I started the Cheapest Games series quite a while ago and I figured I should revise some of the posts to reflect some of the changing values and give more relevant recommendations.   Hopefully, this revised list of PS1 games will help you start or build up your collection without having to spend much — I’ve even included some affordable “hidden gems” at the bottom if you need to round out your collection on the cheap  (Prices listed are an average eBay price for US games, including shipping)

Cheap Classics

	Metal Gear Solid: $9 This Konami classic not only was one of the biggest games on the Playstation, but it also one of the few 3D 32-bit games that has aged gracefully. It’s combination of great story-telling, innovative gameplay, and impressive graphics for the era resulted in a game that holds its own when compared to its more modern series installments and other games in the genre as well. Shop for Metal Gear Solid on eBay Shop for Metal Gear Solid on Amazon.com
	Street Fighter Alpha 3: $9 The PS1 isn’t known for having arcade-accurate ports of 2D fighters, but Capcom really came through in bringing Street Fighter Alpha 3 to the Playstation without compromising much. This character-filled brawl-fest is actually one of the best console ports and is an excellent value. If you have a PS2 and want the entire Alpha collection, the Street Fighter Alpha Anthology may be a better value for you. Shop for Street Fighter Alpha 3 on eBay Shop for Street Fighter Alpha 3 on Amazon.com
	Wipeout XL/Wipeout 3: $5 each If you are like me and prefer a futuristic arcade-style racer, you will love the Wipeout series. Wipeout XL and Wipeout 3 were the pinacles of the series on the PS1 and both are quite affordable. At these prices, you really can’t go wrong if you want some blazing-fast racing set to a killer techno soundtrack. Shop for Wipeout Series on eBay Shop for Wipeout Series on Amazon.com
	Rayman: $7 If you want a well-rounded two-dimensional platformer for the PS1 that gives you lots of beautiful sprites to complement great level designs, take a look at the original Rayman. The Playstation game is also a bit cheaper than the Saturn version. Shop for Rayman on eBay Shop for Rayman on Amazon.com
	Crash Bandicoot 2 & 3: About $8 each Crash Bandicoot was one of the first 3D platforming games that were worth playing.    Sure, it wasn’t quite as smooth or expansive as the revolutionary Super Mario 64 (which came out just before Crash Bandicoot), but it was a leap above most of the rest of the competition – especially on the PlayStation.  Crash 3 is considered by many to be the best of the entire series, as well as one of the greatest platformers of all time. Shop for Crash Bandicoot Series on eBay Shop for Crash Bandicoot Series on Amazon.com
	Tekken 3: $5 Personally, I’m not much for the Tekken series, but I know many a Playstation fan that will stand behind this 3D fighter franchise and the depth that Namco is known for. Tekken 3 was definitely one of the major landmarks on the PS1 and should be an essential purchase considering it’s bargain basement price. But keep in mind that the PS2 sequels are cheap as well. Shop for Tekken 3 on eBay Shop for Tekken 3 on Amazon.com
	Mega Man 8, X4, & X5: $5 each There are tons of Megaman games on the PS1. So if you enjoy all that running, jumping, and shooting action, there is plenty to keep you busy for quite a while without spending a lot of money. However, if you have a PS2, you might find the Megaman X Collection to be a much more affordable solution for you. Shop for Mega Man Series on eBay Shop for Mega Man Series on Amazon.com
	Syphon Filter Trilogy: $5 each If you want an action-filled good time to complement your Metal Gear Solid, take a look at the Syphon Filer games. Each game of the trilogy is filled with imaginative levels designs, each of which pushed gamers to explore, but also required them to think about every time they began a new stage. If you shop around eBay carefully enough, you may find someone selling all three of these game together for a much more cost-effective package (around $10 for the set). Shop for Syphon Filter Trilogy on eBay Shop for Syphon Filter Trilogy on Amazon.com
	Tony Hawk 3: $3 Before the Tony Hawk series plummeted into mediocrity, its first four installments broke new ground in a crowded market by offering unique gameplay, intuitive controls, and customization. The third installment greatly expanded the gameplay over the originals and allowed for greater replay value. Tony Hawk 4’s later levels are rather unpolished and glitch plagued, so the third installement is probably your best bet for the money. But when it comes down to it, all four of the PlayStation releases are technical achievements for the console and are worth playing today. Shop for Tony Hawk 3 on eBay Shop for Tony Hawk 3 on Amazon.com
	Metal Gear Solid VR Missions: $6 If you want an extra MGS fix in small bits, the VR Missions release is an excellent value.  This disc will help you will help you build various skills throughout it’s 300 included missions.  It’s not the full-bodied experience of a pure MGS game, but there’s some solid content here and for the price, you really can’t go wrong. Shop for Metal Gear Solid VR Missions on eBay Shop for Metal Gear Solid VR Missions on Amazon.com
	Ape Escape: $9 Ape Escape is arguably one of PlayStation’s most original, innovative, and engaging platform titles on PlayStation. The game uses only the analog controllers, and enables gamers to use them in ways that have never been done on a system previously. All that and the game if filled with monkeys. It doesn’t get any better than that! Shop for Ape Escape on eBay Shop for Ape Escape on Amazon.com
	Bust-A-Move 2 or ‘99: $6 I’m a sucker for solid puzzle games and it’s one genre that is never really hindered by aging techology.  The Bust-A-Move (aka Puzzle Bobble) series is one of my personally favorites and the installements before the 4th are my favorites as they don’t yet have the rather confusing combo system.   Part 2 and ‘99 (otherwise known as part 3) are really the sweet spots in my book — especially for the price! Shop for Bust A Move on eBay Shop for Bust A Move on Amazon.com
	Gran Turismo 2: $4 I debated if I should include this one or not as GT3 & 4 are both quite affordable on the PS2 as well. However, if you want a detailed console racer on the PS1 without spending much, look no further than Gran Turismo 2. The game features more than 600 cars, 27 tracks, hundreds of challenges, and more depth and replay value than any other racer on the Playstation. Shop for Gran Turismo 2 on eBay Shop for Gran Turismo 2 on Amazon.com
	Spyro the Dragon: $9 While Crash Bandicoot would be the closest any character would come to being the PlayStation’s mascot, Spyro the Dragon was a close second.  The Spyro the Dragon games are cartoonish 3D platformers that were quite popular with the younger crowd, but also had enough substance to keep established gamers entertained as well.    And like Crash Bandicoot, the Spyro games were some of the few non-Nintendo platforming games that did well in 3D.  It’s also worth noting that these three were the only three designed by Insomniac Games, and are often considered the best of the series. Shop for Spyro the Dragon on eBay Shop for Spyro the Dragon on Amazon.com

Other Cheap Favorites

Ridge Racer Type 4: $6 – eBay / Amazon.com
Mr Driller: $9 – eBay / Amazon.com
Colony Wars: Vengeance: $9 – eBay / Amazon.com
Driver 2: $4 – eBay / Amazon.com
Soul Blade: $6 – eBay / Amazon.com
Medal of Honor/Medal of Honor Underground: $5 – eBay / Amazon.com
Tomb Raider Series: $4 each – eBay / Amazon.com
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins: $5 – eBay / Amazon.com
Um Jammer Lammy: $8 - eBay / Amazon.com

Cheap Gems:

	Gundam Battle Assault 2: $9 It can be quite a challenge to find a solid 2D fighter on the PS1 that doesn’t have a more solid port on the Sega Saturn.  However, the Gundam games on the Playstation are exclusives and are surprisingly solid fighters.  In fact, you might actually have more fun with this mech fighter than some games that Capcom put out.  Since this game isn’t super common and/or in demand, you can sometimes find a really good deal on a copy.  Other times, sellers might be asking high prices for mint copies. Shop for Gundam Battle Assault 2 on eBay Shop for Gundam Battle Assault 2 on Amazon.com
	Tempest X3: $5 Don’t be thrown off too much by ther “X3″ in the title.  This is actually just a slightly enhanced Playstation port of Jeff Minter’s arcade remake, Tempest 2000 that debuted on the Atari Jaguar.   If you enjoy old-school fixed shooting, this is quite a bargain. Shop for Tempest X3 on eBay Shop for Tempest X3 on Amazon.com
	MDK: $6 Personally, I didn’t find out about the MDK series until I picked up the second installment as one of my first Dreamcast games.  Created by Earthworm Jim developed, Shiney Entertainment, this third-person shooter has solid combat, great puzzles, an impressive Tommt Tallarico soundtrack, and tons of personality.  I think you’ll find the sequel to be more challenging, but it’s a solid game considering the price. Shop for MDK on eBay Shop for MDK on Amazon.com
	Trap Gunner: $9 If you want an action game that doesn’t follow the standard formula, check into Trap Gunner.   You run the levels and set traps which are invisible to your opponent while duking it out with various attacks.  It’s a refreshing blend of action, strategy, and puzzle gamplay.  Unfortunately, it’s getting a bit harder to find for under $10 in good condition, especially since it’s not in abundant supply. Shop for Trap Gunner on eBay Shop for Trap Gunner on Amazon.com
	Tobal No 1: $8 Squaresoft’s first entry into the fighting genre remains a underground favorite due to it’s tight controls, freedom of movement, and intuitive grappling and blocking system. It’s sequel, No. 2, is an expensive import-only title, but the original is stil quite affordable. Shop for Tobal No 1 on eBay Shop for Tobal No 1 on Amazon.com

Other Cheap Gems:

Omega Boost: $5 – eBay / Amazon.com
Looney Tunes: Sheep Raider: $9 – eBay / Amazon.com
No One Can Stop Mr Domino: $7 – eBay / Amazon.com
Speed Punks: $7 – eBay / Amazon.com
Tiny Tank: $8 – eBay / Amazon.com
Board Game Top Shop: $7 – eBay / Amazon.com

Originally designed to be a peripheral for the Super Nintendo, Sony’s PlayStation brand would go on a steady climb through the late 1990s to dominate the market for two generations of games. But before it could get there, it would have to go toe to toe with the giants of the 16-bit era, Nintendo and Sega. The PlayStation, sometimes referred to as the PS, PS1, or even PSX, would also see an influx of gamers coming into the field while an older generation began looking for more mature titles. The little gray console would see one of the longest production runs in gaming history, running for over 11 years. Production would finally be halted on March 23, 2006.

Background Information

• Originally named the SNES-CD, it was changed to “Sony Play Station” after Nintendo’s deal with Sony soured.
• Nintendo dropped the original deal in 1991 after Hiroshi Yamauchi, then president of Nintendo, read the 1988 contract and discovered that Sony would practically have total control over all SNES-CD games.
• In 1992, Sony and Nintendo worked out a new deal where the “Play Station” would have a slot for SNES cartridges and Nintendo would own the rights and receive the majority of profit, while Sony’s SPC700 audio chips would still be used for SNES carts. Sony then decided against the deal, changed the name to PlayStation, and dropped the SNES port.
• Many third-party companies that were furious with Nintendo then abandoned the console developer and joined Sony, cementing their place on the market. The most notable of these would be Squaresoft.
• The console launched in Japan on December 3, 1994, in America on September 9, 1995, Europe, September 29, 1995, and Australia and New Zealand, November 1995.

Historical Impact

• The Playstation led the way in the transition from the cartridge format to the CD, though not the first to use CDs.
• While memory carts were used on the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64, the PS1 would utilize memory cards via its controller ports, the Sony PlayStation would be the first to utilize the portable memory device effectively
• Over 962 million PlayStation games have been sold worldwide.
• Proved that third party support was absolutely key to a console’s success.
• The general design of Sony’s PlayStation controller has also stayed similar in three generations, the longest of any game company.

Strengths

• Featured the Geometry Transformation Engine, which would allow it to process on average 360,000 flat-shaded polygons per second, and 180,000 texture mapped and light-sourced polygons per second.
• Could handle up to 16.7 million colors, with 24 bit color depth, resolutions ranging from 256×224 to 640×480, and up to 4000 8×8 pixel sprites at any time
• The PlayStation controller, while featuring 8 buttons and a D-pad initially, saw one of the greatest upgrades in the Dual Shock, which featured two Dual Analog sticks built into it in places easily accessible by the thumbs.
• Featured large amounts of 3rd party support, including the coveted Squaresoft.
• The console was also remembered for its large number of adult-oriented games, such as the Resident Evil series, Silent Hill, Parasite Eve, and Dino Crisis. Nintendo was meanwhile forced to fend off an image as “kiddy.”
• The Playstation has one of the most diverse game libraries in the history of the industry – the only console to surpass it was its successor, the Playstation 2.
• Fans of Japanese RPGs, 2D scrolling shooters, and platformers will find a wealth of essential games in the PS1 library.
• The Playstation is much easier to emulate accurately than both the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64.

Weaknesses

• Could only display quickly moving polygons in lower resolutions. Textures also sometimes appeared grainy. The machine was designed with 3D graphics in mind, so 2D graphics had to be saved in as multiple polygon textures.
• Games suffered from load times, and were less durable than the cartridges of previous eras. Cases are also fragile and have a tendency to crack.
• First generation PlayStations had cases and moving parts for their lasers made out of plastic, which would eventually wear away from friction and heat. Eventually Sony would fix this by replacing these parts with metal ones.
• Some early models, especially 100x models, would not run FMVs or streamed audio properly, leading to skipping or freezing. In a few extreme cases the machine would have to be turned over to work. Early consoles also suffered from some overheating problems.
• There were many different models released, featuring various ports, S-video, A/V and direct connections. One model could even play Video CDs. The overall amount is a bit mind-boggling, and charts are best used to describe them

Game Library

• Games That Defined The History of the Playstation – If you want to survey the games that made the Playstation the powerhouse of its generation, take a look at this guide.
• The Cheapest PS1 Games Worth Your Time – If you want to build up a quality Playstation library with the least amount of cash, check out this guide.
• The Best Undiscovered Playstation Games – There are plenty of good PS1 games that most people haven’t tried yet. Check these games out to broaden your horizons.
• The Rarest & Most Valuable PS1 Games – To make your PS1 collection the most respected in the world, you need to survey the possibilities here.
• The PS1’s 2D Shooter/Shmup Library – The PlayStation is one of the best consoles to own for fans of 2D shooters. This guide takes a look at pretty much every shmup in the PS1’s library.

Importing & Modifying

• PlayStations are region locked, though some early models could play burned games and imports using the swap trick.
• Modchips exist that require minimal soldering skills to use, though local and national laws should be considered before installation.
• Other mods that require no use of soldering tools do exist, such as the Breaker Pro, though the quality of these devices is debatable.

Emulation

• PlayStation 2 is backwards compatible, so PlayStation games will work on it along with Playstation memory cards and Dual Shock controllers.
• All existing models of the Playstation 3 are also able to play PS1 games – even those that do not have support for PS2 games.
• Emulators to play PlayStation games on the PC, such as ePSXe(including a Linux version), PCSX, PSXeven, and pSX. Tools also exist to emulate PlayStation titles on other formats, including the PSP and iPhone.
• You can get some impressive results by tweaking your settings, plugins, and filters on ePSXe

Accessories

• The PlayStation garnered considerable third party support for controller design, such as the EA Sports PlayStation Controller, the Namco neGCon Analog Controller, or the Performance Dual Impact Controller. The Namco JogCon is a particularly interesting design, a mixture of standard PlayStation controller and steering wheel.
• Joysticks(including the Dual Sticks and ASCIIWARE Specialized Joystick), Dance Pads(such as the Konami Dance Pad), Racing Wheel, and an official Mouse and Mousepad(and a trackball mouse as well) were released for the PlayStation.
• Stranger controllers, such as the Agetec Bass Landing Fishing Controller, Reality Quest Glove, Ultra Racer, and even the Naki Finger Dance Pad, were all manufactured for this console. Perhaps the oddest is the Beatmania controller, with five keyboard keys and a mini-turntable.
• A wide selection of light guns were made available by such companies as Nyko and Mad Catz. Namco also manufactured and marketed their own light gun, the GunCon(G-Con if you live in Europe), though it only worked with Namco games. Auto-reload pedals were also sold.
• Multi taps were manufactured, allowing games to have up to four players. Two multi taps could be combined to allow a maximum of eight players for the biggest games. Link cables were also manufactured to hook two PlayStations together.
• A vast array of cheating and import materials, from Code Breakers to Game Sharks to Game Enhancers existed for the console, working via swap tricks, or even plugging into the parallel port found on the back. Some of these doubled as additional memory storage devices.
• Other storage devices that used the printer port were available, as well as larger-sized memory cards from third party developers. Sony also released a special memory card, the Pocketstation, which had a variety of features. It could also unlock extra features in some games, and could transfer saves directly to other Pocketstations.
• Additional memory storage included Interact’s Dex Drive, which allowed people to upload their saves from their memory cards onto their computers. The PlayStation was also compatible with Blaze Technology’s MPXchanger, as were the Pocketstations.
• An official carrying case was also released for the console.

