You said it yourself, Wil. SOCOM. Werd.

When I get the itch for a new game I usually use MetaCritic:

http://www.metacritic.com

Good for DVD's too.

I was over at Best Buy yesterday and noticed Armored Core 3 was only $20. The Armored Core series is awesome if your into mecha. And for that price you could get another game to boot!

I'm a fan of shoot-em-ups, myself. Reminds me of days gone by, spent feeding quarters into arcade games like R-Type and Gradius.
Gradius 4 is out now (http://www.vicviper.com/gradius4.html), and I'm looking foward to Gradius 5 (http://www.vicviper.com/gradiusv.html)

MetaCritic just made the toolbar bookmarks. Thanks, Nathan!

How is it you are able to resist the mighty pull of Zelda and Metroid on the Nintendo GameCube? Zelda Wind Waker is 10lbs of awesome in a 5lb bag.

Im a big fan of NBA Street vol. 2 right now. You can make Larry FRICKIN Bird DUNK!

Other than that, ive been hitting the x-box too much so my ps2 info is a bit sketchy. Splinter cell for PS2 wasnt bad...

I am still playing Midnight Club II.

Awesome, awesome, awesome racing game. The A.I. is great and it's one of the few games I've played that really pumps up my adrenaline.

I have SOCOM and I really didn't dig it too much. Your mileage may vary. (I'm willing to sell it! Get TWO games this weekend!)

My only PS2 game is "Kingdom Hearts" and its pleasant enough. Some fighting, but not about the blood and gore.

DH plays Vice City, and I just can't get into it. It's a beautifully rendered world, but the population leaves something to be desired....

Attack of the Clones...don't bother. Eh.

You can't go wrong with Cheapass. http://www.cheapass.com - yes, they sell games, not porn.

It's not a PS 2 game that Im aware of but I absolutly LOVE the No One Lives Forever series. It's worth it for the voice work alone.

I know you specified a game for the PS2, but you are geeky (hell you played Cars Wars). How about looking at a board game?

I'd suggest "Tigris and Euphrates" and "Puerto Rico" as best of breed, but since you have a soft place in your heart for Steve Jackson, it is hard to beat a game of "Deluxe Illuminati" for wild conspiracy theories and laughs galore

I tried playing the new HULK game at E3 and I really liked it. There's just something about playing that game and shouting out "HULK SMASH!!!". That and the 3 combo hit furious, or the 4 hit enraged banners that keep popping up. Playing Banner was ok, but it really picks up when you become the HULK!!! Great way to relieve tension or stress, get angry, become the HULK, and smash things :)

Haven't played it myself yet, but a friend says that Wakeboarding Unleashed is great! Especially liked the two player (one drives the boat while the other boards) mode. I guess it's very similar to Tony Hawk and its ilk, but he stil has a ton of fun with it.

Try the Dynasty Warriors series. Awesome graphics, fun gameplay, and each level lasts around 15 minutes, so you can go in, KILL KILL KILL and stop, or you can keep playing and waste several hours of your life. It's a pretty sweet game.

Three words: DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION!! (actually, two if you count that one's a repeat)

I'm a big fan of music games. Frequency and it's sequel Amplitude totally rock. Frequency has more techno and electronice music while Amplitude has more rock. The mechanics are weird to explain but essentially during game play each song is broken up into tracks (vocal, drum, guitar, bass, etc) you are building the song by completing these tracks. These games are challenging in the higher levels but are very addicting.

If your into role-playing style games, I have been addicted to Final Fantasy X for quite some time. Its fun, graphics are great, game play is great. Definitely on my top 10 list. :)

On games --
I can suggest a mine of unique free (card) games -- a little teeny company called Freak Factory. They're a real hoot.
Here's the URL:
http://www.freakfactory.com/index-ff.html
In terms of the PS2, I don't know if its your thing, but Devil May Cry is beautiful graphically. Not bad gameplay either. And of course there's the new LOTR game, which appears to have good graphics and definitely has good voicing . . .

