Comparing last year’s game with modern blockbusters, the size difference is extremely unpleasant. On average, AAA games in the 2000s might keep the hook for about 20 hours.
On the other hand, if you pay the full amount to the AAA game and earn a lot of today’s amount, you’ll feel a very short change.
However, in the 2000s there were several games that dared to have a big idea and offered the experience for players that took over 100 hours to complete.
They may have been short, but these PS2 games are easily the best value purchases of the era and are still taller today as some of the best games in history.
Use the playtime listed in Howlongtobeat as a measurement stick.
7
Persona 4
Killing the mystery after school
Persona as a series is always good value, offering lots of content, plenty of optional endgame content, and serious amounts of creature to toggle and splicing to get all the top tier personas on your roster.
However, all other Persona outings are pale compared to the potential runtimes of Persona 4, YA, and iterations of the teen-bop drama series.
It’s not just that you need to make the most of all your social links, register all your skill cards, pass all your miracle quizzes, and read every book. After that, you will need to turn towards another rap to get a true ending. And even if you skip all the cutscenes and hurry to the finish line, it takes over 100, if not more.
That said, this JRPG classic is a great way to enjoy it and enjoy it to the fullest, so hurrying will be a serious cheating. This is one of the healthiest, satisfying, and fun games in the series, as it’s probably just going pale compared to the unparalleled Persona 5.
So, if you milk the Phantom Thief for everything they’re worth, this should be your next game.
6
Final Fantasy XII
Live your sky pirate fantasy
You may notice a bit of trend here. JRPGs always have long and seductive adventures. Final Fantasy is one of the series that helped set this precedent.
But even Square Enix’s lofty standards at the time, I don’t think anyone would have expected Final Fantasy XII to be everywhere, just as Final Fantasy XII packed with content.
Most players are looking at running times of over 90 hours to complete only the main story and side quests. However, you will need to play at least 150 hours to finish all the last ones in the game.
This means be a tough boss, complete all veterinarians and 100 trials, learn all magic and techniques, perform all simultaneous and espers.
It’s a truly amazing adventure and an adventure that lets you know one of the most eclectic cast in FF history. So, if you keep it busy for a long time, this is the best way possible, and this is a great option.
5
Gran Turismo 4
Compete against that checkered flag
Much of the “play time” is actually spent in B-Spec, a handoff simulation mode, which may seem a bit tricked. However, even without the 24-hour endurance race, there is still a mountain of content in the fourth installment of GT.
There are classic staples, such as winning the first Sunday Cup or completing a license. However, in this game, if you want to win every race, get any potential rewards and consider dusting out 100% of the game, you’ll maintain an astonishing 264-hour hook.
As mentioned before, thanks to B-Spec mode, many of this game can be done effectively overnight when you sleep if you set Stig for success. However, there are still many hands-on races that need to be introduced to your skills.
Therefore, if you want to enjoy the best GT titles that PS2 has to offer, you should enjoy being the best game in the series as a single player experience. You should try this.
4
Monster Hunter
The beginning of something special
Many people forget that Monster Hunter was long before its success like Rise, World and Wild. But no matter what game you refer to, one thing remains the same. The game only starts when Endgame starts.
Like all entries that follow, the original MH offers stable grinding and progression, with players defeating larger and badder monsters, obtaining new gear and repeating the process.
Plus, with less modern UI and much less aspects of quality of life that we have come to expect today, all the hunt felt like a monumental job. Something that requires planning, tracking and perfect execution.
Today’s standards do not recommend revisiting today due to designs, designs and hard combat that do not hold candles. But back then, it was an incredible strength for your spending and laid the foundation for what we know and love today.
3
SmackDown: I have pain here
Deserves a title shot
As a kind of enthusiast when it comes to wrestling games, I still boldly say that there hasn’t been a game as great as HCTP.
This is certainly partially fueled by nostalgia. However, in the game’s defense, it’s packed with rewarding content, which has led to a huge WWE product. Unlike the tickets for WrestleMania 41, am I correct?
Digression aside, the game has long-term playable campaign modes, plenty of customization options to play, and unlocking possibilities where players can only earn enough Superstar Points to buy them.
This is one of those games that you definitely get out as far as you enter, and it will be repeated without creating your own wrestlers, stables, move sets and more. But the key point is that the options are there and were very impressive in the mid-2000s.
2
Kingdom Hearts II (Final Mix)
Improvements to masterpieces
The original version of Kingdom Hearts 2 was not an incredibly long event, but came in in about 60 hours, but the much expanded and significantly improved final mix is certainly a time sink.
This isn’t just about existing content such as Gummi missions, mini-games, and long campaigns. But thanks to the final mix, there were also additional trials brought about by memory caves, bosses in data organizations, and battles with prolonged will.
Due to the difficulties of these bosses alone, players were able to find themselves fighting for hours just to beat one of the rich powers added to the game.
But as someone who has endured this struggle, I can personally prove that it is an explosion and worth the time you invest. So grab your strongest key blade and show them you are the boss.
1
Dragon Quest VIII: The Cursed King’s Journey
Toriyama in its best condition
We ended up offering yet another monumental JRPG for the 6th Game Generation.
As always, you do the right, simple narrative premise with the timeless artistic talent that only Toriyama can bring to the table. Not to mention adorable characters and a vibrant world that rewards thorough exploration.
You can see the credits for 60 hours, but the true completionist will have to play it almost twice as much to complete all the side quests and complete a fair amount of endgame chapters.
It’s probably a bit easier to play this on 3DS these days, but the PS2 was the first home in this game, and JRPG fans loved every second of this long and obsessed adventure.
