Forgotten PS2 RPGs
Вставка
- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- The PS2 is one of the greatest consoles of all time, with a ton of incredible rpgs! Join TVGS as I list and discuss ten of the most over looked and forgotten PS2 rpgs the system ever received. Many lesser known and under appreciated role playing games released for for the Playstation 2 so let me know your most obscure unknown and forgotten PS2 games down below!
Join us on Discord - / discord
All of my PS2 videos can be found here - tinyurl.com/ps...
Support the channel on Patreon to enter giveaways and receive exclusive content, for $1 per month! - / tvgs
• ⬇ Follow Me Here ⬇ •
Twitter - / thevgshow
Twitch - / thatvgshow
Facebook - / thatvideogamesshow
Instagram - / thatvgshow
• ⬇ More Episodes ⬇ •
GBA Playlist - tinyurl.com/gb...
PS1 Playlist - tinyurl.com/Pl...
PS3 Playlist - tinyurl.com/ps...
PS2 Playlist - tinyurl.com/ps...
PS4 Playlist - tinyurl.com/ps...
PSP Playlist - tinyurl.com/ps...
DS Playlist - tinyurl.com/ND...
Gamecube Playlist - tinyurl.com/ga...
Xbox 360 Playlist - tinyurl.com/36...
3DS Playlist - tinyurl.com/3d...
SNES Playlist - tinyurl.com/sn...
Switch Playlist - tinyurl.com/sw...
Vita Playlist - tinyurl.com/vi...
Wii Playlist - tinyurl.com/wi...
Dreamcast Playlist - tinyurl.com/dr...
Best system ever.
I’ll second that!
I agree with both of y’all 110%
To this day,still my fav system
I’ll second that!
Same!
It’s hard to beat the PS2 extensive catalog, and it’s extremely hard to beat the memories I have with games from that gen when they were fresh.
same! still got my old ps2 hooked up, been playin .hack for the first time recently! something nostalgic about laying in bed and playin ps2.
Until switch
Rogue Galaxy is a good game, there are a lot of things to do, frog log, hunt log, factory, it does get annoying at times with the characters telling you to take a break. It did get a release on the PSN for the PS4. It's one game that I would like to see a remaster of
Radiata was everything in my childhood! I ended it with nonhuman side and later i gave memory card to my friend who erased everything. I was devastated.Will replay it soon and will do both endings for sure cuz i simply must!
Good job hitting radiata stories. That was the most underrated PS2 game. Sticks with me to this day.
Yeah, that game is so unique I still often think about it and keep hoping to see something like it again one day.
One of the very few games, where every single npc is an actual character... It's really groundbreaking...
@@Beavernator Sadly I dont think something like that has ever been done again. Each one was also rather unique and some required a lot of work to get to join you.
@@nobalkain624 Usually you have to go the Dungeons and Dragons or Warhammer 40k route to have super detailed npc's, but the videogames are never up to the task... Radiata is THE game I send those fans to...
I've played it too back then, one of the best PS2 JRPG in my book. And Oh boy, I do enjoy a game where u can interact by kicking everything
The character portraits in Stella Deus looked so familiar so I looked it up and, lo and behold, it was the first major Atlus game the artist for all the modern Persona games worked on
Kazuma Kaneko?
@@ianheart5587 They probably mean Shigenoru Soejima, I'm pretty sure Kaneko was mainly the designer for the demons, while Soejima was in charge of character designs
@@axllow3914 He wrote ..first major Atlus'', and it was Kazuma Kaneko, not Soejima (jn3157 - neo Persona fan detected). Kaneko was in Atlus from 1989 to 2009 (SMT Strange Journey on DS was his last game in Atlus), Soejima started in Atlus in 1997 (SMT Devil Summoner Soul Hackers was his first work in Atlus).
@@nr2676 I see, thanks for the data.
Rogue Galaxy is one of the best unknown PS2 game I've played at the time, it was really an awesome experience.