Excellent Strongbad reference!

I'm addicted to Vice City right now.
You can't find that much fun anywhere elso for the amount of money it cost to buy the game.

I'm a huge fan of the new Matrix game, Enter the Matrix. It's a first/third person shooter but the cool part is that you can play the whole game as one character (either Niobe or Ghost) and then go back and play it again as the other and the other caracter has different things to do in the levels. More bang for your buck.

Not really in to computer games as much as I am old-fashioned board games. Music board games. Encore. Song Burst.

Splinter Cell would be my pick. I always liked those shooter games. Otherwise, The more mindless the better, for those nights when you really don't feel like thinking.

SSX Tricky.

Seriously. I think you would totally dig that game, Wil. It's a snowboarding game with attitude. The physics are totally un-earthlike AND fun. And the price is right.

There are basically two modes - a race mode, which you probably will pass on, and a showoff mode, which is what you'll want to spend time in. In showoff mode, all the courses are enhanced with rails and half-pipes that you can ride on for points.

When playing multiplayer, there's the potential for shoving other people, but it's not the kind of fighting you don't want in a game.

What makes this game cool is that you have to learn snowboarding tricks that you can perform when you catch some air - and some of them are tres wild. Your kids will love it and totally beat you. You *will* have fun with this.

Posting this from WiFi on the last day of the JavaOne conference SF. Come on Will. I didn't see you at either this or Linuxworld!

If you like the RPG style games, Xenosaga: Episode I is awesome. But you must be a fan of story line. It took me 60 hours of gameplay to beat, but around 20 of those hours are probably story animation.

My favorite is after you beat the first chapter... 22 minutes of movie.. offers you a chance to save... 16 more minutes of movie!

Instead of getting a ps2 game, you should pick up Star Trek: Elite Forces 2 for the pc. I think it's out now. The demo was incredibly fun.

Jurassic Park Operation Genesis.

It's been out a long while and is a bit on the cheesy side. Very addictive in the wee small hours.

If you have an Atari Game Cube you can't get better than Star Wars Rogue Leader, Rogue Squadron 11.

I say screw the game, get "Hail to the Thief" instead. You'll thank me for it!

I was going to say Elite Force too (as well).
Although you don't like shoot-em ups, aren't you excited to walk around in uniform again shooting things?

Or how about Starfleet Commander? Or are you steering away from those types of games.

There's a great "SBM: Train Outrun" game that's new.
But you have to drag along a fat kid with you...what fun is that?

Enter The Matrix is incredible, despite what many think of the film.

Failing that....erm...splinter cell.

Go.

Play.

PS. Do you ever read Livejournal comments? We, the masses, were wondering.

I totally agree with some of the above pics. Especially SSX Tricky, Final Fantasy X, and Xenosaga.

No one has mentioned Enter The Matrix. I haven't played on it PS2 but I did on Gamecube and the game just rocks. So much action and the gameplay is easy, unlike Tomb Raider or Resident Evil. Try it out you'll be glad you did!

Well I partially agree with that 'jubilee' person up there, but you already have HTTT... so my suggestion is screw buying a game and play the Radiohead Scavenger Hunt. Nothing beats free. http://www.capitolrecords.com/radiohead/hunt

btw... have you seen the RH Vespa yet? Jesus... http://www.filter-mag.com/contests/interior.27.html

I think you should get DDR. Oh yes.

DDR=Dance Dance Revolution.

you buy a pad with four arrows on it. and then you press them down as the arrows show up on the screen with your feet. it's very hard and a lot of fun. and if you don't want it, dude, get it for your kids. :)

If you don't have it already, I suggest Kingdom Hearts. While cheesy in it's Disney-ness, it's still a fun game. Or, you could just wait until Final Fantasy XI hits the shelves and MMORPG yourself into oblivion... That game is the whole reason I bought a PS2...

