PS2 in 2008: A year in review

2008 will probably be the last year we'll see anything remarkable happen on the PS2 ever again. As the year concludes, we're taking these last few days to look back and reflect upon the titles that have come out for this veteran console -- a system which has outlived its contemporaries long after they've retired. While 2007 was easily the "Year of the J-RPG," 2008, however, is a bit more difficult to define.

As 2008 marked PS3's second full year out on the market, the PS2 was unfortunately overshadowed and came out with a dwindling amount of new games and even fewer new IP. If there ever was a theme associated with this year, it would be "the final push" as this year was all about remakes, rereleases and some last minute revivals in an attempt to keep the system still going. So what titles are those exactly? After the break we showcase eight PS2 titles which stood out of the crowd this year. It's a rather diverse group but one whose impact won't be felt again in the upcoming year. It's time for the PS2 to stand down and pass the torch.


February - Twisted Metal: Head On - Extra Twisted Edition
Eat Sleep Play | Sony Computer Entertainment

In mid-2007, David Jaffe formed Eat Sleep Play. The fruits of which came to in early 2008 in the form of Twisted Metal: Head-On - Extra Twisted Edition, an expanded and improved version of Incognito's original PSP title that came out three years prior. For Twisted Metal fans who didn't have the pleasure of owning a PSP, the wait for another TM title on PS2 meant six years.

This release is Eat Sleep Play's debut title and is currently the only game under their belt. It also looks like it will be the last PS2 Twisted Metal the studio (or anyone else for that matter) will be doing. The game itself contains a clue pertaining to ESP's next project and it was revealed that it would be Twisted Metal for PS3 (just, whatever you do, don't ask Jaffe about it).

While these developers have moved on to current gen development, they weren't the only ones -- many others were also doing the same. It wasn't TM:HO's intention but it sort of set the pace for the overall mood for the year. The signs were showing as early as February that 2008 would see more and more titles like this one with emphasis on rehashing before the eventual end.




February - Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power
Koei

Before Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors, Koei's gaming empire began with Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Nobunaga's Ambition. For fans of ROTTK games, there has been a steady stream of games released in North America; however, for those of us looking for the Japanese equivalent of Koei's historical sim series, we haven't seen one since 1993. As you can imagine, the coming of Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power in 2008 -- 15 years after the last North American release and the eleventh title in the series -- was a real surprise treat from Koei to the fans.

However, this new Nobunaga's Ambition is radically different from its early predecessors and therefore may have been alien to those looking for a nostalgic trip. Gone are the turn-based strategies of the past, and in are the real-time battles. For many fans, this release seemed more like Kessen than Nobunaga's Ambition. Despite this, the deprivation of a new NA was probably enough to spur interest, and its new style drew in a new generation of gamers. Being a niche game released on a last gen system didn't give the series much of a boost in popular appeal, but it did successfully give PS2 owners a fresh reason to hook up their systems and try something relatively new.

While Rise to Power might not have been successful in terms of today's multi-million blockbusters, it sure did start something special for those few who could appreciate its intricacies. In fact, early next year in January, expect to see another NA title on PS2, Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle. It won't be a system seller, but it'll put smiles on some faces.



March - Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection
Konami

The Metal Gear Solid series was good to the PS2. It gave birth to the much anticipated sequel Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and the widely acclaimed prequel, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. While the series has made the shift to the current gen PS3 in the form of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, that era of glamour on the PS2 was not entirely done and over with -- Konami wasn't yet ready to let that happen.

In early 2008, Konami released Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection. It was a collection of all three previously released games (including the PSOne original) at an incredible budget price. It was a well-timed release, just three months before MGS4 was about to hit. For series fans, the release might not mean much seeing as there is good chance they had all three titles already; however, it gave new fans -- those caught in the media maelstrom build-up to MGS4 -- easy access to play catch-up in time for the final chapter.

Surprisingly, there are many gamers who were not interested in the series before -- not until MGS4 started catching their eye. Without the Essential Collection in place, many of those looking to jump in at #4, would have been left clueless and confused. In a nutshell, this collection was not only an important celebration of past greatness on the PS2, but also partial reason for the success of the biggest exclusive title on the succeeding format.




April - Persona 3: FES
Atlus

2007 was the year of the J-RPG; it saw so many notable RPGs come out all year. But what about 2008? We'll have to get more specific and call it the "Year of Persona." For you see, there haven't been much noteworthy PS2 RPGs out this year ... unless it had the word "persona" in the title. One of those games was the rerelease and expansion of last year's P3, Persona 3: FES.

The expansion added new missions and a reworked version of the original Persona 3. Not only that, but it also incorporated an entirely new 30-hour experience in the side title dubbed The Answer. It was a big wish come true for Persona fans as they finally got the entire experience they've been waiting for since last year.

It's a bit sad, however, to see a rerelease -- especially one that comes so soon -- as one of this year's strongest titles. It just goes to show that the PS2 is really on its way out, and though, we don't see it "dying" with all the negative overtones associated, we see it quietly conceding its throne to the PS3.

Move on to the final four titles