Variations in Hardware

• The PlayStation had multiple hardware variations, often changing the type of ports. The SCPH-1000 had S-Video connections. Later models dropped the parallel port first, and then the serial port.
• One model, the SCPH-5903, was the only model that could play Video CDs.
• The SCPH-700x series standardized Dual Shock, and were released around the time the 10 millionth unit was sold. As a result, Sony released several of these in Midnight Blue.
• The SCPH-5552 had an extremely rare Men in Black variant. The case was black and had the film’s logo on the top of its CD lid.
• The SCPH-900x series introduced Sound Scope to the PlayStation, but removed the parallel port.
• The PS One was a smaller, retooled version of the PlayStation. It lacked the parallel and serial ports, could play all PlayStation games, featured a different interface, and was designed to be very difficult to modchip. Sony also released an LCD screen and an adapter so the console could be used in a car. (See Pictures)
• The Net Yaroze was a black PlayStation that featured many of the tools for game development, though not everything. It was also region free, but could not play burned games. Programming was also limited to 2MB of game space. (See Pictures)
• Blue and green developer consoles can also be found on the market. They are virtually identical to other PlayStations, though they could play burned games. The difference in color represented the hardware they used: Blue for “Revision B,” green for “Revision C.”

Deciding Between Various PS1 Models

• Unless S-Video is absolutely essential, look for a later model, like the 500x series. By that point most of the major hardware issues are fixed, such as the plastic laser pieces.
• PSOnes offer portability due to the LCD screen and car adapter, but lack serial ports, so link cables do not work on them. They’re also difficult to mod.
• 900x series does not include the parallel port, making it incompatible with some of the peripherals, especially some larger memory storage devices. However, there are the only standard PS1 models with Sound Scope.
• Dual Shock is standardized in the 700x series, so keep that in mind when selecting controllers!

Advantages PS1 Has Over a PS2

• Because there is no reliance on an ejecting CD tray, the PlayStation tends to have a longer lifespan than the PS2.
• Certain PlayStation games are not compatible with the PS2, or with specific models. A few will run but experience technical problems.
• These games do not work at all: Fighter Maker, Judge Dredd, Monkey Hero, Poy Poy 2
• Tobal 2 typically has trouble on the PS2, though may work on later PS2 models. The PAL version is apparently ok.
• Final Fantasy V sometimes glitches while saving on PlayStation 2.
• Mortal Kombat Trilogy only works on one model PS2, only when it’s the Greatest Hits copy. But even this version freezes when the player beats arcade mode.
• PS2 3000X models have trouble running Legend of Dragoon, Lunar Silver Star Story, Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete, Metal Gear Solid: Special Missions, and Final Fantasy Tactics
• Some games including Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, Driver, and Syphon Filter 3 do not work on the PS2 Slim at all (see full list here) Since some of these are good games, it’s well worth it to pay the extra few bucks to use them.
• Many of the peripherals for the PS1 do not work on the PS2, especially anything that used the parallel port.

Affordability

• Because the console was basically replaced by a backwards compatible PlayStation 2, PlayStations generally sell for very cheap on eBay, usually less than $20.00. PS Ones can go for slightly more, depending on the peripherals. Developer and rare models can be much more expensive.
• PlayStation games can range from dirt cheap to extremely expensive, depending on the rarity and quality of the game. The PlayStation has a large library that many people still have access to because of backwards compatibility on the PS2(and some models of PS3). Some games were also hyped a great deal, and suffer from artificially inflated prices.

If you’ve played all the blockbuster games on the PS2 (or PS3) already and need to dig into the lesser-known-but-equally-exciting games, this is the guide for you.  I’ve had long discussions with many experienced PS2 owners in order to determine a list of all the best PS2 games that most people haven’t played (or possibly even heard of).  Much like previous entries in the Hidden Gems series, this guide is divided up by genre to help you find games that suit your tastes.

Since the PS2 library is so immense and filled with so many wonderful titles (and also has had a lot of exposure over the years), I wanted to get more particular about which games I include in this Hidden Gems feature.   If I were to have compiled this a year or two ago, you would have seen a number of titles that have since gained popularity and edged into mainstream.  The games I’m thinking of include Katamari Damacy, Shadow of the Colossus, the Viewtiful Joe Series, Disgea, Okami, Odin Sphere, Guilty Gear, Beyond Good & Evil, and Rez.  So when you notice I don’t list these games below, you’ll know why.  Instead I hope you find a number of games that you haven’t heard of (or at least not much) that catch your eye and eventually provide you with hours of enjoyment..

A special thanks to those the contributed their game summaries: BulletMagnet, NebachadnezzaR, bonegolem, roushimsx, Perseid, executioner, and everyone else in the forum that pitched in with ideas!  If you have more games to share, please use the comments section below and I’m terribly sorry if we overlooked your personal favorite!

Action Adventure

Ico

One of the earlier PS2 titles, Ico is an epic adventure that serves as the spiritual predecessor of the late PS2 blockbuster, Shadow of the Colossus.  It’s minimalist game design, awe-inspiring animations, puzzle-solving elements and a touch of platforming helped Ico achieve critical acclaim, but it wasn’t enough to get it the mainstream attention that it deserved — even after the boost from the Shadow of the Colossus release.

From Adrenaline Vault’s Review: “Ico is one of those rare titles that you don’t so much play as experience. Many adventure games boast this same interactivity and immersiveness, but with its careful blending of genres, delicate balancing act between a story of growing love and mounting horror, and a brilliant system that also incorporates tense moments of action, Ico really lives up to its claims.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
Shop: Amazon | eBay

Drakan: The Ancient’s Gates

Sequel to the PC game Order of the Flame, Drakan on the PS2 is an action/adventure game where you fight on the ground and in the air, on the back of your dragon. The ground parts play in a style similar to Tomb Raider, a blend of action, exploration and puzzle-solving in a medieval-fantasy setting more reminiscent of RPG’s. This game actually has some RPG elements, like a quest system or the ability to level up Rynn, the main character, but overall it’s more Legend of Zelda than Final Fantasy, with a bigger emphasis on exploration and combat instead of a complex story or party management.  The flying parts, where you fly mounted on Arokh’s back, on the other hand are obviously more action oriented, with the dragon basically scorching every creature who dares to block his path, making for a nice change of pace that prevents the game from getting too repetitive.

From Armchair Empire’s Review: “Approaching twenty hours of gameplay, the value of the game is very high, and, in the end, the game simply feels like such a labor of love that it is hard not to like it.  The attention to detail, the story, the action, the graphics—everything about the game is solid and well thought out.  Anyone who likes fantasy adventure games is likely to be happy with their purchase”
Video: Gameplay
Shop: Amazon | eBay

Additional Games To Try

• Way of the Samurai – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Primal – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Shadow of Rome – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Genji: Dawn of the Samurai – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Blood Will Tell – Review | Amazon | eBay

Action Platformer

Psychonauts

Despite having a decent amount of pre-launch hype, receiving praise from critics, being the product of Tim Schafer (of Monkey Island and Grim Fandango fame), and being down-right fascinating and hilarious, Psychonauts failed to rack up big sales on any of the three platforms it was released on.  Due to word-of-mouth aftermarket sales of the game have picked up a bit, but far to many gamers still haven’t given this one a chance.

From 1UP’s Review: “It could be the best adventure game Schafer has ever produced, and I don’t say that lightly. His games are renowned for their humor, writing, and in Grim Fandango’s case thrillingly unique setting, but looked at purely in gameplay terms, they didn’t always work: often, the puzzles were dragged down by arbitrary-seeming solutions (the anchor puzzle in Grim Fandango being a prime example). That’s all gone from Psychonauts, which carefully draws from the best of the modern 3D adventure genre to incorporate puzzles which always have a solution at hand somewhere in the level, and there are always enough subtle but real clues to help you find the answer.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
Shop: Amazon | eBay

Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil

The original Kloana was also a hidden gem on the PS1, and while the sequel maintains its 2D platformer feel, it’s now using 3D graphics to give it a more modern look.  Don’t expect a great story or intense challenges from Klonoa 2, but you will be treated to some great visuals and lots of fun.

From Gamespot’s Review: “Because of its airtight gameplay, awesome visuals, and great soundtrack, Klonoa 2 is an almost perfect platform game–almost. You’ll wish that the game were longer, and if you’re experienced with games of this kind, you’ll probably wish it were a little tougher too. Still, Klonoa 2 is a pleasure to play from start to finish. It’s a must-have for fans of platform games, and all PlayStation 2 owners ought to give it a try.”
Video: Commercial | Gameplay
Shop: Amazon | eBay

Kim Possible: What’s the Switch

Don’t write this one off just because it’s based on a Disney kids TV series.  Every so often a Disney-licensed game manages to surprise us with solid gameplay.  If you are a fan of 16-bit platformers, this Kim Possible installment should impress you with its two-dimensional gamplay coated and cartoony 3D graphics.  The difficulty level isn’t too high since its aimed for kids, but there is a challenge in trying to unlock everything.

From IGN’s Review: The world of Kim Possible is very cartoonish and uses the 2.5-dimensional style of Viewtiful Joe. All the action is side-scrolling with plenty of platforming, but it is a 3D world and the camera moves around to take advantage of this. The fighting is all right and a little bit of a challenge, but the real star of the game is the environment and learning how to explore it… Like with Viewtiful Joe, the moves may be simple, but the uses can be complicated. There are loads of hidden coins and items to find on each of the levels and getting them all is a pretty serious challenge that takes some observation. It’s definitely not easy, but it is rewarding.”
Video: Gameplay
Shop: Amazon | eBay

Additional Games To Try

• NiGHTS in Dreams – Review | eBay
• Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Legend of Kay – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Kya: Dark Lineage – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Sonic Gems Collection – Review | eBay
• Dr. Muto – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Stretch Panic – Review | Amazon | eBay

Adventure

Indigo Prophecy / Fahrenheit

If you are in the mood for an especially cinematic experience in your adventure games and enjoy mystery thrillers, you really need to look into Indigo Prophecy (known as Fahrenheit outside of North America). You follow Lucas Kane, your ordinary guy who manages to unconsciously commit a random act of murder. As if that wasn’t intriguing enough, the game also changes the plot and the outcome based on the decisions you make throughout.

From Gaming Age’s Review: “Summing up, the Indigo Prophecy is unique, artistic, immersive and beautiful. There’s no reason in the world why any self-respecting gamer shouldn’t have this game in their collection. The relatively short completion time (first play through took me just over 10 hours) is a bit of a drawback, but if you think of this in terms of movies then it’s easily an epic – and I think the competence of the story-line aptly matches any Hollywood blockbuster. ”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
Shop: Amazon | eBay

Gregory Horror Show

Gregory Horror Show, grossly easy but it’s got to be a shoe-in for hidden gems, very few people have heard of this game, but a truly unique visual style and characters combined with flawless gameplay and nice timed mechanic make it a great game to play. It’s quite short though (but very cheap ).
From Eurogamer’s Review: Presented in a familiar third person ‘action-adventure’ style, the game borrows plenty of gameplay mechanics from the Resident Evil series, and on that basis could be considered a surreal survival horror offspring. Much like any other game in that sub-genre, the idea is to wander around collecting seemingly unconnected objects, book fragments, health promoting herbs, and – most crucially – spy on the oddball occupants as much as possible; while they’re going about their business, when they’re sleeping, or when they’re just having a little think to themselves…. Although it’s peppered with a few fundamental niggles that detract from the overall experience, GHS is without question a charming adventure that will have you beaming at its dementedness. Congratulations to Capcom for spotting the fact that this wouldn’t have worked at full price; at twenty quid it’s definitely well worth a punt if you have a lateral mind and you’re thirsting for something slightly left field. If only every publisher could be so experimental.
Video: Gameplay
Shop: Amazon | eBay

Everblue 2

A wonderful game of the shamefully neglected underwater genre, great game design, great missions, the “pacing” (to use a fashionable word) is perfect, collecting and exploration (two basic important elements of game design) are at times brilliantly executed. In the end, Everblue 2 is worthwhile having, worthwhile playing, and a gem of every collection.

From GameSpy’s Review: “The central gameplay element of the diving sequence is the Multi-Sonar, which you can equip with different modules to search for different types of objects, such as metal, wood, and glass. You press the L1 button to release a sonar pulse, and then listen for a bounce-back; the shorter the time between the initial and reflected pulse, the closer you are to an object. (No bounce-back means no items nearby.) It’s an addictive and lucrative gameplay mechanic — there’s a lot of junk in Valentir’s reef… Everblue 2 is a unique and compelling experience… and exactly the kind of fresh approach that the role-playing genre so desperately needs. It’s laidback, good-natured, and a fine example of the quirky game design that only the Japanese seem to deliver”
Video: Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Escape From Monkey Island – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Syberia II – Review | eBay
• Flower, Sun, and Rain – Review (DS Version) | eBay
• Herdy Gerdy – Review | Amazon | eBay

Survival Horror / Horror Adventure

Disaster Report

A very original game which is essentially a survival horror game, but without any enemies. The only threat in your way is the aftershocks of a massive earthquake.  It’s a relatively low-budget title and this mainly shows up in the sound design, framerate issues and animation. It’s very enjoyable though and a great diversion from the typical “horror” game.  It’s sequel, Raw Danger, can also be found in the additional list below.

From GameCritic’s Review: “Besides the ambiance and concept, the game’s direction is exemplary in its forward-moving pace. Disaster Report never feels slow or bogged down, and there’s almost no backtracking to be done—always a plus in my book. Add to that some late-game plot twists, several path-altering choices, a wide variety of obstacles to overcome, multiple endings to discover, and a wealth of small touches (like your character’s clothing deteriorating with each narrow escape) and you’ve got a progressively energetic game set in a fantastic locale: one step beyond everyday life. Though it was totally unappreciated due to lackluster graphics and a semi-sketchy camera, anyone looking deeper than Disaster Report’s surface will find more than enough heart to satisfy.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Haunting Ground / Demonto

A “survival” horror game in the truest sense, Haunting Ground (known as Demento in Japan) leaves you as completely weaponless young girl (but with the aid of a dog!) against a series of pursuers. The plot reminds me of 18th century Gothic novels with its Italian castle setting, the atmosphere is similar to that of a slasher movie. The game’s best feature is probably the sense of danger it can convey: the pursuers know how to give a scare, and most are so perversely twisted that they manage to get on your nerves on more than one way.

From GamingTarget’s Review: “No, Haunting Ground isn’t a fiendish fear-quenched fright-fest like I’d hoped it be. But, the game does have something else. He’s called Hewie, a compatible AI-controlled pooch, who with his smarts makes playing the already used Clock Tower-esque hide-and-seek system in Haunting Ground all the more intriguing. Where the Clock Tower series always employed its notion for being the victim in a stalker’s nightmarish world in a very mundane and ordinary fashion, Haunting Ground does so with a zing. You get a gorgeous girl, a habitual cur, and the enemies in a rapacious formula that isn’t the most astonishingly magnetic, but it’s better off than the ones in any of the Clock Tower games. Besides, where Resident Evil 4 failed to outright drill terror into its players’ senses, Haunting Ground succeeds on a couple accounts in delivering bits of spooky surprises. That’s got to count for something.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Ghosthunter – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Raw Danger – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Second Sight – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Cold Fear - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Shadow Of Destiny / Shadow of Memories – Review | Amazon | eBay

Mech-Based Action

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

The first Zone of the Enders game gained some attention near the beginning on the PS2’s life as it was associated with Hideo Kojima’s team and came packaged with the then-unreleased demo of Metal Gear Solid 2.  This sequel continues the epic story of the original, but turns every aspect up a few notches, resulting in one of the greatest, most cinematic action games on the system (especially for anime fans).

From IGN’s Review: “In the realm of robotic videogames there are two distinct types of play that enthusiasts can choose from: action/shooter and straightforward simulation. Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner qualifies as the former without even so much as a hint of similarity to the simulation breed. A balls out action game in every sense of the word, its design and pacing isn’t meant for the type of crowd that worships titles like Armored Core or Carnage Heart…  Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner is a dazzling masterpiece of high tech production. Obviously a much-loved project by its renowned producer Hideo Kojima and designer Shuyo Murata, ZOE2 has taken admirable steps towards melding cinema with gameplay. The action-enabled counterpart to Namco’s Xenosaga Episode 1, The 2nd Runner isn’t so much a videogame as it is an all-encompassing experience.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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R.A.D. (Robot Alchemic Drive)

The main difference between R.A.D. and your typical mech game is in the way you control your robot.  Instead of sitting in a cockpit or having a dynamic third-person perspective, you have remote control from the point of view of a human character on the ground.  This requires you to strategically position your human character someplace where you can see the action, but not so close that you get killed.   Being able to control your giant robot as a kid that is running around, hiding through buildings, flying with your powers to a rooftop, or just standing on your robot’s shoulder to be closer to the action just makes it so interesting.

