The PlayStation 2 was released in what is considered some of the most extraordinary years in gaming; an overhaul of graphics, developments, and the overall concept took the gaming world by storm, and legendary masterpieces were created that elevated the world of video games forever. Dozens upon dozens of innovative and original games were released and gave fans an abundance of options; many are still celebrated to this day.
However, some games have been overshadowed and left behind and are deserving of a reiteration to put them back in the spotlight. There is a laundry list of games that deserve to be brought back into the new generation of gaming and the 5th installment into PlayStation hardware, some barely known projects that would shine in today's climate of reworks and remasters. Here are some PlayStation 2 games that need to be remastered.
10 Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana
Eternal Mana was the fifth game in the Atelier game franchise but was the first to be released in the US by the video game developer Gust. The game itself was a fantasy-action RPG that took place in the world of Regallzine where magic and alchemy were prominent fixtures in society.
The main character of Eternal Mana is a wandering alchemist named Klein, who stumbles into a situation that puts the world at stake after being saved by a female monster hunter. Eternal Mana still thrives in Japan; however, a remaster could reintroduce this diamond in the rough to a new audience.
9 Radiata Stories
Radiata Stories was an advantageous journey by the tri-ace gaming studio; the game belonged to the Japanese RPG genre but contained highly innovative story elements. The game was filled with numerous fleshed-out characters that were given backstories, daily lives, and even personal storylines that would progress with the main protagonist.
Radiata Stories did well in Japan but was not well received in the US and slowly sank below a sea of future releases. However, Radiata Stories is just one of the many games inside Square Enix’s library that could stand for a remaster to rekindle the franchise name.
8 Shadow Of Destiny
Shadow of Destiny (or Shadow of Memories in Japan) is a mystery adventure game made by Konami. Players will assume the role of Eike, who is granted the ability to go back in time by a mysterious creature to prevent his murder.
Shadow of Destiny has no combat, and players must do their best to avoid being killed and to search for clews through the game's chapters. The reception for Shadows of Destiny was mixed; it was praised for its story but was poorly received for its lack of action. Since its release, the game has faded into the background and is primed for a revival.
7 Blood Will Tell
Blood Will Tell is an action-adventure game developed and published by Sega; the game is based on the renowned manga Dororo by author Osamu Tezuka. Tezuka is a legend in the industry for being at the forefront of developing animation, cartooning, and storytelling techniques that defined future generations. Blood Will Tell was also created and spearheaded by Tezuka, making it a timeless classic and collector item since Tezuka's passing.
The story of the game revolves around Hiyakkimaru, who is on a journey to retrieve his body parts from forty-nine demons he must defeat throughout the game; Hiyakkimaru uses sword limbs in replace his actual limbs and fights alongside his ally, Dororo. Blood Will Tell is one of the rarest games in existence and deserves to be brought back into the world like other Tezuka works.
6 Maximo vs. Army of Zin
Maximo Vs. the army of Zin is the direct sequel to the Maximo: Ghost To Glory game and a spin-off of the Ghost N’ Goblins franchise. The game was developed by Capcom and was a popular IP during its initial release.
However, while the first game received high marks, the second game was met with less interest. The game's story continues Maximo's search for his kidnaped lover is interrupted by a mechanized army and a warlord pillaging a nearby village. Players take control of the hero and fight off the would-be dictator is the same hack 'n slash gameplay that made the first game so enjoyable.
5 Soul Nomad & The World Eaters
Soul Nomad is a versatile tactical role-playing game by Nippon Ichi Software; the game takes place in a medieval world where several creatures of unimaginable power called the World Eaters seek to destroy everything in existence. Players control Reyva, a strong warrior with the former master of the World Eaters, Gig, locked inside his body.
Reyva goes on a journey to defeat each World Eater, using Gig’s power to do it; the game's story was memorable and received positively, but the game aspects left much to be desired. A remaster similar to the Crisis Core Reunion remaster would make for a good option for the IP.
4 The Sword of Etheria
Another forgotten game from Konami, The Sword of Etheria was a third-person hack-n-slash game set in an alternate reality where humans, demigods, and the gods themselves live amongst each other.
After a random attack on his village, Fiel contracts two warrior demigods to help save his sister, who was kidnaped. The game's gameplay was adequate for heavy action games, and the story was very intricate, which many fans who played the game enjoyed. A revitalization of today's generation of gamers would be a wise decision for the developers.
3 Kuon
One of the earliest survival horror games that are highly praised today, Kuon was a game that placed players in control of one of three characters to explore the haunted Fujiwara manor. The game is based on numerous frightening myths in Japanese culture that involve evil spirits and long-haired lady ghosts that fill Japan's Folklore.
Kuon is a rare title due to its connection to its developers, FromSoftware, who are responsible for the Dark Souls games; because of Kuon’s rarity, it would make a wonderful addition as a remaster to a collection of the company's previous games.
2 Guitaroo Man
INIS corporation is the developer responsible for Guitaroo Man, a rhythm and sequence game focusing on U-1, a young boy down on his luck whose entire life changes after being gifted with a powerful musical weapon called the last Guitaroo obtains the powers of Guitaroo Man.
Players will follow U-1 on his journey to defeat his rival, win the girl of his dreams and save the universe. Guitaroo Man was praised for its graphics and exciting story with immersive gameplay. At the same time, the game has not been the subject of conversation for quite some time and is definitely a viable subject for Remaster.
1 Ibara
Ibara debuted as an arcade game in the early 2000s; marketed as a shoot-em-up game placing players in control of flying offensive vehicles called bombers. Ibara was released with several issues but was well received by fans who wanted to see the game expanded upon.
Ibara was later ported to PlayStation 2, and an update to fix the issues plaguing the title was released shortly after. Ibara became a rare fan favorite that was highly sought after for its challenging content and intricate level encounters; the modern capabilities available would be great to revive such a rare classic into the current-gen line-up.