So my friend lent me his PS2 and a smackload of games. I’ve been playing them and I’ve gotta say, after no less than three and a half years, the PS2 finally has a small selection of software that doesn’t suck. Here’s a list of the games I tried and the first impression scores I gave them.

Frequency
85%
Amazing visuals and great sound combine to elevate the merely average gameplay into something amazing. DDR meets Internal Section. Lovely.

Rygar
70%
My guess is it gets repetative fast. This is confirmed by Nolan, among others. Amazing presentation.

Ico
70%
Low res? Damn. Seems to be Prince of Persia meets Whistler’s Brother. Excellent production values, lots of frustrating gameplay.

Maximo
80%
Problems with the levels blocking the camera view. Excellent theme, but I’m tired of this style of hero. Effeminate hard-core messy-haired angst-ridden loser men are the RPG-staple SD character of the modern age.

Contra
80%
Fantastic work, it’s like expendable but horizontal. Good stuff.

Stretch Panic
45%This is crap. Complete garbage. Treasure made this? Was it unfinished? Bah!

Guilty Gear X2
90%
This… This is lovely, lovely stuff. Pure beauty. Every frame is a work of art. Some of the rock n roll inspired charas could use an overhaul but it is, at first and second glance, as nifty as my beloved Samurai Shodown.