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Graphically Impressive PS2 and PS3 Games

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


Even though the Playstation 2 is several years old now, some games that released for the PS2 console are still graphically impressive to this day! Join TVGS as we take a look at some gameplay of the best looking Playstation 2 games the system ever received!

Thanks mods for the title change

Happy Dance GIF by Hayley Kiyoko
 
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PSlayer

Member
PS2: Tekken 5,Sillent hill 3 and Shadow of the colossus comes to mind

PS3: Gta 5 is damn impressive in that machine
 

Kataploom

Gold Member
Many 7th gen games can stand up graphically against many 8th gen games no kidding (which didn't happen from 6th to 7th gen too often apart from like a couple Nintendo and Xbox games).

I'm amazed by how GOWA looks like, if it had better resolution textures and maybe some ambient occlussion it could pass perfectly as a PS4 game, not the best looking one but not the worst too. Some games from prev gen like Dead Space and first Bioshock always looked "cross-gen" to me but games like Remember Me, Tomb Raider 2013, Sleeping Dogs, etc. aren't that far from looking next gen.

And tbf I'm one of those that still claims that there's not as much of a difference graphically from 7th to 8th gen as it was before, maybe because I had a good PC back in the day and could play those a 1080p with everything maxed or almost maxed out.

Some games I'm still impressed from 6th gen are Ninja Gaiden 2 and freaking Zelda TP... Wii looked sooo good to me back then that I didn't see any reason to go for one of the HD twins, but once I put it on an actual HDTV yeah, nvm, gimme HD all day. Still can't imagin a PS2 keeping a pace trying to run one of those games.
 

Kerotan

Member
Gran Turismo 3, MGS2, MGS3, MGS4, GOW3, GT6, Motorstorm, COD4, TLOU.

These are the first titles that spring to mind.
 

fart town usa

Gold Member
Trying to think of obscure games...

Haunting Ground comes to mind for me. I only played a bit a few months back but I was really impressed with the 3D architecture. Really made me wish Capcom had used that framework for a fixed camera angle RE game.

Cold Fear also, that game plays kind of rough but there's alot going on in terms of physics (takes place on a boat and the waves affect the movement of things). I hope I'm not misremembering.
 
Hitman Blood Money, Matrix: Path of Neo and Transformers(Armada) to name afew with very impressive(for the time) effects

I also think there are a lot of travleller's tales games that were very impressive but are rarely mentioned like Haven, Bionicle heroes and the crash bandicoot game they released very polished with also very impressive effects specially the crash bandicoot particle system

almost forgot area 51 is not only very impressive its also an awesome game
 
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With all do respect.

How could you, in any reality, possibly think that FF10 was more impressive graphically than FF12. No offense but saying that it comes down to the FMVs is straight silly when 12 had MORE impressive Cinematics also. Sure I'm an ff12 fanboy and it's one of my goats, but even objectively speaking it's a better looking game even without a fixed camera.

Besides that, cool video.
 
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sublimit

Banned
PS2 was the last era that art direction still had to be unique and creative in order to make up for the hardware limitations.
Ever since the PS3 gen art directors have become less creative and less imaginative.
 
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Aldynes

Member
The absolute biggest "wow" I've had on PS2 gotta be Ghosthunter, from the level of detail of the main character to the multitude of special effect it could pass for early PS3 gen title easy.

Too bad i can't find footage for it that really show the models and neat effects.
 

CamHostage

Member
The game that never gets mentioned in these PS2 Graphics posts (whether it fits the term "good" or not...) is Demon Chaos.

This game is dumb AF and they smothered it in motion blur, but the game can handle 65,000 characters on screen at once, all shooting arrows at each other and setting things on fire and getting tossed around by your room-clearing swordsman attacks... It's like somebody at developer Genki asked, "What's the max the PS2 can do?" and then they turned that answer into gameplay.



Demon Chaos only came out in Japan and Europe, and the game cripples YT's compression algorithm to even try and watch it being played, but it's a crazy and unique attempt at a PS2 "graphical power" flex.
 
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ClosBSAS

Member
With all do respect.

How could you, in any reality, possibly think that FF10 was more impressive graphically than FF12. No offense but saying that it comes down to the FMVs is straight silly when 12 had MORE impressive Cinematics also. Sure I'm an ff12 fanboy and it's one of my goats, but even objectively speaking it's a better looking game even without a fixed camera.

Besides that, cool video.
I wanna give 12 a shot. Is it good? I havent been able to get past tutorial, does it get better?
 

DGrayson

Mod Team and Bat Team
Staff Member
The game that never gets mentioned in these PS2 Graphics posts (whether it fits the term "good" or not...) is Demon Chaos.

This game is dumb AF and they smothered it in motion blur, but the game can handle 65,000 characters on screen at once, all shooting arrows at each other and setting things on fire and getting tossed around by your room-clearing swordsman attacks... It's like somebody at developer Genki asked, "What's the max the PS2 can do?" and then they turned that answer into gameplay.



Demon Chaos only came out in Japan and Europe, and the game cripples YT's compression algorithm to even try and watch it being played, but it's a crazy and unique attempt at a PS2 "graphical power" flex.



LOL i laughed great description.
 

Mabdia

Member
I really wonder what is thought process behind the choice of the picture for the video.

Good character design?

_______________

Also, POP looks really beautiful on PS2 even today, but the true King when talking about graphics is Gran Turismo 4. Amazing game. 1080i game in 2004.
 

assurdum

Banned
What really impressed me about PS2 which was notable inferior to the Xbox, there were graphic stuff better in some games. Texture filter for example in Max Payne was incredibly higher on PS2 compared the Xbox, or reflections and fluids physics emulation were more accurate in SC Pandora Tomorrow; water was incredible and far better than the flat surface on Xbox .
 
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ACESHIGH

Banned
I'm playing GT4 emulated at 1440p and its a thing of beauty. Just needs some AI enhanced menu textures and intro FMVs. But the PS2 was the console that aged the worst of all the sixth gen ones. Just downright terrible IQ in most cases that made no favour to the great looking games it was displaying.

And regarding the PS3 the focus is always put in the first party games for some reason. But I remember playing AC Black Flag in one friends PS3 and being impressed by the graphics and overall performance. I already played the game on PC maxed but I though it was the best looking PS3 game I've seen all in all.
 
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I wanna give 12 a shot. Is it good? I havent been able to get past tutorial, does it get better?
It's one of my favorite games of all time. I'd say if you do pick it up, then play the remastered version for either the PS4 or Switch. The nintendo switch version being slightly superior bc they made it possible to switch between job classes.

Either version is great because they offer the 4x speed by tapping L1 or some other trigger, making grinding no longer a hassle.

Gameplay wise if you like side quests/hunts finding hidden and rare weapons and lots of interesting locations then I think you'll enjoy it a lot.

The story is much more grounded than most final fantasy games(as much as a FF game can be), as the game tends to take on the more political intrigue/war aspect heavily, so if that's not your cup of tea you may not enjoy the story. I will say personally for me it was a much needed change from most FF games that involve you "killing god".(story is pretty much star wars comes to ivalice)

If the story isn't for you, you'll still be able to enjoy the gameplay, as there's plenty to do and explore and tons of optional content.

Id say once you get past the tutorial, aka sewers and giza plains, and start meeting new party members and exploring new spots the game really opens up and starts to shine.

Take this all with a grain of salt as I've been the biggest fan of the game ever since I saw japanese trailers for it back in 2005/2006.

TLDR if you like political intrigue and lots of optional quests you'll enjoy this game.
 
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