From Gamespy’s Review: “While the fighting is outrageous and fun as heck, the story that ties it all together gets weirder by the moment. The dialogue is straight out of a stunningly bad movie — the type of flick that plays forever at midnight showings where everyone yells out the line before the actors do. A horrified high school girl turns to her friend, the pink-skirted hero Yui, and screams, “How can you control a robot? Robots are terrible. A robot killed grandma.” For some reason, though, it doesn’t come off as camp. Yes, it’s goofy and not something that an actual human being might say, but within the context of the game it makes sense. To her, robots are terrible. A robot did kill grandma.. Robot Alchemic Drive is a breath of fresh air. When was the last time you used your Dual Shock controller to control a character who’s using a device that looks an awful lot like a Dual Shock controller? RAD is a wonderful title that should be on every gamer’s must-try list. It’s unlike anything else out there — and that’s saying a lot. It’s fun, challenging, and it left this jaded reviewer as giddy as a schoolgirl — in this case, a schoolgirl that happens to control a 120-foot tall robot.”
Video: Opening | Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Battle Engine Aquila – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Zone of the Enders – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Robotech: Battlecry – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Gungriffon Blaze – Review | Amazon | eBay
• S.L.A.I.: Steel Lancer Arena International – Review | Amazon | eBay

Flight Action

Sky Gunner

Altus may be known from importing some quality RPGs to other parts of the world, but Sky Gunner proves they has a keen eye for games in other genres as well.  Sky Gunner’s gameplay mechanics have often been compared to those of the Panzer Dragoon games minus the rails.  You have much more freedom of movement, but have the lock-on abilities like those in Panzer Dragoon.  Overall, the action is solid and its evident that there was much attention to detail when developing Sky Gunner.  Any gamer that enjoys flight-based combat definitely need to look into this gem.

From Gaming Age’s Review: “Sky Gunner a shooter fan’s dream, and it’s chock full of personality and presentation… I [also] love that more thought was put into this shooting engine than just “take down all the enemies”. The scoring system really outlasts the story mode as far as replayability goes, and the key to it all is it’s fun over and over again. Sky Gunner is really easy to just pick up and play, and you won’t feel obligated to play for extended periods of time to enjoy it. A small case of the jaggies and some really bad bouts with slowdown smudge an otherwise pristine experience. Sky Gunner should really only be avoided by the most adamant anti-shooter type gamers.”
Video: Gameplay
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Heatseeker

Heatseeker is an arcade-style flight combat game — like Ace Combat, but even less realistic. The controls are really accessible, and it’s completely balls-to-the-wall, sort of like After Burner but with freedom of movement.  Of course, this isn’t the type of game that usually wows critics, so most of the review scores are quite low, but if you’re into games like this, you should get a kick out of it.

From Game Chronicles’s Review: “Heatseeker is certainly not a game for everyone, and even the flight sim enthusiast may be a little turned off by it’s over simplification of aerial combat. But, for short bouts of intense and mindless arcade action, this game definitely fits the bill. Because unrealistic as it may be, Heatseeker is not a game that tries to be. The game is very much an over the top, exaggerated representation of aerial combat and pulls it off wonderfully. Heatseeker is an easy recommendation to any fan of the Top Gun or Iron Eagle movies, but die-hard simulation fans may want to drop their flares and break right.”
Video: Trailer | Promotional Info | Gameplay
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On-Rails Shooter/ Light Gun Shooter

Killer 7

It received a decent amount of buzz due to it’s graphical style, originality, and bizarre setting, but not very many gamers actually gave this one a chance.  Killer7 is also hard to classify into a genre.  It is essentially an on-rails shooter, but it has a first-person perspective and has the feel of a survival horror adventure.    Anyway, if you like dark games and crave something out of the ordinary, score a copy of Killer7.

From IGN’s Review: “I expect that Killer 7 is going to be one of the most debated games of the year. I’m well aware that some people hate the title, just as others love it. Capcom has clearly emphasized story and style over good old-fashioned control mechanics and that is unequivocally the adventure’s biggest problem. The control setup, which lacks true freedom, feels like an archaic step backward when compared to today’s more traditional games. And yet, at the same time it’s not an adventure-ruining choice for me, in the same way that the point-and-click mechanics of Myst didn’t ruin that experience. Control remains very functional. It’s just radically different.  Players who can look beyond the control mechanics will find a truly bold and intriguing adventure game lurking within Killer 7’s beautiful cel-shaded visuals. This is a game that oozes style from beginning to end and also one with a story so brutally off-the-wall that it practically demands your attention. It’s also a game that offers big rewards in the vein of gorgeous and lengthy cut-scenes for players who keep at it.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Third Person Shooter

Crimson Sea 2

The original game in this epic sci-fi shooter series was an XBox exclusive, but PS2 owners got treated to the much-improved sequel.  The developers at Koei did an excellent job refining the controls, pacing, and the upgrade system throughout the game.  And of course, Crimson Sea 2 still has the intense shooting and slashing of aliens, interesting characters and storyline that built its cult fanbase.

From GameSpy’s Review: “The gameplay is best described as Phantasy Star Online meets Devil May Cry. From IAG Headquarters, you can choose one of several available missions and teleport down to the planet where the mission takes place… The combat system is one of the best you’re likely to see in an action game of this sort. It’s so solid that Crimson Sea 2’s “kill everything that moves” formula doesn’t become stale or tedious until quite late in the game, which is a huge accomplishment for a game based on such a simple concept. Expert gamers will love the variety of techniques and play styles available, but impatient button-mashers who just want to dive into the game will still be able to make a great deal of progress as they naturally pick up the more advanced combat techniques.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy

Even though it was promoted quite heavily, Psi-Ops wasn’t given much of a chance by mainstream gamers.  That’s a real shame considering it tried so had to be original and innovative and was relatively successful in its goals.  In Psi-Ops, you don’t rely too much on your standard weapons, but as you progress, you unlock a number of psychic powers, which eventually become your “weapons” of choice.  The game also features some excellent physics (thanks to the Havok engine) that adds an extra layer of polish on an excellent game.

From IGN’s Review: “Midway has done an incredible job, not just with creating a new franchise, expanding upon an overdone genre, and improving upon an established set of super-powered mind-weapons, but with creating a game that is of worth. It’s a simple bit of praise that’s hard to appreciate until you’ve played Psi-Ops through to the end and can reassure yourself that while struggling with a sometimes clunky camera and a few inappropriate design decisions, you’re still having an immense amount of fun in what is an ultimately well put together, well thought out, and surprisingly functional, approachable title. It’s a little profane, a little gory, a little short, and may have a few problems, but Psi-Ops is nevertheless sadistic fun from start to finish.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Kill.switch

This overlooked gem introduced the cover mechanic and blind fire mode later made famous by Gears of War.  Instead of a single “A Button” press of Gears of War, Kill.Switch used a hold down button not unlike Time Crisis’ step peddle mechanic.  The cover mechanic was very innovative and well implemented.

From  GameSpy’s Review: “Make no mistake — in many ways kill.switch is a single-minded, no frills game. There’s no multiplayer, no online play, and only a couple of difficulty modes. But it does its work extremely well, and it’s safe to say you won’t play a similar game this year. Some of the best arcade shooters succeeded with great action instead of depth, and kill.switch is fun and addictive enough to hurdle over its limitations to become a worthy investment.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• MDK2 Armageddon – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Metal Arms: Glitch in the System – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Gungrave Overdose – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Gungrave – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Destroy All Humans! 2 – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Freedom Fighters – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Transformers (not the movie game) – Review | Amazon | eBay
• The Punisher – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Headhunter - Review | Amazon | eBay

First Person Shooter

Deus Ex: The Conspiracy

In this remake of the original PC cult classic, Deus Ex: The Consiracy seamlessly combines a first person shooter with elements of role playing games. While the graphics are certainly dated by today’s standards, the game is definitely not short on fun. The weapons are customizable, all of the nano-aug powers are upgradeable, and the skill system is easy to learn. This game is great for RPG fans and FPS fans alike, and even better for fans of both.

From GameSpot’s Review: “All of Deus Ex’s gameplay features and story elements, as well as the expansiveness of the game’s environments and the scope of its setting, will add up to a satisfying and unusual experience if you can get past the game’s technical shortcomings. The way in which the individual gameplay elements are balanced against each other, and the way the consequences of your actions tend to come back into play, all help make Deus Ex increasingly impressive the longer you play it, just as they invite you to play the game over again. It’s not strictly an adventure game or a role-playing game, as its action sequences dominate much of its gameplay. But it ultimately succeeds at creating a believable, open-ended game environment while telling a focused and memorable story, which makes Deus Ex well suited for anyone who’s played through enough conventional action games or role-playing games to forgive its shortcomings in light of its great achievements.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Darkwatch

The setting and circumstances in first-person shooters can be quite similar most of the time, but that isn’t much of a concern for Darkwatch.  It takes place in a modern version of the Old Wild West and you follow the adventures of Jericho Cross, an train-robber-turned-vampire.  It may not be the great FPS from a techincal standpoint, but you have to give it points for creativity.

From IGN’s Review: “Of course, the most impressive thing about Darkwatch’s single-player experience is how it controls. It’s one of the most responsive first-person shooters I’ve played without needing a mouse and the smooth movement and highly customizable configuration means that fans of other games can jump right in without a hitch. Targeting your enemies is fast, easy, and accurate too, and that’s just as it should be. Also worth mentioning is Darkwatch’s excellent enemy AI. While it’s not on the same level as say, Far Cry or Resident Evil 4, the computer’s intelligence and behaviors do manage to pull off a couple of impressive feats. Gunslingers, for instance, will dodge your bullets and melee attacks, Banshees coordinate in assault patterns to force you into their sonics, and the more basic low-level creatures team up in packs to rip you to shreds. The CPU’s whole mentality is pretty solid and packed with enough aggression to kick even the most hardened veteran in the teeth on the higher settings.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Project: Snowblind – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Cold Winter – Review | Amazon | eBay
• XIII - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Tribes Aerial Assault – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Urban Chaos: Riot Response – Review | Amazon | eBay
• Half Life (did you know it was on the PS2?) – Review | Amazon | eBay

Multidirection Overhead Shooters

The Red Star

The Red Star is essentially the definition of a hidden gem on the PS2.  This hybrid brawler/shooter struck a nerve with old-school gamers from the first moment it was demoed on the XBox, but got bounced around before finding a publisher who took a chance with the game on the PS2 as a budget title.

From GameDaily’s Review: “For a $20 game, The Red Star boasts amazing production values. The graphics look terrific, employing superb lighting effects and details. The battles with the Kiselev Aggressor look brilliant, whether it pops out weapons through virtual windows or launches attacks from a distance before swooping in to finish the job… Action fans should find The Red Star irresistible, especially if they’re fans of one man “army classics” games like Contra or Gunstar Heroes. It brings an unstoppable amount of tension and energy throughout its nineteen levels, even on the easiest of difficulty settings. (Hop right into hard to get the most out of it, though — humble advice from a hardcore shooting fan.) It may have taken three years to get here, but The Red Star was definitely worth the wait.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Heavenly Guardian

This little-known 2D gem is the follow-up to Pocky and Rocky (Kiki KaiKai) on the SNES.  It didn’t receive very good reviews since it didn’t exactly look as good in 2D as some other modern games, but if you don’t mind an old-school look (no problems here) and budget presentation, you might want to look into this one.

From Specialty Gamer’s Review: “For what it is, a specialty title, it does it very well.  The game does not force itself to appeal to a mainstream market, which I always tend to respect and appreciate.  That said, if you are a person that does not like either Anime/Japanese culture or shooter/quirky games, this game won’t make you like it any more as its very much more of that.  If you do enjoy and look out for the uncommon/under the radar Anime/Japanese culture or shooter/quirky games, I certainly think you will dig Heavenly Guardian.  I have to say if you tried to come up with an Anime fanboy’s idea for a simple game, this would probably be it.”
Video: Opening & Gameplay
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Scrolling Shooters (Shmups)

DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou

Just in case you thought that DonPachi and DoDonPachi were too easy, Cave has Dai-Ou-Jou (“peaceful death”) ready and waiting to shoot your ego full of holes. Aside from the overall increased challenge and duskier presentation, the same “chaining” mechanic is in place here, though now you can pump up your firepower and score even further with “hyper” items – if you don’t mind that using them makes enemies even angrier! Definitely not one for players who tend to give up easily, but it’s a great port, and includes an equally tough boss rush mode and a superplay DVD as a bonus.

From NTSC-uk’s Review: “Overall DoDonPachi DOJ is a very exhilarating game. Unlike the sublime Psyvariar, which focuses on making the player choose the best strategy of building up BUZZ by skimming bullets, DoDonPachi DOU is all about learning how to weave through the bullet patterns unharmed, whilst still making the combo meter tick. The game is all about skill and will take players months to be able to be able to one-credit the game – a mighty achievement in its own right… The striking thing about the game is the adrenaline and satisfaction a player feels once they have been able to successfully come out alive of a bullet run, and it is this factor that makes the game a pleasure to play. To be able to do this, though, the player will have to dwell deep into the mechanics and successfully implement the use of combo multipliers, combined with the careful use of bombs. The game as a whole comes second to Psyvariar, as veterans of the series will not find a huge deal different in this incarnation, but as with all great gaming series, if it ain’t broke why fix it?”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
Shop: eBay

ESPGaluda

Much like its spiritual successor, ESP Ra.de, I have no idea how to pronounce this game’s name, but I do know that the Matrix-esque ability to slow enemy bullets down is long-overdue within the genre and quite cool to mess around with here – it’s limited, obviously, but you can use it either to get through tough spots or to fill the screen with enemy fire to cancel and reap loads of points from at the last second. As such, the game is great for both beginners and score attackers – like Dai-Ou-Jou it’s an excellent conversion, and comes packaged with a superplay DVD and a challenging Arrange mode.

From NTSC-uk’s Review: “Criticism could be levelled at Cave for not breaking their own mould a bit more with Espgaluda – from a distance, gameplay nuances aren’t immediately visible enough to make the title stand out. It’s also not their best game, but it’s certainly the most approachable, opening the stable up to the possibility of gaining a new fan base. Die-hard shooter or Cave fans won’t need telling twice – as a reward for their faithful allegiance, the game is a pastel-shaded success. The company is synonymous with producing solid, ultra-tough games, which may well be music to the ears of the initiated, but can be off-putting to those nearer the sidelines, so it’s commendable that Cave have made in-roads to constructing a more accessible, fun and rewarding experience for those possibly looking for a way into the genre. They might only be baby steps, but they’re all in the right direction.”
Video: Gameplay
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Twinkle Star Sprites: La Petite Princesse

Many shooter fans were disappointed when rumors of a Western release of this game turned out to be false, but at least they can import the “Best” reprint and save some money. Despite the 3D makeover, it plays almost exactly like the original Twinkle Star Sprites, which means it’s still loads of fun to clear a screen full of enemies in one shot and drown your rival in fireballs and other cutesy projectiles of death. The only knock I really have against it is that playing by yourself, while structurally solid, gets old too quickly – having a friend over to take you on (online play is probably dead by now, unfortunately) is where it’s at.

From HG101’s Review: “Much like the original, there’s only one story mode for Time, although playing through the game with other characters will eventually unlock an emulation of the original Twinkle Star Sprites. The sound seems a little bit off, and it’s lacking any of the cool extras from the Saturn or Dreamcast ports, but it’s an excellent bonus nonetheless. There’s also online play, but you need to sign up for a Japanese matching service, which not only incurs a monthly free, but is pretty much useless if you’re living outside of Japan. This would’ve been awesome had SNK decided to port it to the Xbox and bring it to America, but that never happened. While fans might view this sequel as almost entirely unnecessary, at least it’s a nice modern overhaul of one of the best puzzle/shooter games ever made.”
Video: Gameplay
Shop: eBay

Mushihime-sama

Roughly translated as “insect princess,” this popular Cave offering puts you on the back of a giant beetle and sends you out to blast a bunch of even bigger (and exceedingly unfriendly) arthropods of various sorts. As in the arcade version you can choose from three modes – Psikyo-esque Original, standard Maniac, and stupid-hard Ultra, as well as a slightly redesigned Arrange mode. The basic scoring system is similar to DoDonPachi’s chaining, but a bit more forgiving – the port is less than perfect, but the great visual and sound design still shine through.

From NTSC-uk’s Review: “If you want an undiluted shooter free of frivolous gameplay hooks and gimmicks, this will quench your thirst for such a title through this uncomfortable dry period. However, as good as it is and as much as it could be recommended, it shouldn’t take priority over any of Cave’s other current-generation titles.”
Video: Gameplay
Shop: eBay

Additional Games To Try

• Ibara - Review | eBay
• Psyvariar Complete and Psyvariar 2: Ultimate Final - Review | eBay
• Mobile Light Force 2 (Shikigami 1 /Shikigami No Shiro) - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Silpheed Lost Planet - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Gigawing: Generations - Review | eBay
• Castle Shikigami 2 - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Raiden III - Review | Amazon | eBay

Run-N-Gun Shooters

Metal Slug Anthology

Now the Metal Slug series is by now means a hidden gem on its own, but I don’t think most PS2 owners are aware of the Anthology compilation on the PS2 and how great of a value it is.  For $20 or so, you get seven excellent installments of this classic shooter series.

