I had a PlayStation when I was a kid. There were so many games that I looked at when I was a child with no money, and while I got to play many of the cult classic titles (like all the Final Fantasy games) there were so many that I couldn't play, or didn't play.
Having spent some time going through the extensive library of PlayStation games, I've put together a wish list of things that I would like to play at some point in the future.
Vagrant Story
I'm starting with this because I actually owned a copy of this game, but it was far too sophisticated for me. Way too complex, and I just didn't get it. Age has matured me, and it is the sort of thing that I know that I would now thoroughly enjoy.
Everyone talks about this incredible weapon crafting system where you can unique weapons for different situations, kind of like a medieval fantasy version of crafting in modern games. I've heard it's really mature and political - not your typical "save the world" story - and that's intriguing. I keep seeing people compare it to Game of Thrones in terms of its political intrigue, but I know that if I do play this, I'll be devoting a lot of concentration to it.
Parasite Eve
Why am I going to first talk about the "The 3rd Birthday"? - because it was a PSP title that was a spiritual successor to the Parasite Eve series, and that series is Parasite Eve.
I've been fascinated by how people describe Parasite Eve - it's like if someone took Resident Evil but added RPG elements before anyone thought that was even possible to merge genres. The setting sounds incredible - New York City during Christmas, but everything's gone horribly wrong.
Genetic mutants that aren't the Grinch ruining Christmas, in a game made by Square? Yes, please.
Wild Arms
I've had a work colleague previously rant about how good his feelings of nostalgia are for Wild Arms.
A JRPG but set it in the Wild West with magic and ancient technology. I don't really need to know more about the game beyond that. Its graphics are the classic 2D sprites, and with some 3D battle sequences that have a similar visual style to the original Final Fantasy.
Xenogears
Xenogears intimidates me a little because everyone talks about how deep and philosophical it is, but that's exactly why I want to try it. The way people describe it, it's like this massive story about religion, psychology, and giant robots all mixed together. I've heard there's something about the second disc being different from the first due to budget issues, but fans still consider it one of the greatest stories ever told in a video game.
I remember seeing my High School Art Teacher play this game (in the class room nonetheless) and I marvelled at its presentation.
Final Fantasy Tactics
I am now, as an adult, a person who truly understands how turn based tactics and strategy games work, and when I was younger, I did not. (Unless you count Fire Emblem on the GBA when I was a little bit older).
The way people describe building their teams and discovering different job combinations sounds so satisfying. And apparently, the story is super political and dark - way more than you'd expect from a Final Fantasy game - though they've been drifting that way for a while now.
Dino Crisis
This is one where I am judging a book by its cover. The cover art is cool, and the concept is cool, too. Survival horror with dinosaurs, from a time when Jurassic Park was a ... major thing.
But in terms of game play, the idea of "Resident Evil with dinosaurs" sounds like some savage fun. People keep sharing these clips where you're being hunted by Velocraptors in this facility, and it looks terrifying in the best way possible. I've heard the dinosaurs are actually smart and work together to hunt you, which sounds like early Half-Life style AI.
Ghost in the Shell
Even though I'm not moderately familiar with the anime, the idea of controlling one of those spider tank things from Ghost in the Shell sounds like a blast. People say it really captured the cyberpunk feel of the series, and I love that it tried something different instead of just making a standard action game. The wall-climbing mechanics people talk about sound way ahead of their time. It sounds like an ancient version of Titan Fall 2, but with a darker, more Japanese, cyberpunk setting.
So will I ever play these?
Through the wonders of contemporary emulation, it will be a trivial task to obtain these titles for play, and I think I own digital copies of several of these games on my PlayStation 3 (with its PS1 backwards compatibility) - and probably had copies of several that I never got around to playing on the PSP with its ability to play PlayStation games, too.
I really do want to play these at some point, but I still have a very... long and exhaustive list of Steam Games to get through, not to count my physical collection Switch, PlayStation 3, 4, and 5 games. Then there's a bunch of Xbox exclusives ... so... maybe?
What are your PS1 must-plays?
I'm a retro lover and old school in video games is something I have a lot of appreciation for.
