The PS2 is one of the greatest consoles ever made. It was a host to a slew of some of the greatest titles which are still discussed to this day. From games like Castlevania, and Devil May Cry, to Final Fantasy and Silent Hill, the console obviously had a lot to offer back then.
Surprisingly, the PlayStation 2 still remains the highest-selling console in history along with the Nintendo DS. However, despite having the best games ever made, many titles went out of the radar for so many gamers. As you can probably imagine, lots of these titles became rare or expensive due to the fact that they didn’t sell too well at the time.
Trying to get your hands on these ridiculously expensive titles can prove to be challenging, but are they worth the price? This article will tackle the most expensive PS2 games, and whether you should spend your hard-earned money on them or not.
Note: the mentioned prices are bound to change once in a while due to the demand. So, expect some games to either raise or fall in prices in the foreseeable future.
Developer: Punchline
Publisher: Atlus
Platform: PS2
Release Date: January 19, 2006
Price: $350-$2000
Genre: Survival Horror
Ah, yes. The renowned Rule of Rose and its ridiculously expensive price on eBay and Amazon. Yet, is this game really worth the price? Well, the answer is no. It may be regarded as a classic survival horror game by so many, but unfortunately, it’s nothing special.
The controls are clunky, the combat isn’t that fun at all, and the story itself isn’t that interesting. It may come as a shock what I’m going to say but, Resident Evil remake on the Gamecube controls better than Rule of Rose in so many ways. I was eagerly excited to try Rule of Rose, but after finishing it two times with the bad and good ending, I was hit with a massive disappointment on how overrated this game was in the horror community.
If you’re planning to collect this game or play it in the future, it is highly recommended not to buy it for the suggested prices. Instead, either try to find the cheapest copy or just emulate it. (Even emulating it is not worth it)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platform: PS2
Release Date: January 19, 2006
Price: $242-$1008
Genre: Survival Horror
Unlike Rule of Rose, Haunting Ground is a great game. The story, characters, and gameplay will remain something to cherish for the years to come. Haunting Ground shares a lot in common with Capcom’s Clock Tower 3 considering the fact that it was developed by the same studio behind the latter. However, instead of mimicking Clock Tower, Haunting Ground has one of the best gameplay mechanics I have ever seen in a survival horror game. Fiona and her dog, Hewi, are capable of creating a bond that works in their favor. This relationship not only is helpful to tackle foes and puzzles, but also has consequences on the ending as well.
Haunting Ground couldn’t find an audience like Clock Tower did. As a result, the game didn’t sell well, and so it became a gem that collectors seek to put in their closets. If you want to play this game, I’d recommend hunting a cheap copy if you can, it’s worth every second of your life.
Developer: Red Entertainment, Sega Wow
Publisher: Sega
Platform: PS2
Release Date: September 9, 2004
Price: $203-$999
Genre: Hack and Slash
Blood Will Tell is the first and the last game adaptation of the original Dororo manga released back in 1967. The game casts you in the role of Hyakkimaru, a brave warrior who has to retrieve his stolen organs.
It’s a great game, and it does justice to the manga and the original anime, but to buy it for the suggested price is ultimate madness. While the game can be easily emulated on PC, I get that many out there will want to experience this hidden gem on the original hardware. Unfortunately, as of right now, a cheap copy is difficult to get your paws on, but if you do stumble on a cheap copy, get it. The game is worth it for those who are looking for a great hack and slash title.
Developer: Unique Development Studios
Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games, SCi Games
Platform: PS2 | Xbox
Release Date: August 1, 2003
Price: $126-$275
Genre: Platformer
Nostalgia can sometimes blind us, and that’s what happened with futurama’s video game. This 3D platform is based on the original Futurama cartoon series, and it puts you in the role of several characters as you fight through a myriad of enemies to build a new time machine and aid the Sun People.
Unfortunately, the show was canceled back in 2003. Yet, that didn’t stop the game from happening since it was already in development. The show struggled at the time, so the developers printed a few copies that miraculously brought the series from the dead. Personally, I don’t think Futurama is a bad game, it’s just average. I believe Futurama fans will surely want to get their hands on it, but as always, try to get a cheap copy if possible.
Developer: AKI Corporation, EA Canada
Publisher: EA Games
Platform: PS2 | Xbox | Gamecube
Release Date: September 21, 2004
Price: $167-$525
Genre: Fighting
The PlayStation 2 was home to an array of superb fighting games. Such as Mortal Kombat, Tekken, Guilty Gear, and Street Fighter. However, among all these great titles, there is a single fighting game by EA. Yes, by freaking EA back in the golden days. The game which I’m talking about is Def Jam Fight for NY.
Def Jam Fight for NY features known figures such as Snoop Dogg, Flavor Flav, and Ludacris. It also features a story where the player guides the character through the fighting underworld, fighting opponents one after another. The game has unfortunately become expensive and rare due to the sudden recognition the game has been receiving lately. A loose disc copy of the game costs $167, while a sealed copy can go over $525. The game is not worth buying for 500USD, but if you do find a cheap copy, get it.
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus
Platform: PS2
Release Date: March 2, 2006
Price: $149-$285
Genre: JRPG
When it comes to rare and expensive games on the PS2, Atlus titles are one of them. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army is a Japanese role-playing game and is part of the critically acclaimed Shin Megami Tensei franchise.
