The PlayStation 2 was home to some of the greatest RPGs ever made. From sprawling adventures to stories that stayed with players long after the credits rolled, the console had no shortage of classics. But nostalgia has a funny way of making us forget the parts of our favorite games that haven’t stood the test of time. Some things that felt perfectly normal back then can make you raise an eyebrow today.
And it’s not always about clunky controls or graphics that look like they’ve been dragged through a decade of dust. Sometimes, it’s the writing or a character arc that makes you wonder what exactly the developers were thinking. Even games built around meaningful messages can stumble over the very thing they are trying to say. Of course, you can still appreciate what a game got right without pretending every part of it was perfect.
The PlayStation 2’s RPG library is full of beloved titles, but even some of its most memorable adventures have elements that feel rather uncomfortable in hindsight. Whether it’s outdated portrayals of identity, excessive fan service, or storytelling choices that hit differently years later, these games remind us that nostalgia isn’t always a reliable judge of quality.
Persona 4
Persona 4 is remembered for its murder mystery and cast of characters who feel like friends in real life. But revisit it today, and some of its attempts at comedy and character drama can leave an odd taste. One example is how the game handles sexuality and gender expression, especially through Kanji Tatsumi and Naoto Shirogane.
Kanji’s story is about a teenager who fears that his interests make him less masculine. This could genuinely have been a thoughtful look at insecurity and the pressure to fit in, but the game uses certain situations as a punchline, often letting the other characters’ discomfort do the comedic work. Kanji’s feelings are more complicated than a label, but the jokes around him can make the story’s empathy feel inconsistent.
Naoto’s arc has a different problem. She presents herself as a boy because she believes the police force will take her less seriously as a young woman. It’s a strong story about sexism in the workplace, but the game’s framing blurs gender identity and gender presentation before settling on that explanation. Some scenes invite players to laugh at the confusion rather than consider what Naoto is actually going through.
That said, these issues don’t erase what Persona 4 does well. It excels at portraying memorable friendships, while the mystery keeps players guessing and engaged. Its theme of accepting the parts of yourself that you hide is
also powerful. But despite being a game about looking beyond appearances, it sometimes falls back on familiar stereotypes for an easy laugh. The result is a classic that remains worth playing but is harder to defend in today’s age.
Final Fantasy X-2
Final Fantasy X-2 takes a sharp turn from the solemn journey of Final Fantasy X, trading the original’s melancholy pilgrimage for pop songs, costume changes, and a much sillier mood. This shift is part of X-2’s charm, but it also makes some aspects of its presentation feel very much like a product of its era.
The issue? It’s how often the camera and costumes focus on the sexualized portrayal of its female characters. The dressphere system is a clever way to let the party switch jobs in battle, but it also turns transformations into elaborate, frequently revealing performances. Some outfits are deliberately playful, with the game clearly wanting to celebrate Yuna’s freedom after the events of the first game. Still, the constant emphasis on posing and pin-up imagery can undercut that sense of independence.
The tonal shift can be just as jarring. One moment, the game is exploring how Spira rebuilds after a devastating religious regime; the next, it is leaning into broad comedy, flirtation, or a dance number. The contrast isn’t necessarily a flaw—people do find joy after tragedy—but the game sometimes struggles to make its lighter moments feel earned. Players also didn’t like the story, and neither did the clunky mechanics, difficult progression, and off-the-topic minigames do any service.
There’s plenty to admire here: the battle system is fast and flexible, Yuna gets to define her life on her own terms, and the world feels different because it has changed. But revisiting Final Fantasy X-2 also means confronting its era’s idea of what a female-led adventure should look like. Its confidence is refreshing, but the fan service is much less timeless.
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time begins like a familiar space-faring RPG: Fayt Leingod is on vacation when an attack tears his life apart, sending him into a conflict involving strange worlds, powerful enemies, and the fate of the universe. Its memorable party banter and tactical combat give the journey a strong identity. Then comes the twist, and this is the part that left many players divided.
The story takes a surprising turn when it reveals a truth about the characters’ universe that changes everything players thought they knew about their world. While the twist is ambitious, it can also undermine the emotional weight of the journey, leaving players questioning whether the struggles they’ve followed for hours matter in the way they once believed.
Not everyone considers the twist a mistake, however. Some players appreciate how it challenges the idea that the characters’ world is as real and independent as they believe. However, the revelation arrives late in the story and dramatically changes the context of everything that came before it. Instead of giving the characters’ struggles a deeper meaning, it can leave players wondering whether their victories and sacrifices matter at all. The game also gives players little time to come to terms with the revelation before moving on. The rest of the game has aged unevenly, too. It offers engaging real-time combat, but the camera, long dungeon stretches, and occasional spikes in difficulty can test players’ patience.
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time remains an ambitious PlayStation 2 RPG, yet its biggest narrative swing is also its riskiest—and a major reason why some players feel it hasn’t aged well.
- Brand
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Sony
- Original Release Date
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March 4, 2000
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$299 / £299 / ¥39,800
- Operating System
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Proprietary
- Storage
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40 GB hard drive (optional)
- VR Support
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No
