Whenever a company tries to introduce a new system to the market, rarely does it find a place in the ecosystem. This was not the case for Sony and the PS1 which created a lasting legacy. The PS2 outdid the PS1’s numbers which led to the system being the best-selling console for decades until Nintendo announced in 2024 that they surpassed its sales with the Nintendo Switch.
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Even if that’s true, it’s an incredible accomplishment to be that well-regarded years after its place in the limelight. So, in recognition of the PS2’s compelling history, let’s look back to the origins when it was released on October 26, 2000 in North America and see what the launch games were and if they hold up today. They will be ranked based on lasting appeal.
7
Summoner
A Decent Launch RPG
Summoner
- Released
-
October 26, 2000
Summoner is better known for being the stepping stone to a better game: Summoner 2. While the sequel is better in every way, the first entry got some things right for a launch game. The action, while a bit more complicated than most, was satisfying and the inclusion of summonable minions helped it stand out from other contemporaries be it from the West or East. The story went to some interesting places but it did take a bit to get going. Overall, while it may be dated in some areas and the sequel is better, the 2024 HD port of Summoner to the PS5 helps make it a more playable RPG by today’s standards.
6
Dynasty Warriors 2
Where The Series Took A Turn
- Franchise
-
Dynasty Warriors
- Released
-
October 26, 2000
- Publisher(s)
-
Koei
- Engine
-
game engine
- ESRB
-
t // Animated Violence
Most may not know this but Dynasty Warriors began as a fighting game on the PS1. Dynasty Warriors 2 is where the series added the more traditional hack and slash gameplay with Musou abilities. The rest, as they say, is history as this sequel changed the franchise forever.
7:46
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Set in the warring era of Chinese history, players could take on the role of dozens of characters and fight through giant battlefields. While not as impressive today given that Dynasty Warriors: Origins could probably hold the entire game in just one stage on PS5, Dynasty Warriors 2 should still be remembered and even played today to understand the true origin point.
5
Armored Core 2
Far From The Second Game
Action
Third-Person Shooter
- Franchise
-
Armored Core
- Released
-
October 24, 2000
- Publisher(s)
-
Agetec
- Multiplayer
-
Local Multiplayer
- Engine
-
Elden Ring engine
- ESRB
-
t // Animated Violence
- How Long To Beat
-
11 Hours
Armored Core 2 is not the second game in the series by a long shot as there were three entries on the PS1. Armored Core is where the series took its next big leap forward though and into a new generation of consoles. The gameplay was snappier and players had more to work with on their mechs. The story was still a light point in the design, but players were always in it for the mech action anyway. Even the latest entry decades later, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, doesn’t have a big story. This was not FromSoftware’s only launch game on the PS2 though as they also had Eternal Ring and EverGrace which are not great RPGs to look back on.
4
Midnight Club: Street Racing
Rockstar Focuses On Racing
Midnight Club: Street Racing
- Released
-
October 26, 2000
Before Rockstar made a giant statement on the PS2 with Grand Theft Auto 3, they had Midnight Club: Street Racing. It took out the middleman from past Grand Theft Auto games to focus on the racing although there was a story too. Any entry inthe Midnight Club series features better racing than any Grand Theft Auto game on the PS2: it’s that good. Street racing never looked and played so well on the system and things would only get better. Unfortunately, this game was never remastered and the franchise has been kind of dead for a while.
3
Tekken Tag Tournament
No Number, Still Brutal
- Released
-
1999
- Developer(s)
-
Namco
- Publisher(s)
-
Namco
- Multiplayer
-
Local Multiplayer
- Engine
-
Unreal Engine 5
- ESRB
-
t
- How Long To Beat
-
1.5 Hours
- Number of Players
-
1-4
Tekken ruled the fighting arena on the PS1 with three main titles. Fans were eagerly anticipating Tekken 4 but got this spinoff instead: Tekken Tag Tournament. While the game was not as exciting as seeing a numbered sequel, it was still an impressive leap forward in technology that tided fans over for two years. The character roster was there, the stages were varied, and the brief story segments were memorable. Tekken Tag Tournament was never ported or remastered in a meaningful way but Bandai Namco hasn’t been great about updating their past Tekken entries overall.
2
SSX
A Reinvention Of Cool Boarders
SSX (2000)
- Franchise
-
SSX
- Released
-
October 30, 2000
- Developer(s)
-
EA Canada
- Multiplayer
-
Local Multiplayer
- Engine
-
game engine
- ESRB
-
e
- How Long To Beat
-
10 Hours
Cool Boarders was the exclusive PS1 snowboarding series that thrived on the system. That wasn’t the case on the PS2 as SSX, via EA, dominated the platform. SSX Tricky was the peak, but SSX can still throw down with the best snowboarding games out there today.
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The slopes ranged from cool to “Oh my god I’m going to die” and the music really cemented it as a hit. It was the snowboarding game that elevated the sport to new levels just like how Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater made skateboarding infinitely more appealing. If only players could leap onto the slopes with this game on the PS5 today.
1
TimeSplitters
If Back To The Future Were A Shooter
- Released
-
October 23, 2000
- Publisher(s)
-
Eidos Interactive
- Multiplayer
-
Local Multiplayer
- ESRB
-
T For Teen // Blood, Language, Violence
- How Long To Beat
-
6 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
-
Premium
- Number of Players
-
1-4
TimeSplitters, like many launch games, can be thanked for starting what would become one of the greatest trilogies on the PS2. Unfortunately, despite numerous tries, a fourth game still hasn’t been made. That’s okay though as the entire trilogy was at least ported to the PS5 in 2024. With certain memberships, this and the other two games can be played through in a weekend and they’re still all bangers. The idea of a first-person shooter about time traveling is still a novel one and it doesn’t get any wackier than the first TimeSplitters.
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