• Action games cover many different styles of video games but always emphasize physical challenges.blue computer gaming pad image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
  
  Action games cover a wide range of subgenres that place players in control of a character with a particular set of abilities. These abilities can include fighting, weaponry, agility and magic. An action game tests the player's reactions and coordination through fast-moving physical challenges that are often presented against a strict time limit. The PlayStation 2 has a large number of action games, in genres ranging from fighting and shooting, to platform games and driving.
  
  

God of War

• "God of War" was released exclusively for the PlayStation 2 in 2005 and drew upon Greek mythology to create an action game with a strong emphasis on fighting, puzzle-solving and platforming. The player takes on the role of Spartan warrior Kratos, who sets out on a quest for revenge against the Greek god of war, Ares. The game spans a series of long levels through ancient Greece, which are populated by monsters from Greek mythology, including the Medusa, minotaurs and undead warriors. Lauded as one of the best PS2 games of all time by critics, "God of War" has sold more than 8 million copies and won more than a dozen awards.
  
  

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

• "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" was originally released exclusively for the PlayStation 2, and eventually ported to the Xbox and Windows PC. The game is set in the fictional state of San Andreas, casting the player as a petty criminal returning home after five years to attend his mother's funeral. Framed by corrupt police, players must reunite the character's gang and wage war against other street gangs until they achieve dominance. The game involves heavy use of fighting, shooting and reckless driving. "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" went on to become the best-selling PlayStation 2 game of all time.
  
  

Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution

• "Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution" was an update to the previously released PlayStation 2 launch game "Virtua Fighter 4" and provided two additional characters while significantly reducing the game's retail price. Based on the Sega arcade game of the same name, "Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution" is a one-on-one tournament fighting game with full 3D graphics. Each character has his own unique fighting style and abilities, as well as his own story as to why he's fighting in the tournament.
  
  "Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution" also introduced a new game mode in which players traveled between arcades, challenging other "Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution" players. Winning awarded character customization options and proved very popular because of the flexibility of the individual character's artificial intelligence.
  
  

SSX 3

• "SSX 3" is the third instalment in the snowboarding franchise developed by EA Sports and was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2003. The "SSX" series diverged from typical snowboarding simulations by adding chaotic action and fantastic abilities to the characters. "SSX 3" further evolved the franchise by moving the locations of the snowboarding runs to one single mountain, with three different peaks and many routes to the bottom.
  
  The game revolves around the concept of "conquering the mountain" and features interconnected runs that make it possible for players to snowboard from the peak of the mountain to the bottom without stopping or loading new levels. Acknowledged by critics as the pinnacle of the "SSX" series, "SSX 3" was the first snowboarding game in the franchise to offer online play.