The Struggles Behind No One Lives Forever’s PS2 Port

No One Lives Forever was a critical hit on PC in 2000, but its PS2 port became a nightmare for Monolith Productions. The studio lacked console experience, and a small team was tasked with adapting the high-end PC game to the PS2’s limited hardware. Matthew Allen, the project’s lead artist, recalls the challenge: ’They said, ’Matt, you’re really technical. Here’s a team of folks we don’t know what the fuck to do with. Make a port of No One Lives Forever for the PS2.’’

The team spent nearly a year rebuilding the game, cutting features like multiplayer and quick saves while adding exclusive content. Despite their efforts, the final product was widely criticized. Allen admits, ’The game was awful on the PS2. Like I wouldn’t wish that version on my worst enemies.’ The PS2 port scored significantly lower than the PC original, with critics highlighting its technical shortcomings.

The project, though flawed, had moments of camaraderie. Allen praised the LithTech engineers who helped overcome obstacles. Despite the poor reception, the team shipped the game, marking Monolith’s first foray into console development—a learning experience that came at the cost of the game’s reputation.

No One Lives ForeverPS2Monolith ProductionsGame PortRetro GamingLithTechFox InteractiveMatthew AllenConsole DevelopmentGaming History