Now available in a slimline version that's about the size of two stacked DVD cases, the PlayStation 2 remains an easy recommendation for holiday shoppers in 2005. Although it's showing its age a little, it has the widest and highest-quality software selection. It'll also play older games made for the original PlayStation, so if there's a gamer in your life who's still fond of their PlayStation, a PS2 would make a perfect upgrade.
Not content with dominating the last 10 years of video gaming history, the PS2 also dominates this guide. Outstanding racing, dark and violent action, Japanese bizarreness, kid-friendly cartoon adventure, and even air guitar -- it's all here.
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Shadow of the Colossus
Engrossing, emotional, and beautifully designed, Shadow of the Colossus is one of those names that seasoned gamers only speak in hushed tones. Pitting the player against a series of vast, hulking creatures in an effort to bring a young girl back to life, it's a stripped down and minimalist action-adventure that proves sometimes less really can be more. If there's a budding game designer in your family, this'll show them how it's done.
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God of War
This isn't one for the kiddies, thanks to its shovelfuls of sex and violence, but God of War is still one of the PS2's most spectacular action titles. Set amid the myths and legends of Ancient Greece, the visuals, sound effects, and brutal weapons make a breathtaking combination
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We Love Katamari
Perfect for young and old, male and female, and experienced and novice alike, the allure of rolling things up into a ball is universal. This bizarre, imaginative, and cute Japanese puzzle game combines against-the-clock arcade gameplay with a unique, plasticky look and a soundtrack that's more infectious than bird flu. Fire this one up on Christmas afternoon and even the most turkey-crammed of revelers won't be able to resist it.
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Burnout Revenge
Drive fast cars. Crash them into each other. Watch them explode. Thanks to this undeniably alluring formula, the Burnout series has gone from strong to stronger over the past few years, and Revenge is its best installment yet. Watch the game and you'd hardly believe the PS2 was five years old. Play it and you'll be laughing like you're the one that's five years old. Don't miss it.
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Tekken 5
This series of arcade fighting games has been popular ever since the early days of the first PlayStation, and it's still in great shape. In fact, it's looking fantastic -- Tekken 5's graphics are about as good as it gets this side of the Xbox 360. It even includes arcade versions of the first three Tekken games into the bargain, so you can see how far we've come in 10 years. Expect it to rank highly on any fighting fan's Christmas list.
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Soul Calibur 3
As the second traditional fighting game in our PlayStation picks, Soul Calibur 3 is right up there with Tekken 5 at the top of its genre. With a little more focus on multiplayer gaming, it might be the better choice if you're buying for a family setting. It also comes complete with a nifty custom character mode, letting players create their own fighters from scratch.
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The Warriors
In between churning out fantastic Grand Theft Auto games, Rockstar Games found time this year to work on The Warriors, a variety-packed action game set on the mean streets of New York. It's particularly good in two-player cooperative mode, which allows you and a friend to mug passers-by, break into cars, loot stores, and battle rival gangs. Er, this one might not be suitable for the kids either. But it's full of style, attitude, and quality, so consider it for any action fan of sufficient maturity.
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The Sims 2
After taking the PC by storm, EA's interactive reality TV show is making just as big a splash on the PlayStation. Sims games have a reputation for being particularly appealing to people that don't usually like video games, and this one's just the same. Unlike the PC version, the PlayStation game features a close-up view of the drama, and a story mode where you control your characters -- or 'sims' -- directly.
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Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
Popular PlayStation mascot Sly Cooper is back with another in this series of successful and well-liked platform games. A masterpiece of character and plot development, Sly 3's kid-friendly tone means it's a great choice for younger gamers. Older ones will still enjoy its laid-back gameplay and smart storyline.
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Guitar Hero
Be honest -- you've played air guitar before, right? Guitar Hero is the perfect outlet for your private, guilty rock star fantasies, and comes complete with a guitar-shaped controller for you to strum. Featuring songs from the likes of Black Sabbath, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Audioslave, it's a rhythm game that actually lets you play along with the music. Like the idea? Buy an extra guitar controller for even more fun.
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