I got through phases of games, and right now I’m in the one I like to think of everything-modern-is-making-me-angry-so-I’ll-turn-back-to-vintage-games - and that’s in the form of PCSX2 on my Steam Deck.

Playing the PS2 generation on the Steam Deck is kinda the ‘perfect’ generation: I can upscale the resolution without a performance hit, I can apply HD texture packs, Retro Achievements and I can drop the TDP to extend the battery life.

Anyway, I never had a PS2 (it was just a touch before my time), so there’s so many games I’m yet to discover there. I’d love to hear any suggestions you might have for what I can play on there:

Just a couple notes:

  • No GTA games because they’re better with the PC versions. While I’ve bought the games, the account that Rockstar demands people have to play their games makes me angry on principle (a single-player game forcing an online check each week to be able to play it? No thanks), so I’ve got cracked versions to play.

  • No Final Fantasy because I’m not even sure where to start!

So if anyone was around back in the PS2 era, and has some recommendations for games they’ve loved, I’m all ears. I’ve been having such a fun time playing these.

Some big thanks to my friends who made and run RetroDECK (my choice for emulating on the Steam Deck), and to the PCSX2 team (who I’m chatting to right now actually, so keep an eye out and in a week or so I’ll share that chat with them all about creating and maintaining the PS2 emulator!)

Also, if you do have a Steam Deck, and want to play with the HD texture packs I do, then it’s really simple. Just download the pack, and name then according to their game’s I.D. code - SLUS-20743 for example, then place it in the texture_packs folder:

From there, go into PCSX2, then right-click the game, select properties, graphics, texture replacement and tick the two boxes I have:

Then you’ve got the games looking the best they can be!

Here’s a link to a stack of pre-done HD textures for a lot of PS2 games, to help you on your way!

  • VerilyFemme@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    2·
    2 hours ago

    You already have an insanely good library. You could probably play for the rest of the year on those games alone. In addition to what you have here, I’d recommend:

    Alien Hominid
    Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance
    Burnout series
    Def Jam: Fight for NY
    Destroy All Humans 1 & 2
    Devil May Cry
    Godfather, The
    GTA Vice City Stories & Liberty City Stories (NOT ON PC)
    GUN
    Hitman: Blood Money
    Jak & Daxter series
    Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest
    Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
    Marvel vs Capcom 2
    Need For Speed Underground & Hot Pursuit series
    Onimusha: Warlords
    Psychonauts
    Ratchet & Clank Series
    Rayman 2
    Resident Evil 4
    Red Dead Revolver
    Sly Cooper 1 & 3 (1 & 3 are probably my favs)
    Shadow of the Colossus
    Silent Hill 2 & 3
    Simpsons Hit & Run
    SoulCalibur II
    Spider-Man 2 (phenomenal free roam)
    Star Wars Battlefront I & II
    Super Monkey Ball Deluxe
    Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
    Twisted Metal: Black

    FWIW, the original PS2 versions of the GTA games that are also on PC are actually better because they removed content as licenses expired. Unless you have the downgraded PC versions - in which case, godspeed.

    Even then, I usually stick with PS2 as PC doesn’t have support for the analog face buttons that the PS2 had. I don’t know if you can emulate that on Steam Deck, but if you play PS2 GTA San Andreas with an OEM controller, pressing the button harder actually does make you go faster. It’s magic, and I find it hard to play without now. 😅

    I look forward to seeing how the Deck holds up with some of these titles! I’ll admit, I’ve been thinking about getting it to use as a portable PS2 myself.

  • AstroLightz@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    4 hours ago

    Burnout 3 is one of the best arcade racing games for this generation.

    I see you have Kingdom Hearts II in there. There’s also the original Kingdom Hearts as well.

    The Simpsons: Hit & Run is like GTA but more “family-friendly”.

    There’s also other Ratchet & Clank games on the PS2, including the original, Going Commando, and Deadlocked.

    If you like racing games, Need for Speed: Underground 2 is one of the best games in the NFS series. IMO it’s better than Underground 1.

    Also, appreciate the guide for higher res textures.

