my pick for the Hall of Fame for a number of reasons, but the fact that it was extremely engrossing and offered many diversions from the main quest (Blitzball, Ultimate Weapon quests, and others) was it's main asset.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
by Brendon Hivner
Finally, a genuine Dungeons & Dragons videogame that actually pays attention to what D&D is all about. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is one of my top three PS2 games of all time, and for good reason.
While some developers were griping about the difficulty of working with the PS2, Snowblind Studios was busy putting those developers to shame, turning out a fantastic graphical effort on their very first PS2 project. Lush and varied environments, spectacular particle effects, and probably the most realistic character model animations I've ever seen, the stunning BG:DA is alive with detail.
And the details are what makes the game. Not only does this Diablo-like hack-and-slasher follow the AD&D third edition rules, but the excellent sound effects, music, and the particularly well-done voice-overs add to an already authentic package. This is the first D&D videogame I've played where the world was detailed enough to draw me in. From the first few moments, I felt like I was a part of the Forgotten Realms, and I knew this game was going to be something special.
The gameplay is as superb as the rest of the package. Ultra-addicting hack-and-slash with hundreds of items to find or buy, a number of ways to strengthen your character's stats, numerous non-player characters to interact with, a two-player co-op mode, and an intriguing story make this one of this generation's best games -- on any platform. Unfortunately, the game was easy to miss when first released, thanks to a few big-name games to come along around the same time (MGS2, GTA3, Halo). But the fact remains: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance has been polished and buffed to an extraordinary shine. PS2 owners, don't miss this game. It is a gem.
Next Time -> Driving
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