The year 2020 has been a big year for remasters and remakes. Gamers have already seen Final Fantasy VII Remake, Mafia 1 and 2 The Definitive Editions, Personal 5 Royal, Tony Hawk’s Skateboarding 1 & 2, Trials of Mana, Resident Evil 3, and Destroy All Humans.
It’s true that some gamers complain about bringing back old franchises, but a remaster or remake has the ability to bring classic games to a new audience and revitalize an old franchise. Fans of Japanese RPGs will always consider the PS2’s library of games as home to some of the genre’s best, and there’s a ton of great games that deserve a second look.
10 Drakengard 1 And 2
Drakengard and its sequel released for the PlayStation 2 in 2003 and 2006 respectively. It’s an action-RPG series that combined elements of Dynasty Warriors with large scale on-foot battles and Ace Combat-style dragon-riding sequences.
What makes the Drakengard series so relevant today is its connection to the NieR series. Both are set in the same universe and feature similar elements like multiple endings and very dark storylines. With the upcoming remaster of the first NieR in development, a remake of the Drakengard series would help fans understand the bigger picture in the games’ shared universe.
9 Growlanser Generations
Growlanser Generations is a two-game compilation of tactical RPGs that contain Growlanser II and Growlanser III. It was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2004 and features two massive JRPGs with narratives that span generations.
It’s unfortunate that the series never got the same amount of attention as other games in the genre, as its active time-based gameplay is very unique in a tactical RPG. The series has never been known for state-of-the-art graphical fidelity but a more modern remake could help the series gain a new audience. Furthermore, Growlanser Generations wasnever released in European territories, so its original never got the exposure it deserved.
8 Dragon Quest VIII: Journey Of The Cursed King
Released worldwide in 2006, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King was an absolute delight to play and a stunning game even on an aging system like the PlayStation 2. The cell-shaded visuals, art-style, and stunning music all hold up very well by today’s standards.
However, a remake using the same engine that was used for Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age would look absolutely stunning and make an already massive adventure even grander as a result.
7 Shadow Hearts Trilogy
The Shadow Hearts trilogy was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2001, 2004, and 2007 respectively. They are Gothic in tone and are based in an alternate-history timeline that takes diverges from around the time of the First World War and the Prohibition Era in America.
The most popular game in the series is the second game, Shadow Hearts: Covenant, but all of the games do a great job of feeling interconnected and part of a larger universe. The games are often compared to the Shin Megami Tensei series but the Shadow Hearts’ take on turn-based combat feels completely unique and skill-based.
6 The Xenosaga Trilogy
The Xenosaga Trilogy was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2003, 2005, and 2006 respectively. They are incredibly ambitious science fiction space operas that were created as the spiritual successors to Xenogears on the PS1.
The games weren’t the runaway success that the publishers at Namco had expected, and all hopes for a remaster have been put to rest. However, the Mass Effect trilogy has proven that gamers are more willing to invest their time in an epic episodic saga and fans will always remain hopeful that series may get the modern-day remaster it deserves.
5 Rogue Galaxy
Released exclusively for the PlayStation 2 in 2007, Rogue Galaxy is another overlooked but stunning action RPG that didn’t get the sales it deserved on release. The game clearly takes a lot of inspiration from the Star Wars saga in its themes and story but the characters are engaging and the action-based combat a lot of fun.
It was developed by Level-5 Studios, the same team that created Dragon Quest VIII: The Journey of the Cursed King. And just like that game, it features some stunning art design that holds up very well today.
4 Tales Of The Abyss
First released on the PlayStation 2 in 2006, Tales of the Abyss is often regarded as one of the best games in the series next to Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia. Unfortunately, the PS2 version never made it to EU territories and the game didn’t gain the same mainstream success as the more recent entries in the Tales series.
Abyss features a great art-style, stunning anime cutscenes and a redemption storyline that features some of the best character development ever seen in a JRPG. The game definitely deserves another shot on modern consoles.
3 Digital Devil Saga
The Digital Devil Saga is a series of two games that are based in the Shin Megami Tensei universe. It has a post-apocalyptic setting and storyline but has many of the same traits as the mainline Megami games, including the punishing but fair difficulty.
The games were released worldwide on the PlayStation 2 in 2006 and 2007 respectively. The games set themselves apart from other games in the JRPG genre due to their fantastic writing and very dark themes that were aimed at an adult audience.
2 Persona 3
Like the Digital Devil Saga series, the Persona series is based in the Shin Megami Tensei universe. Released in 2006, Persona 3 was a bigger hit for the developers Atlus than even the mainline Megami Tensei games, thanks in part due to its dating and social mechanics and the more relatable storyline and school-based setting.
The developers managed to create a good balance between traditional JRPG mechanics and a coming of age story beginning with an out of town teenager starting a new school. With the mainstream success of Persona 5, a remake of the PS2 hit using the same engine would bring an excellent story to a modern audience.
1 Suikoden V
Suikoden V was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2006 and was the last mainline entry in an epic JRPG franchise that certainly deserved more attention than it got. An argument can be made for all of the Suikoden games – Suikoden III, Suikoden IV, and Suikoden Tactics that released on the PS2 all deserve a remake.
However, it is the fifth game the franchise that is considered as the best game in the series, after the PS1’s Suikoden II. While all the games have interconnected lore, each game stands on its own very well. With Suikoden V being set 8 years before the events of the first game, it’s a great starting point. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that this great series will ever get the comeback it deserves. But there is hope for fans with the Kickstarter project and spiritual sequel Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes which reunites many of the same developers from that series.
NEXT: 10 Best Turn-Based JRPGs Of All Time, Ranked
