Summary
ThePlayStation 2era was a special one. The console heldthe title of highest-selling consolefor years and its massive library boasts an insane amount of hints. One publisher that crushed it during this era was Rockstar, who released some ofthe most influential and memorable games ever made on the PS2.
Some of these Rockstar classics have struggled to keep up with modern standards, but others are holding up remarkably well thanks to their gameplay, storytelling, or unique style. From open-world crime epics to intense shooters and street racing, these Rockstar-published PS2 games remain enjoyable even today and serve as fascinating history lessons. We’ve ranked ten of the best-aging Rockstar PS2 titles, taking into account how well their mechanics, visuals, and overall experience have stood the brutal test of time.
10Manhunt
Not As Edgy Or Controversial As It Used To Be
For a game that wasn’t very good,Manhunthas aged surprisingly well, especially compared to its sequel. The famously controversial game, which was banned in some territories, has a dark, cinematic style that, combined with its extreme violence and pitch-black snuff film-inspired story, has made it a cult classic in some corners of the internet. Some even feel it has one ofthe best stories in a PS2 horror game, although others are sure to disagree.
But that’s about all the nice things that can be said aboutManhunt. The enemy AI is basic, and the stealth gameplay is simplistic, leading to each level feeling much the same. To make things worse, the controls and camera system are painfully clunky, especially by modern standards. The game’s tone is also trying too hard to be edgy, and the violence is no longer particularly shocking.Manhunthas aged better than other Rockstar games on the PS2, likeSmuggler’s RunandState of Decay, but today is best played as a history lesson in edgy 2000s culture.
A lot of people, even those who lovedRed Dead Redemption 1and2, have never heard ofRed Dead Revolver. Unlike its younger siblings, the game has a linear, mission-based structure that rarely encourages any kind of exploration and is more of an arcade shooter. The game’s gunplay was pretty good for the time, but movement and aiming are both nowhere near as smooth as in modern games.
But,Red Dead Revolverhas a lot of charm. Its Spaghetti Western style, over-the-top characters, and comic book-like cutscenes have all aged well. The story is decent too, although those hoping for connections to the later games will be left disappointed. The main reason the game remains relevant, however, is its “sequels”.Much of the early DNA of what makesRed Dead Redemption one ofRockstar’s best franchises, like the Dead Eye mechanic, is present here.There are far too few cowboy games out there and the original Red Dead game is still worth picking up even if it is showing its age.
A lot of gamers of a certain age have a soft spot in their hearts forMidnight Club 3. It was easily one of the best-looking and stylish games of its time with some features that wouldn’t be out of place in a modern racer. Its vehicle customization was impressively deep, it had large open-city maps and the soundtrack is the stuff of legend. All things that made it one ofthe PS2’s best racing games, which is high praise indeed.
But, take off the rose-tinted glasses, and players can see whyMidnight Club 3gets a lower ranking here. The rubberband AI (a problem that still plagues too many modern racers) can be annoying and adds a level of artificial difficulty.The handling model, while pleasantly arcadey, hasn’t aged that well thanks to the physics and is tough to go back to after playing new arcade racers. The graphics, once stunning on the PS2, are showing their age too. Still, if players set their expectations, there’s still tons of fun to have racing aroundMidnight Club 3’sstreets, and in a lot of ways, it is still more enjoyable than many of its modern contemporaries.
WhenGrand Theft Auto 3was released way back in 2001, it was a shock to the system for a whole generation of gamers. One of the most groundbreaking games ever made, it revolutionized open-world gaming and basically launched a whole new genre. Its emphasis on freedom of exploration, sandbox design, and the way it encouraged the player to approach missions how they wanted to, make it the granddaddy of most open-world games today. Even today, its atmosphere, brilliant soundtrack, and humor are all enjoyable and the game remains one ofthe best open-world games on the PlayStation 2.
ButGTA 3couldn’t stay revolutionary forever. What was once cutting-edge gameplay is now dated. The lack of manual aiming makes combat more painful than fun and the stiff on-foot controls feel a long way away from laterGTAgames. The driving and physics, on the other hand, hold up well. The story itself, while decent, is pretty basic and the fact Claude is mute makes him much less compelling than the likes of Trevor, Tommy Vercetti, and Niko.GTA 3is a classic that deserves all the respect it gets, but of the 3D GTA games, it has aged the worst.
