Best PS2 Horror Games That Never Came To America

Summary

Forbidden Siren 2 did not receive a US release, despite being one of the PS2's most interesting horror games.
Michigan: Report from Hell, a unique horror game by Suda51, never made it to America but is still worth tracking down.
Phase Paradox, like Resident Evil in space, is an outstanding PS2 horror game with likable protagonists and eerie suspense.

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. From Resident Evil to Silent Hill, the PS1 was synonymous with revolutionary horror experiences, a trend that continued with the PlayStation 2. But much like the console that preceded it, the PS2 also had a selection of horror games that never made it to America.

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By John Cunningham

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.

5 Forbidden Siren 2

Gripping Tale Of Haunted Island Still Hasn't Seen US Release

Platform: PS2
Developer: Japan Studio
Release Date: February 9, 2006

Despite the first game launching in the US to good reviews and decent sales, the sequel to 2003's Siren did not receive a North American release. Known as Forbidden 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 2 is 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 2 was never released in America, which is a shame as it's one of the console's most interesting horror games.

4 Michigan: Report From Hell

Innovative Horror Game Features TV Camera Operator As Protagonist

Platform: PS2
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Release Date: August 5, 2005

Released at the tail end of the PS2's life, Michigan: Report from Hell is 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 was developed by industry icon Suda51, featuring his trademark use of dark humor and oddball characters.

Report from Hell is 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.

3 Glass Rose

Point-And-Click Horror Game Still Unreleased In America

Platform: PS2
Developer: Capcom Production Studio 3, Cing
Release Date: November 6, 2003

Influenced by vintage horror films, Glass Rose was 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.

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By Christine Mendoza

Featuring a brilliant, atmospheric musical score and excellent point-and-click gameplay, this off-beat PS2 horror game is one of the console's most bizarre releases. That said, Glass Rose is 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.

2 Shadow Tower Abyss

FromSoftware PS2 Horror RPG Remains Exclusive To Japa

Platform: PS2
Developer: FromSoftware
Release Date: October 23, 2003

While FromSoftware's King's Field tapped into a traditional fantasy setting with dragons, wizards, and knights, they also worked on a spiritual successor known as Shadow Tower. However, while the first game came out in America on the PS1, the PS2 sequel never made it out of Japan.

Released as Shadow 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.

1 Phase Paradox

Fantastic Mix Of Resident Evil And Dead Space Left Without American Launch

Platform: PS2
Developer: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date: May 24, 2001

Best described as Resident Evil in space, Phase Paradox is a first-party horror title developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Featuring three playable characters, this outstanding survival horror game focuses on a derelict spaceship known as the Gallant, and their quest to survive a ship full of mysterious monsters and a crew gone mad.

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By Amy Cowley

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 Paradox plays 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.