From Armchair Empire’s Review: “Now, it’s universally agreed upon that Metal Slug is pretty awesome. Thankfully, SNK has realized this, and despite their financial ups and downs, have committed themselves to supplying as much Metal Slug as possible to the general public. They’re doing us all a favor, because it’s one of the best arcade-style games still being released. It’s all simple — run forward, shoot stuff, don’t die — but the humorous characters, two player simultaneous action, and extremely high quality 2D graphics have garnered many, many loyal fans…. Metal Slug Anthology is already a tremendous deal for your money, and it’s definitely worth checking out for anyone into chaotic old school mayhem. The Playstation 2 version is also the best one for your money, since it isn’t hampered by the control or loading issues of the other ports.
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Alien Hominid

If you frequent The Newsgrounds website, you are probably familiar with the original Flash game.  However, the developers expanded the game and polished it up a bunch for a full console release.  In terms of the gameplay, it is very much like Metal Slug, but it has its very own style and sense of humor.

From NetJak’s Review: “Alien Hominid The gameplay should be extremely familiar to anyone who’s played Metal Slug, or Contra, or any 2D shoot ‘em up in the last twenty years or so. The goal is simply to get from the left end of the stage to the right end, shooting and through anything that may get in your way. Of course, there are gun power-ups to help with the large-scale chaos, usually provided by the aforementioned fat kid. There are also as a variety of vehicles to commandeer that are scattered throughout. These range from run-of-the-mill, like bulldozers and killer robots, to the absurd, like a Sasquatch that you can ride in one of the Russian levels to eat KGB agents, Rampage-style…  Should you become bored with the main game, there are also a handful of mini-games that are easily as entertaining as the main package. There are some mini-games based on the main game, which can be fun for a while, but the original mini-games are, by far, the hidden jewel of Alien Hominid. The so-called PDA game is a simple puzzle game reminiscent of the old Lode Runner games, where you have to get from the start to the finish, while killing all the enemies and avoiding all the obstacles. Once you get the hang of it, it’s fairly addictive, and the 200 pre-made levels plus the included level editor ensure that, if you do enjoy it, you wont get bored of it for quite a while. ”
Video: Gameplay
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Contra Shattered Soldier

For some strange reason, this game got a bad reputation when it came out, but if you’re a fan of the Contra series, you’ll feel right at home.  As you might expect, Shattered Soldier is absurdly difficult and it has all the staples of classic Contra games but with updated visuals. Some of the mechanics of this game are cool too, like being able to lock your firing position.  Neo Contra was also released on the PS2 a couple of year later, but it typically doesn’t receive as many glowing recommendations.

From IGN’s Review: “From my perspective, this represents a smart philosophy for a classic revival. It’s not a clone of a classic Contra game. It retains aspects of the earlier games in the series, and offers more than a little nostalgia value for the gamers who played and loved them way back when, but it does something new at the same time, revising and updating the series’ gameplay. Those revisions, of course, may rub some players the wrong way. Make no mistake, you will die like a fly playing this game, very early and very often. But the pattern design is good enough that skill and perceptive analysis offers the possibility of mastery for dedicated players. While you’re dying, you’re also learning in anticipation of a future trip through the game.”
Video: Commercial | Gameplay
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Beat-Em-Up/Hack-N-Slash

Mark of Kri

Bringing something new to the table, The Mark of Kri was a refreshing gameplay experience and displayed a unique graphical style. Making use of the dual analog sticks, it managed to make fighting with multiple opponents an accessible and fun, yet challenging, experience, while still giving players the opportunity to try other approaches, like shooting enemies at a distance with a bow or crawling sneakily from behind. The visual style, the closer you get to an animated look without using cell-shading, is brilliant, and the mix between cartoonish characters and scenes of extreme graphic violence gives this game a unique and compelling look.  Even though it went relatively unnoticed by the genreal public it did warrant a sequel on the PS2 by the name of Rise of the Kasai.

From Armchair Empire’s Review: “The Mark of Kri (MoK), is an interesting action-adventure title where you are a Mongolian horde-esque adventurer looking to make a name for yourself by defeating brigands, thieves, and general evil doers. Besides having one of the funnier late-night television commercials (that poor guy getting worked over as the striking dummy for a women’s self defense class and snaps…), MoK boasts a streamlined combat system that allows you to “target” and simultaneously fight up to 3 people at once. For a game that can easily degenerate from a stealth mission to taking on a swarm of enemies single-handed, this is important (and the easy to use controls certainly help out immensely). ”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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God Hand

Solid beat’em up + Japanese insanity = win. If you give God Hand a chance, you’ll come to appreciate the deep combat system and the over the top, funny moves. Actually, everything about the game from the story to the music to the characters is funny, wacky and over the top.  Also, all of the things that make the game initially frustrating initially (difficulty, randomness, etc) will become less and less of a problem as you find yourself slowly mastering the game.   God Hand’s may not be quite as good as Clover’s other efforts ( Okami & Viewtiful Joe), but it packed with enough beatemup goodness to make up for its weaknesses.

From Gamer Revolution’s Review: “When God Hand’s tongue isn’t drooling over the thousands of scantily-clad and literally-spankable babes in the game, it is firmly placed in cheek. The jokes range from just silly (the gorilla that you fight has a zipper running down its back), to pop-cultural (you take on a team of midget power rangers), to cute (one enemy’s attack transforms you into an adorable puppy, whose attack is just a menacing, if irresistibly precious, growl). God Hand puts the fun back in beating people retarded. The humor and light-heartedness are certainly one half of what was missing from beat-em-up’s before. The other missing half was a decent combat system that could incorporate timing and reflexes into the traditional button-mashing slop. God Hand’s fighting is refreshingly intuitive and quick, leading to fast-paced and intense battles with plenty of the old ultra-violence.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Bujingai: The Forsaken City

Yes, this game is essentially a minimalist button-smasher, but beautiful in it’s execution. There’s nothing too complicated and that gives Bujingai both stress-relieving properties and a better replay value than some games in the genre. The challenge can be intense, the music is fabulous, the graphics are beautiful, and it has solid control.

From IGN’s Review: “Veteran videogame players who have experienced previous titles like Otogi, Dynasty Warriors, Shinobi, and Crimson Sea probably won’t find Bujingai to be too much different from what they’ve seen before. Overly simplistic and a bit formulaic, its unique approach to the genre isn’t necessarily found in gameplay, but rather, it’s style and presentation… But just because the game is short on the depth of its engine doesn’t mean that it’s short on the fun. Though it can get a little bit tedious and repetitive for the more demanding crowds out there, Bujingai still has a lot of entertainment value in it and shouldn’t be so easily dismissed. As not only is it easy to pick up and get into, it also provides a great deal of enemy challenges in the higher difficulty settings; ones that are sure to test even the most elite of North America’s most avid twitch gamers. Besides, when was the last time you played through an adventure using a sword wielding gender-neutral marital arts master anyway? Yeah, that’s what we thought.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Berserk - Review | eBay
• Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Rygar: The Legendary Adventure - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Crimson Tears - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Urban Reign - Review | Amazon | eBay

Fighting

King of the Fighters XI

After a long line of annual installments and an attempt at bringing the series to 3D, SNK Playmore got back to the two-dimensional roots and ditched the yearly suffix.  Since it was designed for the Atomiswave arcade system instead of the classic Neo-Geo MVS hardware, it has a more modern look to it than previous 2D installments.  Of course, graphics aren’t everything, so to make the new installment worthwhile, SNK also included a number of new game mechanics to keep 2D fighting junkies on their toes.  The PS2 is also the only console to receive a port and has a number of great exclusive characters over the arcade.

From Eurogamer’s Review: “While the three-on-three action on display here adheres pretty firmly to the usual 2D beat-’em-up blueprint, a few interesting new concepts carve XI a niche of its own. The first of these is a vastly reworked Tactical Shift System compared to when we last saw it – switching between your three fighters on the fly can now be done to avoid an opponent’s relentless onslaught through the Saving Shift or done to prolong your own combos and confuse opponents with some crazy mix-up thanks to the Quick Shift ability. As with other technical moves, these function in unison with the game’s new Skill Stock system where a section of the constantly recharging two-part meter must be expended to perform many more defensive abilities. Leader Desperation Moves are still in there too but XI introduces the Dream Cancel option to make the chances of ever landing some of these more realistic. While expensive on both special and skill gauges, being able to cancel out of normal super attacks into your leader’s most powerful move can do horrible things to your opponent’s life bar.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Garou: Mark of the Wolves (Fatal Fury: MOTW)

Possibly the best SNK fighters ever, Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves takes place well after the events of the previous games in the series. This gave SNK the opportunity to explore their creativity in bringing fresh characters and a new style in terms of both fighting and aesthetics. The new additions to the gameplay engine in MOTW include the T.O.P. (Tactical Offensive Position) system for offense and the “Just Defended”, system (again similar to Third Strike’s parry system) on defense.  For some reason, SNK Playmore didn’t bring this gem outside of Japan, but if you don’t have a Dreamcast or a Neo-Geo, you might want to consider importing a copy for the PS2.

From NTSC-uk’s Review: “So, what about the PS2 port then? Well, it’s as good as you could hope for and close to perfect. Equip yourself with a NEOGEO Stick 2 (the game is available as a Limited Edition that includes one of these fine reproductions) and this basically is the NEOGEO version. Loading times are almost non-existent. We’re talking around 2 seconds max to initially load up the 1st round, and that’s it. Graphically, it’s pretty-much identical to the original: the character sprites are the same size and lose none of the animation that the original was famed for. Plus, the lush backgrounds that impressed so much on the NEOGEO are still insanely good-looking some 6 years on. SNK Playmore have also included a number of graphical display options for the PS2 version, the most notable being the ability to soften the image sharpness to help eliminate “jaggies” that can often be an issue with these kinds of ports.”
Video: Gameplay
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Hokuto No Ken (Fist of the North Star)

Arc System Works (the development team behind the Guilty Gear series) created this stunning anime-based fighter for the Atomiswave arcade platform and it was also released on the PS2 in Japan.  If you enjoy the Guilty Gear games, you should get a real kick out of it, but only fans of 2D fighters would find it worth importing.

From Diehard GameFAN’s Review: “Hokuto No Ken/Fist of the North Star is an okay game that will please fans of the franchise without doing anything to interest those who don’t know or care about one way or the other. It’s a fan product, and in that respect, it does its job exceptionally; the presentation is spot-on, the characters are recognizable and work as one would expect them to, and the general experience of the game is fun for those who actually know and like the license. However, a dearth of content and variety, balance issues, stiff gameplay mechanics and a general lack of anything to do with the product beyond the first two hours of play unless you’re a committed player hurt the game significantly. Though Fist of the North Star is generally import friendly, only fans of the license or the most dedicated fighting game fans will find any worth to owning it; everyone else can safely pass it by.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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DreamMix TV: World Fighters

Ok, so if you’re noticing a trend, most of the best undiscovered fighting games on the PS2 were only released in Japan.  However, instead of an old-school 2D fighter, DreamMix TV can be likened to the Super Smash Bros. series.  Of course, being on the PS2, the game doesn’t feature Nintendo’s characters.  Instead, it features a boatload of characters from Konami, Hudson, and Takara — so you can battle it out with the likes of Simon Belmont, Solid Snake, Bomberman, and Optimus Prime.  (oh yeah!)

From Nintendo World Report’s Review (for Gamecube version): “Outside of having four-player matchups and using simple move commands, DMTV is somewhat different from SSBM in the gameplay department. First of all, there are no ring-outs whatsoever; characters must be attacked until they lose their large heart to another player. The number of special moves from character to character will vary; for example, Snake only has one, but it’s easily a very dominating move that can be performed, even during a jump, while hanging, or while carrying another character. That’s right, each character can pick up, carry, and throw other characters, perhaps into a corner or where they might end up tangling with another character. Hey, why do the dirty work yourself? Tricky players can even grab characters in the middle of a jump – it’s a good way to catch people by surprise. Items are also used in the same way – just picked up and thrown. There are very few items in the game, but a few are worth noting; TwinBee can generate his own items (bells that have different effects), as can Bomberman (bombs). In Licca’s stage, cute things like teddy bears and pink buckets (?) are regenerated constantly and are good for a quick throw.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Neo-Geo Battle Coliseum - Review | Amazon | eBay
• War of the Monsters - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Bloody Roar 3 - Review | Amazon | eBay
• The King of Fighters ‘94: Rebout - Review | eBay
• Arcana Heart - Review | Amazon | eBay
• 2500 – SEGA Ages: Virtua Fighter 2 - Review | eBay
• The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy - Review | Amazon | eBay

Music

Gitaroo Man

If you love quirky Japanese musical adventures, this game is your ticket to funland.  In addition to the colorful presentation, Gitaroo Man is actually a bit different than your standard “simon-says” rhythm games as it not only uses the face buttons, but the analogue stick as well. Because of this, it requires a lot of hand-eye coordination with both hands at the same time and a lot of practice. (It’s not as much of a button-masher as Parappa the Rappa 2).

From Gamespot’s Review: “The gameplay in Gitaroo-Man alternates between two different mechanics. At certain points, using the left analog stick–which controls a cone in the center of the screen–you’ll follow a line around the screen while pressing and holding the circle button at certain moments to pull off riffs. At others, button commands will move toward a cursor at the center of the screen, at which point you’ll have to press the designated face button on your controller. The whole experience is incredibly fun and challenging, as the action gets pretty fast and furious early on in the game… Gitaroo-Man is arguably the most original and inventive rhythm game since the advent of Dance Dance Revolution or the original Parappa the Rapper, and it’s easily one of the best rhythm games for the PlayStation 2. This is a must-own title for rhythm-game junkies, but the whole package is so compelling that it will also appeal to anyone who isn’t a fan of the genre.”
Video: Gameplay
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Space Channel 5: Special Edition

Those of us that own the wonderful Sega Dreamcast are well aware of this duo of wonderful titles (it includes both the original SC5 and SC5 part 2). Both the graphics and the music had a phenomenal retro-futurist (reminds me of a hip Jetson’s atmosphere) feel to them and kept Space Channel 5 from becoming just “another” simon-says-type game. Space Channel 5 has a handful of simple game elements that make it unique and the game does a good job of starting out easy and gradually getting more difficult. While SC5 isn’t especially deep or long, the music will keep you coming back From start to finish, Space Channel 5 rocks the house. Even when the moves become so complicated you get angry and want to hurl your controller across the room, the quality of the music helps bring you back.
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Frequency - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Taiko Drum Master - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Technic Beat - Review | Amazon | eBay
• In the Groove - Review | Amazon | eBay
• Mojib Ribbon - Review | eBay
• Vib Ripple - Review | eBay
• Mad Maestro - Review | Amazon | eBay

Puzzle

Bombastic

Bombastic is the PS2 sequel to PS1 gem, Devil Dice. Decent to great solitaire puzzle play, but it really shines for frantic multi-player goodness. The game introduces a new concept to the whole Devil Dice idea: when you match dice, they explode — which creates some chain reactions, and generally causes more regular pain and frustration to your little devil dude. What is particularly nice about this incarnation, is that you can quite easily unlock “classic” play — turn off the exploding dice, and play by the old skool rules.

From IGN’s Review: “The concept behind Bombastic, exactly like the idea behind Devil Dice, is genius. Here, players take on the role of a nimble footed pixy, the Japanese equivalent of a Hoo (of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas fame), that scurries across the face of die in the attempt of connecting same numbers to eliminate them from the 49-square board. The object is to quickly recognize the numbers, roll the dice into place, igniting them, and then to try and create chain reactions, linking them to other sets of dice before they blow up. Players earn chain reaction points, they build up levels, and all the while they rid the grid of dice, more emerge from the ground to take their place. The gameplay is tense, electrifying and requires a certain amount of quick decision-making skills, much like Tetris, but in 3D and using die in an entirely different gameplay experience.”
Video: Gameplay
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Aqua Aqua

If you own a Dreamcast or N64, you may be familiar with the game Wetrix.  Well, Aqua Aqua is actually the sequel to that like puzzler.  Anyway, AquaAqua puts you in control of an earth-like terrain on a mission to help the Aquas find balance between dry land and water. By creating mountains from land-based pieces called “uppers,” you can trap rain and water-based pieces to create lakes.  If the mountains grow too high, a devastating earthquake may occur. If the water flows too freely across the land, you will ultimately flood your terrain and fail. You must balance these forces while dealing with other (sometimes helpful) obstacles such as bombs, fireballs, and ice cubes.  Interesting, eh?