Wil,

Try out Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. It's not really a racing game -- it's a "beat people up and steal their cars" game. It's great fun to smack the snot of out some bystander, wait for the ambulance to come -- and then hijack the ambulance. Woo! Look at the pretty lights!!!

Plus, it's got great 80s music!!

If you're looking for games that relieve stress rather than increase it, try one of the Tiger Woods PGA golf games. It's also great for a small group of friends when you don't want to have to concentrate on a game 100% of the time.

Also, Simpsons Road Rage has a fun 2-player game with no learning-curve whatsoever. Anyone can pick it up and play against experts. And its cheap.

NHL Hitz is a great hockey game. The other more realistic games are a little slower and geared more towards those that care about the finer points of pro hockey. Think Madden to the NFL- only I don't even think it's that good.
The Getaway? I just picked this up and I love it. Has a GTA feel, only European.

You named my favs. SOCOM is great especially if you have a cable modem to get online.

NHL HITZ is my favorite sports game though. The hitting is awesome, but it's the playability that makes the game amazing.

I'd go with either Burnout 2 or Final Fantasy X. I can't help you out much otherwise, since I'm playing a GameCube.

Well, if you don't already have them, definitely go for either Final Fantasy X or Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. Alternately, you could also try The Simpsons: Road Rage. Sort of a takeoff of Crazy Taxi using Simpsons characters.

I love Kingdon Hearts. . . just love it. It's a lot like final fantasy, if you like that kind of thing. .. But it was just an amazing game. . . and I got 3 people at work totally hooked on it.
I have also heard that Dark Cloud 2 is awesome (much better than the first Dark Cloud).
Too bad you don't like fighting games, because Tekken Tag is just classic.

I definitely think that Enter the Matrix is the way to go. There is nothing more fun than going into focus mode and kicking the crap out of the bad guys with all the special Matrixy moves you have at your disposal. While I know you did not like the movie, the game does take on a life of its own and has provided me with hours of entertainment.

And one last thing Congrats on your iBook purchase. I have had mine for a a little over a year and it has been awesome.

Enjoy!!

Best game on the PS2 = Escape From Monkey Island!

Dark Cloud & Dark Cloud 2.

I can't speak for NHL 2003, but recently rented 2002 and it only held our attention for one day. Once you figure out how to do a one-timer, it's pretty much game over. My husband got tired of beating my ass 15-0 after one day.

I bought Vice City yesterday. I love it, but the character talks too much which makes me yearn back to GTAIII.

You said you don't like fighting, but Two Towers really is a pretty good game, although I hate when your characters have no choice but to march straight and can't explore around them.

Oh Wil, don't buy Diet Diet Revolution...some students forced me to try it when it was the going rage in South Korea...let me tell you...white people can't dance...you'd probably break a leg... ;)

White people can't dance, but they can play DDR. I am living proof. I can't even keep a beat drumming my fingers on my knee, but I can beat the toughest songs on my household's machine. If you're going to get it, though, buy a real arcade and not the PS2 version. A little bit more of an investment, but it's great exercise and much fun.

Failing that, buy Rez and Ico. The best underappreciated three letter games in PS2 history. I don't know if you read the LJ comments, but I made a more in depth comment there about these two games.

Splinter Cell RAWKS! (even more so on the PS2 I'm told...xtra levels and such), but I just got Enter the Matrix for my X-Box and I just put the controller down after about 5 hours.

Geek Pride...Worldwide

Sean

PS2: NBA Street 2(sports), Socom (if on line...killing), Hulk (for blind fun), Dot Hack 2: Mutation (rpg)

Sports titles wont be out for a while
Madden August 13, NCAA round the same
NHL 2k4: No date...keep checkin EA site

I think the boardgames idea isn't a bad one at all...

Or, get some Call of Cthulhu RPG books. I have seen references to D20 stuff, but if you have not yet playd CoC, then go! now! get the main rule book and Masks of Nyarlathotep.

Or if I'm a total idiot and you have played it extensively, then I am sorry for wasting your time.