Rogue galaxy does alot of things right, I wouldn't call it unknown though. alot of these are well known midling known games. Stella and I'd say Dual Hearts and Radiata Stories are less known games. But Rogue Galaxy, I'm sure that game effected alot of games in the development world it did advanced things for its time like costume changes and upgradable weapons systems, it took the mixing mechanic from the dragon Quest series and streamlined it which appeared in things like Ni No Kuni.
I'd say if you want really unkown games one would be Okage the Shadow King.
that one RPG about that guy that dies and becomes a ghost, and he starts possessing people to preform their daily tasks so that he can move on. I forget what that game's called I saw in in one of my local gamestores recently though. It's worth like 300 dollars which is funny because while I would say it's unknown it's also not one of the best games mechanically and deserves its unknown stats, it is unique though. Rogue galaxy though feels very influential.
I was lucky and got a copy of it brand new while it was on shelves. I still own it today.
I ended up buying a PS2 slim one day while I was on my work break and I picked up that game just before the next generation came out. I wasn’t a huge gamer at the time but my old PS2 broke a couple years prior and I never got around to getting a new one till then. Probably because I wanted to buy something with the money I earned from my first job haha. I fully finished that game at the time and then when it got added on the PS4 games list, I bought it and played it again earning the trophies. Such a good game.
Rogue Galaxy and Vagrant Story are the two games I want a remake of the most.
Also MS Saga - New Dawn, very underated
I absolutely loved Radiata Stories. I remember being so excited for its release, going to GameStop when it came out, and playing religiously. Beautiful characters and story. The game is silly, aware of itself, but can be quite emotional when the story calls for it. Highly recommend playing that game.
I loved Jade Cocoon 2. It had a really unique, eerie atmosphere. Most monster collecting games at the time focused on the cute designs, but Jade Cocoon 2 was all about messing with monster anatomy(glowing eyes, spindly limbs, detatched heads).
Growlanser is one of those series I've always wanted to try but can never seem to find it physically in "the wild". Radiata is the #1 ps2 RPG in my book. I love the fact that the NPCs have task they do through the day. Every city and castle just seems so alive.
Radiata Stories is my all time favorite game and it's a shame it's relatively unknown
Thanks for these videos man! I'm glad to see people remember the jrpgs that very few do. Shadow Hearts FTNW is (to me) absolutely fantastic and not enough people have played it lol
The makers of the original just started a kickstarter YESTERDAY to make a spiritual sequel... It looks GREAT!!!
@@Beavernator Which , hopefully , won't look anything like FTNW because it was awfull ...
Glad to see Radiata Stories on that list!
One of my favorite game, but barely anyone played it!
It did amazing in Japan but not in the states unfortunately :(
You don’t know the definition of maximum comfy until you play Radiata Stories.
Big one I wanna see talked about is Legaia 2 Duel Saga. Incredible music, solid visuals, engaging and unique combat system, and a good story and cast make it a must play in my eyes
Your channel is the most underrated so far. I love going through your content. It is a newded change of pace from the other videos I watch
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoy it 🙂
Radiata Stories is one of the most underrated RPGs ever!
Radiata Stories was such an underrated game honestly, it had so many unique mechanics from being able to recruit like 90% of the characters in the game, to having a real time schedule for npcs or even being able to fight literally anyone by kicking them in the overworld.
I just love hearing your voice. It's so distinctive
Thanks! 😅
Shadow Hearts FTNW is such an underrated game. Battle System and OST are perfect. A shame that it lost the gothic and horror elements that featured SH1 and Covenant, but still, it's a pretty fun game.
I loved this game. Liked the guy that makes swords out of everything.
im sorry SH2C is by far better than FTNW.
