The PS2 is one of the best-selling systems of all time and it also has a stellar library of genres like RPGs. Many RPGs have made the jump into HD with remasters like Final Fantasy 10, its direct sequel, and Final Fantasy 12. Other titles have not been so lucky but it always seems like a matter of time before these classics get revisited.
There are many fans out there who wish to play some RPGs that they never have before too. The reason is that many PS2 RPGs never made it to the United States. Most didn’t even leave Japan although some did make it to Europe. Let’s explore some RPGs the U.S. Hasn’t received yet.
6 Altered Beast
Sega’s Forgotten Sequel
- Released: February 25, 2005 (EU)
- Developer: Sega Wow, Sega Shanghai
- Publisher: Sega
Altered Beast was a short but somewhat fondly remembered Sega Genesis game that was all about brawling and turning into anthropomorphic animal men. The simply titled reboot, Altered Beast, took the series to new places on the PS2. Besides Japan, it also came to Europe with a full English translation.
Players could become several different animals from a werewolf to a merman which helped in combat and exploration. These transformations were also quite grotesque like they were filmed by Eli Roth. The merman, for example, could go underwater and explore new regions. Between these various forms and leveling them up with new skills and combos, Altered Beast was kind of like a 3D Metroidvania with a lot of replay value.
5 Front Mission 5: Scars Of The War
The One Missing Main Game In The Franchise
- Released: December 29, 2005 (Japan)
- Developer: Square Enix
- Publisher: Square Enix
Square Enix has a lot of trapped RPGs on the PS2 in Japan exclusively. It’s hard to cover them all but Front Mission 5: Scars of the War sticks out as it is the online numbered sequel missing in North America. Like all other previous mainline Front Mission games, this one featured tactical combat on grid-based maps.
Players could customize their mechs, called Wanzers, with all kinds of parts from guns to legs. The customization options were deep but so was the story for those that could understand the Japanese. There is a mostly complete English patch made by fans though. Besides this PS2 game, there was also Front Mission: Online which was more of an action RPG that focused on multiplayer.
4 Maken Shao: Demon Sword
A Shin Megami Tensei-Like
- Released: June 27, 2003 (EU)
- Developer: Atlus
- Publisher: Midas Interactive Entertainment
Maken X was released in 2000 for the Dreamcast in both North America and Europe which was a year after Japan. The game was remade initially in 2001 for the PS2 in Japan and that version only got translated into English for European territories in 2003. It was retitled Maken Shao: Demon Sw ord and it got some significant changes.
The Dreamcast version was all in first-person wherein the main character, Kay, used the titular Maken Sword as her main weapon. She could also control other characters and use their abilities. In the remake, players could now play from the third perspective and there was an EXP system to make it more of a visceral action RPG. The changes were good, but North America never got to see them which is a shame because Shin Megami Tensei fans would surly love to see this forgotten Atlus project.
3 Namco X Capcom
The First Mega Crossover Tactical RPG
- Released: May 26, 2005 (Japan)
- Developer: Monolith Soft
- Publisher: Namco
Namco X Capcom is a predecessor to both Project X Zone games on the 3DS. They are all tactical RPGs with a twist. When players engage enemies in combat, gameplay switches to a more fighting game style set on a timer based on character stats. The other big gimmick is the franchises that crossover which was still a big thing in this era.
The Project X Zone games mixed Capcom, Bandai Namco, and Sega characters. Namco X Capcom only had Namco and Capcom characters to work with but there are still some fantastic series involved including various Tales of games, Mega Man Legends, Xenosaga, Darkstalkers, Tekken, Resident Evil, and more. Sadly, it was only released in Japan although there is an English fan patch out there that makes the game very accessible. It’s also worth noting that Monolith Soft made the aforementioned Xenosaga game and they now work on the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise for Nintendo.
2 Tales of Destiny: Director's Cut
A Lost Remake In The Tales Series
- Released: January 31, 2008 (Japan)
- Developer: Namco Tales Studio
- Publisher: Bandai Namco Games
There are an astounding number of Tales of games stuck in Japan. The series began in 1995 on the SNES, making way for Namco to create a good hybrid turn-based and action RPG. The second game, Tales of Destiny, was the first one North America got in 1998 on the PS1.
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Now, this game was remade a decade later on the PS2 called Tales of Destiny: Director's Cut which added a significant amount of changes besides more voice acting and better graphics. The biggest change was the new campaign beside the original to see the story from a new perspective. Besides the remake, there was a direct sequel on the PS2, Tales of Destiny 2, which followed the original hero’s son.
1 Zombie Hunters
The Beginning Of Campy Zombie Horror
- Released: March 23, 2007 (EU)
- Developer: Tamsoft
- Publisher: Essential Games
In Japan, they have a series of lower-budget titles referred to as Simple 2000 Series and they come out in volumes. Sometimes these games turn into bigger franchises like OneeChanbara. Before it spun off and did its own thing, OneeChanbara began on the PS2 as Simple 2000 Series Vol. 61: The OneeChanbara in 2005. Very few of the Simple 2000 Series games have left Japan but this one did, rebranded as Zombie Hunters in the final release in European territories in 2007.
It was originally released as Zombie Zone in 2005 in Europe but this new version added extras int eh 2007 re-release. The sequel was also released in Europe as Zombie Hunters 2 in the same year. North America wouldn’t get an entry until 2009 with Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad on the Xbox 360. Those unfamiliar should know these games are very high in the fan service department as they feature scarily clad female warriors killing zombies. The RPG elements are low, but the heroines do gain experience and level up after stages.
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