From IGN’s Review: “Having never played Wetrix before playing Aqua Aqua for the first time, I didn’t really know what to expect and must admit that I just didn’t see what all the hoopla had been about. But after giving the game some time and getting deeper into it, I quickly found that Aqua Aqua is a very entertaining and addictive puzzler. If you’re looking for a puzzle game on PlayStation 2, your first choice should be Aqua Aqua.”
Video: Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• FantaVision
• Mercury Meltdown Remix
• Mojo
• Adventures of Cookie & Cream

Racing

OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast

Sega has so many awesome franchises under their belt, but in recent years they have struggled to do them justice.  However, their recent resurrection of the Outrun franchise was right one the mark when it came to maintaining the exhilarating arcade feel in a modern gaming world.  If you liked the original Outrun back in the day, you’ll love this new installment.  And if you just want a more arcade-like racer to add to your library, this is a great place to start.

From Eurogamer’s Review: “The structure hardly matters: you drive a Ferrari and try to avoid losing speed, doing incredibly cool power-slides when you really can’t make it through a turn with the pedal floored. In fact, half the time you do it anyway because it’s just fun. Snaking a sideways car through lorries and hatchbacks is what arcade racing should be. And as you get better, you pick up tricks like the s-bend shimmy and work out how best to employ your slide. There’s also a Heart Attack mode, where you’re ranked stage by stage on your ability to do silly things over short distances – drift as much as possible, break the tape connecting traffic cars, maintain a particular line.  That’s the entire game. It’s absolutely brilliant.”
Video: Gameplay
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Road Trip (Choro Q HG 2)

I don’t know if you are familiar with the Choro Q games that are have popped up in Japan on a number of platforms.  Well anyway, they are cool little racers that have a bit of a cartoon styling to them and have some RPG elements thrown into the mix.  Road Trip is localized name for the most popular of the series on the PS2 (Gadget Racers, mentioned below, would be another one)

From GameSpy’s Review: “Complete the various quests and you earn money (you’re allowed to name the game’s currency; I chose my favorite British slang word, “dosh”) with which to buy upgrades for your car. Road Trip has a stellar amount of customization, allowing you to purchase hundreds of parts, wheels, paint jobs, body styles, spoilers, and wings. My favorite goodie was the advertising billboard item, which earned me a whopping 10 dosh for every mile I drove while promoting the virtues of Peach Town’s coffee shop. Along with its RPG elements, Road Trip also has plenty of straightforward racing on a variety of unorthodox tracks, such as the interior of a ninja temple (although I’m told that a surprising number of silent assassins are NASCAR fans).”
Video: Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Rumble Racing
• WRC: World Rally Championship
• Grand Prix Challenge
• Star Wars Racer Revenge
• MotoGP 3
• V-Rally 3
• Tokyo Xtreme Racer Drift 2
• Pro Race Driver
• Gadget Racers (Choro Q HG)
• Enthusia: Professional Racing

RPG

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria

The original Valkyrie Profile on the PS1 was known for its for its artistic style and side-scrolling environments — the same can be expected from this prequel (yes, prequel, so if you haven’t played the original, it’s no problem).  More than a plane-jane RPG, this game has a heavy puzzle aspect that breaths new life into every battle. Every dungeon has its own quirks and every battle is different, so you shouldn’t lose interest easily.

From GamingAge’s Review: “In summary, with only minor complaints dragging it down, it’s safe to say Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria is a quality sequel. The world it presents is gorgeous, with some one of the most technically and aesthetically pleasing visuals we’ve seen thus far. Meanwhile, the revised and expanded battle system injects additional strategy while eliminating the issues that bogged down the previous game. But perhaps best of all, it’s an experience that can be enjoyed by both those that played Valkyrie Profile and those that have never heard of it. Easily among the best role-playing titles on the PlayStation 2, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria is one that no RPG fan should miss.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES

The Persona series made its PS2 debut with Persona 3 and, as usual, its set in a high school where a bunch of teenagers fight enemies after hours by tapping into the demon personas lurking within. Persona 3 features a day-night cycle that has players focusing on building their social and academic lives during the day, while exploring an alternate dimension at night. Persona 3 FES contains an enhanced version of the original game, loaded with new Personas and cutscenes, a weapon synthesis system, additional quests and events, among other interesting features.

From Destructoid’s Review: “More than half a year ago, Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 was released, and its intriguing story and characters, high production values, and gun-to-head action had gamers dusting off their PlayStation 2s. We played it and loved it. Not too long after, it seemed like everyone was scrambling to find their own copy of the game, and the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series and Atlus enjoyed the spotlight.  It wasn’t long before word got out that Japanese gamers were enjoying a sort of “director’s cut” called Persona 3: FES, which contained a new 30-hour chapter called Episode Aegis. American fans looked to Atlus with puppy dog eyes, and in late February, after a bit of teasing, Persona 3: FES was announced for the US. They decided to include the original game and the side story on one disc, and released it as a “thank you” to fans for the price of $29.99.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Shadow Hearts: Covenant
• Jade Cocoon 2
• Radiata Stories
• Devil Summoner
• Okage Shadow King
• Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
• Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits
• Atelier Iris
• Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga
• Tales of Legendia
• Ar Tonelico
• Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land
• King’s Field: The Ancient City
• Nightmare of Druaga

Action RPG

Tales of the Abyss

In recent years, Namco’s Tales series of RPGs has not been getting the attention it deserves.  This eighth installment is yet another quality adventure with a well-developed world and storyline. And of course, the battles are actually quite fun thanks to the real-time beat ‘em style battle. You even have a 2 player option during battles and a friend can play one of your sub-characters. The dialog can be really hilarious and there are tons of side quests, that are actually worth doing.

From IGN’s Review: “Tales of the Abyss is one of those games that should please die-hard Tales fans and win over a number of newcomers to the series. Lots of memorable heroes and villains, tons of missions and side-quests, and lots of goals that you won’t exactly discover or finish on the first play through helps add to the game. However, some linear plot directions, long load times and a quirky battle system that sometimes degenerates into button mashing bogs down what is otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable RPG.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color

I love games that pair unlikely game genres together for something new and interesting.  Magic Pengel takes the monster-collecting RPG genre, made famous by the Pokemon series and adds some interactive art that may remind some of Mario Paint.  And, of course, it uses a cel-shading technique to make the graphics as cartoony and fun as possible.  Obviously, this isn’t your typical action RPG, but isn’t that the point?  (BTW, the sequel, Graffiti Kingdom is also listed below)

From IGN’s Review: “Until we actually started playing it, the structure of Magic Pengel was almost impossible to fathom. At its heart, the game is a mix of role-playing and adventure with a good bit of Pokemon-type fighting sequences thrown in as the battle system. Of course, the most important tool in the entire experience has to be the Paint Shop inspired illustrator that’s used to draw your assistants. Beginning with only four colors, one brush type, and two body variables, your early creations aren’t going to be much. As your skills and experience improve, however, the things you can do with the paint program become enormously elaborate. And while your only limitation is the confines of a multi-speed cursor and a total of 64 body parts, skilled artists will be able to create some seriously beautiful images.As an added bit of strategy, the types of colors in use, thickness of your brushes, and placement of certain body parts affect the power and attributes of your drawings. Use a lot of red, for instance, and your character’s hit points increase. Add a touch of blue, and your luck goes up a few notches. There’s a full rainbow of colors to experiment with, and the number of limbs, pieces, and other such factors all make a difference in your creation, with a potentially unlimited amount of possibilities. Artists are going to love it.”
Video: Intro | Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Graffiti Kingdom
• Champions: Return to Arms
• Steambot Chronicles
• Summoner 2
• Bard’s Tale
• Summoner
• Drakengard
• Ys: The Ark of Napishtim
• Samurai Legend Musashi

Strategy

Growlanser Generations

As the last release from Working Designs, this package contains both Growlancer II and III.  The games feature an isometric perspective, squad-based battles between diverse parties, a complicated system of cause and effect as fights play out, and customizable character development.  Growlanser also boasts enormous campaign worlds and open-ended stories that distinguish it from many more familiar strategy role-playing games.  The games have a bit more of a 32-bit feel to them, so depending if that’s your kind of thing, its something to keep in mind.

From GamingAge’s Review: ” Battles are tough without making you want to pull your hair out. It’s a blessing when your strategy game rewards good strategy and not just out-leveling the competition. The need for good tactics is compounded by certain stages, which change dynamically and often for the worse. There are also many fights where the goal is not to “defeat all enemies,” which is a welcome challenge. Fights can have multiple outcomes, and the level to which you complete a stage has a direct impact to the rest of the game. It dictates who you meet, how the story unfolds, and ultimately which ending you receive. Growlanser II and III share a lot of similarities, but there are some differences. The world map for GII is just like Final Fantasy Tactics, where you move from town to town through a series of checkpoints. Shops and conversations all happen by way of menu choices at said checkpoints. In GIII, you actually enter the towns and walk around talking to NPCs and entering shops. There is a subtle difference in area-of-effect type magic between the two, and GIII also allows the use of items in battle, where they are unavailable in GII. ”
Video: Opening | Gameplay
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La Pucelle Tactics

Developed by Nippon Ichi, creators of Disgaea, this is the next logical step if you’re a fan of that series and want more.  La Pucelle Tactics is surprisingly deep and has plenty of hours worth of adventure and battles.  The tactics in the game are fun and advanced, however most players can easily enjoy the system. While it isn’t flowing with eye-candy, the classic graphics don’t hold the game back. The only time you may complain is when you do not get the good ending. However, as opposed to only having end-of-game endings in Disgaea, La Pucelle has different endings for each chapter.

From IGN’s Review: “We can definitely see fans of more character-driven RPGs enjoying La Pucelle more than they did Disgaea. With its better storyline, heavier emphasis on characterization, and stronger verbal and musical approach, it can be a lot more endearing than its more technical younger counterpart. But for diehard strategy fans that want to spend an entire season finding new ways to eliminate Tempetes and Dagons, La Pucelle’s smaller feature set and easier difficulty may prove a little less tempting; especially if they find out that some of the game’s content has been censored from the Japanese release. Small issues aside, La Pucelle: Tactics is still very much a powerful gaming experience and serves as a terrific companion piece to Hour of Darkness.”
Video: Gameplay
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Stella Deus

This Atlus Japanese SRPG is admittedly shallow compared to its Nippon Ichi brothers…but that’s its greatest strength. Sometimes you don’t want to play a SRPG where your characters level up to 9999 (I love Disgaea as much as anyone…but c’mon, who has the time?). Bonus: the soundtrack was composed by the same guy who did Final Fantasy Tactics and FFXII.

From NTSC-uk’s Review: “Though this is far from being a definitive SRPG for the PlayStation 2, it still provides an outstanding example of what can be achieved in the genre. In its favour, the battle system is easy to pick up and many happy hours can be lost in strategy; it has an addictive quality that makes you want to keep on playing, levelling up, customizing and battling the hours away. Fans of this type of game will not be disappointed and it should be considered as a good point of entry to first timers too.”
Video: Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Phantom Brave
• Eternal Poison
• Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome

Strategy

Ring of Red

Set in an alternate post-WWII 1960’s where the US didn’t drop the bomb and the Japanese didn’t surrender, Ring of Red is a hybrid of turn-based strategy (when moving units) and real-time combat.  In this alternate timeline, Japan uses AFWs (Armored Fighting Walkers) to do battle.  However, these aren’t the sleek mechs you would find in most games, but are crude, gasoline-powered machines that you might imagine in the 60’s.  The what-if scenarios that the game presents are quite intriguing and the gameplay can be equally engrossing.

From IGN’s Review: “Ring of Red is a very satisfying strategy experience. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who enjoyed the Front Mission series or Carnage Heart, and other wargaming fans should get a kick out of it as well, both its combat system and the involved world-building that surrounds it. Hopefully, we’ll continue to see more technically sound work come out of KCE Studios (formerly just the creators of the Muscle Ranking games), and Konami of America will do their best to develop a more uniformly high standard of quality in localization. Pull those pieces together, and you’ll have a recipe for another excellent game.”
Video: Gameplay
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GrimGrimoire

The 2D masters at Vanillaware followed up their underground action RPG hit, Odin Sphere with this real-time strategy title that is equally as beautiful.  The gameplay and perspective are significantly different from what veterans might be used to — the levels are all vertical, and the main focus is on the combat rather than resource management and building.  Grim Grimoire is not a deep RTS, but it is a fun one. With multiple difficulty levels, it can be easy enough to attract newcomers to the genre and cater to hardcore RTS players at the same time.

From GameSpot’s Review: “While GrimGrimoire does an outstanding job of transporting PC-centric strategy mechanics to the PlayStation 2, it’s the differences that make it legitimately great. For starters, you don’t view your map from overhead. Instead, each mission is a castle cross-section that at first glance makes it look like a side-scrolling platformer. Every map is an amalgam of hallways and stairwells that most units must traverse to get from one point to another. While each one looks much the same as the last, the placement of various features like mana crystals and barriers make each map functionally different. Thus you need to take into account the path your units must take to their destinations, which may involve climbing stairways and crossing enemy territory. Top-level units like chimeras cross the map without such concerns, but come with their own sets of needs and strategies.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Dynasty Tactics
• Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde
• Naval Ops: Commander
• Aliens vs Predator: Extinction
• Trapt / Kagero 2: Dark Illusion

Simulation

Sky Odyssey

Think of this as the closest thing PS2 owners have to a modern version of Nintendo’s Pilotwings. Much like that wonderful series, Sky Odyssey makes the flight simulation genre more accessible to beginners but has enough depth to give even experienced players enough to keep them busy.  Players are given 40 missions that range from landing planes on aircraft carriers to navigating caverns and waterfalls, rescuing an out-of-control hot air balloon, and refueling on a runaway train.

From Armchair Empire’s Review: “This game was a pleasant surprise, if for no other reason than it has a very unusual mix of arcadiness and flight sim stylings. The controls are tight and the planes handle as you would suspect they should in real life, but the mission objectives are so over-the-top sometimes that things can be nuts (but in a good way). With some nice visuals and a soundtrack that is oddly swashbuckling in a satisfying sort of way, it all adds up to a title that PS2 owners should look into.”
Video: Gameplay
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Warship Gunner 2

Initially, this game sounded quite boring, but after hearing it described as “Naval Ops: Warship Gunner with an actual storyline” (making it Ace Combat with ships, essentially), Warship Gunner 2 was worth looking into. Sadly, you don’t get the multi-ship control that was in Naval Ops: Commander, but what you do get is an extremely long (30 hours on my first playthrough), highly addictive (1500 unlockable ship parts), extremely customizable (did you miss the line about 1500 ship parts?), replayable (3 different paths through the game and a newgame+ option) alternate World War 2 naval action game. The worst part of the game is the 1 hour tutorial, but if you can make it through that then you’ll be set for one hell of an engaging game.  Well, except for that first submarine mission, anyway. When you first play it, your ship will be too damn slow and you’ll just be puttering in towards the bay. Ratchet the difficulty level down to easy for that stage, blow through it, and then come back when you have some better hardware.

From SubSim’s Review: ” It’s an odd mixture of Manga-style admirals, deliberately-thought out ship design elements, sci-fi weapons, and rapid-fire, shoot-shoot carnage. It’s not in the same league as Silent Hunter III, more like Steel Tide. If you can stomach the arcade style physics, and you find the ship-building entertaining, you may find Warship Gunner 2 a pleasurable way to pass a few afternoons.   What the game lacks in realism, it supplies endless shoot ‘em up action.  If nothing else, this could be an intro into naval games for sub-teens.”
Video: Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Dog’s Life
• DogStation

Sports

MLB Power Pros

I love baseball, but its one of those sports that is hard to translate effectively into video games.  One series that provides a wonderful alternative to the EAs of the gaming world is the Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū series from Konami that, until recently has been only released in Japan.  Konami has now published its first game from the series outside of Japan under the name MLB Power Pros.  Much like its successors, Power Pros features big-headed, characters and addictive arcade-like gameplay.  It’s definitely much more approachable than most baseball games and loads of fun.

From GamingAge’s Review: “Getting past the presentation of MLB Power Pros is not easy. We’ve become accustomed to fairly realistic sports games. But we’ve also become numb to how poorly sports games represent the real thing. Power Pros is definitive proof that baseball can be recreated on a console. The game is fun, consistent, accurate and is, in every way, baseball. Over the course of nine innings and several seasons, it’s clear that Konami knows baseball better than any other developer.”
Video: Trailer | Gameplay
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Fire Pro Wrestling Returns

This series has been around for quite a while, but it isn’t too often that it’s published outside of Japan.  I think NTSC-uk said it best a while back that “Fire Pro is to those US based games what Street Fighter is to Tekken: less glitz and glam and far more substance.”  Even though the games are 2D and very much old school, you really don’t know what you’re missing until you try them.

