I got through phases of games, and right now I'm in the one I like to think of everything-modern-is-making-me-angry-so-I'll-turn-back-to-vintage-games - and that's in the form of PCSX2 on my Steam Deck.
Playing the PS2 generation on the Steam Deck is kinda the 'perfect' generation: I can upscale the resolution without a performance hit, I can apply HD texture packs, Retro Achievements and I can drop the TDP to extend the battery life.
Anyway, I never had a PS2 (it was just a touch before my time), so there's so many games I'm yet to discover there. I'd love to hear any suggestions you might have for what I can play on there:
Just a couple notes:
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No GTA games because they're better with the PC versions. While I've bought the games, the account that Rockstar demands people have to play their games makes me angry on principle (a single-player game forcing an online check each week to be able to play it? No thanks), so I've got cracked versions to play.
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No Final Fantasy because I'm not even sure where to start!
So if anyone was around back in the PS2 era, and has some recommendations for games they've loved, I'm all ears. I've been having such a fun time playing these.
Some big thanks to my friends who made and run RetroDECK (my choice for emulating on the Steam Deck), and to the PCSX2 team (who I'm chatting to right now actually, so keep an eye out and in a week or so I'll share that chat with them all about creating and maintaining the PS2 emulator!)
Also, if you do have a Steam Deck, and want to play with the HD texture packs I do, then it's really simple. Just download the pack, and name then according to their game's I.D. code - SLUS-20743 for example, then place it in the texture_packs folder:
From there, go into PCSX2, then right-click the game, select properties, graphics, texture replacement and tick the two boxes I have:
Then you've got the games looking the best they can be!
Here's a link to a stack of pre-done HD textures for a lot of PS2 games, to help you on your way!
You already have an insanely good library. You could probably play for the rest of the year on those games alone. In addition to what you have here, I'd recommend:
Alien Hominid
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Burnout series
Def Jam: Fight for NY
Destroy All Humans 1 & 2
Devil May Cry
Godfather, The
GTA Vice City Stories & Liberty City Stories (NOT ON PC)
GUN
Hitman: Blood Money
Jak & Daxter series
Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Marvel vs Capcom 2
Need For Speed Underground & Hot Pursuit series
Onimusha: Warlords
Psychonauts
Ratchet & Clank Series
Rayman 2
Resident Evil 4
Red Dead Revolver
Sly Cooper 1 & 3 (1 & 3 are probably my favs)
Shadow of the Colossus
Silent Hill 2 & 3
Simpsons Hit & Run
SoulCalibur II
Spider-Man 2 (phenomenal free roam)
Star Wars Battlefront I & II
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Twisted Metal: Black
FWIW, the original PS2 versions of the GTA games that are also on PC are actually better because they removed content as licenses expired. Unless you have the downgraded PC versions - in which case, godspeed.
Even then, I usually stick with PS2 as PC doesn't have support for the analog face buttons that the PS2 had. I don't know if you can emulate that on Steam Deck, but if you play PS2 GTA San Andreas with an OEM controller, pressing the button harder actually does make you go faster. It's magic, and I find it hard to play without now. ๐
I look forward to seeing how the Deck holds up with some of these titles! I'll admit, I've been thinking about getting it to use as a portable PS2 myself.
There's no issue with PS2 games! I raise the resolution up to 3x native (I think? Whichever one is 1080, anyway), and also apply HD texture packs. There's not one issue I've come across on a PS2 game so far. And setting RetroDECK up to play them is a breeze!
Do it!
I've already got Spider-Man 2 on there (others also recommended it), but reading through your list, these all look wonderful! I didn't actually know the 'Stories' games on PS2 for GTA didn't end up on PC, thanks for that tip!
If you can emulate PSP games with ease, check out GTA Chinatown Wars. I just wanted to see how the game played one evening, and I ended up beating it in a couple days.
It has a drug dealing mechanic, and you have to crash cop cars to lose stars. Extremely unique and fun GTA.
I haven't read into RetroDECK, is it an emulator frontend?