3 Worst PS2 Platformers You’ve Forgotten (For Good Reason)

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The PlayStation 2 had a fantastic library of games, including both well-known favorites and hidden treasures. It’s especially remembered for its strong collection of platforming games. Titles like *Jak 2*, *Ratchet & Clank*, and *Pac-Man World 2* made it a great time to enjoy the genre, though not every platformer on the PS2 was a hit.

Man, the early 2000s were a wild time for games. Developers were really throwing everything at the wall to see what stuck, and honestly, a *lot* of it just… didn’t. We got flooded with movie tie-in games, and so many of them were just awful because the focus was on the license, not on making a good game. But looking back at my PS2 days, there are three platformers that are so unbelievably bad, I’ve honestly tried to forget they ever existed. But, hey, someone’s gotta tell you why they completely failed to deliver on what a fun platformer should be.

Frogger: The Great Quest

The arcade game *Frogger* is a true classic. It’s easy to understand – you simply guide a frog across a busy road, avoiding cars and other dangers – but it’s surprisingly difficult to master. Given its simple premise, it seemed like *Frogger* would make a great platformer game, similar to *Super Mario*. However, *Frogger: The Great Quest* just didn’t live up to that potential.

The 2001 game *Frogger: The Great Quest* tried to reinvent the classic *Frogger* as a 3D platformer, but it unfortunately missed the mark in almost every way. The camera was difficult to control, making it hard to see what was happening, and the graphics and voice acting were also poor. Instead of a fun addition to the *Frogger* series, it ended up being one of the worst platformers on the PlayStation 2. While the original *Frogger* is always a blast in arcades, *Frogger: The Great Quest* is best forgotten.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Ugh, this game… I have to admit, it’s quickly become one of the worst movie-based games I’ve ever played. It actually *tries* to be a platformer, which is… ambitious, I guess. It came out in 2005, right when the Johnny Depp *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* movie hit theaters, and honestly, I’ve been trying to block both from my memory ever since. A lot of other gamers seem to have done the same with this game – it’s been conveniently forgotten!

Okay, so I finally played *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* on the PS2, and honestly, it was a bit of a letdown. The controls were just…weird, and the gameplay itself felt unfinished and pretty boring. Yeah, the graphics looked good for the time, but that couldn’t save it. The platforming just wasn’t fun, and the clunky controls made it even worse. The weirdest part? You’re supposed to *rescue* the other kids on the tour! I get that Charlie’s a good guy, but honestly, after seeing how awful those kids were being, I didn’t really feel motivated to go out of my way to save them while struggling through a pretty lackluster game. It just didn’t click with me.

Catwoman

This game is infamous as one of the worst PlayStation 2 titles ever made, and it holds a special place in my memory for all the wrong reasons. As a young gamer, I was thrilled to finally see a superhero game starring a female character, but this game was a truly terrible experience. When the Wonder Woman game was cancelled recently, it reminded me of how much I disliked Catwoman, and unfortunately, the beautiful graphics are the only good thing I can say about it.

The *Catwoman* video game, released in 2004 alongside the poorly received Halle Berry film, wasn’t well-received either, earning a MetaScore of 46. This was largely due to frustrating controls and awkward camera angles that made it difficult to see what was happening. While the game could have been a decent platformer with improved controls, the addition of clunky combat only made things worse.

Ever struggle through a bad PlayStation 2 platformer? Share your experiences in the ComicBook Forum and let’s discuss!

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2025-10-12 16:11