The Sony PlayStation 2, has possibly one of the greatest software libraries in console history. From groundbreaking JRPGs like Final Fantasy 10 to acclaimed open-world games like Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, there hasn’t been a collection of games on any system before or since that can match it.
One of the best genres in the PlayStation 2s library is racing games. Classic simulation racers like Gran Turismo 4 received critical acclaim when they launched. Sim racing aside, the best-kept secret on the PlayStation 2 is the selection of Arcade Racing games available on the console.
7 Auto Modellista
Truly a unique title, Auto Modellista released in 2002 for the PS2 by the brilliant minds at Capcom. Auto Modellista was criminally overlooked back when it was released and even today is not frequently mentioned when discussions of the PS2 arise.
What made Auto Modellista unique was its graphical style, the team at Capcom used a cell-shaded art style to make the game stand out from the crowd. This cell-shaded art style has given Auto Modellista a timeless look as the anime-like graphics have aged far better than some of its peers.
6 Midnight Club 2
Rockstar, famous today for their insanely best-selling Grand Theft Auto series and its sibling cowboy franchise Red Dead Redemption, used to often branch out beyond open-world games. Midnight Club: Street Racing was originally released on Playstation 2 in the year 2000 and was the foundation for its sequel to build upon.
Midnight Club 2 was groundbreaking at the time for being an open-world racing game among a sea of track-based racers. Its cool sleek urban aesthetic gave off authentic vibes of the underground car racing scene. A banging soundtrack finished off this wonderful title with tracks from Felix Da Housecat providing the ambiance for those night races and cruises.
5 Need For Speed Underground
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While many lists will feature the sequel, Need for Speed Underground 2, the original still has its place on the must-play list. The Need for Speed Underground franchise sadly never saw the third entry, but the Need for Speed brand continues to this day.
Need for Speed Underground introduced high levels of customization that were previously only pipe dreams. Slapping some neon to give the car under glow and speeding around the streets to a thumping soundtrack changed the arcade racing scene for the better.
4 Crazy Taxi
Hey, hey, hey it's time to make some crazy money. Crazy Taxi from Sega was massive when it was released, Sega's 360 titles still sell well to this day. From the arcades to home consoles, fans worldwide loved the title and competed for high scores at home and down the local arcades.
Crazy Taxi received two full-blown sequels, but neither reached the round praise of the original. Zooming around the city with whichever chosen Taxi driver stood out whilst blasting The Offspring was a feeling that is unmatched today. Picking up customers for fares and the amazing cartoon-like graphics combined to make an incredible experience for all.
3 Star Wars: Racer Revenge
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Released in 2002 from the famous Lucasarts, Star Wars: Racer Revenge was the lesser-known sequel to the widely loved and fondly remembered Star Wars Episode 1 Racer. This one also saw a re-release in later years on the Playstation 4 including trophy support and enhanced graphics.
Continuing from the original pod racer game, Star Wars: Racer Revenge gives fans a Star Wars Attack of the Clones era Anakin Skywalker as a selectable character along with some other fan favorites. The closest fans got to Star Wars vehicle action recently was in Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga. The N64 was the home of the original so when the sequel arrived on Playstation 2 consoles it definitely should have received far greater attention than it received.
2 Burnout 2: Point of Impact
Burnout 2: Point of Impact is one of the best in the Burnout series from Criterion Games. This Playstation 2 title is often overlooked for Burnout 3: Takedown and the best known in the franchise Burnout Paradise, but deserves to have its time in the spotlight also.
For a game released in 2002, Burnout 2: Point of Impact has graphics that still stand up today in 2022. At the time the game looked phenomenal and had 15 different circuits across its open-world map. The handling is intuitive and players will easily get a feel for each vehicle quickly, the crash system laid the foundations for the following Burnout games and the cars all handle differently from each other. Sadly there has been no new Burnout titles for many years now.
1 The Simpsons Road Rage
Since the first Simpsons game release for the arcade, DOS and Commodore 64 in 1991, the quality of each entry to the franchise varies in level of quality. The most popular Simpsons game by far is The Simpsons Hit and Run, which featured an open-world Springfield to explore and drive around in.
The Simpsons Road Rage brings everyone's favorite cartoon characters from the tv show and places them behind the wheel of one of the many wacky vehicles featured. Players need to take on the role of a taxi/bus service as Mr Burns has canceled all public transport in Springfield. While The Simpsons Hit and Run are given plenty of deserved praise, The Simpsons Road Rage is often ignored unfairly. The graphics look charming today and the driving is very fun in a Crazy Taxi-esque experience.