PS2 Holiday Buyer's Guide 2002 Special @ Gaming Target

Written by Adam Woolcott on December 15, 2002

Special: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Bigger. Badder. Better. The three B's that make up Rockstar's criminally insane success rate of the Grand Theft Auto series continues to dominate the charts yet again, with a trip into a time where it was cool for guys to spray paint their hair and wear makeup. It's 1986, and Tommy Vercetti has been freed from incarceration after a botch up in his mobster organization. Now something else bad has happened. Some drugs and money have gone missing from a deal gone wrong, and he's going to need to get both of them back if he wants to keep his family happy. To do that, you'll have to take on all sorts of new missions, drive new vehicles (including a motorcycle and a helicopter), and become interested in real estate as you buy your own monopoly of living quarters.
Coverage: PlayStation 2

Kingdom Hearts

Disney and Square. Square and Disney. I could spout off famous pairings for awhile but I think only two are of importance. Oil and water and peanut butter and jelly. The partnership of Square and Disney is much more like PB&J and the gaming world is much better off because of it. Kingdom Hearts is a bizarre, but altogether amazing melding of the Square world of RPGs and the Disney world of cartoons. There were many many questions, but once it all came together the new entertainment giants created an adventure game unlike any other. The story of Sora traveling through magical worlds to rescue his friends may be simple, but no one can deny that it's not also magical.
Coverage: PlayStation 2

Ratchet & Clank

Duo gameplay is not often considered for single player experiences. Last year though, Sony and Naughty Dog (the creators of Crash Bandicoot) presented gamers with a unique platform title called Jak and Daxter. In repeating this process, Insomniac Games got to thinking that they can do that too, only to up the ante it up a bit more with two personas that not only help one another out together, but head on their own ventures apart from their better half. Ratchet and Clank tosses the player into a futuristic world, brimming to the teeth with everything a gorgeous 3D platformer needs. By collecting bunches of bolts to gain new weapons for taking down the galaxy's most sinister villains, this duo -- composed of a robot named Clank and his more...animal-thing mechanic friend, named Ratchet -- will be the most unlikeliest heroes you'll ever meet.
Coverage: PlayStation 2

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

Sly Cooper is the first PlayStation 2 creation for the talents at Sucker Punch, yet one would assume the developer has been working with the system for years. The game brings to light the stereotypical qualities that a raccoon might have and combines them with the art of crime. In it, players must use many stealth tactics to get around searchlights and other security alarms. Sly's passion for his career in crime is as great as our admiration for the blend of Metal Gear Solid elements and old-school platform qualities. By only stealing from the bad guys and making himself out to be a Robin Hood who keeps the loot for himself, Sly Cooper remains a loveable mascot for all ages.
Coverage: PlayStation 2

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs

Ah yes, SOCOM. The flagship title for the PlayStation 2's online play became available this past August. Chances are if you've picked SOCOM, it was for the online mode. But don't forget about that wicked single-player mode as well. Sure, to enjoy the game fully you're best off grabbing a PS2 Network Adapter and connecting with broadband (dial-up isn't allowed with SOCOM), but even if you can't get online it's still a must-have for any PS2 fan. You're pitted as a U.S. Navy SEAL, the most elite of the elite. Battle with your friends online, or thousands of people you've never met while talking back and forth on the headset. Without it, your PlayStation 2 collection is not complete. Fall in, soldier!
Coverage: PlayStation 2

Shinobi

Shinobi returns for the first time in seven years and now in full 3D glory. Using all of his ninja skills Hotsuma descends into the Tokyo night to feed his cursed sword with blood. Back flips, wall jumping, speed, ninja stars, double jumps, climbing rooftops. Any ninja stealth trick you can think of is present in Shinobi. Everyone wants to be a ninja, and now with Shinobi this is your chance.
Coverage: PlayStation 2

