The PS2 is thebest-selling consoleof all time, even beating the phenomenally successful Nintendo DS and Wii. Sony’s black box boasts an impressive library and even the fussiest gamers will find plenty of games to enjoy.
For those after somesavage old-school difficulty, you’ll be pleased to learn that you’re spoiled for choice. It’s no secret that games on the PS2 and older consoles were far more unforgiving than most titles we have now. That said, some are tough thanks to oversights during development while others just have a reputation to keep.
Whether you’re after a 3D platformer or a stealth game, let me share a selection that canreduce grown adults to tears. I’ve tried to keep this list as varied as possible, so there’s something for everyone to sink their teeth into, no matter what genre’s you’re into.
Don’t Let The Visuals Fool You
TheJak and Daxtergames are3D platforming royalty, and their vibrant, appealing visuals may make you think the series is easy and accessible. Most of the games are beatable with patience, butJak 2is the toughest in the series, and it’s not even close.
Jak 2kicks off our list because it’s atough-as-nails platformerand an absolute nightmare if you’re not a seasoned fan of the genre. A big part of the difficulty comes from the lack of checkpoints. Sometimes, it feels like the developers just forgot to put them in, leading toplenty of frustrating deaths.
There is a lot of trial and error inJak 2, and you may have to try the later stages multiple times before you finally win. I’d argue the game isn’t too difficult once you know what to do, but many will find thebacktracking a little excessive.
9Metal Gear Solid 2
European Extreme
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
TheMetal Gear Solidgames on the PS2 are exceptionalstealth action masterpieces, with storytelling and anattention to detailonly Hideo Kojima could pull off.
MGS2also boastsmultiple difficulty modes. Even casual players can beat the game on ‘Very Easy,’ but if you want Raiden to go through hell, you cancrank it up to European Extreme.
As you probably guessed, European Extreme makes every aspect of the game tougher. For example, enemies will see you from further away, and the game instantly ends if you’re spotted.
Even the boss battles are modified. On Very Easy, Raiden faces three Metal Gear Rays.On European Extreme, he battles 20!You must know the Big Shell intimately to stand a chance.MGS3has the same brutal difficulty option, but I have more experience with MGS2, hence the recommendation.
8Devil May Cry 3
Ugh, Regional Differences
Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
It may surprise some of you thatDevil May Cry 3is on the list, but itschallenge depends on your home country.
If you live in the US, you have a muchmore challenging version of the gamethan in Japan and Europe. This was allegedly because US audiences deemedDMC 2too easy.The game is still decent, but this regional difference is baffling.
The funny part is that no matter where you’re from,DMC3is not an easy game.Mistakes are heavily punished, and boss battles require considerable restraint for a game that prides itself on flashy combat.
7Contra: Shattered Soldier
A Reputation To Keep
Contra: Shattered Soldier
The old-schoolContragames are well known for their blistering,fast-paced gameplay and brutal difficultythat whipped noobs in the 80s and 90s into shape.
If you thought the series would have calmed down decades later, you’re in for a shock, asContra: Shattered Soldierisjust as obnoxious as its predecessors.
For the uninitiated, Shattered Soldier is a 2D arcade shooter/platformerby Konamiwhere staying still is a death sentence. Character models may be in 3D, but it’s a similar experience to the originals.
You need incredible reflexesto get anywhere, but the funniest part is how the difficulties are handled. There is an “Easy” mode, but it doesn’t change the game; it just provides more lives and continues.
Hilariously, if you play on Easy,you can’t even play the later stagesor finish the game. If that isn’t a slap in the face, I don’t know what is.
6The Getaway
Welcome To London
The Getaway
The Getawayis anambitious third-person adventure gameset in the UK, with movies likeLock Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsandSnatchas obvious inspirations. It was alsonever ported to any other console.
Thecamera is a formidable adversaryinThe Getaway. Like many 3D adventure games on the PS2, it often hides things from the player.
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There’s no HUD either, and while I get it’s a stylistic choice, you’re usually running around aimlessly, making navigation challenging.
There are evenforced stealth sectionsto top everything off. It’s a treat to see an open-world game set in the UK, but this is a tough one from start to finish.
A Top-Tier PS2 Shooter
Blackcame out towards the end of the PS2’s lifespan in 2006, the same year the PS3 launched. It’s atechnically advanced first-person shooterwith impressive graphics and gameplay. It’s also notoriously tricky.
If you’ve never played,Blackis anunforgiving but highly polishedsingle-player shooter set in the modern day. There are satisfying destruction mechanics, but the game earns its place on the list for itsdeadly enemies and checkpoint placement.
You can die very quickly inBlack, and one dodgy gunfight can send you down a slippery slope from which you cannot recover.
Slow and steadyis absolutely the way to play, but it’s the opposite of what you want to do if you’re reeling from a death you never saw coming. I’ll never forget inching through a graveyard using headstones for cover, and it’s one of manyset pieces that makeBlacka must-play, even if the difficulty is dialed to eleven.
4Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
One Of The Greats
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
GTA: San Andreasis a strong contender for thebest game on the system, but thatdoesn’t mean everyone is good enoughto finish it.
Like everyGTAon the PS2, there areplenty of infamously difficult missionsinSan Andreas.
No matter how prepared you think you are or how much time you’ve spent on CJ’s stats,a few bullets can cut you down to size, and there’s no way around it.
Over a decade later, I can still remember the frustration I felt tackling theWrong Side of the Tracksmission.
You must try to kill armed soldiers on top of a moving train while you’re chasing it on a bike. The mission is much easier if you don’t play the intended way and requires a ton of trial and error.
3Simpsons Hit & Run
Easy When You Know How
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
TheSimpsons Hit & Runisa cult classic vehicular action gameset against the iconic backdrop of Springfield. All of your favorite characters are here, and the game is split into sections where each cast member plays a pivotal role.
The game hasa fair difficulty curve, but you must pull out all the stops if you want any chance of beating the final act.
Every stage has a time limit and requires flawless execution. Unfortunately,Hit & Runon the PS2 has janky physics, which makes the task far more challenging than it should be.
I speedrunThe Simpson’s Hit & Run, and the last area is so difficult that it’s actuallyeasier to glitch yourself out of boundsthan to complete the missions legitimately! It’s a phenomenal and beloved game, littered withbrutal difficulty spikes.
2Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
An Underrated Capcom Classic
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
Maximois anunderappreciated gem on the PS2with a generous sprinkling ofsoul-destroying difficulty.
Capcom is responsible for the legendaryGhosts and Goblinson the NES, a 2D platformerknown for its savage difficulty.Maximois an evolution of the series, with slick graphics in an unforgiving 3D world.
Maximolooks great in hisbadass centurion-style armor, but his ensemble is quickly reduced to heart-printed boxers after a couple of hits.Lives are frustratingly limited, and you’re forced to play slowly while you learn your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.
Maximostumbles into ‘Dark Souls’ territory, which is pretty cool, considering it came out almost a decade earlier. There’s even a sequel calledMaximo Vs. Army of Zin
It Might Be Easier In Real Life
Key Information
Reflections
Release Date
Stuntmanis one of my favorite games on the PS2, offeringa unique take on the driving genrethat remains largely unexplored.
You play as a stunt driver and mustcomplete tasks on multiple movie sets. Every vehicle feels different to drive, and most of the missions must be flawlessly executed. There iszero margin for error, and many of the later movies are borderline unfair.
If you take onStuntman,you will repeat missions multiple times, no matter how good you think you are at driving games. Fortunately, the reward for beating a film set is worth it as you earn a trailer for the movie, which also showcases your fancy driving.