I have only played the 1st one which is amazing, but I believe the theme change is indeed one of the main reasons why the 3rd game isn't near as well liked. The new cast of characters I think is another reason. The devs were probably trying to keep things fresh by changing it up a little. That's not a bad idea at all, but there were a couple of problems. For one thing, the series didn't need to be freshened up yet. Fans were still very happy with the series as it was and were certainly not growing tired of it after only 2 games in. Also, it's best to keep things fresh by adding something new to the game, not by changing the game. Any changes should be minor, otherwise you risk alienating the fan base as they unfortunately did. People loved the series as it was. You do not fix what isn't broken.
Will always be overshadowed and outshined by shadow hearts covenant. SH:C is just too good.
I was ecstatic to see someone mentioning Rogue Galaxy. An absolutely fantastic game, and one I will never forget. Thank you for bringing awareness to it!
Radiata Stories is truly a gem
One of the greats!
Shame there are no sequel or any game that adopted it's gameplay.
I love it, but to this day I hate the two endings... (They just didn't feel rewarding at all. And I know thoughtful sad endings can be done right. Like Terranigma's ending which was poignant and Epic, but bittersweet).
@@mikeluna2026 beast ending or human ending? Both makes no sense at all. Beast ending led to human extinction while human ending killed your best friend Gantz and love interest Ridley. Well all ending also killed Gantz in a brutal fashion but still can't justified how the ending it just makes more suffering than satisfaction.
@@hartantoanggoro I already knew the endings, but in general, on a video like this, spoilers are discouraged... Game is old, but these kinds of videos are supposed to encourage people to give them a try, soo....
Don't get fooled by the cutesy look of Radiata Stories. It's gut wrenching.
I played Grandia Extreme first so I have a soft spot for it and really enjoy it. The gameplay is still a blast, the story just isn't up to par for the first 2 games. Rogue Galaxy is an absolute blast and Im glad its finally received a bit of recognition. Level 5 used to make such fun action RPGs, wish they'd make more of them.
Seeing Ephemeral Fantasia, Radiata Stories, and Jade Cocoon was a trip to the past definitely needed. "Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits" and "Legaia 2" came to mind while watching this, rarely do people know either of them exist, and both have great combat systems. PS2 really was chocked full of awesome RPGs.
Side Note: Watching Jade Cocoon also makes me want to go and play "Monster Seed" from PS1, one of my favorite monster catch games. Highly fking recommend.
i really want a remake of radiata stories. Such a great game
Ephemeral Fantasia is one of my absolute favorite games. It's so good. And I had a ton of fun learning the songs
Inuyasha secret of the cursed mask was also another fun rpg at the time! ^^
Arc the Lad: Twilight of Spirits, one of the most underrated RPGs I've ever played.
I never beat it but I loved it.
It's a shame that it got such a lackluster localisation in Germany, Maru's voice was pure agony for my ears.
It warms my heart to see someone remembering Jade Cocoon 2 existed.
This was a great video to watch! I love Ephemeral Fantasia. It's one of the most misunderstood and interesting rpg's I've ever played.
Glad you enjoyed the video!
@@thatvideogamesshow 👍
Rogue Galaxy is so great. Everything you mentioned is fantastic, and you didn't even mention the factory line weapon upgrading minigame! I love puzzle games and programming games and that one scratched an early itch I didn't even know I had until it came around.
Timestamps in the description to create chapters would greatly improve your videos. Thanks for the recommendations, I'll definitely have to try some of these out!
Yeah, but a bet he doesn't add them to make his videos pathetically long.
Yea because you kids don’t have the attention span to sit through a UA-cam video
These vid are sooo dang helpful... I have a MASSIVE collection I built over the decades for my kids, that becomes impossible to figure out what to actually play... These help significantly with narrowing down a decision to play an otherwise obscure game on my shelves... So, thanks!!! You make great videos... 👍
Fun fact, Shadow hearts takes place in the same world as Koudelka. You even visit the main location from Koudelka in the game and meet some characters. Koudelka also plays a minor but important role in Shadowhearts 1
Wasn't she the mother of one of the cast in SH? In my mind Koudelka was part of the SH series, ignoring the different name and system.
