These are only off the top of my head and are all PS2 games. They also just happen to be all short games to VERY short games that offer little replay value but all have a very Classic Snes feel (Shadow of Colossus was beaten in 2 days without even trying to but those two days were awesome!). They are of course not perfect but I definitely recommend them as each offers a memorable experience I would not pass up. I don't think any of them had much objectionable content (maybe a d-word or 2).
ICO: It is like a heroic fairy tale. It's a prime example of quality over quantity in content. GET AWAY FROM MY GIRL YOU SHADOW MONSTERS!
Shadow of the Colossus: While I actually preferred ICO over this prequel it is certainly not to be forgotten. I have couple moral issues with the plotline especially the ending (ok so there is not much of a plotline until the ending but that's ok). Also while I understand the point of not having enemies other than the Colossuses the game could have stood at least something to make the approach to each colossuses seem like you where approaching evil. As it stands you will ride to each colossus fight it then ride to the next that's it. There are no puzzles or fighting other that the (uh 12?) bosses. Most of the colossus fights are extremely good though (just a couple seem to be too similar IMO) Really this is a different experience and should be played expecting one it just could have been a tiny bit better. I know of no other game that gives the same feeling as this one. The soundtrack is excellent also and I never tired when it kicks in. I think I cared about the horse more than the girl by the end though
.
Rygar: A remake of the original (which I never played). The plotline comes off as rather campy (check out the werid embrace Rygar gives at the end. It's like she wanted to be let go of
) but it's ok never the less. The areas, gameplay and especially music all come together for a classic experience.
Prince of Persia: The first remake of the PC series on the PS2 game is worthy of being a Classic Snes game. Of note the main character is both likeable but shows human flaws avoiding atypical and making a great plot. The gameplay is wonderful so much so it's been copyed for many other games. The areas are approprate. I never tired of it's upbeat arabian sountrack that fitted the game so perfectly as opposed to the horrible, horrible soundtrack of the second game. Possible objections (and I am nit picking) is what could be infered as a "intimate" love sceen but because it's so very vague I doubt it's what was meant, the girl's outfit or lack thereof and the final boss should have been more impressive. BTW Extreme wall running FTW! (note the sequel to this was so bad I did not play the third game in the series).
Second Sight: A largely overlooked game that uses the Timesplitters game engine.
The ending is rather terse but it's not a bad one. Mainly It's fun being psychic and the plotline is quite good!
Red Faction: This game may NOT appeal to everyone because I enjoyed it for it's campy factor. It borrowed a lot of it's gameplay from the predominate FPS of the time Half Life. It may sound cruel but I found it funny the way the NPC's would scream "RED FACTION!" then run into enemy fire and die. I will always remember the jeep level as being amusing as well. Who needed the gun on it when the crunching sound of running over enemies was so satisfying (ok cruel I know but you had to be there).
I did not llike the sequal.
Deus-Ex: It was a cult classic PC game but I played it on the PS 2. Has multiple paths but if you are like me you play though each choice then reset to get the one you want
I'd like to emphasize just how great the music in Shadow of Colossus, Prince of Persia and to a slightly lesser degree Rygar is. It's just so appropriate and contributes so much to the "classic" feel I cannot help but thinking of the music when I think of these games.
I think I played Counter Strike for about 2 minutes and I've never played World of Warcraft