From 1UP’s Review: “Let me just get this out the way: Fire Pro Wrestling Returns is the best wrestling game ever. That’s not an exaggerated statement — you will not find a better mat simulator on the market. You can definitely find one that’s prettier, so if you are the kind of gamer who goes gaga over graphics, you may not agree. But while Fire Pro’s 2D visuals may lack the fancy three dimensions of the SmackDown series, it pins THQ’s grappler to the mat when it comes to gameplay, moves, and customization.”
Video: Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Victorious Boxers 1 & 2
• Swing Away Golf
• Galactic Wrestling
• Sega Soccer Slam

Other

Mister Mosquito

Often mentioned on lists of the weirdest games of all time, Mister Mosquito is all about using your stealth and strategy to suck blood from a family of humans.  Yes, you must observe the daily routines of this familiy and penatrate a targeted ares of a family members’ body (which is typically only availible at specific times).  The result is a game that is strangely compelling and credit must be given to the developers for creating something so original.

From Armchair Empire’s Review: ” It is such a straightforward, and very fun little game.  The premise is novel, there is plenty of challenge without it feeling arbitrary, and it’s easy on the eye too, all with smooth as silk controls.  If you’re looking for an interesting and fun diversion from the status quo, Mister Mosquito is a game to seriously consider.”
Video: Gameplay
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Additional Games To Try

• Pinball Hall of Fame
• Flipnic

Aside from the huge amount of stand-alone shooter releases, a handful of non-shmup Playstation games included “mini-shmups” hidden in distant corners for players to encounter. Here are a few of the most notable ones -

“Tiny Phalanx” (Zero Divide)

Somewhere within the coded confines of this long-forgotten 3D fighter, the developers, for whatever reason, saw fit to hide a bite-sized side-scroller that’s pretty much exactly what the title suggests – a “mini” reimagining of the 16-bit shooter Phalanx. While only three stages long, it plays almost exactly the same as its inspiration, featuring several of the latter’s weapons, enemies, and backdrops – the graphics have been slightly improved, however, and you now have a supply of bombs to save you in a pinch. While it’s definitely nothing mind-blowing, especially if you already have the original on the SNES or GBA, it’s definitely one of the more interesting “hidden” games out there, and at least an encouraging sign that even developers working during the era when it was “3D or Nothing” still had some love for sprite-based gaming.    To access Tiny Phalanx, while the Zero Divide disc is booting up, hold the Start and Select buttons on controller two – once the shooter starts up, you’ll play using the second controller.

“Groovy Arche” (Tales of Phantasia)

While all that Westerners ever got of the first game in the Tales series was the subpar GBA port, the Japanese were able to play not only the Super Famicom original but a PS1 remake which included, alongside other extras, a side-scrolling shooter minigame where you play as Arche, the witch character, flying on her broom. It’s a short section (a score attack run, really), lasting around three minutes total, but there are plenty of point bonuses to rack up (nearly all of which are vocally announced in the background), based on everything from simply not dying to killing enemies quickly, along with several weapon types to use. It’s not the most impeccably-tuned shooter ever, but it is cute, and a nice diversion from the RPG goings-on of the rest of the game – it was eventually released on its own as a mobile phone title. On the PS1, you access it by talking to a robot located in the future’s Thor City.

“Versus Steely Dan/Lovers” (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

While Capcom’s take on the long-running manga’s most popular story arc is primarily a fighting game, the Playstation version, unlike its Dreamcast counterpart, includes a “Super Story Mode” which not only features (duh) extra story elements, but several mini-games, including a side-scrolling shooter, which can also be unlocked and played on their own. You actually play as 2 characters at once, controlling each one’s attacks with separate buttons – the “main” character can power his laser up with items, and while the other has fixed power he is invulnerable to damage and can attack in any direction. In “SS” mode it’s encountered relatively early on, in Chapter 13 – to unlock it, you’ll need 600 Jojo points.

“Galaga” (Mortal Kombat 3)

Whatever you may think of the Mortal Kombat series, one can’t deny the developers’ apparent fondness for hiding some interesting stuff in their products – this time around, among other things, there’s a variation of Galaga waiting for you if you get tired of ripping internal organs out of people. It’s stupidly hard, if not impossible, especially due to the fact that you receive little to no invincibility when respawning, but you do get to hear the “toasty!” sound bite whenever you die, as well as “that was pathetic” when you lose all your lives.    To play it, at the “Versus” screen before a match, player 1 should enter “6-4-2” (silhouette – question mark – yinyang), while player 2 should enter “4-6-8” (question mark – silhouette – Shao Kahn). A message should appear to inform you that you’re being transported to the “Realm of Rellim Ohcanep” (apparently the last names of two of the game’s developers spelled backwards, a la “Noob Saibot”) – the current credit will be lost when all your lives are gone. This mini-game is also available in other MK variations.

“Loading Screen” (Ridge Racer Revolution)

Leave it to Namco to toss in references to their back catalogue wherever they possibly can – while the game is loading up, you can occupy yourself with the bonus level from Galaga. Also, if you don’t shoot any of the aliens during the roughly 30-second segment, you’ll unlock the ability to set the time of day for the race in the “Other” screen.

The Sony PlayStation essentially came out of nowhere in the mid 1990’s to take on both Nintendo and Sega in the heated console wars.  With some impressive technology and a heavy marketing budget behind them, Sony rallied a number of the best game developers in the industry to create a powerhouse library of games – many of which laid a solid foundation for generations to come.

This overview of the PS1 takes a look at the games that made the largest impact on the industry at the time and gave the Playstation its unique personality while overcoming its opponents (as opposed to a standard list of “the best” PS1 games)

Due to the size of this article and the variety of games discussed, it quickly became a group project.  While Ack and I led this project, there were also many contributions from Daniel Primed, The Apprentice, Radarscope1, Niode, Fastbilly1, and BulletMagnet.  Thanks to all for their contributions and I hope everyone enjoys the results!

Final Fantasy Series

Before Sony made the bold move of taking on Sega and Nintendo in the ultra-competitive gaming industry, Sony had partnered with Nintendo to develop a CD add-on for the Super Nintendo.   After Nintendo breached the contract and ultimately decided to ditch the CD format, Sony decided to create the PlayStation on their own and make Nintendo regret their decision.

In addition to a new competitor in Sony, Nintendo suffered from the loss of Squaresoft as premier third party publisher.  Square, angry about Nintendo’s decision to go with the cartridge format instead of CD, dropped all connections with the company and instead began producing titles exclusively for the PlayStation, including their beloved Final Fantasy series.

As the first Final Fantasy game to be presented in three dimensions, Final Fantasy VII was a milestone in the RPG genre.  For many impressionable youths in this new gaming generation, it was an introduction to the genre and was an early showcase of what could be done with computer generated cut-scenes and story-telling.  Even though it may not have been the greatest Final Fantasy in terms of game mechanics, it is definitely high on the food chain in terms of iconic characters and experiences from the 32-bit era.

The PlayStation would also see highly-anticipated releases of Final Fantasy VIII and Final Fantasy IX – each of which was met with rave reviews and tremendous sales.  Final Fantasy VII finished up with 9.8 million copies worldwide and the sequels followed up with 6 million and 5.08 million respectively.

Final Fantasy VIII and IX really showed Square’s growth in using high-quality music and graphics for storytelling.   The length of the games was also quite impressive.  Final Fantasy VII spanned multiple discs at it’s release in 1997 in Japan, just over two years after the release of the console, using disc space to put 3D rendered characters on pre-rendered backgrounds, as well as featuring 3D combat and pre-rendered cut scenes.   Final Fantasy VIII and IX took it a step further by filling up four CDs each.  Indeed, the quality of CG would make Square even more famous then it had been after its success with Nintendo’s previous consoles.

When the book was closed on these blockbusters, the huge revenue stream helped fund the company’s attempts at breaking into other game genres.  While Square would not see nearly as much success in these areas, the games did endear more fans to the company, leading some to speculate that Squaresoft alone could pick which console would win the generation wars.
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Metal Gear Solid

Hideo Kojima’s career-spanning series, Metal Gear, broke into super-stardom on PlayStation with Metal Gear Solid.  Selling over 7 million copies during its lifespan, the game would become on of the highest selling games in the 32-bit generation.  Of course, it also was the beginning of a franchise that would help sell millions PS2s and PS3s for years to come.

Metal Gear Solid’s success comes as little surprise as it brought movie-like cut scenes, an incredible cast of characters, bizarre secrets, incredible audio, and more stealth action than one could shake a stick at.  The game mechanics came as such a pleasant surprise to mainstream gamers that Metal Gear Solid is often credited as having created the popularizing the Stealth genre that is now filled with many blockbuster titles.

Of course, what more could be expected from a title whose designers were out to “literally make the best PlayStation game ever”.  And despite some criticisms about the short length of the title, the constant cut scenes, and how easy it was to avoid enemies, some gamers could argue they did it, or at least came close.

Looking back at the 32-bit era, it’s easy to see that many of the early 3D games don’t age especially well when compared to their newer counterparts.  However, Metal Gear Solid seems to be one of the few exceptions to the rule.  Kojima and Company did an outstanding job making use of the PlayStation’s capabilities and made sure to push the limits of the things that matter most in the long-term: gameplay and story.  Even though the game was remade on the Gamecube, it is still strongly recommended that one play the original version of this classic on the PlayStation.
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Crash Bandicoot Series

Originally created by famed developers, Naughty Dog, the Crash Bandicoot series would see five releases on the PlayStation before going multi-platform in 2001.  While the Crash series has seen 14 titles, with over 20 million games sold worldwide, the PlayStation era yielded the largest impact.

Crash had a couple of things going for it during the 32-bit era.  First of all, as Sony was trying to make its mark in the gaming industry, it unofficially embraced Crash as it’s mascot – much like Nintendo’s Mario and Sega’s Sonic characters.  Just as Sega of America’s advertising campaigns went down the tubes, Sony was airing numerous commercials featuring a guy in a giant Crash Bandicoot suit that seemed like something that the cutting-edge Sega would have run in the Genesis days (including ones where Crash challenged Mario to a fight).

In addition to the advertising campaigns, Crash Bandicoot was one of the first 3D platforming games that were worth playing.    Sure, it wasn’t quite as smooth or expansive as the revolutionary Super Mario 64 (which came out just before Crash Bandicoot), but it was a leap above most of the rest of the competition – especially on the PlayStation.

The series would see annual releases up until 2000, with the second and third games, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped, being released in 1997 and 1998 respectively. Both continued being platformers, though introduced major changes for the better.  Indeed, Crash 3 is considered by many to be the best of the entire series, as well as one of the greatest platformers of all time.

From there, the series branched out, with the 1999 release of Crash Team Racing, a kart-racer like Mario Kart 64.  It was Naughty Dog’s last release before Eurocom took over the Crash franchise with Crash Bash, a party game that sold relatively well despite less than stellar reviews.
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Gran Turismo Series

For racing junkies and PlayStation fans alike, Gran Turismo is recognized as one of the greatest high-speed series of all time.  Seeing only two releases on the PS1, both titles serve as some of the best-selling racing games in history.  The original Gran Turismo holds the honor of being the highest selling PlayStation game in the world, with over 10.85 million copies sold worldwide and the sequel isn’t far behind at 9.37 million sold.

Of all things, perhaps Gran Turismo’s greatest strengths are its realism and its size.  It wasn’t quite as easy to dive into as your standard arcade racers, but it rewarded those who invested the time necessary to master it.   From the beginning of the series, the developers at Polyphony Digital were committed to make sure the models and handling of the vehicles were as true to life as possible with the technology at hand.  Everything from physical to accurate audio was taken into consideration.   In addition to having relatively accurate representations of each of the featured cars, players were able to tune the performance to their liking.

The first game featured over 170 selectable vehicles and 11 racetracks, as well as a soundtrack featuring the works of Chemical Brothers, Garbage, Feeder, and more.  Gran Turismo 2 continued this success, with nearly 650 playable vehicles and 27 tracks, as well as being released with a full soundtrack.  The game was so large that it required two disks, something unheard of in a racing game.
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Tekken 3

While the Tekken series may have been one of the greatest selling 3D fighters on the PlayStation console, it is specifically Tekken 3 that deserves special attention.  Considered the pinnacle of the series, Tekken 3 brought over fifteen new characters, a revised combat system where moves were easier to combo, the z-axis and side-stepping were made key to avoiding attacks, and jumps were severely toned down.

When brought over from the arcade, mini-game modes like Tekken Force and Tekken Ball were added on top of the older modes from Tekken 2.  Backgrounds became more limited and character models had frames of animation removed as well as lower polygon counts and fewer textures.  The game also was forced to a lower resolution.  The new gameplay was left largely intact, however, and including all unlockables, the roster held an impressive 23 characters.

At its release, changes to the combat engine were happily accepted and the game was considered almost perfect by reviewers.  Three out of four reviewers at Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game a 10 out of 10, with the last giving a 9.  Years later, the game is still considered one of the best, appearing on Top 10 lists.  As of this writing, Game Rankings rates Tekken 3 as the 10th highest rated game of all time, much to the ire of Virtua Fighter fans everywhere.
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Tomb Raider Series

The Tomb Raider games may seem like standard fare now, but back in 1996, the series was revolutionary in more ways than one.  First of all, Tomb Raider was one of the first 3D action adventure games on the market and had excellent use of 3D environments in an era when most developers were still trying to wrap their brains around truly 3D game design.

In addition to the relatively expansive and innovative game design, Tomb Raider was also a trailblazer in terms of character design.  Even though Nintendo’s Metroid series was the first to have a strong female character as a lead, most gamers would never have known it at the time.  However, it was hard to ignore the fact that Lara Croft was not your typical game protagonist.   While the extra curvy character design raised some eyebrows and attracted some extra attention from young male gamers, Lara was more than a pretty face.

The Tomb Raider series focuses on Lara’s archaeological exploits in various tombs around the world and how they often turn sour, due to animal attacks, traps, puzzles, or nefarious forces attempting to steal said artifacts.   Once gamers played the games, it was obvious that Lara Croft was more of a female Indiana Jones-meets-James Bond than a stereotypical pin-up girl.

Developed by the relatively small team at Core Design (which was newly acquired by Eidos), Tomb Raider was a quite ambitious project, but the early hype and the large sales impact the game had at the 1996 launch took the team by surprise.  Though originally being released on the Sega Saturn, the first Tomb Raider would see great success on the PlayStation console, leading to further success on Sony’s console and easily becoming a top-seller.

After blowing the gaming industry away, Eidos pushed Core to have Tomb Raider II ready to ship by the holiday season of 1997.  Even under such a tight deadline (development was finished in nine months), Tomb Raider II was a solid product that adequately improved over the original with superior graphics, twice the scope, more flexible controls, and the ability to use vehicles.  This time it wasn’t much of a surprise that Tomb Raider II was heavily anticipated and had amazing sales numbers.

In the end, Core Design pumped out five solid, blockbuster games in as many years and gave not only the PlayStation, but also the entire gaming industry one of the most iconic characters of a generation.  The series didn’t have a huge evolution within itself, but it definitely inspired many other developers to create many of the more advanced 3D adventures that we enjoy to this day.
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Resident Evil Series

Capcom had a lot to offer when it came to two-dimensional games, but with the rise of the PlayStation and the demand for the 3D games, Capcom needed to reinvent itself a bit to stay ahead of the competition.   Its first successful 3D title, Resident Evil (known as “Biohazard” in Japan) was a new direction for the company and helped popularize the “survival horror” genre.

The Resident Evil games typically followed the exploits of two characters as they end up ensnared in a diabolical plot by the Umbrella Corporation, a leading pharmaceuticals company.  Umbrella produces biological weapons which turn people into zombies, and said zombies then attack other people, making them zombies and propagating Umbrella’s weapon.

The main objectives of the games were to conserve ammunition and health items while dealing with limited inventory space, bizarre puzzles and fetch quests, and attempting to avoid such enemies as zombies, dogs, giant spiders, and other creatures that will make you jump out of your seat.

The PlayStation-era Resident Evil games weren’t as fully three-dimensional as some other titles out there, but instead featured 3D characters moving against pre-rendered backgrounds.  They were also known for their tank-like character controls.   Modern gamers might be a bit put off by the control scheme, but it’s fun to look back on them and see how much the series has evolved.

Something Resident Evil has never shied away from is violence.  The large amounts of violence, bloodshed, and gore began a trend that continues into modern gaming, where Sony was given the image of catering towards a more adult crowd while Nintendo added to its image of being the “kiddy” game company.

The Resident Evil series would eventually see three installments on the PlayStation in addition to a Director’s Cut of the original game.  While all three games would later see re-releases or remakes on other platforms, the PS1 was the place to play them when they were cutting-edge.  The Resident Evil series has remained tremendously successful, seeing multiple spin-off titles, sequels, prequels, numerous game-based merchandising, ports and remakes, as well as comic lines, book series, and films.
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Ridge Racer Series

The mid-1990s saw an arms race on the arcade scene, with more and more powerful graphics engines being developed in response to waning player interest and increasingly popular home consoles. The result was a huge gap between arcade games and console ports in many cases. So when new PlayStation owners popped in this disc and saw Ridge Racer running smooth and playing even smoother on their TV at home, it was enough to change the mind of even the most skeptical gamer about whether Sony was worthy of entering the home market.  Even though Ridge Racer was in the arcades for about two years before it was ported to the PS1, it didn’t make it any less impressive when it was released.