The Getaway was great fun though the controls sucked a bit.
I know you say that you're not into racing games but you should give Stuntman a try. It's the most fun I have had gaming for a year or so. It gives racing games a great new twist. The last levels are so hard you will be pulling your hair, but you can't quit till you've nailed 'em.

Never Winter nights. Very cool.

Consoles? Bah. Pologons? Bah again. Only with the Amulet of Yendor may you ascend.

http://www.nethack.org/

It's free, and it's asciilicious.

I'm not much of a game-player, but I see that Sarah mentioned DDR. She is on the money with that one. Also you could watch X-Play, they review games everyday, I'll bet you could get some ideas from there.

I say get SOCOM, but only if you are gonna get the network adaptor as well. The online play is AMAZING. Each time you play, it's a different game. Never gets old. It has consumed my life. I bought it in the beginning of SDecember last year, and I have played it every single day since then. Best $60 I ever spent....

I recently picked up Metal Gear Solid from a discount bin and have been having great fun with. It is a third/first person intrusion game focusing on stealth.

For a board game, I've really been enjoying Mare Nostrum which is sort of a playable version of the old Avalon Hill Civilization game (only takes 2-4 hours). Players take the roles of one of the classic powers in the Eastern Mediterranean: Rome, Carthage, Greece, Egypt, or Persia. It is more of an economic game than military, but part of the challenge is in balancing between the overall strategy, the economic strategy, and the military tactics. Great fun.

You watched World Cup Soccer, right? Might I then suggest FIFA 2002 (would they have 2003 yet?)? No blowing up anything...but it's the beautiful game....

Em

PS. South Korea rules! =P

NBA Street V.2.

If you do get NHL2003, let's hook up for a game on the net!

I'd avoid "Enter the Matrix". If you didn't like the movie, the game isn't going to do it for you (it gets a bit repetitive).

If you only buy games occassionally, I recommend holding out for "Soul Calibur 2".

Play a game of Illuminati tonight instead.

Two reasons for not buying Kingdom Hearts:

1.) It's Disney. Disney hasn't made a good game since Duck Tales on the NES.

2.) Lance Bass of N'Sync voices the second most awesome villian of all Final Fantasy games - Sephiroth.*

* Most awesome Final Fantasy villian, of course, going to Kefka from Final Fantasy VI.

If I had time and money to waste, I'd pick up Morrowind and its upcoming expansion Bloodmoon.

My absolute favorite game for the PS2 is Final Fantasy X -- it came out over a year ago and i'm still playing it. It's an RPG that feels like a movie sometimes; i dove into this game and was completely engrossed. You can beat the game in about 50 hours, my best save is about 250 hours (overkill as far as my characters go). The story is incredible, the voice acting is good (I love Rikku), the battle system is great, and the leveling system rules. Nuff said.

Hi, Wil. :)

Sadly, I'm a bit behind the times. I'd recommend GTA (Vice City or non), but I remember seeing it in your "Play" section once; no need to preach to the choir, eh?

So, some slightly older games.

Have you played Deus Ex? I'm a complete weenie at most games -- my hand/eye coordination makes the baby Jesus throw joysticks at me -- but I was able to get into and enjoy playing it. I usually enjoy RPG and strategy games; Heroes of Might & Magic (I-IV) has been a steady favorite of mine for years now.

Barring that, you could grab the dicebag, a few friends and play D&D, GURPS or Shadowrun. ;)

SOCOM is very cool. Nothing like telling your team to flashbang a room and then they *actually* do it! But, if you want a game to really involve yourself in, and you enjoy RPGs, I strongly suggest Final Fantasy X.

If you like baseball, go with "High Heat MLB Baseball 2003". My housemate had a baseball freak friend over the other day, a non-gamer, and he had to play it with us. He got whalloped. Went out and bought a PS2 and High Heat the next day. That's how much fun it is.

-Yook

Thanks for all the suggestions, gang.

