The PS3 offered some downloadable PS2 games but there weren’t a lot and they weren’t enhanced in any way. This changed with an even more concise collection on the PS4. Games likeDark Cloud 2,PaRappa the Rapper 2, andOkage: Shadow Kingwere visually enhanced using the power of the PS4.
The PS5 is offering a newselection of PS2 gameson top of the PS4 games that came out before. Many of these have not been available to buy without spending a pretty penny on discs for years. That’s why emulation is so important to retro game fans. Let’s see what cool new PS2 games players can get on their PS5.
Ghosthunter, from the title alone, should clue players in that this was an attempt to makea copyright-freeGhostbustersgame. Besides capturing ghosts, that series was known for being funny so the developers cast funny man Rob Paulsen to be the lead of the incredibly named Lazarus Jones. 90s kids will recognize Paulsen from dozens of cartoons including Yakko in theAnimaniacsand Raphael in the originalTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlescartoon.
He did some game work too, but rarely as the lead. Casting him as Lazarus fits well as he is a fast-talking jokester rookie detective who stumbles into an old school and accidentally releases ghosts from a contamination unit. Players have to try and recapture them by shooting spirits to weaken them and then chucking a grenade to seal their doom. It’s a weird first-party Sony game to be sure but it’s great more players get to discover it now that it is emulated on the PS5.
Mister Mosquitoisanother bizarre titlethat is amazing to see re-released again. It’s about a Japanese family, the Yamada’s, who are terrorized by the titular Mister Mosquito one summer. The gameplay is like a cross betweenStar FoxandShadow of the Colossusas players have free range to fly around a room in a given level.
The goal is to find a weak point on one of the Yamada’s to suck blood from like the daughter, Rena, is in the first stage. If players are spotted, these giant humans will attempt to kill Mister Mosquito. Again, it’s an unconventional game but everyone should try it at least once. What would truly be amazing is if Sony would help bring over the sequel that was never translated out of Japanese calledKa 2: Let’s Go Hawaii.
SkyGunneris another flying game but this one is more conventional compared toMister Mosquito. A peaceful island city is invaded one day by a series of airships and planes looking to start a war. Players can engage as either Femme or Ciel at the start of the adventure.
What’s interesting is that Femme is framed as the Easy mode while Ciel is more normalized. Controls overall are solid though from the gun turrets to the lock-on system to performing loop-de-loops to avoid damage. It’s also a more lighthearted aerial combat game with a fun, anime aesthetic that fits well withAtlus as a publisherback in the early 2000s. In Japan, it was actually published by Sony.
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonuswas one of Sucker Punch’s first big hits before theycreated theinFAMOUSandGhost offranchises. The PS2 had the more traditional platformer with Jak and Daxter and then Ratchet and Clank added guns to the mix.Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonuswas all about stealth, something the genre did not attempt in a big way up to this point.
If the titular Sly was caught, he could be killed in a single hit. He was not unarmed though as his sickle doubled as a weapon besides being an ace thievery tool. Thankfully, the controls were easy enough to get used to, making the stealth gameplay easy to achieve. The entire trilogy was remastered on the PS3 but this new port on the PS5 is just emulating the PS2 version.
TheentireTimeSplitterstrilogydropped on the same day on the PS5 which was great news for fans who have been teased remasters and sequels for seemingly decades now. While not complete work-ups, these emulated versions should excite fans and invite new players in. Of the three,TimeSplitters 2is ranked the best according to fan feedback and reviews from back in the day.
The game is about a crack team of agents who have to stop aliens from messing up time through various eras. For example, the first mission took place in 1990 in Siberia. Stealth is encouraged but rarely enforced as players can usually go into each level with guns blazing. Other levels include treks through Chicago and Notre Dame as well as the future.
TheTomb Raiderfranchisewas in a weird place following the PS1 games. The first big PS2 title,Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, did not review well so the series went dark for a couple of years.Tomb Raider: Legendwas a soft reboot, going back to a younger Lara. Also, controls were better integrated, getting rid of the tank controls of old. These were all great steps to right the wrongs of that previous entry.
Lara felt more fluid from her jumps, swings, and diving abilities. Combat was also upgraded with a good targeting system and environments often had traps to trigger. For example, Lara could use her grappling hook to knock a pillar down to thwart some mercenaries. It’s a great addition to the PS5’s classics collection and THE game in theTomb Raiderseries that fans of Sony’s Uncharted franchise should check out.