The Warriorsremains one of Rockstar’s most underrated and overlooked games. That’s a pity because it’s aged pretty well. It does a particularly good of capturing the gritty atmosphere of the 1979 cult film it’s based on and expands the film’s story with enjoyable prequel elements. As a beat ‘em up, a genre Rockstar isn’t usually associated with, the combat system still mostly holds up. Melee attacks are brutal, environmental interactions are intuitive, and the co-op takes players back to the golden age of split-screen couch co-op. Considering this is one ofRockstar’s hardest games, the option to play with a friend is particularly welcome.
But there’s also a reason so many people forget this game existed. The controls are a bit on the stiff side compared to modern action games and the mission design can be repetitive. The graphics are also a bit rough considering how good some PS2 games still look today. But as beat ‘em ups go,The Warriorsisn’t all that different from modern games in the genre and remains that rare thing, a good game based on a movie.
Ignore the very early-looking PS2 graphics and some stiff controls and the original Max Payne has aged well indeed. Its dark, graphic novel-inspired story, combined with Max’s internal monologue, is as gritty and entertaining as ever and manages to stay just on the right side of cheesy. Gameplay-wise, the bullet-time system, which allows players to slow time and dodge bullets, was way ahead of its time and is still one of the best implementations of slo-mo in an action game.
Just the bullet-time system alone makes the game still worth playing today if players can overlook the dated spots. Combat is great, but the movement is stiff (again) and the game is proof enemy AI has come a long way. Most levels are great, but the inclusion of weak platforming sections is an unwelcome reminder of a time when out-of-place sections like these were all too common. Finally, while the game oozes style, the graphics really haven’t aged well. No wonder fans are crying out for the upcoming remakes to round off the handful of rough edges.
It’s amazing to think how little time passed between Rockstar releasingGTA 3andVice Cityconsidering how many improvements they crammed in. Improvements meanVice Cityhas aged far better. In particular, its neon-drenched 1980s setting, iconic soundtrack, and brilliant cast of characters all lend the game a sense of place and time that have slowed its aging. The factthe soundtrack is one of Rockstar’s best doesn’t hurt.
Meanwhile, new additions like property ownership, a celebrity-voiced protagonist, and improved weapon/ vehicle variety all make the game feel like a big upgrade. But a handful of issues hold it back from a higher ranking. The gunplay is only a slight step up and shooting is still clunky. For a game set on three islands, the lack of swimming remains mind-boggling, and watching Tommy drown for the hundredth time is an instant reminder of how old the game is. Mission design has perhaps suffered worst of all, it’s easy to die and there are no checkpoints. One of the most beloved open-world games ever made,Vice Cityis a ton of fun to play but full of irritations one would expect from a golden oldy.
Anyone who wants to playMax Paynebut struggles with the original’s more dated aspects should give its first sequel a try. One of the best third-person shooters of its era (and perhaps ever), it takes everything that made the first game so great and it refines it. The story is just as drenched in noir clichés and atmosphere but is more emotional and a bit less cheesy. Max is more likable and the emphasis on his relationship with Mona Sax (what a name) is compelling.
Best of all is the gameplay. The bullet-time mechanics are smoother and the Havok engine physics system makes every shootout brilliantly dynamic. Some of the controls are a little less flexible than we’ve come to expect, and the levels are a bit too linear, but overallMax Payne 2is as fun to play today as it was over 20 years ago.
Again, there was a surprisingly short amount of time between the PS2’sGTAreleases, especially considering how long we’ve been waiting forGTA 6. These days,San Andreasstill comes across as incredibly ambitious thanks to its even bigger emphasis on story, (seemingly) huge open world, and myriad gameplay improvements overGTA 3andVice City.
Clever world design and use of technology meansSan Andreas’open world still seems expansive even though in reality its map is far smaller than we’d expect today. Mission variety is far broader than in earlier GTA games and the combat is much more fun thanks to the inclusion of aiming. Combine that with some RPG-like progression systems, and tons of side content andSan Andreashas aged really well. Just a few rough spots like dated graphics, lack of checkpoints, and some lousy RC and turf war missions hold it back from the top ranking.
Rockstar made and published some epic PS2-era games and picking the top ranking was no easy choice. It was close, but in the end,Bullycame out on top thanks to its unique setting, strong writing, and relatively smooth gameplay. The combat, both ranged and melee, is still fun, the school-life mechanics are unique and the humor hasn’t dated.
More than anything though, no other AAA game likeBullyhas been released. It takes some of the best parts of theGTA, gives players a surprisingly relatable child protagonist, and then lets players cause mayhem in a high school. The map was small but extremely detailed and NPC interactions were a joy. At release, the game was overshadowed by silly controversy, but we’re long past that. Now, we’d love a remaster or a remake, but the game really doesn’t need one unless players are upset by the PS2’s standard graphics.