    • ipkpjersi@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      3 hours ago

      Every single one of those games is excellent, but tbh I’d recommend starting with Underground 1 and then going onto Underground 2, they’re both fantastic IMO.

  • SabinStargem@lemmy.todayEnglish
    2·
    3 hours ago

    It depends on whether piracy is in the mix. If it is, that opens up assorted unofficially translated games. Super Robot Wars: Original Generations, for instance, if you are into strategy mecha games.

    Metal Saga might appeal if you are into sandbox RPGs and a lover of tanks. Also, dogs with rocket launchers on their back.

  • yufoh@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    4 hours ago

    Bloody Roar is a fighting game where you can turn into a furry, and it’s so cool I think they have a PS2 sequel, games go hard.

    Dr.Muto is a funny 3D platformer

  • Lightsong@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    4 hours ago

    Dark cloud 1 & 2, star ocean til the end of time, dbz budokai and dbz tenkaichi. That’s all I can think of.

  • isyasad@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    4 hours ago

    Surprised I didn’t see anyone mention Persona 3 FES.

    The definitive version of Persona 3, before they simplified the combat system for 4, 5, and remakes of 3.

    The epilogue of the game, The Answer, has the best story in the series.

    Persona series is [almost] totally standalone; no need to play 1 or 2 first.

    • slst@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      3·
      4 hours ago

      I wanted to say persona 3 FES as well, if you can’t afford the remake on steam which is excellent btw.

      Other similar options include Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne and the Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga duology

        • isyasad@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          42 minutes ago

          P3P uses the same combat system as Persona 4 and 5, while the original P3 and P3FES system was quite different.

          The actual changes are pretty subtle, but it makes the whole system feel totally different. The “1 More” mechanic did not activate on partial knockdowns with multi target moves, and being knocked down would result in skipped turn. Being hit while knocked down would also undo the knockdown.
          Basically, multi target moves were much more situational, type weaknesses were much more dangerous (for both player characters and enemies), and there was a lot of potential strategy in getting enemies to skip turns.
          I think it was a lot more interesting this way and P4/P3P/P5 simplified it to the point that P5 added a “play the game for me” button that autoselects the best move.

          I agree with the other commenter that both P3Re or P3FES would be mostly the same as what you’ve already experienced, but I think it’s worth it for the epilogue, especially if you liked the characters in the base game.
          Between the two, I would personally recommend FES but I think most people would recommend Reload.

        • slst@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
          2·
          2 hours ago

          If you played p3p I don’t think playing p3fes or reload will be a new experience as the story remains mostly the same. Combat is the same with little differences between p3p and p3fes, but reload is closer to p5’s gameplay.

  • SinkingLotus@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    7 hours ago

    Here’s a list from my collection

    • .hack://Infection

    • .hack://Mutation

    • .hack://Outbreak

    • .hack://Quarantine

    • .hack://G.U. Rebirth

    • .hack://G.U. Reminisce

    • .hack://G.U. Redemption

    • 007: Agent Under Fire

    • 007: Nightfire

    • 007: Everything or Nothing

    • 10,000 Bullets

    • Altered Beast (i.e., Project: Altered Beast)

    • Ape Escape 2

    • Ape Escape 3

    • Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia

    • Ar Tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica

    • Armored Core 2

    • Armored Core 2: Another Age

    • Armored Core 3

    • Armored Core: Last Raven

    • Armored Core: Nexus

    • Armored Core: Nine Breaker

    • Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana

    • Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny

    • Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm

    • Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance

    • Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II

    • Beyond Good & Evil

    • Blood Will Tell

    • BloodRayne

    • BloodRayne 2

    • Bloody Roar 3

    • Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter

    • Bunjingai: The Forsaken City (i.e., Bunjingai: Swordmaster)

    • Castlevania: Curse of Darkness

    • Castlevania: Lament of Innocent

    • Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest

    • Chaos Wars

    • Chulip

    • Clock Tower 3

    • Cold Fear

    • Contra: Shattered Soldier

    • Crimson Tears

    • Dark Cloud

    • Dark Cloud 2 (i.e., Dark Chronicle)

    • Destroy All Humans!

