Forgotten Heroes In Classic PlayStation 2 Games

The PS2 was part of the golden era for gaming, as it had some of the greatest titles to date and gave birth to several franchises that are still going strong today. Although the console had its hardware limitations (like every other console at the time), it didn't fail to deliver stories and gameplay that players worldwide quickly fell in love with.

But what about those franchises that never really took off and were only popular until the PS3 came out? What about those unsung heroes who led said games and were soon thereafter forgotten to never be remembered again? To honor some of them, here areforgotten heroes in classic PS2 games.

Jennifer (Rule Of Rose)

A Brave Protagonist

• Jennifer is brave and noble
• She's constantly punished for others' doings

While survival horror games weren't new by the time Rule of Rose came around, it was a welcome addition to many players addicted to this genre. Set in England in 1930, and following the story of the protagonist, Jennifer, the game takes players to a strange world ruled by young girls who run a hierarchy called the Red Crayon Aristocrats.

Jennifer is brave (as she must be to survive), curious, and intelligent. She has a kind heart and is even willing to risk her life to save an innocent one, as can be seen when she saves the yellow Labrador from peril. All in all, it's safe to say that, along with the story, Jennifer's bravado and charisma make Rule of Roseone of the greatest PS2 horror games out there.

At the time, the game received a Metascore of 60 due to the controversy around its violent nature; however, it grew on people over time, achieving well-deserved redemption once the backlash blew over. Sadly, though, as it happens with any other game with a single title and no new releases in nearly two decades, both Rule of Rose and Jennifer are now long forgotten.

Samanosuke Akechi (Onimusha: Warlords)

One Of The Most Famous PS2 Samurais

• Samanosuke set a high standard for future samurai characters in gaming
• He has an inspiring story and an unwavering will

Born in 1537 in the middle of Japan's Sengoku Period, Samanosuke quickly grew to become a samurai serving the Saito clan. After years of conflict within the clan, he decided to step aside and travel the world to become a Ronin. During his travels, he met a ninja named Kaede, with whom he formed a strong bond over the years.

During the events of Onimusha 2, Samanosuke and Kaede return to the former's home to aid his uncle. Samanosuke is one of the greatest samurai protagonists in the PS2 era. Unfortunately, as the years went by, the Onimusha franchise slowly died down, leaving Samanosuke and every other character in that universe in the dark.

That said, Onimusha: Warlordsreceived generally favorable reviews with a Metascore of 71 upon release—not too shabby for the first installment of an unknown franchise.

Ryudo (Grandia 2)

A Hero With Few Traits Of One

• Ryudo is almost an antihero who only cares about himself
• His life has been full of tragedy

Ryudo's backstory is as tragic as they come. After becoming an orphan at an early age, he and his older brother Melfice were raised by the Chief of the Village of Garlan. Just when life seemed to finally be going his way, tragedy struck again, when his brother, for no apparent reason, left the village after committing a series of terrible murders.

All in all, Ryudo does not conform to the typical "hero" definition, as he is pessimistic, negative, and most of all, selfish. Over the years, he manages to become a Geohound, who, in a nutshell, is a mercenary who doesn't ask questions, just does the job and moves on. Ryudo doesn't seem to have any loyalty to anyone, and his friends list is rather short, including only his trusted falcon companion, Skye.

Whether Ryudo is a true PS2 forgotten hero deep inside is up for debate, but it's undeniable that the circumstances in Grandia 2 force him to step up and fight for the right cause, even if that's not his initial goal.

Grandia 2 received favorable reviews, obtaining a Metascore of 77 upon its release. Unfortunately, though, the passing of over 20 years since he was a main character, and the lack of new Grandia titles since 2009 have blasted Ryudo into oblivion—perhaps forever.

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil)

An Interstellar Hero

• Jade has street smarts and a lot of love for photography
• She has the ultimate goal of ending the war and protecting her loved ones

Although female heroes are more common these days, it's an undeniable, unfortunate truth that this wasn't the case back in the early 2000s when the PS2 was at its peak. Other than Lara Croft and Jade from Beyond Good & Evil, the hero section of gaming was mostly male-dominated.

Jade leads this game's story from her planet Hillys, in System 4. Living with her uncle, who sees her as his own daughter, she has a strong love for photography, which she successfully channels into her own journalism company. After she grows tired of the war happening in her universe, she joins the IRIS Network under the pseudonym "Shauni", with her sole mission and goal being to bring peace to every corner of Hillys in order to ensure her survival, her uncle's and that of several orphans who see her as their big sister.

For a game that received a Metascore of 86 upon release, it's strange that no sequel was ever released. While there's an upcoming prequel allegedly scheduled to come out in the next few months or years, more than 2 decades without anything new around Beyond Good & Evil has forced both the game and Jade to live in the shadows.

Lloyd Irving (Tales Of Symphonia)

Country Boy Turned Warrior

• Lloyd is selfless and brave
• During the events of the game, he's faced with an impossible decision

Lloyd Irving didn't have big dreams or unrealistic ambitions. At the beginning of the game, he's a simple country boy who enjoys going to class and leading a normal life in his home world, Silvarant. However, as the game progresses, he, along with his companions, is tasked to find a way to save his planet from certain doom.

Lloyd had been a textbook case of a forgotten hero from a PS2 classic until Tales of Symphonia was re-released in a remastered version, which shed light on him once again. He deserves a high spot on this list, as he's not only noble and willing to cooperate for the greater good, but also considers every life when it comes to making the tough decision between saving his own world, or Tethe'alla, a parallel planet, as they can't both coexist.

Upon its release, Tales of Symphonia received a wonderful Metascore of 86, which motivated the developers to make more games around its universe in the following years. Despite this, Lloyd was last seen in 2008, so sadly, enough time has passed for him to become nothing but a distant memory.