Summary
The PlayStation brand has a long-lasting legacy with horror games, as the PS1 was home to some of the industry’s most iconic and influential titles in the genre. FromResident EviltoSilent Hill, the PS1 was synonymous with revolutionary horror experiences, a trend that continued with thePlayStation 2. But much like the console that preceded it, the PS2 also hada selection of horror gamesthat never made it to America.
Thanks to the spectacular advancement in console hardware that Sony made, the leap in quality from the PS1 to PS2 was extraordinary. The horror genre was able to benefit from this in some pretty remarkable ways, and while these games never made it to US shores, they were still able to tap into the new hardware. With the jump in graphical fidelity, the ability to scare the player became a lot easier, and these games took full advantage of that.
5Forbidden Siren 2
Gripping Tale Of Haunted Island Still Hasn’t Seen US Release
Despite the first game launching in the US to good reviews and decent sales, the sequel to 2003’sSirendid not receive a North American release. Known asForbidden Siren 2, this terrifying sequel follows a group of characters who are trapped on Yamijima island in the 1970s, as well as a journalist in contemporary times who is attempting to uncover the truth about what happened.
Forbidden Siren 2is an ambitious game, one that features numerous different scenarios and gameplay styles. The combination of slow, stalking horror meshes brilliantly with the more action-focused sections featuring a squad of soldiers who crash-land on the island. Even after numerous requests,Forbidden Siren 2was never released in America, which is a shame as it’s one of theconsole’s most interesting horror games.
4Michigan: Report From Hell
Innovative Horror Game Features TV Camera Operator As Protagonist
Released at the tail end of the PS2’s life,Michigan: Report from Hellis a very different horror game where players control a TV camera operator amid a strange event where mist begins to envelop Chicago. The initial idea wasdeveloped by industry icon Suda51, featuring his trademark use of dark humor and oddball characters.
Report from Hellis a fascinating game, one with a clever set-up where if the reporter dies, the player continues on with another. Featuring some fun puzzles to solve and a host of monsters to confront, it also has some wonderfully corny dialogue and writing. It feels right at home in the era, and despite not being released in America, is still worth tracking down.
3Glass Rose
Point-And-Click Horror Game Still Unreleased In America
Influenced by vintage horror films,Glass Rosewas developed as a PS2 exclusive point-and-click adventure game. Its story follows a reporter in the year 2003, who is transported back to the year 1929 to explore a haunted mansion and its dark secrets.
Featuring a brilliant, atmospheric musical score andexcellent point-and-click gameplay, this off-beat PS2 horror game is one of the console’s most bizarre releases. That said,Glass Roseis a great bit of goofy fun these days and its horror relies largely on a surreal sense of otherworldly oddities. It was released in PAL regions roughly a year later, but an American release sadly never materialized.
2Shadow Tower Abyss
FromSoftware PS2 Horror RPG Remains Exclusive To Japa
While FromSoftware’sKing’s Fieldtapped into a traditional fantasy setting with dragons, wizards, and knights, they also worked on a spiritual successor known asShadow Tower. However, while the first game came out in America on the PS1, the PS2 sequel never made it out of Japan.
Released asShadow Tower Abyss, this horror-themed spin-off series featured grotesque monsters and a dark, uneasy atmosphere that was perfectly at home on the PS2’s commitment to mature experiences. Despite plans for an English release by Agetec that was nearly complete, it was axed by Sony and unfortunately remains without an official American release.
1Phase Paradox
Best described asResident Evilin space,Phase Paradoxis a first-party horror title developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Featuring three playable characters, thisoutstanding survival horror gamefocuses on a derelict spaceship known as the Gallant, and their quest to survive a ship full of mysterious monsters and a crew gone mad.
The pre-rendered backgrounds are a delight, and the lack of any distinct, memorable music adds an eerie bit of suspense to the whole affair.Phase Paradoxplays like a typical survival horror experience, with a cast of likable protagonists attempting to make it out of a harrowing situation in one piece, and even features English VO with Japanese subtitles. Why it never made it out of Japan is still a mystery, but it is absolutely worth playing today.
