The PlayStation 2 has a wealthy catalog of video games throughout many genres, together with anime. Anime and video games got here collectively usually throughout the PS2’s period of greatness, spawning some implausible and memorable titles. The very best PS2 anime video games usually have a substantial degree of nostalgia issue for them.
The very best PlayStation 2 anime video games additionally excel with regards to capturing the thought of the anime in query however in an interactive kind. This might present within the recreation’s visible type or the precise gameplay itself. A number of the greatest PlayStation 2 anime video games we love didn’t begin as anime however as video games after which later obtained an anime adaptation. Regardless, anime and PS2 house owners alike ought to try these greatest PlayStation 2 anime titles.
1. Persona 3 FES
Atlus crafted this grim and unforgettable turn-based JRPG for the PS2. It encompasses a group of highschool college students, referred to as SEES, who attempt to cease the mysterious Darkish Hour. Its sensible forged of sophisticated characters and its every day calendar development system really feel like an anime TV present with a number of seasons in online game kind. In truth, it later spawned an anime film adaptation collection.
2. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3
The story mode on this in any other case conventional sideways preventing recreation helps it stand out essentially the most. It accommodates the whole lot of the principle plot and main moments from throughout the Dragon Ball Z anime inside the Dragon Universe story mode. The freeform exploration of particular distinguished locales, like planet Namek, provides it an interactive anime really feel.
3. Monster Rancher 4
Although three monster-collecting RPG video games existed earlier than this title, the fourth one felt the closest to the precise Pokémon knock-off anime collection. Gamers collect monsters, practice them on their ranches, after which use them to struggle in tournaments. We love how meta it will get, too, with gamers in a position to scan DVDs of their PS2 to acquire numerous monsters. So, theoretically, gamers may scan a DVD of the Monster Rancher anime to get their monsters.
4. .hack//An infection
The .hack collection challenge from Bandai Namco feels in contrast to anything in gaming and anime. Simultaneous anime reveals and video games launched across the similar time within the early 2000s, with some titles (like this one) coming with an precise DVD with anime episodes. It helps, too, that the precise recreation feels so enjoyable to play with its adherence to gamers performing like a participant inside a fictional MMORPG.
5. Naruto: Final Ninja
This commonplace 2D preventing recreation adaptation of the Naruto collection has the whole lot going for it, from the devoted anime-like artwork type to the totally different shinobi preventing mechanics between the characters. Solely 12 playable characters exist within the slim roster, however every individual feels much like their anime variations.
6. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
This 3D enviornment fighter contained one of many largest rosters of playable characters on the time. Gamers who love the Dragon Ball Z anime may just about play as anybody they wished to, from the extra common characters like Tremendous Saiyan Trunks all the way in which all the way down to extra obscure individuals like Devilman. It appears like a celebration of the whole collection from begin to end.
7. Cellular Go well with Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon
This 3D motion recreation has a gritty and life like type, which appears like a correct illustration of the unique mecha anime. Every cellular swimsuit gamers management feels and appears prefer it ought to. The very best half about this recreation comes from the house battles, which replicate a number of the most iconic moments from the struggle between Zeon and the Federation.
8. Tremendous Dragon Ball Z
Many individuals know the opposite extra well-known 3D enviornment preventing video games primarily based on Dragon Ball Z, however this one additionally has our hearts. It has a stunning artwork type, which appears to be like a lot nearer to the precise anime collection than every other recreation on the time on the PS2. The extra conventional preventing recreation mechanics additionally give it a aggressive depth we like.
9. .hack//G.U. vol. 1//Rebirth
This recreation concurrently offers an interactive model of its anime counterpart whereas additionally feeling like an MMORPG however for a single participant. Its world-building and lore really feel unbelievable, with many alternative NPCs operating round, performing like actual individuals. It usually appears like gamers exist as a single individual inside an enormous anime collection about murders in a online game.
10. One Piece: Grand Battle
This preventing recreation follows Monkey D. Luffy and his journey to change into king of the pirates and discover the One Piece. It performs out in a conventional preventing recreation method however with a twist. As an alternative of displaying one-to-one 3D recreations of the 2D anime characters, it opts for a extra chibi-like model of every pirate. This provides the sport a singular type, which works properly.
11. Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse Of The Crimson Elixir
This motion RPG captures the magic-like concept of alchemy from this anime collection faithfully, giving the principle characters, Edward and Alphonse, a number of abilities to make use of within the thrilling fight. The brilliant cel-shaded graphical type holds up properly even now and appears fairly much like the anime.
12. Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated
This Ghost within the Shell recreation appears to be like implausible with a 3D rendition of the cyberpunk anime collection that also holds up properly right now. It additionally has an authentic story that includes two playable characters and campaigns set between a few the anime collection, which makes it a must-play for present followers.
13. Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked
This 2006 PS2 anime recreation adapts Samurai Champloo in a sensible method. Although many anime video games concentrate on retelling the identical story, it facilities round an authentic plot set in the course of the anime following the identical forged of samurai characters. This makes it really feel extra important to the anime whereas additionally containing some stable motion fight with stellar particular results.
14. Gungrave
This third-person shooter obtained an anime adaptation quickly after its launch. Extra importantly, the precise PS2 recreation itself had assist from legendary anime creators, comparable to Yasuhiro Nightow (Trigun) and Kōsuke Fujishima (Oh My Goddess!). This reveals within the precise graphical type of this recreation, which appears to be like like an interactive 3D anime with its fascinating artwork type.
15. Duel Masters
The unique anime this recreation bases itself on usually appears like a copycat of Yu-Gi-Oh, however the recreation works out higher ultimately. The buying and selling card recreation reveals the precise monsters as 3D figures preventing it out in arenas every time gamers play their playing cards, relatively than a flat card on a floor. This offers a extra anime-like and welcome presentation than different comparable anime card video games.
16. MS Saga: A New Daybreak
This welcome and underrated Cellular Go well with Gundam title removes the extra action-packed mech fights of different comparable video games for a conventional turn-based RPG expertise. This works properly, letting the motion decelerate for a concentrate on story and characters like the numerous Gundam anime, and in addition sensible mech customization.
17. Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles
Most Naruto video games take the ninja anime and make it a preventing recreation. However some exceptions exist, comparable to this welcome 3D action-adventure recreation. It feels extra just like the anime in exploring the ninja world and occurring adventures very similar to Workforce 7 and the opposite playable characters do within the collection.
18. Digimon Rumble Enviornment 2
This wacky anime preventing recreation appears like one of the efficient methods to seize the fights between Digimon. It performs out loosely by way of motion and assaults, much like the Tremendous Smash Bros. collection in a method. It nonetheless has its personal identification from the anime, although, comparable to Digimon evolution.
19. Blood Will Inform
Many individuals know the well-known manga and anime creator Tezuka Osamu for his work on the legendary Astro Boy, however his manga and anime collection Dororo may steal our hearts extra for its grim and emotional story of a handicapped warrior who goes on a journey for revenge. The sport splits itself into 9 devoted elements, telling the story in a ample method whereas additionally letting gamers hack and slash their method by means of enemies with the simplistic however enjoyable fight.
20. Lupin the third: Treasure of the Sorcerer King
This adaptation of the notorious fictional thief has a singular strategy to its recreation with a stealth-based expertise. The graphics look a bit blurry right now, however they arrive near the anime films and collection this recreation comes from. The stealth style makes plenty of sense for a recreation a couple of thief, which helps it stand out among the many many PS2 anime titles.
21. Persona 4
Like its predecessor, Atlus’ Persona 4 obtained an anime adaptation after its launch. The anime model of this recreation will get the purpose throughout of its story, however the precise recreation itself nonetheless stays one of the simplest ways to expertise the story of the excessive schoolers investigating serial murders of their small city. The just about episodic nature of every case and disappearance elevates this story and forged above different comparable JRPGs.
22. Bakugan Battle Brawlers
This PS2 adaptation of the motion anime collection got here out in 2009, lengthy after the discharge of the PS3. This implies some gamers missed out on this very late PS2 anime recreation. It interprets the lovable little robotic Bakugan creatures of the principle anime to recreation kind properly, altering up the foundations and elegance of the sport so it is smart in an interactive kind.
23. Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monster Coliseum
Yu-Gi-Oh video video games usually concentrate on the favored buying and selling card recreation from the principle anime collection. Nevertheless, this technique board game-like expertise on the PS2 focuses on the sport items relatively than playing cards. This degree of technique feels a bit extra action-packed at occasions than throwing down flat playing cards, which affords an expertise extra akin to the anime’s battles.
24. Tales of the Abyss
This entry within the Bandai Namco motion RPG collection later obtained a 26-episode anime. Although the anime captures the story and characters properly, the core PS2 expertise nonetheless stands out as one of the simplest ways to expertise the story of Luke and his buddies. The hack-and-slash fight has some button-mashing components to it, however the arc of the principle character, Luke, appears like an interactive anime collection.
