6 Take-Two Interactive Games You Forgot Were Awesome

by

Take-Two Interactive began as a small game developer and publisher, but rapidly expanded through acquisitions, most notably Rockstar Games, which became its most profitable asset. This success propelled Take-Two to become a major force in the gaming industry, consistently releasing several large titles annually. While games like Grand Theft Auto and BioShock achieved widespread acclaim, many other games published or developed by Take-Two—and by studios it acquired—didn’t receive the same level of recognition. The following list offers a broader look at the company’s history by including these lesser-known titles alongside its biggest hits.

Here are six Take-Two games you forgot were great.

6) Ripper

Ripper is unique on this list as it’s the only game developed directly by Take-Two Interactive. While the company excels at publishing games made by others, its development work isn’t as strong. However, Ripper stands out as a great full-motion video (FMV) game, particularly due to its talented cast.

While Ripper didn’t revolutionize the genre, it did offer a fun twist with randomized villains for replayability. However, the game’s biggest appeal is its incredible cast, featuring Christopher Walken, Paul Giamatti, John Rhys-Davies, Burgess Meredith, and a host of other well-known actors. Take-Two Interactive went on to create two more games using full-motion video, but none could boast the same level of star power as Ripper.

5) All-Pro Football 2K8

After the success of NFL 2K5 worried Electronic Arts (EA), they secured exclusive rights to the NFL. Take-Two Interactive, having previously owned the rights and developed the Madden series, surprisingly didn’t abandon football altogether. They made one final attempt with All-Pro Football 2K8, featuring classic players and fictional teams.

Okay, so APF wasn’t a huge hit when it came out, but honestly, the way it played football was incredible. It’s the small details that really stood out – the way the offensive line formed a pocket, how the quarterback moved, and even the running animations. It all combined to create gameplay that, in some ways, felt even better than today’s Madden games! It’s such a shame the franchise mode wasn’t very good, and that we never got another APF game because of the low sales. It really had potential.

4) Rune: Viking Warlord

I’ve been a fan of Rune for ages! It was first published by Gathering of the Developers, but Take-Two actually bought them about half a year before the game came out. Then, when the PlayStation 2 version, Rune: Viking Warlord, was released, Take-Two published it directly. So, even though they weren’t involved at the very beginning, I definitely think Rune deserves to be included when we talk about Take-Two’s history.

Rune is a challenging action game where you’ll often face groups of enemies at once. To succeed, you need to become skilled with the game’s various weapons and unlock their special Rune Powers. If you’re up for some competitive fun, you can even battle your friends online – and literally send their heads flying! While it’s not perfect, Rune is definitely an enjoyable experience.

3) The Darkness 2

While the first Darkness game had a more compelling story, The Darkness 2 simply feels better to play. Developed by Digital Extremes – the team behind Warframe – it offers a similar, polished gameplay experience. If you’re familiar with Warframe, you’ll quickly understand what to expect: smooth shooting and movement, and the unique Demon Arms add plenty of exciting variety to the combat.

While The Darkness 2 is a bit short and its story ends abruptly without resolution, the fast-paced action makes it an enjoyable experience. It’s a great game to finish in a single weekend.

2) Spec Ops: The Line

Yager Development’s Spec Ops: The Line is quite different from The Darkness 2. While the shooting is decent, the game truly shines because of its story. This reboot of the Spec Ops series focuses on the psychological toll of war, showing the horrors through the eyes of the main character, Martin Walker, as his mental state deteriorates.

Okay, so Spec Ops: The Line is a really intense game – it’s not for the faint of heart, honestly. But trust me, it’s so worth playing. What I loved most is that the developers, Yager, weren’t afraid to put you in some seriously tough spots, making you make choices that feel…wrong. It really messed with my head, and it’s a storytelling technique that genuinely sets this game apart. My only advice? Skip the multiplayer – it feels totally unnecessary and doesn’t add anything to the experience.

1) Prey

Human Head Studios has done it again with the new Prey. You play as Tommy Tawodi, who’s been kidnapped by aliens and must rescue himself, his girlfriend, and his grandfather in this action-packed first-person shooter. Tommy’s Cherokee roots give him a special ability: he can separate his spirit from his body to explore and even come back to life.

In addition to everything else, Prey features portals that are reminiscent of those in Portal, though players can’t make them themselves. You can see and shoot through these portals, but they aren’t as helpful as they are in Portal. The game also plays with gravity, creating unique and disorienting exploration opportunities.

The original Prey was a groundbreaking game, and a more expansive sequel was almost made by 3D Realms and Human Head. Though that sequel never materialized, Bethesda’s 2017 version of Prey is still an excellent game, even though it’s very different from the first one.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/gaming/list/6-rare-limited-games-you-forgot-were-awesome/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-14 23:47