The 10 BEST PS2 Sports Games
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VOICE OVER: Aaron Kline
WRITTEN BY: Aaron Kline
We wish the current state of sports games was like the PS2 era. For this list, we'll be looking at the MVP's of the sports game world. One game per franchise so you won't be seeing a list full of Madden. Our list includes “Fight Night Round 3” (2006), “NBA Street Vol. 2” (2003), “Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3” (2001), and more!
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 PS2 sports games. For this list, we’ll be looking at the MVP’s of the sports game world. One game per franchise so you won’t be seeing a list full of Madden. One game that just missed the list “Blitz: The League”, a game that took the arcade classic “NFL Blitz” and gave it a story with a griddy darker look at the world of football. What’s your favorite sports game on the PS2? Huddle up in the comments and let us know.
The first “NFL Street” was a solid game, but the sequel built upon everything the first game did and did it better. “NFL Street 2’s” main draw was Own the City - a mode where players could create a character and build a team around them to take on other teams in a pick up game with amateurs and pro players alike. All the flashy plays in the first game return, but the newest addition when it comes to gameplay is the ability to run and jump on walls. This small feature added another layer to the game as you were able to easily run a 100 yard touchdown once you mastered it. “NFL Street 2” was all about style plays and showboating. It also had Xzibit is the leader of the top tier team, so there’s that.
Boxing games have been around for as long as gaming and “Fight Night Round 3” is one of the most realistic to date. Sure, it may look a little dated, but all the mechanics lean more towards simulation than an arcade boxer. This simulation feels there from the start, the game starts with no HUD and players will have to judge the status of their fighter from multiple indicators like their boxers stance, movement, and by paying attention to their facial features. If this feature is for you, you can easily turn on the HUD, but you’ll lose some of the immersion. “Fight Night Round 3” has some of the best sound design in a boxing game, The way the punches land you can really feel them, especially when you hit them with a fishing blow.
A somewhat forgotten extreme sports game, “Aggressive Inline” took what made the “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” series amazing and tried to copy it in the world of inline. Each level felt unique and was full of challenges. These challenges will seem familiar if you’re a fan of the THPS, get a set score, do a unique level challenge, collect items. “Aggressive Inline” may not have taken over the gaming space like “Tony Hawk”, but it still is good fun and one of the best extreme sports games.
When it comes to annualized sports games it’s hard to pick which is the best in the series. Each year the games get better and build on the groundwork of the previous entries. “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 05” added eight new golf courses bringing the total to 14 and the ability to modify courses to make them harder or easier if that’s what you’re looking for. There is a lengthy season mode where you take your golfing skills on a 52 week PGA Tour against the best of the best. No matter what “Tiger Woods” game you go with they’ll satisfy your golfing itch.
Just like “NFL Blitz”, “NHL Hitz” takes hockey and turns it into a fun arcade game. The core hockey game is here and just like simulation hockey games you get franchise mode, but in this mode you are creating a team to hopefully join the NHL. Hitz is all about the hits, over the top movements and well hits. “NHL Hitz” is not only a hockey game, but also a fighting game. Just like real hockley some of the most fun times are when the players get into it and in Hitz it turns into a traditional fighting game with combos and health bars.
Another golf game? Well this one is a PlayStation classic. “Hot Shots Golf 3” may look like a cute golf game, but the game actually has depth. It’s probably the most accessible golf game on the PS2 thanks to its hitting system. Simply tap the button at the correct time and you can land a perfect shot. This was the appeal of the game and the reasoning for it being called “Everybody's Golf” outside of North America, it’s a golf game everyone can enjoy. Simple enough for newcomers and advanced for fans of golf games.
Remember “NBA Jam”? Well “NBA Street Vol. 2” took the concept of high flying dunks and somewhat grounded it… somewhat. “NBA Street Vol. 2” still had fun alley-ops and long range three pointers, but there was an emphasis on style. The whole goal was to make your way up and down the court while showing off your handles and draining that 3 or throwing up a lob for a huge dunk. “NBA Street Vol. 2” shined in its roster. You had your current players at the time, Vince Carter, Kobe, and Shaq, but the addition of legends really was a blast. There’s nothing like seeing Larry Bird, Magic Jonson, and Bill Russell going against AI, Ben Wallace, and Jason Kid.
Now some would say that “SSX Tricky” is the better game, it’s really a toss up. “SSX 3” focused more on grounded racing and tricks, and is full of great snowboarding action with three main gameplay modes. Races are self explanatory, get to the finish line as fast as possible. Freestyle events were more trick focused, slopestyle, super pipe, and big air. Then there were other challenges like collecting items and jumping through hoops during a run. “SSX 3” was also a game that had online multiplayer letting you go head to head with players, though sadly this is no longer available.
EA Sports - it’s in the game. Man, I miss that intro. “Madden NFL 2005” may have brought one of the biggest features to “Madden” - it introduced the Hit Stick which is still a staple of the games today. “Madden 05” was full of features, from creating a player and team, franchise mode and even creating a playbook. It practically set the groundwork for modern “Madden '' games, it’s also crazy that we still use the Hit Stick in new entries. Also I know some of you will leave a comment saying “ESPN NFL 2K5” is the better game and as much as I like it, “Madden 05” just beat it out.
It should come as no surprise that this is top dog. “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3” took everything from “Pro Skater 2” and added one new feature that changed how we look at combos, the revert. It’s probably the best feeling “Pro Skater’ game, tight controls with loads of combos. The unique levels and characters made progression fun and made players want to 100% each level. You could make an argument that “Pro Skater 4” or “Underground” are better games, but “Pro Skater 3” is a much tighter package.