I think I'm going with:

*Devil May Cry, SOCOM, or Splinter Cell
*Tony Hawk 4

(We have FIFA 2002 and love it, and I have played GTA III and Vice City until I can't see straight!)

Appreciate all the cool advice :)

Do you like RPGs?
Awe hell even if you don't I'm still voting for Dark Cloud 2!!!

Thank you

Hey Wil, totally go for Metal Gear Solid: Substance. It's the same as MGS: Sons of Liberty, but with some new extra stuff like skateboarding with your favorite player a la Tony Hawk

Splinter Cell is good and so is SOCOM. Also try out Max Payne, very cool game. It really plays like a movie.

Hope everything goes well and lets us know what you got and how you liked it.

Jonathan

Check out www.brotherhooodofthebat.com!!

Wil.....if your thinking of Devil May Cry, you might want to look at Devil May Cry 2. It's like 2 games in one. You can play the dude with guns or the chic with dagers. Each character has their own disc. Have fun with whatever you pick up :)

Joe

I have to agree with Nathan, Armored Core 3. I haven't played it yet, but The rest of the series is really fun.

You work as a mercenary and buy new arms/legs/engines/weapons/shields with the money you earn to upgrade your mech. The control is really intuitive after a couple of rounds and the possibilities for mech configurations are vast.

There is also the arena battles where you can gain new rank in the mercenary world, as well as money and parts.

And hey, for $20 you can't go wrong.

Choice #2 would be Metal Gear Solid: Substance.

-Jeffery

Oops... that was Adam not Nathan. Sorry.

The games that I give vote to are:
Kingdom Hearts: And though it is Disney, the Square element was totally addicting. That and Donald rocks!!!!
FFX: I don't know, I just really liked playing it, and I found the plot to be fairly interesting, and it was really pretty.
Currently I am working on an oldy but goody, Chrono Cross, which was released for PlayStation, but definatly alot of fun.
I am also in the middle of playing .Hack, which is just really funny from a gamers perspective.
That's my two cents.
Good luck hunting.

Silent Hill 2. $20 to scare the living shit outta you, wot else ya need? And for more scares try Fatal Frame. It, too, will make you soil yourself. Word.

Can't really suggest a PS2 game (although my husband is really enjoying ./hack) but I can suggest a good card game... Wizard (http://www.wizardcards.com)

Rez, Rez, Rez.

Ahhhhhhhh yes, he finally cracks and opens up the comments again. Waiting, always waiting just on top of the wires, waiting for an opportunity to give in to the undeniable urge to continuously roast the X-Trek boy himself. Do I resist? Afterall, I like him, he writes well, his book is amazing, his acting holds water, he seems like the kind of guy I would have for a friend. But then the little man on my work-a-day shoulder says....."He's living the way you want to! The way you don't have the guts to!"......and with that the resentment begins as does the seemingly hateful, but more jealous, email. His name is Will, and he is a geek. Didn't I beat you up in Gym?

Regards,
Fats Vernon
(Arch Nemesis)

P.S. - What would an X-Treker be without a nemesis? Glad you enjoyed your dam trip. Nothing like living vicariously through a geeks road trip. Sheesh. Some nemesis I am.....MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Final Fantasy X or Resident Evil: Code Veronica are some great games

As well as Onimusha 1 and 2

I'd put in another vote for Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty. That game will not only keep your attention, but you'll look forward to completing it. It's fun, but not just mindless fun. One of the more unique action games in my opinion.

Wil,
A good game of football, to me, makes a great video game. The Matrix is great, as well. Hey, I should play more games but if it is not broke, why fix it? To many games and not enough time.

FG

I loved the hell out of Splinter Cell and MGS2:Substance. If you lack either of those I highly recommend them.

I agree with Fabian. Splinter Cell is one of my favorite games to play at Wal-Mart (don't judge me!) I had also heard that SOCOM was good, but otherwise I don't play much on the old PS2, seeing as how they haven't changed the demo disks in months. Bleg.

