Summary
ThePlayStation 2is a lesson that the most powerful console does not always win out in the end. Both the GameCube and the Xbox could render far more beautiful graphics,but that did little to compete with the PS2’s lineup. However, the Xbox definitely was a step above the PS2 when it came tofirst-person shooters.
Microsoft’s exclusive entries to the genre, likeHalo,were leaps and bounds ahead of what the PS2 was capable of, and portsalways looked better on the Xbox.All the same, Sony’s console always had some good FPS games on offer for every year it was around.
TimeSplitters,a console launch title, was the best option for players who wanted to jump into the PS2 with some multiplayer mayhem. Two people could go through the campaign together, or four people could battle it out in the highly customizable multiplayer suite.
Free Radical Design was founded by people who broke off from developer Rare, soTimeSplittersis also aspiritual successor toPerfect DarkandGoldenEye.The aiming mechanics work in much the same way, coming out just before precise dual-analog aiming would become the norm on consoles.
The fascinating thing aboutRed Factionis itshighly-destructible environments. The rocky environments of Mars' mines lend themselves to this concept well. With explosives, players can carve their way through the game’s geometry as they see fit. This system also works in the multiplayer mode, making the competitive offerings unique.
All this talk about destructable environments should not take away from how good the shooting felt for the time, or how deep the story is for a console FPS. It takes more than a couple of cues fromHalf-Lifewhile still retaining its originality.
The second entry in the cult FPS series took more time to cook, giving it a significantly more fleshed-out campaign. Mission objectives were far more complex this time around, and the different difficulty modes add more goals, similar to how difficulty works inGoldenEye.
Though the story missions are deeper, the game is still filled with arcadey mayhem in its multiplayer modes and bonus challenge missions. At a time when games likeHalonormalized dual-anlog aiming,TimeSplitters 2still retained the old style that relied on auto-aim and did not have a crosshair on screen at all times.
6XIII (2003)
Metacritic Score: 74
XIIInot only stood out from the crowd with its cel-shaded art style - meant to mimmickthe graphic novel on which it was based- but it also incorporated stealth and environmental interactions in a way few FPS games were doing at the time.
Players could take enemies hostage, or even use broken glass as a weapon. The story is a classic case of an amnesiac waking up on a beach and trying to figure out who he is. Of course, the truth is a massive conspiracy that involves powerful figures at the highest levels of business and politics.
This game was remade in 2020, but the remake was met with a cold reception. However, patches have fixed many of the problems that plagued it at launch.
2004 did not offer a lot for PS2 FPS games. The annualJames Bondgame,GoldenEye: Rogue Agent,was underwhelming, so the best players could get for this year was the PS2 exclusiveKillzone. It was hyped up as a competitor toHalo.
Though it is a great game on its own, the comparisons to one of the most important FPS series of all time did it no favors upon release. All the same, the debut entry in this series created a unique world that developer Guerrilla Games wouldfurther explore in three sequels and multiple spin-offs.
This PS2 exclusive is a tense spy thriller that avoids the typical tropes present in the genre. Instead of a sleek ladies man of a protagonist like James Bond, players control a jaded MI6 agent who has just broken out of a Chinese prison.
Cold Winter’snarrative deals with the question of whether modern society is worth saving, or if it is better to start over from square one. It also uses the classic 1936 science fiction filmThings to Comeas a plot point. The violence includes shockingly detailed dismemberment in both its single-player and multiplayer offerings.
3Urban Chaos: Riot Response (2006)
Metacritic Score: 73
Every level in this game takes place in an urban setting being ripped apart by violent gangs. Players control elite law enforcement officers sent to control the chaos.Urban Chaos: Riot Responsefeatures great visuals for the (at this point) aging console.
Its unique progression structure encourages players to replay levels multiple times to achieve secondary goals, further upgrading their equipment and weapons in the process. The shooting is heavy, and the violence is intense, really making every second of this game feel urgent.
This was developer Rocksteady’s first game. They would then go on to make the legendaryBatman: Arkhamseries.
2Medal Of Honor: Vanguard (2007)
Metacritic Score: 63
With the next generation already in full swing, the PS2 was not exactly releasing knockout FPS games in 2007. It still had some juice in the tank though.Medal of Honor: Vanguardwas for the counterpart for the next-genMedal of Honor: Airbornefor those who were still playing on the PS2.
It featuredAirborne’ssignature parachuting mechanic, though it is a different game in every other sense. Gamers would still feel a little left out in 2007 without the next-gen version, but this entry was better than nothing.
1Call Of Duty: World At War - Final Fronts (2008)
Metacritic User Score: 6.4
This PS2 game was meant to still reach some players who had a PS2 all the way until 2008. No one could be judged for not upgrading to a PS3 or Xbox 360 by this point, and PS3 owners just felt bad that this is what PS2 players got instead of the actualCall of Duty: World at War.
It does not feel like a lot of effort or time was put into this game, unlike the priorCall of Dutygames on the PS2, which were unique and stood on their own as solid games. On top of that, there is not even any multiplayer, split-screen or online, which by this point was rapidly becoming the series' calling card.
