Involuntary foreshadowing can be quite ironic when you think about it. Take the beginning of the ridiculously popular PlayStation 2 for example. It was a games console and yet for more than a few months it was used as a means to enjoy the Matrix DVD. Then, a variety of popular franchises thrived on it and finally it went on and defined itself with an amazing line-up of some of the best story-driven games the mainstream gaming industry has to offer. Obvious irony, right? Anyway. Here are five of the more interesting PS2 games around. From a storytelling point of view, that is.

Shadow of the Colossus

The sequel of sorts to the brilliant Ico, Shadow of the Colossus not only tells a simple yet absolutely intriguing story, but actually manages to invoke feelings and use devices only the video gaming medium could provide an artist with. It’s a truly rare game where vanquishing a foe just doesn’t feel right, where every single battle fought is unique and where art direction simply overcomes any hurdle the PS2’s aging tech could come up with. A beautiful game you just have to experience and something I wont talk about in any length for fear of spoiling it.

Silent Hill 4: The Room

An average guy, a haunted apartment, first person perspective (well, at times), eerie sounds, a claustrophobic setting and some distinctly Lovecraftian horrors are apparently all it gets to craft a highly atmospheric horror game. Silent Hill 4, my favorite installment in the series, apparently proved it. Happily, it also proved that even relatively mass-market games can offer better plots than the average horror flick.

Okami

If I were to describe Okami in one sentence, I would probably call it an adult’s Zelda. If I, on the other hand, were to restrict Okami’s charms in the storytelling department only, I would be a grossly unfair bastard. Not that I’m not, mind you, but Okami has so much more to offer besides a wild and very Japanese story, it could easily be characterized as an all-around masterpiece. The audiovisual part of the game is perfect, the innovative game mechanics work, it is more addictive than Diablo, it’s as epic as a particularly epic… err… thing, and you can easily grab it for a very reasonable price.

Final Fantasy X-2

An RPG. How appropriate. Final Fantasy X-2, a direct sequel to (shock, horror) Final Fantasy X is most definitely a game that above all values its story. The fact that said story is based on traditional cinematographic techniques is simply irrelevant. Treat it like a film with extensive gaming bits thrown in and you’ll love it. It’s quite of an operatic (sic) epic too.

God of War

Ancient Greek mythology has been a rather ignored source for video game settings, and that despite all the rampant sex, violence and weird stuff going on. Thankfully, God of War, an offering widely considered as the best for the PS2, managed to create both a brilliant action game and take its liberties with said mythology in order to tell a truly captivating story. Not very interactive in its storytelling, but, still… what an absolute monster of a game. Not playing it should probably be criminalized. Unless of course you’re a child.

Posted on March 23rd, 2008 by konstantinos