I loved Ephemeral Fantasia despite its many problems. It was unique in its style of gameplay. It had a great story, colorful characters, and a good pacing.
I did find it interesting that the group who attempted to write the official strategy guide rage quit on the account that the game was just too difficult. Most of it was related to the time loop element.
In Shadow Hearts: Covenant and FTNW the background shouldn't be black for the judgement ring part, that's an emulator problem with GPU rendering in PCSX2. You should run the Shadow Hearts games in Software Renderer.
Ephemeral Fantasia is one of those games that no one I have met or talked to has any idea what it is, I felt at one point like I was the only person who had actually played that game.
Even so it is still easily one of my favourite RPGs
I have a copy from long ago when I was buying random games at gamestop. I like the idea behind it, but the six day cycle not having any kind of direction or way to keep track of things made it a bit too frustrating for me.
Any video that hits on Growlanser in any capacity is an A+ in my book, even if they're critical.
Out of all these PS2 games on this list, I have only played 2 of them in my life Shadow Hearts From The new World, and Radiata Stories, I only got about halfway though the Shadow Hearts game because the video store I rented it from closed a few years ago, it's the same thing with Radiata Stories but I played this one a bit less, both games were fun play and I wish that video store did not have to close I would have got them both and continue to play them both, thank you making a great list of forgotten PS2 games TVGS you did a good job here buddy ✌️
Thanks for watching mate 🙂
Shadow Hearts slaps, when I got to that poetry section about the swamp monster I knew it was a hidden gem
Such a solid game!
Amazing video, lots of gems that I didn't know and the mention of one of my favorites in PS2 Rogue Galaxy!!
Playing Tokyo Xanadu looking for clues in the background was a nice touch 😊
I saw someone else mention MS Saga: New Dawn, so I'll toss a couple other ideas your way -
Ar Tonelico 1 and 2
Sakura Wars: So Long My Love
Thanks for the tip! I’ll get them added for part 2 🙂
@@thatvideogamesshow Looking forward to it!
Excellent video! I actually own all but two of these games and yet sadly I haven't even played most of them yet. I bought a bunch of jrpgs at gamestop about a decade ago when they were stopping. Some guy sold his set and I ended up getting them because he kept them in like new condition. Crazy back log I have. Though I'm playing Rogue Galaxy on the ps4 via ps2 backwards compatible. A game I had always wanted to play when it came out but never got to it on my ps2. Fortunately Sony put it on ps4 a long time ago digitally. Jade Cocoon 2 is the only one I really never looked into so I'm glad you put it here. I'll definitely be adding them to my play list.
AMO ESTE CANAL 💗
I also have Jade Cocoon 2 which I have really enjoyed and still play from time to time
Solid rpg!
Oh yeah I'm playing Radiata Stories on my ps2 via hdmi adapter. STILL an amazing game today! And it has great humor. It might be the best game to get into as its the easiest to transition to. I wish that game would get a remaster because it already looks so stunning you'd be hard pressed to not find it beautiful by today's standards.
I have most of the games on this list. The AR tonelico games on the ps2 are some pretty good rpgs. The music based rpgs. The mana khemia games are somehow missing from the list just like atelier iris. The ps2 has multiple grandia games and they are very good games. A long story short, I have a bunch of rpgs that aren't on this list. Radiata story and rogue galaxy are very good games. Shadow hearts covenant is the best in the trilogy.
Been waiting for another upload man!!! Awesome video!
Thanks mate! Plenty more on the way 🙂
Steambot chronicles is another good one it had the earliest sandbox/open world like experience in a JRPG before xenoblade chronicles with tons of replay value and activities to do in the game it was truly underrated and a head of its time
Fun game but you spend more time on the loading screen than you do playing
Played most of them. I have fond memories of them all.
The PS2 was such a good console... probably the best there ever was.