While many Ridge Racer reviews lead one to believe that the PS1 port is “arcade perfect”– the textures are much lower resolution than the arcade version, and there’s good deal of tearing at the seams if you go back and play it today. Two other aspects of the game held up perfectly, however – the gameplay and the audio. The visceral drifting action at the heart of the game was unchanged, and the sound (annoying announcer and all) was the type of thing that simply couldn’t be done on the cartridge-based systems of the time.

Ridge Racer on the PlayStation was actually a fairly light on content, though it did go beyond what the coin-op machine offered. There was essentially a single track that also had an extension section filled with hairpin turns on the harder difficulties. Coming in first on all four races (beginner, medium, expert and time trial) unlocked the reverse courses. A little trick (running through the wall behind the starting block at more than 60 mph) also unlocked mirror courses, for a total of 16 ways to race the track. Beating a Galaxian mini-game during the load sequence unlocked eight more cars in addition to the original four, and beating the impossibly fast #13 black car on the time trial unlocked it as well.

Ridge Racer was also notable because it was the first Namco game on the PlayStation. Namco went on to become a huge force the system. It rarely published games on other consoles, and essentially became a defacto second party developer for Sony, much like Squaresoft did for Nintendo in the 16-bit era. It supported the PlayStation with dozens of games, include three more Ridge Racer titles.
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Final Fantasy Tactics

Mentioned separate from the Final Fantasy series specifically to make a point, Final Fantasy Tactics was the first truly successful strategy RPG released in America.  It was not the first, with titles like Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen being released on Super Nintendo, but it sold significantly more units and brought tactical RPGs to the masses.  Of course the similarities between the Ogre games and Final Fantasy Tactics wasn’t a coincidence.  Tactics actually shared much of the same team that made Ogre Battle and Tactics Ogre.

What’s also interesting about Final Fantasy Tactics is how different it was from the other Final Fantasy games in the 32-bit era.  Instead of pushing 3D graphics and focusing on visual story-telling, Tactics took an old-school approach with sprites and a rotating, isometric playing field.

The classic combat gameplay found in Tactics is just as outstanding and is really the star of the show. The game features a complex “job” system, first introduced in Final Fantasy V. Much like a game of chess, Tactics forces players to think carefully about each move, to plan ahead, and to bring the best possible strategies to duke it out against many challenging opponents. Many games, since its time, have attempted to copy and improve on its formula, but none have managed to do so with the same dramatic flair and unusual style as Final Fantasy Tactics.

Indeed, probably the greatest problem Final Fantasy Tactics had would also be the thing that would make it popular: it’s featuring the Final Fantasy name.  While this likely led many fans of the Final Fantasy series to pick it up, it also led to its inevitable overshadowing by Final Fantasy VII, released only a few months before it.    However, Tactics was still quite successful, selling about 2.3 million copies on the PlayStation.  It also saw a handful of spin-offs/sequels on portable platforms, but none has received quite as much praise as the PlayStation original.

When all was said and done, Final Fantasy Tactics is one of the most involved, serious, and well-rounded strategy RPGs out there. Despite being more than 6 years old, it remains as playable and fascinating as ever. Final Fantasy Tactics is notable for its well-crafted storyline, which might actually be one of the best in the Final Fantasy series.
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Spyro the Dragon Series

While Crash Bandicoot would be the closest any character would come to being the PlayStation’s mascot, Spyro the Dragon was a close second.  The Spyro the Dragon games are cartoonish 3D platformers that were quite popular with the younger crowd, but also had enough substance to keep established gamers entertained as well.    And like Crash Bandicoot, the Spyro games were some of the few non-Nintendo platforming games that did well in 3D.

The Spyro games each featured free-roaming 3D environments, fantasy and futuristic locales, and even crossed over to the Crash Bandicoot series from time to time.  (In fact, several of the later PlayStation Crash games would feature demo discs for Spyro titles, and vice versa.)

Of course, the games each centered around Spyro, a cocky little purple dragon that is a bit on the curious side.  When enemies come and invade the various fantasy worlds that Spyro inhabits, he inevitably must go out and solve the problem, usually with the help of a group of friends.  Though Spyro would branch out in later years to different consoles and handhelds, three titles were released on PlayStation.  These three were the only three designed by Insomniac Games, and are often considered the best of the series.

On a side note, all of the original PlayStation’s releases feature music by Stewart Copeland, better known as the drummer from the band The Police.  It is often compared to Mutato Muzika’s music from the Crash Bandicoot games.
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Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Symphony of the Night would mark a turning point in the history of all Castlevania games.  It would follow the son of Dracula, Alucard, instead of a Belmont clan member.  Instead of a level-by-level design that previous titles had stuck to, Symphony of the Night featured a more open-ended play style for traversing Dracula’s castle, as well as a leveling and equipment system similar to RPGs.  While these ideas had been tried in passing in Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, they would really be explored on this PlayStation hit, and would become mainstays to the series afterwards.

The controls were also opened up a bit, allowing for abilities like double-jumping, as well as magic spells and a series of transformations the player could gain, allowing Alucard access to new areas of Dracula’s castle.

Perhaps one of the most important features of the game is its 2D style.  On a console known for 3D games, Symphony of the Night shined as a model of what 2D could be like in the 32-bit era, with excellent backgrounds and sprite designs that hold up well years later.

The musical score also featured a large variety of musical styles, ranging from jazz to metal to techno, and received much praise from fans.  Because of its success, almost all following Castlevanias would feature a similar format and Symphony of the Night is still the standard by which all future Castlevania games are measured.
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Twisted Metal Series

While most European and Japanese fans may not remember the Twisted Metal series due to its lack of release anywhere but the United States, American gamers will never forget how awesome a game about vehicular combat could be.

The Twisted Metal series was synonymous with the PlayStation almost from day one, seeing it’s first game put out in just under two months after the North American PlayStation’s release.  The series would become known for its large cast of kooky characters, its outrageous storyline and ending sequences, its explosive combat, and its exclusivity.  (Twisted Metal games have only ever appeared on Sony consoles and PCs).

And what’s not to love about a series where the player can select a hearse or a biker to bring untold destruction upon a dune buggy or a police car?  Sure, the drivers sometimes change vehicles between games, and the cast fluctuates with each new title, but the old favorites almost always find some way of returning.  And though the series would see five releases on the PlayStation alone, the gameplay was always one giant destruction derby battle royale to the last man standing.
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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Series

Before the Tony Hawk series plummeted into mediocrity, its first four installments broke new ground in a crowded market by offering unique gameplay, intuitive controls, and customization. The series first two titles were best known for their PlayStation releases, and rightly so; the PlayStation ports were superior to the Nintendo 64 versions and outsold the Dreamcast ports.

What makes Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater so revolutionary? When the game was released in 1999, it was almost alone in its genre since many previously released skateboarding games were commercial failures. The game made a terrific first impression however and game store demo kiosks were often surrounded by gamers waiting to play it. It offered a unique control scheme that offered steaming, smooth combos allowing gamers to skate realistically for the first time, and the skating environments were ingeniously designed to allow for maximum replay value.

The second game upped the ante with an expanded arsenal of tricks at the player’s disposal, improved graphics, and a skater and level creator, which was a real novelty at the time. The third and fourth installments also expanded the gameplay and allowed for greater replay value, although these games were also given superior releases on next-generation consoles. Slowing sales might have influenced the game designers, judging by the later levels of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, which are unpolished and glitch plagued. Despite these issues, all four of the PlayStation releases are technical achievements for the console and are worth playing today.
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PaRappa the Rapper

One of the first groundbreaking rhythm games, PaRappa the Rapper was also one of the most bizarre and interesting.  Players follow PaRappa, a rapping dog who wants to win the affection of a girl named Sunny Funny by doing such tasks as learning to drive and baking a cake – oh and, of course, he has to show off his rapping skills in the process.

That’s where gameplay actually comes in.  To rap, the player must press certain buttons in the right rhythm to get higher ratings.  Screw up, and lyrics come out as unintelligible gibberish.  Do well enough, and PaRappa gets to go nuts and freestyle.  While not overly complex, the title attracted fans with its story, its style, and its art.  The entire game features 2D flat characters on 3D backgrounds, similar to Paper Mario.

While not nearly as popular as other titles on the list, PaRappa the Rapper did receive a sequel on the PlayStation 2, as well as a spin-off game, UmJammer Lammy.  It also spawned an animated series in Japan, PaRappa Rappa.  The title would also serve as a view of things to come, as rhythm games would soon after be a major draw in arcades around the world.
Check for Parappa the Rapper on eBay

Dance Dance Revolution Series

Created by the same team at Konami that designed Beatmania a year before, Dance Dance Revolution (often-abbreviated DDR) would begin taking the arcade world by storm in the late 1990s.  The title is a rhythm game that requires the player to press arrow buttons with their feet in time with the arcade cabinet’s screen, a concept that seems simple enough until the actual speed of the game and the various potential foot maneuvers are taken into account.  The console release would see floor pads that were similar in design in function, keeping the arcade feel of the game in the home.

While most nations wouldn’t see much in the way of console releases until late in the PlayStation’s life, Japanese gamers would see thirteen different DDR games released for their home consoles, with different tracks or remixes and slightly tweaked rules upon each release.

DDR eventually became one of the few games in the US that would keep the few remaining arcades open.  Die-hard rhythm fans would practice on their PlayStations at home before showing off their skills in the public venue.

Eventually Disney would get in touch with Konami, leading to titles like Dance Dance Revolution Disney Mix.  It would also spread to the next two generations of consoles, DVD games, television games, the PC, and cell phones.
Check for Dance Dance Revolution Series on eBay

Chrono Cross

The Super Nintendo’s Chrono Trigger was a fantastic journey that served as one of the best role-playing experiences of all time.  However, considering that Chrono Cross didn’t have the full “Dream Team” of developers behind it (only Hironobu Sakaguchi returned), this sequel had a lot to live up to.

A lot of things have changed from Chrono Trigger, especially the characters we grew to love.  In Chrono Cross, our hero is Serge, a teenage boy who shows up in an alternate world in which he had already passed away mysteriously over ten years ago.  Of course, he teams up with a number of other characters along the way (the game features forty-five playable characters) in order to find the Frozen Flame, which will allow them the bend space and time and ultimately help them find out what is really going on.

Much like Chrono Trigger, the whole “parallel dimensions” thing plays a very large role in the story and gameplay, so there are a lot of parallel concepts between the two games.  However, since the storylines are not directly connected, you can play Chrono Cross before Chrono Trigger without feeling lost or being dragged down with the feeling that you’re missing out on a back-story.

While some fans were a bit disappointed that it wasn’t as much of a direct sequel as they would have liked, the general consensus was quite positive and is typically regarded as one of the premier games in an already impressive selection of Playstation RPGs.
Check for Chrono Cross on eBay

Xenogears

What happens when you take many of Squaresoft’s best and brightest from the 1990s, give them a piece of an epic six-part series, and tell them to add in anime cutscenes directed by Koichi Mahimo (known for his work on Ghost in the Shell and Neon Genesis Evangelion)?  You get Xenogears, a title many refer to as one of Square’s greatest works.

Xenogears, part five of the six-part Xenogears Perfect Works book series, combined an epic storyline, lengthy amounts of anime cutscenes, a combat system that featured both mech combat and fighting game mechanics in an RPG, and even an ending theme with vocals by Joanne Hog.

Not bad for a title that almost didn’t see a stateside release due to “sensitive religious issues”  (and European gamers still haven’t seen an official release).  While the game’s amount of questions may leave some people scratching their heads, the combat system was something very unique for its time.  Random encounters were fought either in giant mechs, called Gears in the game, where actions are controlled by fuel, or on the ground in between the player’s party and various NPCs.  In this mode, characters use various combinations of buttons to attack with, varying in power and point value.  Use a combination enough and a special move may be unlocked, allowing you to use that ability when you attack.  These moves are generally impressive to watch, and some of the later ones are actually quite breathtaking, though by that point players are usually fighting in Gears.  The second disc is also usually frowned upon by gamers as being too short and linear, possibly due to the developers being rushed.

Even with its weaknesses, Xenogears often finds itself listed as one of the best RPGs on the PlayStation, which is no small feat considering the large number of them.  If nothing else, it’s definitely worth a look by any RPG fan.
Check for Xenogears on eBay

Dragon Warrior VII

The Final Fantasy series may get much of the RPG love around the world, but it’s actually the Dragon Warrior series (known in Japan as Dragon Quest) that is the big seller in is native country.   Dragon Warrior VII, however was the first game in the series to be released outside of Japan since Dragon Warrior IV (which was on the NES nearly a decade earlier)

Dragon Warrior VII is probably best remembered for its more than 100 hours of gameplay – which can be both a blessing and a curse.  Most people will agree that most of that time is quite enjoyable, but others will claim that it requires quite a bit of patience to make it through the journey.

Dragon Warrior VII ultimately became the eighth best-selling video game ever in Japan at 4.12 million in Japan alone – which puts it right up there with the worldwide sales of games like Spyro and Tekken 3 and ranked it as the eighth best-selling game ever in Japan.   Of course, in the US the sales were limited more to the diehard RPG crowd, but it is definitely one of the more prolific RPGs in the PS1 impressive role-playing library.
Check for Dragon Warrior VII on eBay

Silent Hill

Considered by many to be one of, if not the, scariest game of all time, and definitely the scariest title at its release in 1999, Silent Hill showed the world just how adult the PlayStation could really be.  While Nintendo was busy trying to stave off an image of being “kiddy,” Silent Hill would continue to build on a foundation set in place by the likes of Resident Evil.  A gloomy setting combined with bizarre puzzles and creatures designed to make the skin crawl would serve to cement its place as the beginning of a long and well-respected survival horror series.

But the title is also remembered for its quality.  While it wouldn’t go on to become a million seller like other titles on this list, it did sell enough to gain a “Greatest Hits” release.  Many reviewers at the time also gave it high marks for avoiding Resident Evil-style scares of making the player jump, instead going for atmosphere and mood.  The creative team behind the title has claimed inspiration came from such varied places as the works of David Lynch, The Wizard of Oz, the plays of Kobo Abe, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and even the music of groups such as Sonic Youth or the Moonriders.

The series is also of note as it eventually become popular enough to garner a movie that audiences actually seemed to enjoy, a rarity amongst video game-based movies.  Also, in an interesting bit of censorship, the Grey Child enemy was edited in the United States release.  Originally looking similar to nude children, designers thought the idea of beating them down with a metal pipe would be too much, and changed them to look more demonic.  In the PAL version, the Grey Child was removed completely.
Check for Silent Hill on eBay

Syphon Filter Series

Syphon Filter, both the original game and the series as a whole has always had the uncomfortable pleasure of being compared and contrasted with the PlayStation’s grand opus: Metal Gear Solid. While both games strike their own merits, the comparisons are understandable. Both games are key PlayStation franchises, wrapped in fictional spy-movie inspired attires, released only a few months apart.

It’s unfortunate then that we must crown one a “winner” and the other a “loser” when both franchises are such interesting titles, likening themselves to different styles of spy based fiction. With this mindset, Syphon Filter feels more like a Van Damne than a Schwarzenegger but at the same time, packs it where it counts.

Most Syphon Filter fans would think that I am talking about gadgets and weapons, but the game actually thrives on variety and balancing the momentum of play. Each mission is divided up into a series of stereotypical spy tasks such as rescuing hostages and taking out Russians. The trick is that you are never doing something long enough for it to become tiresome.

The basic shooting works well, due to the aforementioned weapons which are both vast and highly satisfying to use (especially the air taser) but even when you’ve done enough of that, you’ll be moving onto something different. Each quantifiable element of Syphon Filter is well polished which goes a long way to keep you playing. This is the key to what makes playing Syphon Filter feel so apt title; quality, variety and balance.

Later games in the series, slowly lost sight of this balance but introduced some additions, which made the games retain the original’s qualities.

While not an overall momentous series in contrast to say Metal Gear Solid or Resident Evil, there is no doubt that Syphon Filter is significant franchise, which helped solidify the PlayStation as a strong gaming platform.
Check for Syphon Filter Series on eBay

Wipeout Series

If the technical racing of Gran Turismo isn’t your thing, perhaps you would enjoy the high-speed futuristic racing that the Wipeout series has to offer.  Considering it was released in 1995, its impressive how much fast and smooth this racer ran on the PlayStation hardware.  The game was also released on the Saturn, but because the developers struggled with the dual-processor setup of Sega’s machine, didn’t have quite the graphical flair of the PS1 version.

In addition to the adrenaline-pumping speed, Wipeout was also known for its audio quality and soundtrack.  The techno tracks from The Chemical Brothers, Orbital, CoLD SToRAGE, and other artists propelled Wipeout to the top of many gamers favorite soundtrack lists.