“NFL Street 2” (2004)
The first “NFL Street” was a solid game, but the sequel built upon everything the first game did and did it better. “NFL Street 2’s” main draw was Own the City - a mode where players could create a character and build a team around them to take on other teams in a pick up game with amateurs and pro players alike. All the flashy plays in the first game return, but the newest addition when it comes to gameplay is the ability to run and jump on walls. This small feature added another layer to the game as you were able to easily run a 100 yard touchdown once you mastered it. “NFL Street 2” was all about style plays and showboating. It also had Xzibit is the leader of the top tier team, so there’s that.
“Fight Night Round 3” (2006)
Boxing games have been around for as long as gaming and “Fight Night Round 3” is one of the most realistic to date. Sure, it may look a little dated, but all the mechanics lean more towards simulation than an arcade boxer. This simulation feels there from the start, the game starts with no HUD and players will have to judge the status of their fighter from multiple indicators like their boxers stance, movement, and by paying attention to their facial features. If this feature is for you, you can easily turn on the HUD, but you’ll lose some of the immersion. “Fight Night Round 3” has some of the best sound design in a boxing game, The way the punches land you can really feel them, especially when you hit them with a fishing blow.
“Aggressive Inline” (2002)
A somewhat forgotten extreme sports game, “Aggressive Inline” took what made the “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” series amazing and tried to copy it in the world of inline. Each level felt unique and was full of challenges. These challenges will seem familiar if you’re a fan of the THPS, get a set score, do a unique level challenge, collect items. “Aggressive Inline” may not have taken over the gaming space like “Tony Hawk”, but it still is good fun and one of the best extreme sports games.
“Tiger Woods PGA Tour 05” (2004)
When it comes to annualized sports games it’s hard to pick which is the best in the series. Each year the games get better and build on the groundwork of the previous entries. “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 05” added eight new golf courses bringing the total to 14 and the ability to modify courses to make them harder or easier if that’s what you’re looking for. There is a lengthy season mode where you take your golfing skills on a 52 week PGA Tour against the best of the best. No matter what “Tiger Woods” game you go with they’ll satisfy your golfing itch.
“NHL Hitz 2003” (2002)
Just like “NFL Blitz”, “NHL Hitz” takes hockey and turns it into a fun arcade game. The core hockey game is here and just like simulation hockey games you get franchise mode, but in this mode you are creating a team to hopefully join the NHL. Hitz is all about the hits, over the top movements and well hits. “NHL Hitz” is not only a hockey game, but also a fighting game. Just like real hockley some of the most fun times are when the players get into it and in Hitz it turns into a traditional fighting game with combos and health bars.
“Hot Shots Golf 3” (2002)
Another golf game? Well this one is a PlayStation classic. “Hot Shots Golf 3” may look like a cute golf game, but the game actually has depth. It’s probably the most accessible golf game on the PS2 thanks to its hitting system. Simply tap the button at the correct time and you can land a perfect shot. This was the appeal of the game and the reasoning for it being called “Everybody's Golf” outside of North America, it’s a golf game everyone can enjoy. Simple enough for newcomers and advanced for fans of golf games.
“NBA Street Vol. 2” (2003)
Remember “NBA Jam”? Well “NBA Street Vol. 2” took the concept of high flying dunks and somewhat grounded it… somewhat. “NBA Street Vol. 2” still had fun alley-ops and long range three pointers, but there was an emphasis on style. The whole goal was to make your way up and down the court while showing off your handles and draining that 3 or throwing up a lob for a huge dunk. “NBA Street Vol. 2” shined in its roster. You had your current players at the time, Vince Carter, Kobe, and Shaq, but the addition of legends really was a blast. There’s nothing like seeing Larry Bird, Magic Jonson, and Bill Russell going against AI, Ben Wallace, and Jason Kid.
“SSX 3” (2003)
Now some would say that “SSX Tricky” is the better game, it’s really a toss up. “SSX 3” focused more on grounded racing and tricks, and is full of great snowboarding action with three main gameplay modes. Races are self explanatory, get to the finish line as fast as possible. Freestyle events were more trick focused, slopestyle, super pipe, and big air. Then there were other challenges like collecting items and jumping through hoops during a run. “SSX 3” was also a game that had online multiplayer letting you go head to head with players, though sadly this is no longer available.
“Madden NFL 2005” (2004)
EA Sports - it’s in the game. Man, I miss that intro. “Madden NFL 2005” may have brought one of the biggest features to “Madden” - it introduced the Hit Stick which is still a staple of the games today. “Madden 05” was full of features, from creating a player and team, franchise mode and even creating a playbook. It practically set the groundwork for modern “Madden '' games, it’s also crazy that we still use the Hit Stick in new entries. Also I know some of you will leave a comment saying “ESPN NFL 2K5” is the better game and as much as I like it, “Madden 05” just beat it out.
“Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3” (2001)
It should come as no surprise that this is top dog. “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3” took everything from “Pro Skater 2” and added one new feature that changed how we look at combos, the revert. It’s probably the best feeling “Pro Skater’ game, tight controls with loads of combos. The unique levels and characters made progression fun and made players want to 100% each level. You could make an argument that “Pro Skater 4” or “Underground” are better games, but “Pro Skater 3” is a much tighter package.
