PlayStation 3 Fanboy News: "2008 will probably be the last year we'll see anything remarkable happen on the PS2 ever again. As the year concludes, we're taking these last few days to look back and reflect upon the titles that have come out for this veteran console -- a system which has outlived its contemporaries long after they've retired. While 2007 was easily the "Year of the J-RPG," 2008, however, is a bit more difficult to define.
As 2008 marked PS3's second full year out on the market, the PS2 was unfortunately overshadowed and came out with a dwindling amount of new games and even fewer new IP. If there ever was a theme associated with this year, it would be "the final push" as this year was all about remakes, rereleases and some last minute revivals in an attempt to keep the system still going. So what titles are those exactly? After the break we showcase eight PS2 titles which stood out of the crowd this year. It's a rather diverse group but one whose impact won't be felt again in the upcoming year. It's time for the PS2 to stand down and pass the torch."
February - Twisted Metal: Head On - Extra Twisted Edition
Eat Sleep Play | Sony Computer Entertainment
"In mid-2007, David Jaffe formed Eat Sleep Play. The fruits of which came to in early 2008 in the form of Twisted Metal: Head-On - Extra Twisted Edition, an expanded and improved version of Incognito's original PSP title that came out three years prior. For Twisted Metal fans who didn't have the pleasure of owning a PSP, the wait for another TM title on PS2 meant six years.
This release is Eat Sleep Play's debut title and is currently the only game under their belt. It also looks like it will be the last PS2 Twisted Metal the studio (or anyone else for that matter) will be doing. The game itself contains a clue pertaining to ESP's next project and it was revealed that it would be Twisted Metal for PS3 (just, whatever you do, don't ask Jaffe about it).
While these developers have moved on to current gen development, they weren't the only ones -- many others were also doing the same. It wasn't TM:HO's intention but it sort of set the pace for the overall mood for the year. The signs were showing as early as February that 2008 would see more and more titles like this one with emphasis on rehashing before the eventual end."
February - Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power
Koei
"Before Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors, Koei's gaming empire began with Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Nobunaga's Ambition. For fans of ROTTK games, there has been a steady stream of games released in North America; however, for those of us looking for the Japanese equivalent of Koei's historical sim series, we haven't seen one since 1993. As you can imagine, the coming of Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power in 2008 -- 15 years after the last North American release and the eleventh title in the series -- was a real surprise treat from Koei to the fans.
However, this new Nobunaga's Ambition is radically different from its early predecessors and therefore may have been alien to those looking for a nostalgic trip. Gone are the turn-based strategies of the past, and in are the real-time battles. For many fans, this release seemed more like Kessen than Nobunaga's Ambition. Despite this, the deprivation of a new NA was probably enough to spur interest, and its new style drew in a new generation of gamers. Being a niche game released on a last gen system didn't give the series much of a boost in popular appeal, but it did successfully give PS2 owners a fresh reason to hook up their systems and try something relatively new.
While Rise to Power might not have been successful in terms of today's multi-million blockbusters, it sure did start something special for those few who could appreciate its intricacies. In fact, early next year in January, expect to see another NA title on PS2, Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle. It won't be a system seller, but it'll put smiles on some faces."
March - Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection
Konami
"The Metal Gear Solid series was good to the PS2. It gave birth to the much anticipated sequel Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and the widely acclaimed prequel, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. While the series has made the shift to the current gen PS3 in the form of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, that era of glamour on the PS2 was not entirely done and over with -- Konami wasn't yet ready to let that happen.
In early 2008, Konami released Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection. It was a collection of all three previously released games (including the PSOne original) at an incredible budget price. It was a well-timed release, just three months before MGS4 was about to hit. For series fans, the release might not mean much seeing as there is good chance they had all three titles already; however, it gave new fans -- those caught in the media maelstrom build-up to MGS4 -- easy access to play catch-up in time for the final chapter.
Surprisingly, there are many gamers who were not interested in the series before -- not until MGS4 started catching their eye. Without the Essential Collection in place, many of those looking to jump in at #4, would have been left clueless and confused. In a nutshell, this collection was not only an important celebration of past greatness on the PS2, but also partial reason for the success of the biggest exclusive title on the succeeding format."
April - Persona 3: FES
Atlus
"2007 was the year of the J-RPG; it saw so many notable RPGs come out all year. But what about 2008? We'll have to get more specific and call it the "Year of Persona." For you see, there haven't been much noteworthy PS2 RPGs out this year ... unless it had the word "persona" in the title. One of those games was the rerelease and expansion of last year's P3, Persona 3: FES.
