In the PS3’s lifespan, over three hundred PS2 games were ported to the system via PSN. The early PS3 consoles themselves could play almost any PS2 game which was a better form of backwards compatibility but it didn’t last long. The point is across all regions of PSN there were some games that were exclusive to each territory.
Sometimes this didn’t make any sense as originally, most of these games were released globally on PS2. As some examples, let’s take a look at the PS2 games that were only sold online in Japan and why they are so hard to play elsewhere now.
10 Ape Escape 3
Ape Escape 3 released for the PS2 in North America on January 17, 2006. The game was then re-released on PSN only in Japan in 2014. It is the last main entry in the franchise besides a variety of spinoffs. The weird thing about this is the fact that neither of the PS2 games made it on PS3 besides this one in Japan, but Ape Escape 2 did become a PS2 classic on PS4 which was a plus.
9 Breath Of Fire: Dragon Quarter
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter released for the PS2 in North America on February 16, 2003. It was then re-released on PSN in Japan in 2016. Technically it is not the last numbered game in Capcom’s RPG series, as Breath of Fire 6 hit PC and mobile devices in 2016 as well but only in Japan. Does that really even count then? Either way not getting a re-release elsewhere is this game is a travesty.
8 Jade Cocoon 2
Jade Cocoon 2 released for the PS2 in North America on December 17, 2001. It was then brought back via PSN in 2015 for Japan. Many might not even know about the first game which was a 1999 North American release on PS1. Both that game and this were made in collaboration with Studio Ghibli in its character designs. They are kind of like Pokemon but more obtuse. A more realized collaboration happened with Ni no Kuni years later.
7 Romancing SaGa
Romancing SaGa, or Romancing SaGa: Minstrel’s Song, released for the PS2 in North America on October 11, 2005. It was then re-released in Japan in 2015 for PSN. This is actually a remake of the 1992 Super Nintendo original, which was the first SaGa game not on the Game Boy. Another fun fact is that this remake was, and still is, the only way North Americans can play the game as the original was never localized.
6 Legaia 2: Duel Saga
Legaia 2: Duel Saga released for the PS2 in North America on October 1, 2002. It then re-released in Japan in 2015 on PSN. This game, and the original, are forgotten RPGs altogether.
The first game was published by Sony while this sequel got Sony’s blessing in Japan but in North America it got Fresh Games. It’s a shame this series never got another sequel or re-release unlike Japan.
5 Grandia Xtreme
Grandia Xtreme released for the PS2 in North America on September 30, 2002. It re-released in 2014 in Japan via PSN. Grandia II was also on the Japanese service whereas Grandia III was the only game in the series to get re-released in North America. This game was more of a spinoff but still adhered to mostly the same classic RPG formula. The first two games did get remastered so there is always hope for more.
4 Wild Arms 5
Wild Arms 5 released for the PS2 in North America on August 28, 2007. It then came back in 2014 via PSN in Japan. It is the last main entry in the series unless one wants to count the mobile spinoff from 2018 that just shut down in 2020. Why other companies haven’t aped this RPG meets a Western is beyond anyone’s guess. For that matter, if it is so unique then why did it die off? The third game did come to the PS4 though and that's considered the best in the series so that is something.
3 Shadow The Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog released for the PS2 in North America on November 15, 2005. It re-released in Japan in 2013 on PSN. The world should not mourn the fact that this game is almost lost to time except in Japan. It didn’t review well back then and it certainly wouldn’t hold up now. That said, it is odd that this game is exclusive to Japan’s PSN despite the big initial push in the West. It's kind of one of those games that has to be played to be believed.
2 Silent Hill 4: The Room
Silent Hill 4: The Room released for the PS2 in North America on September 7, 2004. It re-released on PSN in 2012 in Japan. However, it should be noted that this game is technically still available outside of Japan via GOG.
That’s just for PC gamers though so console players only have one option: create a Japanese PSN account and also acquire some Japanese currency. Silent Hill 2 gets the hype, but this is an underrated entry to be sure.
1 Kessen
Kessen released for the PS2 in North America on October 26, 2000. It then came back in 2012 for PSN in Japan. This was both a launch game for Japan as well as North America when the PS2 debuted in 2000. For those unaware this game is like a more strategic Dynasty Warriors. Another fun fact is that despite this game being exclusive to Japan digitally, its two sequels are ready to buy in North America.