Contra: Shattered Soldier

Contra. The name means so much to so many gamers, yet so many others have no idea what it even means. Contra: Shattered Soldier is a kind of game that doesn't come along very often anymore. It is a pure 2D side scrolling shooter and for anyone that's ever played a Contra game before, it's the most fun you can have with your PS2. No saving. No Full Motion Video. No 3D. No sleep once you start playing it. It's you versus the aliens in the most challenging game the PS2 has to offer. Save the world in 2D one more time, just don't expect to put Contra: Shattered Soldier down until the next new year.
Coverage: PlayStation 2

Red Faction II

Geo-Mod is a gameplay engine that enabled players of the first Red Faction to literally take walls, floors, ceilings, and pretty much anything they wanted out of the picture. THQ and Volition knew the game was a success, so, they did what any company would do in their position: they gave Red Faction a sequel. Red Faction II repeats the trend that its first effort pushed, only more so. You can even team up with five other mates now to mop the floors clean of enemy scum. And get this: Red Faction II has a much broader range of multiplayer options. If you liked the first Faction, get ready to rebel again you antigovernment scum.
Coverage: PlayStation 2

WWE Smackdown: Shut Your Mouth

There's now been 4 Smackdown games in the last 3 years for the PlayStation family of consoles. After last year's decent, but ultimately disappointing entry in Just Bring It, Yuke's and THQ had to do something. Thankfully for WWE fans, that something has turned out to be a really fun wrestling game that captures the spirit of the WWE in ways not seen in a while. Not only does SYM feature tons of big WWE stars from Hollywood Hogan to Shawn Michaels, Smackdown has the best season mode around Ц with an RPG feel and tons of options, it's the finest career mode in town, and a blast to play through. The Create-A-Wrestler is back, and while the highly touted password system is nowhere to be seen (to pass wrestlers along without writing out all the details), the CAW is better than ever. While Smackdown does need a major revolution before it gets too stale, Shut Your Mouth is without a doubt one of the best wrestling games out there, and perhaps the best Smackdown of them all.
Coverage: PlayStation 2

ATV Offroad Fury 2

ATV Offroad Fury carries the flag as the first actual PS2 game from Sony that was any good. Rainbow Studios delivered a fun racer with the extra twist of tricking around, and a tough learning curve to boot. Naturally, ATV 2 had to be in the works, and Rainbow has once again delivered a game that's fun for fans of ATV's and the series itself. Unfortunately, if you're buying this game for online play via the much-ballyhooed Network Adaptor, you're going to be disappointed Ц the online play is definitely NOT the strong point with this game. However, the multitude of iLink and LAN options should suffice, as well as the deep single player mode. While Rainbow will be moving on thanks to their acquisition by THQ, ATV Offroad Fury 2 stands out as one of their better games.
Coverage: PlayStation 2

Burnout 2: Point of Impact

Markedly better than the off-kilter predecessor, Burnout 2 is one of the more well-crafted arcade racers on the PlayStation 2. Gone is the frustrating AI, replaced by AI that's more forgiving, yet not exactly easy. The crashes are more intense, as is the in-depth Championship mode that unlocks a ton of extra vehicles to smash up. Solid multiplayer options and being able to play as the cops and hunt down other drivers adds more value, and the amusing Crash mode lets you smash up cars and cause as much chaos as possible. If arcade racers are your thing, and the amazing Hot Pursuit 2 isn't your bag, Burnout 2 might be up your alley.
Coverage: PlayStation 2

Suikoden III

The Suikoden series has always been one to prove that not all good RPGs have to come from SquareSoft. Even though the first two wouldn't exactly qualify as groundbreaking, Suikoden III, the latest in the series to arrive from publisher Konami, brings to the table one of the most remarkable, fantastic, inspiring RPGs of next-generation gaming. Propelled by roughly the greatest storyline since Chrono Trigger, Suikoden III is split between three character perspectives: Chris, Geddoe, and Hugo, all caught in a struggle of power, glory, culture deception. Each character story is different, but they link together beautifully, especially when intertwined, making it an RPG for the ages.
Coverage: PlayStation 2

Continue with the Holiday Buyer's Guide 2002
Multi-Console ╖ GameCube ╖ PS2 ╖ Xbox ╖ GBA