When the PS2 first came out, the games were very unimpressive, and very few. But there were two that stood out for me, and I just wondered if anybody here has played them.

One is ONI (which was also released for the PC afterwards, but didn't handle so well on there). ONI is a very anime-styled game that's so fun. It's like a stealthy, action packed thriller with cool voice casting and special moves that you learn the more you progress through the game. There's kind of a lesbian theme going on there too if you ask me. This is between Konoko (the main character) and the doll-faced NJ-accented, Shinatama, who happens to be a Simulated Life Doll (SLD). You'll know what I mean if you play it. It seems to be more apparent as you get further in the game, and judging by the inter-level artwork that comes up on the screen to make load times less boring, I would say my guess at a 'deeper connection' between these two women is a good one.

I'd still give this game a 10/10 for the overall style. Rockstar games has garnered itself a tidy little reputation in the gaming world now that they have Grand Theft Auto 3 and GTA: Vice City under their belt. ONI was their first PS2 release and they have continued to impress me with their oh-so-playable games ever since.

 

 

 

Operation Winback is the other game that impressed me. This is like an arcade-feeling Syphon Filter. The voice acting is very B-movie/dubbed sounding at the best of times, but this takes nothing away from the overall game experience. In fact, I'm the kind of person that finds overly dramatic voice acting funny, (see House of the Dead 2). I can't really explain this game, other than the fact that it had good graphics, good playability, good controls, and good fun. I like hiding behind pillars and jumping out with a shotgun to shoot people below, then jumping back again! Then roll to the next pillar and do it again! And again!

If you like simplistic games that immerse you in a stoyline while also being easy to use, then you'll like this. It's one of those games you put after throwing your controller around in anguish from a RPG you have gotten stuck on, or a survival horror you keep dying on.

I'm giving it a 10/10 for adictability, playability, and for being one of the only good games out when the PS2 hit the shelves.

 

 

Chances are, if you bought a PS2 in its early days like me, then you may own these two games already. If you are a recent owner (last two years), then you might have a hard time finding these two games. I would look on amazon.co.uk's marketplace, or on eBay.

Honestly, I used to look at these early games, and wonder why the hell there weren't more games like these. The standard with PS2 games was as wavery back then as it is now.