    • Destroy All Humans! 2

    • Deus Ex (NB: Worse than PC version)

    • Devil May Cry

    • Devil May Cry 2 (NB: Only because I’m recommending the others)

    • Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening - Special Edition

    • Disaster Report (i.e., SOS: The Final Escape)

    • Disgaea 1: Hour of Darkness

    • Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories

    • Downhill Domination

    • Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3

    • Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

    • Drakengard

    • Drakengard 2

    • Dynasty Warriors 5

    • Dynasty Warriors 5: Xtreme Legends

    • Evergrace

    • Fatal Frame

    • Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly

    • Fatal Frame III: The Tormented

    • Final Fantasy X (NB: See end)

    • Final Fantasy X-2 (NB: See end)

    • Final Fantasy XII (NB: See end)

    • Forbidden Siren

    • Forbidden Siren 2

    • Forever Kingdom (NB: Prequel to Evergrace)

    • Gitaroo Man

    • Gladius

    • God Hand

    • Grandia Xtreme

    • Grandia III

    • Gregory Horror Show

    • GunGrave

    • GunGrave: Overdose

    • Haunting Ground

    • Headhunter

    • Headhunter Redemption

    • Hitman 2: Silent Assassin

    • Hitman: Contracts

    • Hitman: Blood Money

    • Ico

    • Initial D Special Stage

    • Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

    • Jak II

    • Jak 3 (NB: Fuck the naming scheme)

    • Jak X: Combat Racing (NB: Get V2.00 specifically)

    • Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier

    • Katamari Damacy

    • Kingdom Hearts - Final Mix

    • Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories

    • Kingdom Hearts II - Final Mix (NB: Translation somewhere online)

    • Kinetica

    • Lumines: Puzzle Fusion

    • Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome

    • Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis

    • Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy

    • Manhunt

    • Manhunt 2

    • Maximo: Ghosts to Glory

    • Maximo vs Army of Zin

    • Mega Man X7

    • Mega Man X8

    • Mercenaries - Playground of Destruction

    • Mercenaries 2: World in Flames

    • Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (NB: See end)

    • Michigan: Report from Hell

    • Mister Mosquito

    • Need for Speed: Underground

    • Need for Speed: Underground 2

    • Need for Speed: Most Wanted

    • Need for Speed: Carbon

    • Nightshade (NB: Sequel to Shinobi)

    • ObsCure

    • ObsCure II

    • Odin Sphere

    • Okage: Shadow King

    • Onimusha 1: Warlords (NB: Pressure-sensitive buttons)

    • Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny (NB: Pressure-sensitive buttons)

    • Onimusha 3: Demon Siege (NB: Pressure-sensitive buttons)

    • Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams

    • PaRappa The Rapper 2

    • Phantom Brave

    • Primal

    • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

    • Prince of Persia: Warrior Within

    • Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones

    • Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy

    • Psychonauts

    • Radiata Stories

    • Ratchet & Clank

    • Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (i.e., Locked and Loaded)

    • Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal

    • Ratchet & Clank: Deadlocked

    • Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

    • Raw Danger! (NB: Sequel to Disaster Report)

    • Red Dead Revolver

    • Resident Evil Code: Veronica X

    • Resident Evil Outbreak

    • Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2

    • Resident Evil 4

    • Rogue Galaxy

    • Romancing SaGa

    • Rygar: The Legendary Adventure

    • Samurai Western

    • Second Sight

    • Shadow Hearts

    • Shadow Hearts: Covenant

    • Shadow Hearts: From the New World

    • Shadow of Destiny (i.e., Memories)

    • Shadow of Rome

    • Shadow of the Colossus

    • Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (i.e., Lucifer’s Call) (i.e., featuring Dante from DMC!)

    • Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga

    • Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2

    • Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner, Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army

    • Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon

    • Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES

    • Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4

    • Shining Force EXA

    • Shinobi

    • Shinobido: Way of the Ninja

    • Silent Hill 2 (NB: Pressure-sensitive buttons)

    • Silent Hill 3

    • Silent Hill 4: The Room (NB: Just because)

    • Silent Scope

    • Silent Scope 2: Dark Silhouette

    • Silent Scope 3

    • Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

    • Sly 2: Band of Thieves

    • Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves

    • Soul Nomad & the World Eaters

    • Spider-Man 2

    • Star Ocean: Till the End of Time

    • Steambot Chronicles

    • Suikoden III

    • Suikoden IV

    • Suikoden V

    • Super Dragon Ball Z

    • Tales of Legendia

    • Tales of the Abyss

    • Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven

    • Tenchu: Fatal Shadows

    • The Bouncer

    • The Getaway

    • The Getaway: Black Monday

    • The Godfather

    • The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

    • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

    • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

    • The Simpsons: Hit & Run

    • The Sword of Etheria

    • The Thing

    • The Warriors

    • Tokyo Road Race

    • Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3

    • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3

    • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4

    • Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland

    • TY the Tasmanian Tiger

    • TY the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue

    • Way of the Samurai

    • Way of the Samurai 2

    • Wild Arms 3

    • Wild Arms 4

    • Wild Arms 5

    • Wild Arms: Alter Code, F

    • Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht

    • Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse

    • Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra

    • X-Men Legends

    • X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse

    • Yakuza

    • Yakuza 2

    • Zone of the Enders

    • Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner (NB: Get PAL special specifically)

    So Final Fantasy games are often unrelated to one another. Meaning you can just pick whichever to start. Although Final Fantasy X has a direct sequel, that being Final Fantasy X-2.

    Next is about Mega Gear Solid 3: Subsistence. Even though you have it listed I still mention it because Subsistence includes:

    • Metal Gear
    • Metal Gear 2

    Being the most recommended versions of those games. (Not including Nintendo’s recent ports)

    • lohky@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      3 hours ago

      I knew I was going to see Steambot Chronicles on that list after seeing the .hack games hah.

  • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    6 hours ago

    Smugglers Run 2

    Castlevania Symphony of the Night

    Gladius

    Burnout Revenge

    Gran Turismo 3&4

    Final Fantasy X/ X-II

    Just Cause 2

    Drakkengarde

    I’m sure I’m forgetting some really good ones.

    • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      5 hours ago

      I’m just being that guy on the internet as usual, but Symphony Of The Night is a PS1 title, not PS2. I’m sure OP can run a PS1 emulator on his Deck if he wants to, though. It is a great game.

      • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        5 hours ago

        It was released for both then. I have a physical PS2 copy. Not really surprised. They did that with a ton of titles when hopping from one generation of console to the next.

        • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          5 hours ago

          I was not aware it was released in that packaging, but I’m pretty sure that’s still a Playstation 1 disk dressed up in a PS2 style DVD case, meant to be used with the PS2’s backwards compatibility mode. To my knowledge SotN was never rereleased as a native PS2 title and wasn’t rereleased at all until the PSP version. (And then later the Xbox 360 and PS4 as downloadable titles, and also the ghastly mobile phone versions.) If you have a PS1 kicking around you can try it and see, I suppose.

          For what it’s worth my copy is the green-stripe “Greatest Hits” reprinting, so what it’s worth is alas not much.

  • njm1314@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    4 hours ago

    I have a bit of an odd one for you; Ephemeral Fantasia. It’s a jrpg for very eclectic tastes. It’s a game in which you’re dealing with time loops. You can think of it as a mix between Groundhog Day and your average jrpg. Little bit like Majora’s Mask but more extreme I’d say.

  • Rekorse@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    10·
    7 hours ago

    Final fantasy isn’t a continuation from game to game, they are new stories each time. Final fantasy is more like a feeling than a specific place or group of people.

    All that said I really think you should consider trying Final Fantasy 10, it has fantastic cinematics and is a very emotional game.

    • Capt. Wolf@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      7 hours ago

      I think of it as an RPG ruleset, like DnD. Most of FF games follow similar mechanics, class systems, sometimes there’s the same monsters, and sometimes there’s crystals that do stuff.

      I agree though, FFX is really good.

  • JackbyDev@programming.devEnglish
    2·
    5 hours ago

    Jak and Daxter as well as Ratchet and Clank are both fun series. Jak was always weird in emulators for me, but maybe it works now.