You take on the role of Raidou Kuzunoha the XIV who has to investigate for clues to rescue Rin and unfold the mysteries that await him. Rescuing her won’t be easy as Raidou will traverse into the Dark Realm, converse with powerful demons he can recruit later, and discover what an ordinary human won’t be able to confront.
Unlike previous SMT games, this particular is a hack and slash action-based combat. The sequel, Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon is the same with improved combat and new mechanics. Both the prequel and the sequel are expensive to get these days, and hunting for a cheap copy is not easy. However, if you do stumble on one, buy it.
Developer: Hydravision Entertainment
Publisher: Dreamcatcher Interactive
Platform: PS2 | Xbox | PC
Release Date: October 1, 2004
Price: $122-$540
Genre: Survival Horror
Obscure is a survival horror video game that plays similarly to the classic Resident Evil titles on the PS2. The gameplay is great, and the story is interesting as well as the soundtrack. While it may have several cons like every game out there, it remains a great title to enjoy for those who are looking for a horrific experience.
What’s great about Obscure is the implementation of co-op mode. You can control several characters and switch between any of them whenever you want. Or, you can call your friend and burst into the experience together. If you’re a fan of horror games, Obscure is a great one, but the suggested prices aren’t worth it. Personally, I think the PC version is superior to the PS2 and Xbox releases in various ways. Plus, it’s cheaper.
Developer: Hudson Soft
Publisher: Konami
Platform: PS2
Release Date: February 23, 2006
Price: $122-$400
Genre: JRPG
Suikoden V is part of the Suikoden franchise that originally debuted on the PlayStation. Originally created by Yoshitaka Murayama, the game takes place six in-universe years before the events of the first Suikoden title.
The player takes hold of Freyjadour, the Prince of Falena who has to travel the world, meet with new allies and solve the problems that ruined the whole nation. When it comes to the Suikoden franchise, it’s a great one, but the price in my opinion is outrageous. So, it’s highly recommended to either emulate, get it digitally, or find a cheap copy.
Developer: Clover Studio
Publisher: Capcom
Platform: PS2
Release Date: September 14, 2006
Price: $71-$496
Genre: Beat’ em up
God Hand is one of the craziest beat’ em up video games ever developed by Capcom back in 2006. Brought to you by Shinji Mikami, God Hand sees you confronting countless foes as you control a powerful character known as Gene. Gene is professional at mopping the floor with bad guys using several martial art techniques, and funny ones too.
Unfortunately, when God Hand was first released, it was greeted with bad reviews due to the fact that journalists couldn’t beat the first level of the game. However, thanks to the dedicated fanbase, the game has been generating a lot of recognition lately to the point where many are asking for either a remaster or a port. The latter is a great underrated game, and an expensive one too these days. A loose copy can be fetched for $71, while a new sealed copy can cost up to $500. You better emulate it or find the cheapest copy because it’s worth it after all.
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: FromSoftware, Agetec, Indie Games Productions
Platform: PS2
Release Date: April 1, 2004
Price: $489-$1040
Genre: Survival Horror
What a lot of players don’t know is that FromSoftware has actually developed a couple of survival horror titles before their transition into the Souls games. Kuon is kind of similar to Sony’s Forbidden Siren and classic Silent Hill games as it also has tank controls.
The game’s story puts you in the shoes of 3 different protagonists. Each protagonist follows a particular chapter. Their objective is to explore the surroundings to discover the mystery behind a pair of strange twins. Eventually, the characters will learn that they are the manifestation of two evil mulberry trees.
After a decade, Kuon and Echo Night have been getting noticeable recognition lately which led to both of these titles costing a fortune. for instance, a loose copy costs 489 dollars, while a new sealed copy costs up to 1040 dollars. The game can be emulated easily without any problems if you’re worried about the price. However, trying to find a cheap copy of this game is not easy at all. But if you do find one, go for it.
Developer: Capcom, Backbone Entertainment
Publisher: FromSoftware, Agetec, Indie Games Productions
Platform: PS2 | Arcade | Dreamcast | Xbox
Release Date: September 19, 2002
Price: $143-$459
Genre: Fighting
After the flop of Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite, several gamers wanted to dive back into what made the franchise a good game to play. For instance, Marvel vs Capcom 3 is a great one that is still discussed to this day due to the number of characters it had, the art style, soundtracks, and the memorable characters.
Marvel vs Capcom 2: A New Age of Heroes is a great fighting game as well. However, surprisingly, the Dreamcast copy of the game costs less than the PS2 version as of right now. This means you can get your hands on it right now before prices hit the roof.
Developer: CyberConnect2
Publisher: Bandai
Platform: PS2
Release Date: April 10, 2003
Price: $227-$590
Genre: JRPG
Dot Hack//Quarantine is part of CyberConnect2’s successful dot hack franchise that debuted back in 2002. The franchise is famous for its outstanding storyline, memorable soundtracks, and most importantly the engaging gameplay. The first games are renowned for their heavy emphasis on grinding-till-death, but the later ones kind of dropped that.
After the release of dot Hack//G.U Last Recode, gamers wanted to discover what really happened in the previous games, and so they sought to hunt down the prequels on the PS2. This has resulted in prices skyrocketing. A loose copy of Hack//Quarantine costs 227USD, while a brand new copy can go up to 590USD. As usual, you can always emulate the game, or hunt down a cheap copy. The game is totally worth it.
Thank you for reading. What other games that you think are expensive? let us know!
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FreeckyCake
I'm just your average gamer who enjoys hunting hidden gems and underrated games. My love for Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams is like a truck and I recommend that you play it.
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