In the early to mid-2000s, Sony Interactive Entertainment was a juggernaut, with its PlayStation 2 (PS2) console still holding the title of the best-selling console of all time. The PS2 era was a golden age for gaming, with established franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Gran Turismo being revamped, and new major franchises like God of War and Devil May Cry making their debut. However, amidst the sea of popular and memorable titles, there are some games that, despite their commercial success at the time, have fallen into obscurity. These are the five hit PS2 games that nobody seems to talk about anymore, despite selling at least one million copies during the PS2's lifetime.
One such game is Dark Cloud, a third-person action RPG that was one of the earliest PlayStation 2 exclusives. The game follows the fantasy hero Toan, whose kingdom is ravaged by a dark genie. Toan must delve into dungeons, recover elements known as Atla, and gradually restore the kingdom. Dark Cloud was an amazing video game that, unfortunately, no one bought at the time, overshadowed by more prominent early PS2 titles. However, it is now available to play on the PlayStation 4 and 5, making it the perfect time to revisit this under-appreciated action RPG.
Another game that has fallen into obscurity is Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses, the first game in the franchise released for the PlayStation 2. The game draws inspiration from the English War of the Roses and features longtime rivals Yugi Mutou and Seto Kaiba facing off in a card-driven showdown. While the game is best enjoyed by Yu-Gi-Oh! fans, it does bring some interesting features to the table, such as a mix of card-oriented combat and grid-based battlefields. Despite the franchise releasing several other games, Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses has yet to be re-released on modern platforms.
Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights is another game that has fallen by the wayside more than 20 years later. The game follows Scooby-Doo as he searches for his friends in a haunted mansion, battling familiar enemies from the animated series and collecting Scooby Snacks to unlock other portions of the property. While the game takes a more conventional action-adventure approach to its gameplay, it is one of the better animated series tie-ins of its era and deserves a modern remaster.
The Getaway is a game that changed gaming forever, offering its own open-world twist on the Grand Theft Auto formula. The game follows the dual narratives of hardened crook Mark Hammond and police detective Frank Carter as they each delve into London's criminal underworld. The Getaway was successful enough to spawn a direct sequel in 2004 and a spin-off, Gangs of London, in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable. However, the video game series has remained largely dormant for 20 years, apart from adaptations in other media.
Finally, EyeToy: Play is a game that predates the Wii and its motion-controlled games by three years. The game comes with its own set of minigames, including rhythm games, soccer ball bouncing, and boxing. EyeToy: Play was successful enough to receive two direct sequels on the PS2 and a number of spin-offs. However, as the EyeToy died with the PS2 era, the games tied to the peripheral have similarly since fallen into obscurity.
