Top 10 RPG Games for the PlayStation 2

Whether you are a hard core gamer or just a weekend gamer, everyone has their own personal best video game system and games. This article deals with the Playstation 2 system and the best role playing games that are a must for the system. The older games can be purchased used from such places as Gamestop or EB Games.

1. Final Fantasy. From its humble pixilated beginnings, this series continues to amaze and entertain. Each game in the series offers long hours of play time and gorgeous graphic movies as well as a unique growth system such as Final Fantasy X grid system. The franchise is extremely popular and most games know the characters and allow them to take a life of their own through cos-play.

2. .(dot)Hack & .(dot)Hack/GU. You are immersed in the world of online gaming and you control the main character while trying to discover why others are falling victim to a virus that has infected the real world. Although the games graphics and camera angles can get choppy, the extensive world exploration more than makes up for it. If you start from the first game in the series, you can transfer your character and their states from game to game allowing them to increase in strength.

3. Suikoden. A lone character (that is you the player) must find 108 characters through a series of different actions and times to help defend your world against evil. Hours of game play that takes time, but enjoyable. The battle system is turn based like most role playing games; however your party members can team up to perform amazing attacks.

4. Dragon Quest. Colorful background and characters. The world to explore is open ended and it is easy (but fun) to get lost. Simple turn based battles are easy to understand. The weapons change when they are upgraded. The beasts are wonderfully drawn as well as the music matching the mood of the game. The graphics carry over into the CG movie, making the game feel as though it is an entire CG movie.

5. Xenosaga. Gorgeous women in scantly clad armor, but one of them happens to be an android who is experiencing life for the first time. Not your traditional medieval type role play game in that it is set in the very distant future. One woman and her android rush to save the world's destruction. The character stats can be transferred from one game to the next. Hours of play and beautifully rendered CG movies.

6. Atelier Iris. Where else can collecting rocks and roots be more fun? Not only do you get to save a princess or the world, you also get to create everything from healing potions to weapons. The creation process can become addicting but does not take away from the game itself. The payable characters look like cartoons and remind one of the older graphics from the original playstation, but that still does not take away from the wonderful game play.

7. StarOcean. Great graphics and CG movies. The game is slow the draw you in, but once the action starts, you are fully pulled into the game. Also set in the distant future where space travel is standard. Save the girl, save the world. Star Ocean also allows for inventing of new items much like magic.

8. Shadow Heart. Demons and martial arts - what could be better? The playable character has a haunted past. Based on Japanese mythological and set during Japan's war. The fighting is a bit different in that once the action requested is taken you must successful hit a spinning target. The better your stop, the better the damage or healing. It is not an open ended game, but the graphics and unique game play more than make up for that one short coming.

9. Fatal Frame. No weapons, not even a dagger - you are only armed with a camera that captures ghosts and demons. Heavily based on Japanese mythology. The weapon captures the spirit instead of killing it. Different films have different abilities. Dark artwork and music pull you into the game. This is one game that if you play at night will haunt your dreams.

10. Rogue Galaxy. Pirates, ships, and open ended worlds - what could be better? Rogue Galaxy offers that along with the "hack and slash" of other action games. Colorful graphics and easy of game play, makes this a game that should be on every gamer's shelves. The CG events hold true to the game play graphics, making the player feel they are controlling the movie.