Like you I had my PlayStation One, in fact it was the only console I had because then I started using pure PC and I never worried about wanting a new console, I just fell in love with the PC at that time.
I usually have my PSX v1.13 emulator on my PC and even now I have it, I really like the PS1 games, but incredibly of all these games that you have commented here I can only give you an opinion of one and that is Dino Crisis. Honestly I never played any of the other titles.
And well! Regarding Dino Crisis I will try not to make Spoilers hahaha.... But I assure you that you will enjoy it, the action combined with the puzzles make the game a journey but in a good taste. I don't know in what order you'll be playing this list, but whatever, when it's Dino Crisis' turn just enjoy it.
Note: Never look for the keys to the doors on the web, decipher everything by yourself so you will feel a supreme satisfaction when you pass it. And when you see Dr. Kirk, just give him a good smack from me 🤣😂
Thanks for your in depth comment! I have a Steam Deck and I feel like a lot of these games would work really well on it. :)
Like I said in my post, I have a BIIIIG back catalogue to get through, especially PC games. Its amazing how much works on Linux since I swapped over from Windows 10.
It only remains for me to say that I hope you have enough time to try all the jewels you have in your catalog. Sometimes I long to have so much time to be able to try many games I have in mind, but my days are getting more and more complex and limited.
At least you try to enjoy those jewels, do it for both of us 😂🤣
I'll be writing about them all if and when I do. :)
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Dino Crisis in this list is the only I played, but it was a great game from what I remember..
Some must plays I loved were Medievil, Tekken 2, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2 is always great on the PS1, Oddworld Abe's Oddysee was so brutal as a kid but a great game as well. Other worthy mentions are the Die Hard Trilogy, the original Destruction Derby and Metal Gear Solid.
So many awesome games though for you to enjoy playing mate. We have my partner's chipped PS1 and cracked games but I need the square non chipping physical hardware and games, Final Fantasy is also on the list of a must for me to get!
I had so much fun with Tony Hawk back in the day, smashing sound track.
I had Die Hard Trilogy on disc, and of course Metal Gear Solid. MGS2 (though that was PS2) was one of my all time favourite games.
No spoilers, but it feels like that game predicted the current future we live in very well, lol.
I'd revisit Tony Hawks. That was a good time. I just worry it won't be the same.
Great soundtrack, great game. Definitely a favourite. :)
Oh god, I've been hunting PS1 / PS3 consoles lately, I want the PS1 just for the experience, never had one, I'd like to play a few retro games, starting with Time Crisis and the PS3 to try the Guitar Hero series.
I've got a second PS3 in my entertainment unit, and I still have my MGS2 bundle PS3 in service. The 2nd one is only owned because I wanted another dual shock 3 for the gyro controllers, and there was a console bundle on ebay, which was cheaper than the controllers on their own, lol.
Wild Arms was one of my favorite RPG's on the PlayStation console. I was working a lot at a sheet metal shop during that period and lived out in the country so being snowed in was commonplace. I grabbed Wild Arms and, not having access to the Internet, I went ahead and got the strategy guide with it. I just wanted to enjoy the game during the expected snow storm my area we preparing for. It was an extremely fun 4 or 5 days. No distractions, just playing Wild Arms (and many other games I had at the time), barely touched the strategy guide but the investment was worth it as my intent was just to enjoy the game.
I had the same experience with Final Fantasy X, on the PS2, just without working in a sheet metal shop, or being snowed in (if that ever happens in Australia... good luck to me).
Did it have some awesome game art in the strategy guide? I miss those sorts of cheaply bound books with amazing concept art in them.
Front Mission 3, Brigandine and Vanguard Bandits could make any Final Fantasy Tactics fans burst with delight.
Oh yes! I love the Front Mission games. I remember playing a DS? or maybe GBA iteration of Front Mission, and I've got the first two remakes on Steam, waiting to be played on my Steam Deck!
Vagrant Story was a game that I appreciated as it should when I was an adult, when I was young it seemed quite complicated and complex. But then you grow up and see it from another perspective and you realize that it is one of the best RPGs in the industry.
I can't wait to have that experience with it. Its the top of my list for stuff I wanna play on the PS1!