ThePlayStation 2is regularly cited as one of the greatest home consoles of all time, and one look at the system’s frankly breathtaking library is one needs to see how true these claims ring. There’s truly no shortage of great titles on the PlayStation 2, but there’s one genre that arguably stood out more than others.
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Like the PlayStation before it, the PS2 was home to some of the best RPGs of its generation– all of which told incredible stories. There’s a common notion that video game storytelling has just now started improving with titles likeFinal Fantasy VII Remakepointed to as a shining example of gaming narratives; but the action RPG hardly compares to the PS2’s best.
10Breath Of Fire: Dragon Quarter
Dragon Quartergot a lot of flack at release for straying away fromBreath of Fire’s traditional JRPG roots, but the end result is one of the best designed games on the PlayStation 2 and one of the best examples of gameplay/story integration in the genre. The franchise’s signature transformation mechanic becomes a life or death crutch where using it brings the player character one step closer to perma-death.
Considering the difficulty curve, however, transforming is outright necessary. The gameplay loop ultimately revolves around dying to make use of multiple New Game Plus files– getting further and further each time. With an oppressive atmosphere and great thematic writing, Dragon Quarter’s story doesn’t get enough credit.
9Digital Devil Saga Duology
TheShin Megami Tenseifranchise makes a habit of featuring strong storytelling, and theDigital Devil Sagaduology on the PlayStation 2 is arguably the finest effort to come out ofSMT. Combat features a fixed set of party members for a change, with no monster collecting elements whatsoever. That said, this does lend itself to a deeper combat system.
More importantly,Digital Devil Sagatells a mature story with Hinduism at the center of the tale. The religion isn’t just used as aesthetic, however, as Hinduism’s core principles– karma, dharma– are all explored with great tact. Beyond how layeredDDS’ story is, the plot itself is engaging, emotional, and features excellent character development from top to bottom.
8Dragon Quest VIII
Dragon Questis as classic as RPGs come. WhileFinal Fantasyhas reinvented itself time and time again,Dragon Questkeeps its update subtle– ensuring the core of the series’ appeal is always intact while giving each main installment some unique flarings.Dragon Quest VIIIis the heart of the series’ storytelling meets the presentation ofFinal Fantasy.
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Complete with the series’ classic gameplay,Dragon Quest VIIIis more epic in scope than previous entries, telling an incredibly endearing story full of laughs, tears, and more than enough drama to go around.Dragon Quest VIIIwas remade for the 3DS, but the remake isn’t necessarily better.
7Final Fantasy XII
It’s hard to pick betweenFinal Fantasy XandFinal Fantasy XII, but when it comes purely, the latter is better written and tells a far more nuanced tale.Final Fantasy XIIhas a literary quality that other entries in the franchise tend to lack. Vaan himself is often disregarded as a poor protagonist when he should be seen as gaming’s Ishmael.
Final Fantasy XIItells a politically charged story that doesn’t shy away from themes of class, or race. Ivalice is one ofFinal Fantasy’s most in-depth world, andXIImakes incredible use of it– fleshing out the land considerably, from the scope of politics to Ivalice’s history. The writing notably stumbles into the last act, but the script remains strong &XIIends well enough.
6Kingdom Hearts
TheKingdom Heartsfranchise has become something of a punching bag in recent years, in large part due to its increasingly convoluted narrative. While fans following along will be quick to note how the story does make use of internal logic, the narrative’s core concepts have only become more abstract– and not in a good way. It’s like night and day going back to the originalKingdom Hearts.
A classic coming of age story, there’s a Disney-like quality both to the characters’ dialogue and pacing. The cinematography is particularly strong for an early PS2 game, with excellent voice direction throughout. The originalKingdom Heartskeeps its scope small, sets its sights on adventure, and actually serves as an example of bildungsroman in gaming– Sora’s developing relationship with “Heart” & “Light” an inherently spiritual one.
5Odin Sphere
Vanillaware has been on the quiet side in recent years, which is a particular shame as they churn out some of the highest quality games in the medium. Their PlayStation 2 masterpiece,Odin Sphere, tells one of the greatest stories in gaming, taking great influence from Richard Wagner’s epic music dramaDer Ring des Nibelungenand the themes present in the plays & sonnets of William Shakespeare.
Odin Sphereis an RPG for the well read, and tells a beautiful story that’ll sit with you long after credits have rolled.Odin Spherewas notably remade for the PS3, PS4, & Vita asOdin Sphere Leifthrasir. WhileLeifraiseris one of the best remakes ever made, the original PS2 release has its charm (but is also included in the remake so just buy that.)
4Persona 3
LikeShin Megami Tensei,Personahas a reputation for strong storytelling. AlthoughPersona 4and5tell engaging stories, they’re not quite on the same level asPersona 3.The game itself is stylized around the theme of death, but the actual narrative focuses heavily on overcoming trauma through solidarity, with plenty of emotional moments throughout.
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Persona 3also arguably features the best cast in the series. SEES aren’t all friends, and there is some animosity within the group that needs to be worked through. As a result, every single party member keeps their relevance up through the end of the game– somethingP4&5fail to do.Persona 3notably features a lack of party control on the PS2, but this only adds to the immersion and makes combat more strategic.
3Radiata Stories
Tri-Ace in general is a fairly underrated RPG studio, andRadiata Storiesmight very well be the most underrated game in their catalogue. A PS2 exclusive,Radiata Storiesfocuses on a country bumpkin who wants nothing more to become a knight. By the midpoint, Jack finds himself torn between siding with or against humanity in a grand war.
Despite its premise,Radiata Storieshas a great sense of humor about itself. At the same time, it never shies away from drama and both endings serve as fantastic conclusions to the game. Rounded out by Tri-Ace’s trademark action RPG gameplay and dozens upon dozens of recruitable party members,Radiata Storiesis an unforgettable experience.
2Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time
Another Tri-Ace action RPG, Till the End of Timeis the third mainline entry in their flagshipStar Oceanfranchise. The RPG features some of the best combat and dungeon design in the franchise, but it’s rounded out by a fairly controversial story. What’s set up as a standardStar Oceanplot derails into an existentialist examination of man’s relationship with God by the last act.
The way in which this theme is explored is particularly controversial, but without spoiling, it plays upon the video game medium in the way only a video game could. That in itself is important as it helps the audience feel their microscopic role in the context of a Creator figure.
1Tales Of The Abyss
As a franchise,Tales oftends to do a good job with developing its assorted core casts while telling compelling stories with interesting villains.Tales of the Abyssfollows suit, but it tackles its story with a greater maturity than most other entries in the franchise– juggling themes of identity, depression, and moral relativism with a surprising amount of tact.
Tales of the Abyss’ cast is also unique for the genre, rounded out by a group many might deem “unlikable” on a surface level, but they end up with some of the best development in the franchise– protagonist Luke especially.
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