Ranking The Greatest PS2 Platformers Ever Made

Sony’s PlayStation 2 was undoubtedly a success with hard-core fans and new gamers alike. According to official reports by Sony, the console has sold over 160 MILLION units worldwide. This makes it the best-selling console of all time, and for good reason.

The PS2 primarily succeeded due to the graphical leap in quality from the PS1, along with a slew of new and creative games from a multitude of developers. In particular, the platforming genre saw a huge surge in relevance during this generation (due to the number of quality releases for the console).

It’s time to take a trip back to the past and review some of the most fun, memorable, and iconic platformers from the PS2 era.

NUMBER 5: BATTLE FOR BIKINI BOTTOM

As most SpongeBob fans are aware, the titular sponge has experienced an inconsistent history in the video game medium. Although developers realized the potential of a SpongeBob platformer game early on in the PS1 days, there was never really a SpongeBob game that “clicked” with fans. This all changed with the universally praised SpongeBob: Battle for Bikini Bottom. It makes perfect sense why BFBB is considered the quintessential SpongeBob platformer, even if I only played the remake.

First off, the game’s soundtrack stands out for its memorable melodies and accuracy to tracks from the actual show. Like many other fans, the Jellyfish Fields level music is as iconic to me as something like Bomb-Omb Battlefield or Green Hill Zone. The level design itself also works well, mainly due to its vibrant colors and gameplay variety.

The developers did a great job distinguishing SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy by giving them unique abilities that transform traversal between levels. Also, while the storyline of Plankton and his robots is nothing extraordinary, it still feels like a plot that came directly out of the show. Of course, it is naturally elevated by the comedic timing of the show’s voice actors, such as Tom Kenny as SpongeBob and Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick.

Thankfully, THQ Nordic and Purple Lamp Studios helped revive this style of SpongeBob platformer with The Cosmic Shake and Titans of the Tide. Hopefully, the franchise will continue to build on BFBB’s formula in the future!

NUMBER 4: JAK AND DAXTER TRILOGY

While it never quite met the heights in popularity of its bandicoot predecessor, the Jak and Daxter series still maintains a set of loyal and dedicated fans. Most notably, the series practically pioneered true open-world gaming experiences. With the Precursor Legacy, Naughty Dog developed technically impressive and truly explorable 3D worlds during a time when games were, in most cases, linear.

Additionally, the chemistry between the stoic Jak and the sly Daxter quickly defined the franchise. Naughty Dog successfully balanced humor with increasingly more mature storytelling in later entries (most notably, Jak 3). The series also offers plenty of gameplay variety, with equally fun driving, shooting, and platforming sections.

Overall, while it isn’t one of my favorite franchises from the PS2 era, I can certainly see why the Jak and Daxter series resonates so dearly with fans. While the game hasn’t seen a true release since 2012, the fan reception to the pitched remakes in 2019 gives me hope that Sony will reconsider shafting this beloved franchise.

NUMBER 3: PSYCHONAUTS

While it may be more of a “cult classic” series, Psychonauts remains one of the most creative and stylized PS2 platformers. The game features a wide array of level designs, each set in the mind of a specific character. The developers did a wonderful job using these levels to display each character’s distinct personality traits.

The game’s art style also adds to this distinctness. While it might not appeal to everyone, the bizarre aesthetic gave the game a unique charm. According to the developers, this style was inspired by the works of Tim Burton. Burton’s dark and gothic stylizations served as a basis for how Double Fine designed their own characters.

Of course, Psychonauts’ levels and art style wouldn’t be as impactful without hard-hitting writing and characters. Psychonaut’s writing is arguably the most popular aspect of the game, due to its rapid-fire jokes and exploration of quirky, yet memorable characters. I won’t spoil much for those who have yet to play, as it is truly a delightful experience.

With Psychonauts 2 receiving universal acclaim in 2021, it is clear that there is still interest in the series. While Double Fine is currently focusing on other new IPs, I remain hopeful that they will eventually return to the series one day (whether it be in the form of a new game or a full-blown animated movie)!

NUMBER 2: RATCHET AND CLANK QUADRILOGY

Although my introduction to the series came from later entries, the original PS2 trilogy still represents Ratchet and Clank at their peak. R&C 2016 served as a remake of the first entry in the series, so I feel qualified to speak my thoughts on the PS2 games.

The Ratchet and Clank series “works” for many reasons. However, the core element holding the franchise together is the dynamic between the two main characters. Like Jak and Daxter, the original games do a great job of establishing the friendship of this duo (despite their differences in personalities).

This dynamic is only improved with the addition of other legendary characters, such as the (well-meaning but ultimately clueless) Captain Qwark and the villainous Doctor Nefarious. At the time, the series writing frequently paired its sharp wit with a bit of edge. This led to a unique situation where, although the series’s colorful platforming gameplay appealed to younger audiences, it could also be enjoyed by teen and adult gamers.

The series signature gunplay is also an essential factor, due to the slew of unique guns in your arsenal. Insomniac has always thrived at designing creative weapons for each entry. This makes the generally simple gameplay loop consistently fun and addictive.

Although Insomniac is currently hard at work on countless other projects, I have hope that the series will return to its roots in the future.

NUMBER 1: SLY COOPER TRILOGY

Sly Cooper is a franchise that most PS2 gamers will instantly recognize. Due to the subjectivity of the list, I chose Sly as the number one pick mainly due to its slick gameplay, unique aesthetic, and practically flawless trilogy on the console. Personally, I believe the Sly series nails these aspects better than the previous entries on the list. In terms of gameplay, the Sly games famously mixed platforming with stealth (along with a bit of combat). This combination stands out compared to other platformers of the time, which primarily focused on heavy action and combat.

As for the aesthetic, their “cartoon-like” look using cel-shading was also unique (especially in a time before cel-shaded games were more popularized). While Psychonauts also exhibits a distinct style, the Sly series artistic style comes together more “cleanly” (in my opinion).

Finally, the gameplay of the trilogy is considered to be some of the most consistent out of any PS2 platformer franchise. While the original Sly was very linear and stealth-focused, Sly 2 and 3 would build upon this foundation by adding open-world sections and additional characters. Sly 3 would arguably have the most refined gameplay of the 3, improving these aspects from 2, along with adding new mission types.

Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a new entry in the Sly Cooper series since 2013 with the PS3’s Thieves in Time. With Sucker Punch now primarily focusing on the Ghost series, it is unlikely that Sly will receive any new games in the near future.

Would you like to see a new Sly Cooper game for the PS5/PS6? Do you agree with my rankings of these classic PS2 platformers? If not, what would your ranking be? Let me know in the comments!