Two action RPG-lites are Dark Cloud 1 and 2, and two more JRPGs are Metal Saga, and MS Saga. Both very good, niche games.
Good shoutout on Metal Saga and MS Saga... 👍
@@Beavernator 😎
Two games for the ps2 that I enjoyed and rarely see mentioned where Orphan and Evergrace. Not exactly easy to go back to nowadays, but they were interesting in their own ways
What is that incredibly smooth intro music? It reminds me of the Gran Turismo OST!
I had never heard of Stella Deus the Gate of Eternity before until this video. Looked pretty good so I decided to check out the ost. While I was listening I thought this sounds like Hitoshi Sakimoto...it is! Definitely going to try to pick this one up. Thanks for putting it on my radar.
The catalog of PS2 games was just unbelievably. I doubt it will be that extensive again.
That Shining Force Neo Looks really good from what I saw in your video, it aged quite well
i always know this channels videos by the best part of the tekken 2 intro
Just installed XBSX2 on my series s, this video couldn't have come at a better time :)
I love Rogue Galaxy. So good I barely hear anything about it.
And being the oddball I am I still have copies of all of these games. Though I've only played a couple of them.
Rogue Galaxy is amazing. I'm playing it at this moment.
Have fun!
Just restarted my PS2 collection(floods are devastating) and I started with DQ8 and Suikoden. Looking forward to putting some of these in my collection!
Amazing list my friend! ( I'd just add Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria ).
Thanks mate!
Game is getting a sequel in the near future
I'm hoping for a neo geo or master system video they fascinate me.
Finally someone mentions grandia extreme.... Sucha hidden gem.
Heard of all of these. Own all of them except Growlancer Heritage of War and Shining Force Neo. Beaten Radiata Stories, Grandia Extreme, Dual Hearts, and Rogue Galaxy.
The first game you mention is Shadowhearts? Gone, but not forgotten! I loved that game, so much. I still think of it occasionally to this day.
Oh yeah! I did forget about Jade Cocoon 2! That game was great.
Shining Force Neo & Exa and Radiata Stories were games that I always remember on PS2. It was just different back then, most RPGs were turn based but these games were not. On top of that Radiata Stories had different endings depending on who you side with, my first multiple endings game
Great video! Shouts out to Ar Tonelico though. Great series that doesn't get a lot of love.
I love Radiata Stories (except the endings, which are crap). But recruiting everyone in the city was a blast. Using formations was pretty cool too. I also remember leaving my ps2 on all night so that I would get the fireworks scene with the girl of my liking, haha (the girl that spends the longest time in your party is it, though it can't be Ridley, since it's the Human's route. I usually went for the valkyrie helmet girl, martial arts girl or the thief/knives girl, haha...).
i also liked morgan (the redhead mage)
Jade Cocoon 2 was a treat! I loved playing it when I was younger.
My favorite by far though was Dark Cloud 2... I had hundreds of hours on it across a few files; it was a completionist's dream (or nightmare, depending on how good or bad you were at the minigames lol)!
I will admit, RPGs were never my favorite games back in the day. Nowadays though, I have a bigger appreciation for the genre. Lots of games that seem solid here. Another superb episode as always man!
This reads like a list of games I've owned, rented, or borrowed. Still have my Ephemeral Fantasia disc and case.
Ephemeral Fantasia has remained one of my favorite RPGs of all time. Honestly, I think of it as a pretty bad game, but it's the concept and how you go about recruiting characters. My favorite thing to do in that game is the Banjo - Pattimo. Then again, it's always the mini-games that hook me the most (such as with Blitz Ball or the card systems in the Final Fantasy games). My last playthrough, I managed to collect all map pieces and recruit all characters.
Also, I don't think Rogue Galaxy has ever really been forgotten. I still hear about it all the time. I have a deep love for the game, just as much as I do for Phantasy Star Universe or Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. It's been re-released as a PS3/4/& 5 PS2 Classic. Now...ask about any .hack//sign original games and no one talks about them - same with Xenosaga. Popular back on the PS2, I think they deserve a current generation console port/compilation.
