Emulating PS2 for my Steam Deck, would love any recommendations!
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It's a little cringe in retrospect, but I really liked my time with Makai Kingdom. Avoid if anime stuff isn't your bag.
Ico had some interesting ideas that are with a look.
Rogue Galaxy was pretty okay.
Psychonauts deserves a mention, though it's kind of obvious.
Red Faction had cool political leanings for a game of that era.
You've got heaps of great suggestions already so I'll leave it at that.
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I love Midnight Club 3 so much. That and Black just seemed (to me) to just push the envelope of what the PS2 could do. They're gorgeous. Black can output 480p, and even with all the crazy physics and detailed textures, it never seems to experience slowdown.
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Dark Cloud 2 (aka Dark Chronicle). That and MGS3 are basically the only PS2 games I actively think about still.
Dark Cloud 1 is also worth playing, but I'd play 2 first. It smoothes out a lot of issues with the first and adds so much more to it.
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Definitely play the AC games. Which series am I talking about? Both.
Armored Core and Ace Combat are really good games. For the PS2 continuity of Armored Core it is arguable that the PSP versions are better due to the extra content, but otherwise it's not too big of a deal.
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Manhunt is a cinematic experience.
Is MGS meets stylish kills.
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If you like Jak, you'll have a blast with Ratchet and Clank. Lots of good ol action platforming.
Klonoa 2 and Spongebob Battle for Bikini Bottom might also be worth looking into. I specifically remember finding tons of shortcuts in SBBB that were probably unintended, but that game also got a remaster in the last few years.
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Ps2 Mortal Kombat games were the best, they have beem sliding ever since.
Deadly Alliance is a slog for story/Konquest but a fun game.
Deception is so so good, one of my favourite games ever. Doesnt really hold up as well as Id like but it has brilliant features that I miss in every modern iteration. Namely the best konquest implementation. Chess Kombat.
Shaolin Monks, another one on par with Deception. I have to replay this next.
Armageddon is carnage, just fun fun all the way through. Every character from the entire run of the franchise is playable, it is everythimg.
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I haven't seen anyone mention Dark Cloud. Love that game.
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Not a game I've seen mentioned much, but I would recommend Whiplash if you like dark humor and 3D platformer action games.