Wipeout XL (known as Wipeout 2097 outside of the US) was released a year later.   As expected, the sequel added a few things here and there such as new tracks, crafts, and weapons.  It also made it a bit easier for beginners to pick up and play while still giving experienced players a challenge.  The game was criticized for not having slip-screen multiplayer, but it did offer PS1 owners to link two PlayStations together for networked play.
Check for Wipeout Series on eBay

Driver Series

Driver, developed by Reflections Interactive (creators of the successful Destruction Derby series) has you adopt the role of Tanner, an NYPD undercover detective tasked with infiltrating an underworld syndicate of crime gangs as a wheelman. Your wheelman role has you fulfilling several roles, such as getaway driver, delivery man and car thief or in one particular amusing mission, intimidating a particular taxi customer into disclosing lucrative information through reckless driving.

The game was designed to be faithful to 60s and 70s car chase films such as Bullitt or the TV show Starksy and Hutch. Characters are dressed in 70s getup and the music has chicken scratch guitar and grooving basslines synonymous with that period.

The game’s ‘Director’s Mode’ was highly praised by critics and gamers at the time of release for it’s unique ability to fully edit and sequence camera angles during replays of your missions (or just general driving around in ‘City’ mode.) Hours could be spent tweaking your replays into seamless 70s action sequences. This added longevity to the game despite its lack of multiplayer mode.

The games story is split into four main cities, each city tasking you with missions for the three different gangs in the game. The cities are Miami (the city you receive your first real mission after you finish the punishing training mission), San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City. Missions can occur at anytime of day and some missions are set at night with some impressive (for the PlayStation) lighting on the cars and roads.

The game was met with mostly positive feedback and acclaim upon its launch. Most criticism about the game was regarding its lack of multiplayer and somewhat punishing driving mechanic. Many people found that they could not get further than the training mission in the parking garage at the beginning of the game. This particular mission had you demonstrate your driving skills to a gang of thugs without damaging your car. Certain objectives were a little obscured such as the slalom through the pillars of the garage requiring you to do a 180 and go back through them and the infamous J-turn maneuver (reverse 180) all within a strict time limit.

Street Fighter Alpha 3

Even though 3D games were all the rage on the PlayStation, there were still a number of beloved 2D fighters on the platform as well.   Franchises from both Capcom and SNK made their mark on the PlayStation, but Street Fighter Alpha 3 is probably the most treasured out of the bunch.

Gamers love the combination of the Street Fighter world and large character rosters, so Street Fighter Alpha 3 received a great deal of praise by merging the Alpha 2 cast with some beloved characters from Street Fighter 2 and in addition to some completely new contenders.  The games also had a wonderful blend of fresh sprites, great combos, and a fighting system that was easy to play, but difficult to master. It also allowed great flexibility in choosing your fighting style, resulting in some great dorm-room matchups back in the day.

In most cases, the PlayStation was at a huge disadvantage to the Sega Saturn when it game to 2D fighters.  The Saturn was a 2D powerhouse with lots of RAM.  The PlayStation, on the other hand usually had stripped-down ports of the arcade favorites.  However, Street Fighter Alpha 3 for the PS1 was actually a superb arcade port that also offered a number of extra game modes.
Check for Street Fighter Alpha 3 on eBay

Einhander (and the rest of the Shmup library)

In addition to 2D fighting games, the PlayStation was also a haven for fans of 2D shooters.  There are a ton of good arcade ports in addition to some PlayStation exclusives.  As was the case with the far more ill-fated Sega Saturn, many of the shooters on the PlayStation never saw release outside of Japan, and remain veiled in obscurity to this day.

One such game, however, that nearly any player of the era has at least heard of, is this uncharacteristic Squaresoft production. Having been catapulted out of the niche market in the West by the runaway success of Final Fantasy VII, the company was riding high, and eager to spread its wings farther outside of the RPG and Strategy genres than usual; in addition, it was less afraid to take the risk of localization, giving foreign gamers a shot at some of its more unusual titles. Thus Einhander, unlike so many of its kin, was both widely-available (except in Europe, unfortunately) and well-received enough to become, arguably, the shooter that defined the PS1.

Of course, the unusual-by-default nature of an old-fashioned shooter released in that era, as well as the suddenly-desirable Square label on the cover, weren’t the only things to garner the title so much attention, though they certainly were factors. Its graphics certainly didn’t hurt its cause either – while we are talking 32-bit polygons here, the designs and details (your craft is especially nifty-looking) were top-notch back in the day, and actually still hold up rather well over ten years later. The cliché but solid techno-laden soundtrack and plot (in a bit of a twist, you’re actually the “invader”, sent by a moon colony to attack Earth) round out the presentation. Once you pick up the controller, in many ways the title plays like a “typical” side-scroller, but with a unique power-up system – with the exception of your default pea-shooter, the only weapons you’re going to get are the ones you can salvage directly from defeated enemies. This being the case, you’re required to aim carefully during battles, so as to blast rivals’ weapons off of them before bringing them down – if done properly, you can gingerly swoop in to collect their arms, and thereafter use them yourself.

Despite its sometimes being labeled as an example of a “modern” shooter, the game actually comes across as far more of an “old-school” tribute after spending some time with it, since it doesn’t hesitate to make you memorize its layout to succeed (let alone score well), not to mention send your sorry carcass back to a checkpoint with all your collected weapons gone after being shot down. As such, while the trimmings are most likely to appeal to curious newcomers to the genre, it will likely be the long-time shmuppers who will be most at home after becoming acquainted with its inner workings. All told, Einhander stands as an appealing, if slightly intimidating, blend of old and new, and the PS1’s most famous foray into the shooter realm. The game was recently put up for download on the PS3 via the Japanese PlayStation Network, so if you’re unwilling to fight over an original copy on eBay this might be your chance to see what all the fuss is about.
Check for Einhander on eBay

Honorable Mentions:

There’s so many great games and franchises on the Playstation, it pains me to leave some of them off the full list.  Here’s some others that were a big part of the the Playstation library.  I’m sure you all have additional favorites — feel free to mention them in the comments below.

• Ape Escape
• Grand Theft Auto Series
• Medal of Honor Series
• Dino Crisis Series
• Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
• Bushido Blade
• Legacy of Kain
• Jet Moto
• Grandia
• Lunar Series
• Breath of Fire Series
• Soul Blade
• Suikoden
• Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
• Rayman
• SaGa Frontier
• Star Ocean: The Second Story
• Colony Wars Series
• Tales of Destiny Series
• Cool Boarders

Even though the original Playstation is one of the most common consoles of all time, there are many valuable PS1 treasures to be found. Its diverse library is filled with RPGs and unique gems that collectors long for. Out of all of the consoles we have covered in the Rare & Valuable series so far, the PS1 has both the most expensive regular issue game and the highest average selling price. This occurrence can can probably be attributed to the PS2 and PS3’s backwards compatibility and its wide range of cult favorites that remain as exclusives for the PS1.

In stark contrast to the Cheapest Games series, this series by JJ Hendricks will round up the rarest and most valuable games for a given console or handheld so you’ll know what to look for whether you are buying or selling. JJ owns the video game pricing website VideoGamePriceCharts.com and writes a Video Game Pricing Blog which analyzes video game prices, pricing trends, and charts historic video game prices. He used his pricing statistics to find both the average selling price and the highest selling price for each game over the last three months.

Below you will see two prices beside each title. The first is the average daily selling price, which is typically the going rate for the game by itself. The second price is the highest price in the past three months which is usually the price for the new/sealed game. The list is ordered by the balance of the two prices. Note that some of these games are not rare in the sense that there are not many available, but rare relative to demand, which makes the games expensive.  (Digg This Story)

Limited Edition Collectibles

Elemental Gearbolt: Assassin’s Case: $1,379 – $1700 Rarity = This treasure chest of sorts was given away as a tournament prize at the 1998 E3 convention in addition to a few people who worked on Elemental Gearbolt at Working Designs. When all was said and done, only 40 of these sets were produced and given out. The set includes a briefcase, gold GunCon, and gold memory card.  The latest auction (this was updated in August 2009) got bids up to $1700, which was surprising since it was a new seller (that eventually backed out).  Had it been a established seller, it may have gone for more. See Latest Elemental Gearbolt Assassin’s Case on eBay

Treasured Standard USA Releases

	Suikoden II: $135 – $295 Rarity = Even though it eventually became one of the most recommended RPGs on the Playstation, a limited printing and tepid initial response means there aren’t many copies of Suikoden II available. The great review scores and better sales for Suikoden III possibly helped increase aftermarket demand for the game. Combining these two factors together makes Suikoden II the most expensive regular-issue game on the Playstation. Check for Suikoden II on eBay
	Tactics Ogre: $89 – $191 Rarity = Tactics Ogre was originally released as a Super Famicom game in Japan in 1995 and was re-released on the PS1 in 1998 in addition to other spinoffs on other consoles. This strategy and role playing franchise which are notoriously expensive, and this installment in particular has received critical praise — RPGamer stated that “the game is and forever will be a masterpiece”. Check for Tactics Ogre on eBay
	Valkyrie Profile: $89 – $155 Rarity = Valkyrie Profile is an action/turn based RPG hybrid and has become a cult classic to the many RPG fans in the Playstation crowd. The original game is hard to find now, but it has since be released on the PSP, which probably sparked continued interest in the original. Check for Valkyrie Profile on eBay
	Revelations: Persona: $79 – $123 Rarity = The Persona series has a small but very loyal following. They don’t sell a ton copies as Altus, the publisher typically has smaller print runs, but the fans of the series love it. Persona takes place in modern times, which gives it a unique spin for RPG fans looking for something different. Check for Persona on eBay
	Final Fantasy VII (Black Label): $74 – $417 Rarity = For the longest time, you could find this popular game for a reasonable price (after all, it was the second highest selling game on the PS1 at 9.8 million units), but it still has heavy demand behind it from collectors. As with most Playstation games, the original black-label released command far more from collectors. A sealed copy has even sold recently for over $400. Check for Final Fantasy VII on eBay
	Dance Dance Revolution Disney Mix: $75 – $100 Rarity = Cashing on the DDR craze during the turn of the millennium, this installment has techno-version of Disney songs like “It’s a Small World” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” in addition to Disney characters dancing on the screen while you play. The game is relatively hard to find now and all the Disney collectors and Dance Dance fans help to increase the price. Check for Dance Dance Revolution Disney Mix on eBay
	Lunar Silver Star Story Complete $62 – $167 Rarity = Lunar Silver Star Story is seen as a gateway between RPG eras. The game originated on the Sega CD and was one of the first RPGs to use FMV cutscenes and voice acting, but did not get all the attention it deserved. This enhanced re-release on the PS1 helped gain exposure for this great game, but as with most Working Design releases, there was a relatively low print run and a high collectability factor. Check for Lunar Silver Star Story Complete on eBay
	Intelligent Qube: $69 – $86 Rarity = IQ is very unique and addicting puzzle game that received an Excellence Award for Interactive Art at the 1997 Japan Media Arts Festival and sold quite well in Japan as a result. It was a initially a relative unknown in the US, but those that gave it a try found it especially compelling. Most fans of the game have been holding onto it, keeping supply low and prices high. Check for Intelligent Qube on eBay
	Team Buddies: $60 – $120 Rarity = Not only is Team Buddies pretty hard to find in the wild, but it’s also a remarkably unique and fun game. Mixing a realtime strategy RPG with flavors of a shooter and party game results in a cult classic that is high on PS1 collector’s want lists. Check for Team Buddies on eBay
	Ogre Battle Limited Edition: $55 – $153 Rarity = This is a re-release of the Ogre Battle March of the Black Queen for the SNES, which is one of the most expensive SNES games ever. In fact, it is almost the exact same game as the SNES version. However, this special releases Includes a map and memory card stickers. Like its predecessor, Atlus only printed limited quantities of the game and never did a second product run. Check for Ogre Battle Limited Edition on eBay
	Bust A Groove 2: $64 – $90 Rarity = Bust-A-Groove was originally called Bust-A-Move in the Japan but had to change its name in the US to avoid copyright problems with the arcade puzzle game. It is essentially a dancing and fighting combo, which makes Bust a Groove 2 a very unique, genre-bending title. Check for Bust A Grove 2 on eBay
	Persona 2 Eternal Punishment: $56 – $140 Rarity = Persona 2: Eternal Punishment is a direct sequel to the first Persona game seen earlier on this list and it is part of a duology (of which the US never received the first installment, Innocent Sin). Atlus published this game too so it is not surprising that there are limited quantities available and it is in high demand. Check for Persona 2; Eternal Punishment on eBay
	Tales of Destiny II / Tales of Eternia: $55 – $135 Rarity = Originally called Tales of Eternia in Japan. The name was changed to Tales of Destiny 2 but is not a direct sequel to any game in the Tales series. This game should also not be confused with Tales of Destiny 2 for PS2. They are completely different games. The game did not perform as well in the US as it did in Japan but is still cherished by Tales series fans. Check for Tales of Destiny II on eBay
	Lunar 2 Eternal Blue Complete $54 – $120 Rarity = Much like it’s predecessor above, Eternal Blue Complete was also an enhanced remake of the treasured Sega CD game, but had a slightly higher print run than Silver Star Story Complete. However, considering that both of these remakes were released in 1999 when 2D games were becoming a rarity, so it should be no surprise that only hardcore fans picked this game up — and typically held onto them. Check for Lunar Eternal Blue Complete on eBay
	Brigandine: The Legend of Forsena: $55 – $90 Rarity = Brigandine is a turn-based strategy game with some RPG elements and is developed by Atlus. This by itself is a recipe for an expensive game. Atlus doesn’t produce many copies of them games as a publishing strategy, and strategy games and RPG’s typically dominate lists of expensive games. Check for Brigandine: The Legend of Forsena on eBay

The Expensive Playstation Imports

	Rakugaki Showtime: $190 – $205 Rarity = It is hardly surprising to see a game from Treasure on a list like this, but it is relatively surprising to see a Treasure game on the Playstation as they typically did work on Sega’s and eventually Nintendo’s platforms. Rakagaki Showtime was Treasure’s was one of the first games in the arena fighting genre (like Poy Poy and Power Stone) and used a 3D paper-like graphical technique similar to that used in the Paper Mario series. Check for Rakugaki Showtime on eBay
	Zanac X Zanac $160 – $210 Rarity = While it might not have as extensive and impressive shmup library as the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast, the Playstation does have a number of exclusive 2D shooters that are essentials for fans of the genre. Zanac X Zanac is a Japanese exclusive that not only was a sequel of an NES classic from Compile, but also included the orignal game on the same disc. Check for Zanac X Zanac on eBay
	Harmful Park – $150 – $200 Rarity = Another one of the essential Japan-only shooters to keep an out for is the quirky but fun Harmful Park. This rare shmup will remind many of Konami’s Parodius series. The word of mouth for this gem plus the limited print run from the small development house, Sky Think Systems, makes for a collectible treasure. Check for Harmful Park on eBay

The Rarest PS1 Games At Affordable Prices

Each of these games have a rarity rating greater than 6, but routinely sell for less than $40. If you are a PS1 collector and see a boxed or sealed copy of any of these on eBay for a low price, you might want to snatch them up — you may never see them again.

• Lifespan Learing Games – $2 – $5 each
• Psychic Detective: $25 – $35
• Fox Hunt: $13 – $20
• Syndicate Wars: $8 – $25
• Motor Toon Grand Prix: $10 – $15
• Guilty Gear: $8 – $23
• Goal Storm ‘97: $4 – $10

Additional Playstation Games of Value

These games aren’t especially rare, but are quite collectible; resulting in a high resale value, especially for complete, boxes copies.

• Bust A Groove – $59 – $80
• Tomba: $56 – $81
• Einhander: $53 – $98
• X-COM UFO Defense: $50 – $90
• Tales of Destiny: $49 – $80
• X-men vs Street Fighter: $50 – $70
• Marvel vs. Capcom: $48 – $70
• Final Fantasy VII (Greatest Hits): $53 – $160
• Spyro Collectors Edition (complete): $53 – $73
• Castlevania Symphony of the Night (Black Label): $57 – $66
• Xenogears (Black Label): $50 – $154
• Suikoden: $50 – $115
• Legend of Mana: $47 – $80
• Klonoa Door to Phantomile: $46 – $61
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories Premium (w/ cards): $45 – $65 (sealed)
• Return Fire: $48 – $50
• Mega Man Legends 2: $45 – $73
• Herc’s Adventure: $45 – $50
• Arc The Lad Collection: $44 – $103
• Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter: $40 – $52

Credits: Playstation Video Game Prices provided by VideoGamePriceCharts.com. The source for daily updated prices on over 10,000 video games. The prices are the highest daily price and average daily price from February, 1st 2008 to April, 8th 2008. Rarity scores are courtesy of my friends at DigitalPress.