Several PS2 survival horror games are inspired by J-Horror movies, but only few have succeeded in providing a creepy experience. Fatal Frame, Clock Tower 3 and Kuon are perfect examples of such games.
Horror Games for PS2: Covering Different Subgenres of Horror
Good horror games for PS2 are rare, especially those that guarantee the thrills and chills shown in horror movies. You will find few great PS2 survival horror games that are based on J-horror (Japanese horror) sub-genre. These games have a psychological edge on our mind, courtesy of the atmospheric sound effects and riveting storyline.
Games like Fatal Frame and Silent Hill 2 are some of the best PS2 survival horror games. Some games like Resident Evil 4 focus only on gun play whereas games such Clock Tower gives more importance on puzzle solving elements and stealth. Here are some of the best survivor horror games for the PS2:
Top 5 PS2 Survival Horror Games
5. Resident Evil 4
RE4 is the perfect example of a survival zombie shooter. The game is quite different from other Resident Evil games as it focuses more on action than puzzle solving. You step into the shoes of Leon Kennedy, an important character seen in Resident Evil 2, on a rescue mission to save US President Ashley Graham’s daughter. The game employs context-sensitive controls, which means you interact with the environment, such as defending enemy attacks using nearby objects, jumping from a window climbing etc.
The PS2 version includes additional goodies including mini games like the Mercenaries and Separate Ways, unlockable weapons, special cut-scenes and costumes. However, the graphics are much inferior to the GameCube version. Still, it is quite a treat to play Resident Evil 4 and enjoy the immersive gameplay.
4. Kuon
Talk about good horror games for PS2 and Kuon fits the bill. Based on an ancient Japanese ghost story called Kwaiden, Kuon provides a perfect scary atmosphere. The dark, spooky mansion in the town of Kyoto makes a perfect horror movie-like setting for Kuon.
The difference between PS2 survival horror games like Silent Hill 2 and Kuon is the control scheme. The latter involves the use of analog stick to control the character. Running is completely deemphasized as it drains the character’s health and attracts more monsters. You can meditate to restore health and perform melee and magical attacks on your enemies. The magic weapons will remind you of JRPGs that rely heavily on spell cards. Kuon uses two main magic cards, Summon and Spell. Summon cards can trap or attack creatures while Spell cards involve ice and fire spells. The game is very scary and a perfect addition for your PS2 survival horror games collection.
3. Clock Tower 3
The Clock Tower series is one of those PS2 survival horror games that completely deemphasizes combat and violence and focuses more on stealth, escapes, and puzzle. The game can give you the creeps as the protagonist has minimum access to weapons and is quite weak compared to the monsters in the game.
Clock Tower 3 drifts away from other Clock Tower games. The game has the same psychological edge in terms of creeps and scares, but does not involve the point and click interface shown in other games. The first game to be directed by the famous film director Kinji Fukasaku, Clock Tower 3 revolves around the scary adventures of Alyssa, a teenager nearing her 15th birthday. The objectives are to defeat different monsters called Subordinates and using stealth and tactics to dodge enemies. The game has different weapons like Sacred Bow, Holy Water and items such as Sigil Stone, Invisibility Band that can help you dodge, become invisible and attack monsters at the right occasion.