The PlayStation 2 era is still one of the most important periods in gaming history, as it brought forth both technical innovations and a long list of great games that remain classic and even spawned ongoing franchises. To this day, the PlayStation 2 is still the best-selling game console of all time, with the original Nintendo Switch coming in second.

As important as the PS2 was, it's no secret that game development has evolved far beyond what the Sony console was capable of back in 2000. Like any piece of hardware, the PS2 had its limitations, but that didn't stop game developers from pushing what was possible within these boundaries. Some of the most impressive PS2 games arrived later in the console's life, but there were also a few early titles that were just as groundbreaking.

When it comes to "pushing" the PS2's hardware limits, I'm looking at everything from visuals to gameplay mechanics, not just one specific type of feature.

The PS2 era was coming to a close in 2006, as Sony was paving the way to launch the PS3 in November that same year. Despite the console's reign dwindling, Okami arrived in April 2006 to prove that the PS2's limitations didn't have to be a bad thing. Players take on the role of Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu in the form of a white wolf. The premise alone is compelling enough, but what really makes Okami a special game is its visual presentation.

From its birth to its discontinuation, here's which standout games marked the PlayStation 2's life cycle and became iconic.

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