The early 2000s saw FPS games become a fixture of consoles, primarily thanks to the original Xbox and Halo. Although not as synonymous with the genre, the PlayStation 2 still assembled a fantastic line-up of first-person shooters, some of which are nowadays hailed as all-time classics. Everybody remembers Timesplitters 2 or Red Faction, but there are dozens of titles that have mostly been forgotten. Let's change that.
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The following FPS games are, at the minimum, decent, and their obscurity might be credited to a lack of initial success or the fact that they are just not available on modern systems or PC. With so many great shooters out there, there isn't much of a reason to visit forgotten PS2 FPS games; however, that does not mean you shouldn't.
8 Cold Winter
A Brutal PS2 FPS Thriller
Cold Winter
- Released
- May 11, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Swordfish Studios
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
This political thriller has everything one would want from an early 2000s first-person shooter: a great story, interactive environments, customizable multiplayer options for four players, and lots of blood. Seriously, dismemberment in Cold Winter is brutally detailed and goes hand-in-hand with its grounded, gritty take on spy stories.
The narrative starts with the protagonist being captured and tortured in a Chinese prison, and it really only gets darker from there. It perhaps would have done a little better if it came out a few years later on the PS3, where cynical, nihilistic shooters like Max Payne 3 and Kane and Lynch were more accepted. Nevertheless, if you manage to find a copy, this PS2 exclusive is definitely worth a try.
7 Black
One Of The Most Graphically Impressive Games On The PS2
Black
- Released
- February 28, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Criterion Games
- Platform(s)
- PS2, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Criterion is known for the Burnout racing series, though it eventually moved on to the Need for Speed games and helped out with Battlefield and Star Wars Battlefront. They also made a first-person shooter in between all those racing games called Black. Its main appeal was its graphical fidelity, attention to sound design, and environmental destruction.
It is short, but every level feels unique, and the length is about on par with the average military shooter that started coming out a few years later. The game received middling reviews, but it stands out as a unique example of the genre to this day.
6 Area 51
A Forgotten Midway FPS Game
Area 51
- Released
- April 25, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Midway Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 2
- Genre(s)
- Science Fiction
Images are from the PC version, so the PS2 game didn't look as good.
When one hears the name Area 51, they are probably reminded of the arcade light-gun shooter. However, the series did try to expand into a more traditional first-person shooter on consoles in 2007.
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The game has a heavy feel and even has a scanning feature reminiscent of Metroid Prime. Players also get to use alien weaponry for some variety beyond the typical FPS games of the time. If anyone is wondering why they have not heard of it, it is probably because the PS3 sequel, Blacksite: Area 51, was lambasted at launch for a bevy of technical issues, stopping any hope of an ongoing series.
5 Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force
A Star Trek Game That Went For Action Over Diplomacy
Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force
- Released
- September 20, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Raven Software, Westlake Interactive, Pipe Dream Interactive
- Genre(s)
- FPS
There have been almost too many Star Trek games to count in just as many different genres. There are adventure games, space battle simulators, and even first-person shooters. Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force is a straightforward FPS .
Even though it is an FPS, there are quiet moments where fans get to absorb the world of Star Trek, which was pretty unique for the time. At the turn of the century, most FPS games were mostly focused on action, but that tide was slowly turning with titles like Deus Ex and Thief.
Though it was criticized quite widely, fans of the series might still appreciate this adventure despite some complaints about the gameplay.
4 Peter Jackson's King Kong
One Of The Best Licensed Games Ever
Peter Jackson's King Kong
- Released
- November 17, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- PS2, Microsoft Windows, Linux, PSP, Xbox (Original), Xbox 360, Nintendo Game Boy Advance
Successfully adapting a film into a video game is still a tough task, and it was thought to be impossible back in the mid-2000s. Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie manages to be both a mouthful to pronounce and a surprisingly appealing tie-in game to the film.
It follows the movie faithfully and switches between first-person segments where players control humans and third-person segments from Kong's perspective. The biggest complaint I lobbied against the game was its short length, but these days that means it in no way overstays its welcome.
3 Medal Of Honor: Rising Sun
An Underappreciated Medal Of Honor Game
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
- Released
- November 11, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- EA
- Platform(s)
- GameCube, PS2, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- FPS
For a lot of people, the Medal of Honor Series ended after Frontline and Allied Assault. It went on in annual installments for some years, however, covering different parts of the conflict. After Frontline, consoles received Rising Sun, which took place in Japan. It feels a lot different from Frontline in terms of basic feel, but it still holds up.
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It opens with a harrowing recreation of the Pearl Harbor attacks. In addition to its single-player campaign, the multiplayer was also a fun way to pass the time. One particular weapon, the Welrod, was notable for its one-shot kills balanced by one bullet per every gruelingly long reload animation.
2 Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death
Be Judge, Jury, And Executioner In This Forgotten FPS Game
Judge Dredd: Dredd vs Death
- Released
- October 15, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rebellion Developments
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original), GameCube, Windows
- Genre(s)
- Action
Images are from the PC version, so the PS2 game wasn't HD.
2000 AD's Judge Dredd seems tailor-made for action-heavy video game adaptations, but we have sadly not received all that many releases. Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death came arguably the closest to capturing the chaotic magic promised by the comics, delivering a high-octane first-person shooter with a solid campaign and multiplayer. Although nothing too deep, the game was (and still is) fun, especially when played with friends. Even if multiplayer is not an option, I would recommend the single-player content to fans of the franchise, as it is simple but enjoyable.
Unlike nearly all the other PS2 FPS games in this article, Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death is accessible nowadays, as the PC version is readily available on Steam (seriously, I just picked up a copy for less than $1). As long as you go in with grounded expectations, this game should get the job done, and it is just cool to exist within Mega-City.
1 Urban Chaos: Riot Response
Before Arkham, There Was Urban Chaos
Urban Chaos: Riot Response
- Released
- June 15, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- Platform(s)
- PS2, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Before Rocksteady Studios became a household name with its Batman Arkham games, it made a little PS2 FPS called Urban Chaos: Riot Response. It set itself apart from other games of the time with a progression system that encouraged replaying missions while striving for different goals to earn more upgrades.
It was also ludicrously violent and indulged in slow-motion death animations that focused on corpses as they went limp after their death, similar to Max Payne 3. It also unexpectedly has an earworm of a main theme; a bluesy rock anthem called "Modern Romance" by The Metro Riots.
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