But all I was willing to pay for was a Dreamcast (which is my favorite console) so I won't be much help beyond that.

Gratz on the book Wil,
Colin

Actually, when I get in the mood to start playing more games, I usually look around at those "hobbies" I started on and never got around to. Guitar, Piano, Painting, That Model I bought, etc... Usually a bit more rewarding to me than gaming... well, erm.. ok so I lied on this post. But it was a great attempt to appear more mature!

**Goes back to fragging...

I've been playing 2 games recently. SOCOM and LOTR: Two Towers. SOCOM is just a lot of fun, you can get caught up in it really easily. Two Towers is just awesome graphics and more story driven then just kill'em all. If you go for that thing, which I do :)

I also don't know a lot of what's new and good, but I personally happen to love RPGs, and Legend of Legaia 2 is a really awesome game. it's got cool graphics and good plot and characters. That's just my opinion tho.

SOCOM is probably a good way to go, but I think that Splinter Cell is on PS2 now too, and I would sooooo recommend that over anything else, w/ the exception being Kingdom Hearts! Good luck, hope you find the right game!

You mentioned NHL...NHL Hitz 2003 is a work of art. It's all the fun smashing action of Midway's other hits Blitz, but combined with hockey. It's great if you love the sports games with an arcade feel, and on top of that it'll probably be cheap by now. My friends and I all enjoyed it, even those not liking sports, and I think it'd be a good family game.

If you like the scary type games I suggest Fatal Frame!! There is simply nothing scarier on the market. There's plenty of action, the story has a very good pace, the puzzles are actually interesting, the baddies are scary and threatening, and the story is very captivating. And if you're a fan of replay value, this game's all about the replay. Plus, the sequel's coming out this fall, so if you really like it, you won't have to wait long to jump right into the next one!

Lots of great suggestions above. If you like platformers and aren't sure what you would like, give Haven: Call of the King a try. Ratchett and Clank is also good. Rayman 3 is hysterical, but very short.

The Hulk is a hell of a good thrashing time, and it beautifully done. Kingdom Hearts is fun - it looks silly but trust me it has some serious balls under the hood.

I don't do sports games, so I don't know what to suggest there.

I suggest medal of honor: allied assault

Sure you can get it for pc, but the ps2 version is very fun.

Jamie

After 10 Million people who said Socom and GTA which are great, I have to throw in my 0.02$.

Instead of buying Devil may cry or Matrix better buy PRIMAL which possibly has the wittiest dialogue in a computer game in years, Nice Monsters and fights and decent riddles.
I am right now playing Silent Hill 3 and it makes me shit my pants. Great game but better rent it first I think it is a bit short.

I go for Dynasty Warriors 4. But then, I'm just a sucker for the Chinese romance of the three kingdoms era.

Jess Heinig

Two words:
"Naked Twister"

You bet your poop that's a fun way to spend a night with even the best of friends!

Cheers, Wil!

I hope I'm not too late, Wil, go with Rez, it's cheap and you have never played anything like it.

I dunno.

For a little twist, try Evil Dead: Fistfull of Boomstick. Very cool and very funny. The only game I know of that makes you laugh for doing nothing. Don't understand? Rent the game, find a safe place in the game and just stand there and listen. You'll understand.

Robotech Battlecry baby!

Wil, Go with one of these and you can't go wrong.

1. Splinter Cell
2. Socom
3. Enter the Matrix
4. Evil Dead, Fistful of Boomstick.

Go to yout local video store and rent one before you buy. That is the best way to know if you will like a game and you don't piss away $50.00.
I personally can't wait for the new Tomb Raider game it comes out this month. So good luck in your choices, hope this helps. My best, Matt.

Wil, have you tried Day of Defeat 1.0 yet? its wicked, and free!
www.dayofdefeat.com

UT2003

Wolfenstein Enemy Territory -it's free!

GTA III

Speaking of Games, anyone familiar with NuFX?