Great list ps2 is one of my favorite consles!
Thanks for watching!
I was kind of expecting Okage: Shadow King to be in this list, but I guess it's too obscure even for that, haha...
All the more shame it gets forgotten once again, loved it personally. It brims with personality.
When I think of forgotten and underrated rpgs the first I think of for this console is Legaia 2: Duel Saga
Man even a decade on the Dustforce OST hits different
Yooo ty I was searching for an good rpg besides tales and DQ, you saved my night
Glad you found something new!
Que bueno,ya se extrañaba que no suba un video.
Amazing video! Love lesser known ps2 games especially rpgs
Thanks for watching!
OMG man~~~ I already play half on the list, Shadow Heart and Growlanser is my favorite. And I recommend you to play "Chaos Wars" if you love underrated RPG because that PS2 game has many Title games that maybe you don't know.
AYYY glad you got rogue galaxy on here. Fucking AMAZING game, still has a place in my heart over a decade after i played it
Absolutely loved this list
Ah so much nostalgia..
Shadow hearts, Stella deus..
And yeah.. Rogue galaxy is truly the peak of PS2 graphics. It have a really good visual.
Great video! As an avid supporter of the PS2 to this day I face harsh criticism from friends and family for sticking with an older console. While the rest of the gaming industry goes to shit; at least I know I have great content to always play. You definitely do a great job pointing out the little (and large) pockets of gold that exist in the almost inexhaustible library of the greatest console of all time. Thanks and keep up the good fight!
Amazing game recommendation, especially radiata stories
Most of these I've only played on demo discs or not very much of, though one of my childhood friends showed me Ephemeral Fantasia. All I remember from it is a dungeon though lol! Shining Force Neo was one I wish I had played more. Rogue Galaxy I have as well. I tried Radiata Stories but never got that far. As far as my own recommendations, I really liked Shining Tears. Great video as always!
Thanks for watching mate!
Rogue Galaxy was one of my favorite PS2 games.
Stella deus looks right up my alley
Edit: jade cocoon 2 looks great too
Glad you found something new!
I never forgot Shadow Hearts T-T
I wish there was more than 3 games and the old ones were re-released so we can play them easily
Good news then. The original creators of wild arms and shadow hearts are creating a spiritual successor on kickstarter. Check out armed fantasia and penny blood. They both look great!
@@KainHyuga i know i saw
Forgotten? wym!!! i still remember and never ever forget Rogue Galaxy, it has a special place in my heart!
I love this series with about 4000 games on the system it's a lot of hidden gems to be revealed I just don't care for RPG action RPG are Kool though waiting for the next one great video
Stella Deus was excellent. Man I wish I could play that again.
Rogue Galaxy and Radiata Stories are my fav from the list. I still play both to this day and I have Rogue Galaxy on PS4 and Radiata on emulator (Since my ps2 is extremely uncomfortably to play on my SmartTv u.u).
Since I mostly played RPGs I don't have a forgotten list (I know they all) but as rule of thumb people that enjoy RPG should know Suikoden (3, 4, 5), Valkyrie Profile 2, Ar Tonelico (Trilogy), Mana Khemia (1 and 2), Dragon Quest and Digital devil saga (1 and 2) to name a few.
Thankfully many ps2 games are bought to life like SMT3, Makai Kingdom, etc.
Just saw that there is a Wild Arms and Shadow Hearts double Kickstarter successor campaign about to start. Yay!
xenosaga should definitely be on this list, nobody talks about those games anymore.
i used play through through radiata stories and valkyrie profil silmeria constantly as a kid
I should really start playing Shadow Hearts saga someday...
Start with Koudelka on ps1 if you can, it’s actually a kind of prequel to the SH games
Well worth it!