Once we examine the video games of yesteryear to the modern-day blockbusters, the distinction in dimension is sort of jarring. On common, an AAA sport within the 2000s would perhaps maintain you on the hook for about twenty hours.
Whereas if you happen to paid full value for an AAA sport and received that a lot bang on your buck at present, you’ll really feel extraordinarily short-changed.
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Nevertheless, there have been a choose few video games even again within the 2000s that dared to suppose huge and provided gamers experiences that will take over 100 hours to finish in full, a feat that the majority video games at present would nonetheless be reasonably happy with.
They could have been briefly provide, however these PS2 video games have been simply the very best value-for-money purchases of the period, and even at present, they stand tall as a few of the best video games in historical past.
We shall be utilizing the playtimes listed on HowLongToBeat as our measuring stick.
7
Persona 4
Homicide Thriller After College
Persona as a sequence has at all times been good worth, providing tons of content material, a wealth of elective end-game content material, and a severe quantity of creature taming and splicing to get all of the top-tier personas on your roster.
Nevertheless, all different Persona outings pale compared to the potential runtime of Persona 4, the YA, teen-bop drama iteration within the sequence.
Not solely do you want to max all social hyperlinks, register all talent playing cards, move all miracle quizzes, and browse all books. You then have to go round for one more lap to get the true ending. And even if you happen to skip all cutscenes and rush to the end line, it will nonetheless take you over 100 hours, if no more.
That stated, dashing can be a grave injustice, as this JRPG traditional is to be savored and loved to the fullest. As this is likely one of the most healthful, satisfying, and pleasant video games within the sequence, maybe solely paling compared to the incomparable Persona 5.
So, if you happen to’ve milked the Phantom Thieves for all they’re price, this must be your subsequent sport to play.
6
Last Fantasy XII
Stay Your Sky Pirate Fantasy
You might discover a little bit of a development right here. JRPGs have and at all times shall be lengthy and enthralling adventures, and Last Fantasy is likely one of the sequence that helped set this precedent.
Nevertheless, even by Sq. Enix’s lofty requirements on the time, I do not suppose anybody anticipated Last Fantasy XII to be wherever close to as jam-packed with content material because it was.
To finish the principle story and facet quests alone, most gamers can be a 90+ hour runtime. However to complete each last item within the sport, you will have to play for a whopping 150+ hours.
Meaning beating powerful bosses, finishing your bestiary and all 100 trials, studying all magicks and technicks, performing all concurrences and Espers, and that actually solely scratches the floor.
It is a really magnificent journey, and one which permits you to get to know one of the vital eclectic casts in FF historical past. So, if you’d like one that can maintain you busy for a very long time, and in one of the best ways attainable, this can be a nice possibility.
5
Gran Turismo 4
Race To That Checkered Flag
This one may really feel like we’re dishonest a bit of bit, as a variety of the ‘play time’ is definitely time spent within the hands-off simulation mode, B-Spec. Nevertheless, even with out the 24-hour endurance races, there’s nonetheless a mountain of content material to get on with in GT’s fourth installment.
You’ve gotten the traditional staples, similar to profitable your first Sunday Cup and finishing your licences. However the sport retains you on the hook for a staggering 264 hours if you wish to win each race, earn each potential reward, and take into account the sport 100% finished and dusted.
As talked about, because of B-Spec mode, a variety of this sport can successfully be finished in a single day as you sleep if you happen to arrange your stig for achievement. However there’s nonetheless loads of hands-on races the place you will have to showcase your abilities.
So, if you wish to take pleasure in the very best GT title the PS2 has to supply, and what’s nonetheless, for my part, the very best sport within the sequence as a single participant expertise, you want to give this one a go.
4
Monster Hunter
The Begin Of One thing Particular
Many individuals overlook that Monster Hunter was round lengthy earlier than the successes like Rise, World, and Wilds. However one factor has remained the identical, it doesn’t matter what sport you are referring to. The sport solely actually begins when the endgame begins.
Like all entries that observe this one, the unique MH presents a gradual grind and development, the place gamers defeat larger and badder monsters, purchase new gear, and repeat the method.
Plus, because of the extra primitive design with much less fashionable UI, and much fewer high quality of life features we have now come to anticipate at present, each hunt felt like a monumental job. One which required planning, monitoring, and excellent execution.
It isn’t one I’d advocate revisiting at present because of the useless on-line servers, dated design, and stiff fight that does not maintain a candle to at present’s requirements. Nevertheless, again then, it was a staggering bang on your buck, laying the inspiration for what we all know and love at present.
3
SmackDown: Right here Comes The Ache
Deserving Of A Title Shot
As a connoisseur of types in terms of wrestling video games, I nonetheless boldly say that there has by no means been a sport as nice as HCTP.
That is partly fueled by nostalgia, for positive. Nevertheless, within the sport’s protection, it was jam-packed with rewarding content material, making it a value-for-money WWE product. In contrast to tickets to Wrestlemania 41, am I proper?
Digression apart, the sport has a prolonged and replayable marketing campaign mode, a wealth of customization choices to mess around with, and a bunch of unlockables that gamers will solely be capable to get by means of incomes sufficient celebrity factors to buy them.
It is a type of video games the place you undoubtedly get as a lot out as you set in, and it’ll get repetitive if you happen to do not create your personal wrestlers, stables, movesets, and extra. However, the important thing takeaway is that the choice was there, and within the mid-2000s, that was fairly rattling spectacular.
2
Kingdom Hearts II (Last Combine)
An Enchancment On A Masterpiece
Whereas the unique model of Kingdom Hearts 2 wasn’t an extremely prolonged affair, coming in at roughly sixty hours, the vastly expanded and enormously improved Last Combine definitely is extra of a time sink.
This isn’t solely because of the present content material, such because the Gummi missions, mini-games, and prolonged marketing campaign. However because of Last Combine, there have been additionally the extra trials introduced by the Cavern of Remembrance, the Information Organisation bosses, the battle with The Lingering Will, and way more.
Because of the sheer issue of those bosses alone, gamers might discover themselves battling for hours on finish simply to beat one of many plentiful powerhouses added to the sport.
However, as somebody who has endured this wrestle, I can personally attest that it’s a blast, and effectively definitely worth the time you will make investments. So, seize your strongest keyblade and present them who’s boss.
1
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Toriyama At His Finest
We end off with yet one more monumental JRPG providing of the sixth gaming era, and it must be no shock {that a} mainline Dragon Quest sport occupies the house.
As normal, you might have a easy narrative premise finished proper, with the timeless inventive aptitude that solely Toriyama can convey to the desk. To not point out lovable characters, and a vibrant world that rewards thorough exploration.
Sixty hours would see you to the credit, however true completionists would want to play about double that to finish all facet quests, full the sizable end-game chapter, and a lot extra.
It is in all probability a bit of simpler to play this one on 3DS as of late, however the PS2 was this sport’s first house, and we JRPG followers liked each second of this lengthy, engrossing journey.
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