Email me if ya have any info :)

Red Faction 2 is a great first person shooter for the PS2. Rez is also a very good game. It really does borrow from William Gibson quite a bit with the main title being a Gibson character and the look and feel of the game being just like the matrix.

Some people are talking about pen and paper games, so I'd reccomend Starchildren. It's a role-playing game about glam rockers from outer space coming to earth, but popular music has been banned by the world governments. It's a lot of fun.

what about strategy games?

Oh, comments. Hang on while I go fetch my notes for the 487 previous posts where i couldn't comment.

I agree with the dance dance comments course it can make you work up a sweat!!! Im totally in awe that no one has mentioned Everquest for the ps2 my fiance bought me a ps2 and another copy of the game so we could group together and now im totally addicted to the it!! and as dorky as it may sound namcomuseum gotta love pacman!!
Brook

Wil,

Check out www.There.com. Its not a game, its more of an online 3-D community with racing, socializing, exploring and paintball fights all rolled into one. Its completely open-ended and up to you to make of it whatever you want.

And best of all its in Beta right now so its *FREE*FREE*FREE*FREE*

Just ask LEO LAPORTE for a recomendation he's a member of There.

www.There.com

Just out of curiosity, wouldn't it be easier to ask for suggestions if we already had a list of games you've played/tried? Then some of us wouldn't be suggesting games you've already played and enjoyed/hated. Sometimes even a note of which you liked/disliked would help us all know your true gaming geek level. :)

I played Jurrassic Park Operation Geneisis..I LOVE THAT GAME!!! Its like you can pan/scan, go any direction you want to see the dinosaurs you dig up and the virtual reality of this game is awesome! Even the sound effects and the character's voice are VERY real!! VERY challenging without the book -guide-!!

At least rent it :)

Ok, You're looking for a game that isn't fighting or racing, ever try "Spyro The Dragon", or "Crash Bandicoot"? Pretty fun, at least to me...Or how about "The Grinch"? I know it's viewed as a kiddie game, but it's fun, and bloody hard to finish. IF you ever get into fighting games, there's always "Bloody Roar" It's got somewhat of a story line to it, and it's addictive. I hope this helps a little.

Ok, You're looking for a game that isn't fighting or racing, ever try "Spyro The Dragon", or "Crash Bandicoot"? Pretty fun, at least to me...Or how about "The Grinch"? I know it's viewed as a kiddie game, but it's fun, and bloody hard to finish. IF you ever get into fighting games, there's always "Bloody Roar" It's got somewhat of a story line to it, and it's addictive. I hope this helps a little.

Considering the fact that you have PS2, I have a couple of game recommendations.

If you like RPGs (role-playing games), I would recommend Final Fantasy X. It has a complex story line, and very unique characters. It's also really challenging and addictive. Another good RPG is Xenosaga. It's also challenging and it's more like a movie than a game, but it can be really good if you get into it. One last game I suggest is Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon. It's an action type strategy game that actually takes skill to play...

I agree with you on the SOCOM idea.

But truthfully, you should just go get a GameCube and get Zelda: the Windwaker. (^_^) (Or Metroid Prime!)

For Playstation2? If you don't have METAL GEAR SOLID 2 yet, then definitely ACE COMBAT 4! Although, I've not played that many PS2 games, but Ace Combat 4 blew me away.

I recommend Dance Dance Revolution too -- it's a shame it never got the following in America that it has in Japan. I've owned it since I lived overseas the first time, and if you have two pads the two-player mode can be quite fun. (Read: get your wife involved.)

Final Fantasy X was better in Japanese. It's the voices; the US voices were a little too weird. The cameras in Kingdom Hearts are an absolute bitch; only buy it if you *really* love disney or are feeling massively masochistic.

Also, if you wait a few days, the new Tomb Raider will be out on PS2; while I own the gamecube/gba SP combo, the new Tomb Raider may be the last straw in my hold-out against the Evil Sony Empire (TM).

It is a few years old but "Frequency" is an amazing rythm game.