The expansion added new missions and a reworked version of the original Persona 3. Not only that, but it also incorporated an entirely new 30-hour experience in the side title dubbed The Answer. It was a big wish come true for Persona fans as they finally got the entire experience they've been waiting for since last year.
It's a bit sad, however, to see a rerelease -- especially one that comes so soon -- as one of this year's strongest titles. It just goes to show that the PS2 is really on its way out, and though, we don't see it "dying" with all the negative overtones associated, we see it quietly conceding its throne to the PS3."
September - Yakuza 2
Amusement Vision | Sega
"In a year that we thought we'd see a Yakuza title hit the PS3, we instead got spun around and told that the two-year old Yakuza 2 was coming our way. It's not a bad thing, it's definitely a good thing for PS2 owners; however, it feels like it came a little too late. For readers of this site, the news of Yakuza 2 on a last gen system seems like something which should have stayed buried in the past -- especially since we report so regularly on the new titles like Kenzan! and Yakuza 3.
Despite this, the game released in September after only having been officially announced the month before. It was a rather surprise play from leftfield. Not too many had been keeping tabs on this Eastern Grand Theft Auto, but as any niche guilty pleasure, its clamoring fans no doubt have been appease by its release.
With the release of Yakuza 2, does it then mean there is still interest in bringing the newer PS3 games over? If so, then would we have to wait just as long for it to come? In any case, we've got Yakuza 2 to plow through and keep us busy until then."
November - Onimusha: The Essentials
Capcom
"Following after the Metal Gear Solid collection, Onimusha: the Essentials was the next compilation to come out this year. Capcom's action series has been long running on the PS2 and has graced the system from 2001 to 2006. It was about time that something like this would be released as Capcom had done something similar the year before with Resident Evil: The Essentials.
The budget release put together the trilogy of Onimusha: Warlords, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny and Onimusha 3: Demon Siege. It, however, lacks Dawn of Dreams and the fighting game, Blade Warriors. Just like the MGS collection, a pack like this suggests there's no more room for new games.
It was a great deal for those who hadn't picked it up before, but it's just even more evidence that we're seeing a decline in support for PS2."
December - Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories
Jupiter Corp. | Square Enix
"Ah, it's the missing link between Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II. While it isn't really new, but a remake of the original GBA title, Re:Chain of Memories puts the old portable title in 3D for the first time. Initially, Re:Chain of Memories was released as additional content for Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ (which was never brought outside Japan) but was then taken to North America just this month as a standalone title.
The game itself gives some interesting insight into a lot of the characters from KH2 and makes the whole lore of Kingdom Hearts more cohesive. For the most part, a portable game in the series was a nice touch, but it was rather troublesome for those who didn't own a GBA. Purchasing another system just to have a complete story for one series seems rather impractical. The addition of this new game meant that KH fans didn't have to have anything but a PS2 to fully understand Sora and friend's story in its entirety."
December - Persona 4
Atlus
"Continuing from our Persona 3: FES write-up, there is one more Persona title making this list -- it's also one that is more deserving. Persona 4 was released earlier this year in Japan and localization efforts have been significantly sped up in time for a North American release this December. While Persona fans are probably still putting in another 200 hours into Persona 3: FES, someone really should tell them it's about time to put that one down and pick up P4.
Persona 4 is probably the most stylish title to have come out for the PS2 this year. The music is exquisite and everything about P4 is a step up from the previous title in the series. The menus and overall game design has improved and it's evident that the team has learned a lot from their previous efforts.
While we can't help but feel that this series has really grown in recent times, it makes us worry as everyone is moving away from last gen and making the shift. What then will happen to the Persona series? Can a relatively minor developer like Atlus move into the current gen arena as many of the traditional J-RPG companies have yet to release proper games for such a platform like the PS3. Whatever happens, we know the series can't last on the PS2 for much longer. As nearly everything else this year has shown, the PS2 is on its last lifeline. But hey, with games like P4 to herald in the end, we can say it's been a happy and fulfilled eight years."
My personal Opinion: RIP PS2 in terms of games being made for it... Of course im sure alot of us will always play PS2 games from time to time. :P there was just so many great games on it, thats undeniable. Truly a legendary system among consoles and gamers. n_n *tear*
Now its time... 
