Playstation Games - ranked by preference
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Metal Gear Solid - PlayStation
Release Date: September 3, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: KCEJ
Genre: Action
When I got the Playstation in late 1998, my love for video games was starting to fade...Then I ordered a pizza from Pizza Hut, got a promotional demo disk along with it, and discovered Metal Gear Solid and a few other titles on it. Upon playing the MGS demo, I got hooked...And before I knew it, I had reached the cliffhanger ending and NEEDED to buy the game so I could see what happened next. I did, and then played through what ended up being my absolute favorite game of all-time...It pretty much re-sparked my interest in video games and re-taught me what a video game could be.
ape's rating:
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - PlayStation
Release Date: March 20, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action
Super Metroid was a game that was dang near perfection...And Symphony of the Night takes the classic Castlevania gameplay and inserts that into the Super Metroid formula to create one of the absolute best games ever created. I recall working at a video rental store (remember those?) and hearing people mock this game because it was 2D and "nobody plays 2D games anymore." They totally missed out. Symphony of the Night is one of those rare games that I like to pull out about once a year to play through from beginning to end...And the best part? Beat the game with certain requirements and you unlock the upside-down version of the castle, basically doubling your gameplay time with new enemies and bosses to discover, as well as the true ending. The ability to play the game as other characters as well with their own gameplay styles just adds to an already awesome overall package. If you haven't played this yet, do yourself a favor and play it. It is absolutely amazing.
ape's rating:
Final Fantasy VII - PlayStation
Release Date: January 31, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG
Let's face it - when it comes to RPGs in North America, this is the game that was almost exclusively responsible for their success and popularity. Final Fantasy VII is generally seen battling Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the title of greatest game ever made on most online polls. I wouldn't necessarily go quite that far, but Final Fantasy VII is definitely one of the best RPGs ever created. Fifteen years later, I'm still playing this game at least once a year...And it never gets old. That said, there aren't too many stand-alone titles that have as rabid of a fan base as this game does. If you play it, you're likely to see why.
ape's rating:
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater - PlayStation
Release Date: August 31, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Neversoft
Genre: Sports - Extreme Sports - Skateboarding
I first played Tony Hawk's Pro Skater a year prior to its release on a demo disk. The game was extremely basic when compared to the final product, but it was still fun enough where a few friends and I lost hours playing the demo. Then, a year later Pizza Hut released a demo much more true to the original game...And I was sold. I went out of my way to purchase this game...And to this day, I can still pop it in and love every minute of my time with it. And I'm not a music guy by any stretch, but I enjoy every song on the soundtrack, which also adds a tad to the enjoyment. While the sequel might be a superior game overall, I'll always have a preference to the simplicity of the original.
ape's rating:
Street Fighter Alpha 3 - PlayStation
Release Date: December 23, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting
Well, this is it, in my opinion...The absolute best Street Fighter game ever created. Sporting one of the largest cast of characters in any fighting game up to this point, and a plethora of game modes, it was not an uncommon thing to hear of people sinking hundreds of hours into this game, even without playing any multiplayer. The ability to play each character with A, X, and V-Isms basically means that the roster is multiplied by three as each character has a slightly different move set depending on the Ism that you use. The awesome, RPG-like World Tour mode alone will make most fighting game fans lose hours of their life as they try to build up the most powerful version of their favorite fighters as possible, which you can then use that super-powered character in arcade mode and absolutely dominate the competition. I really can't say enough good of this game. It's Street Fighter perfection that hadn't been achieved before and hasn't been done since. This is a must-play for fighting game fans.
ape's rating:
Chrono Cross - PlayStation
Release Date: November 18, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG
Chrono Cross is a game that people seem to love or hate based on if they expected it to be like Chrono Trigger or not...I've actually heard quite a few people argue that Chrono Cross is terrible simply because it's nothing like Chrono Trigger. That's ridiculous. Chrono Cross is a great game that anyone who goes in with an open mind will likely enjoy. The graphics, the music, the unique battle system, trying to recruit all party members, and switching from one dimension to another...They all come together to create a beautiful and fun game to play...And one that I've happily played through over twenty times since its release.
ape's rating:
Spyro: Year of the Dragon - PlayStation
Release Date: October 23, 2000 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Insomniac Games
Genre: Platformer
I thought that Spyro 2 was a slight step back from the original Spyro...Year of the Dragon is a giant leap forward. With new playable characters added in with the same wonderful style of level design and sense of humor, Year of the Dragon is, by far, the best Spyro game ever released and one of the best 3D platformers of all time. I still play this game every now and then when I feel like gliding around and breathing fire on things. This is the pinnacle of the Spyro the Dragon series. Insomniac Games left the franchise on a very, very high note.
ape's rating:
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 - PlayStation
Release Date: December 3, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Racing
Never before and quite possibly never again have I ever been so obsessed with a racing game in my life than I was with R4. It takes an obsessed person like myself to unlock each and every car in the game, including the fancy-schmancy Pac-Man car. There's a reason I was so obsessed...This is the pinnacle of Ridge Racer games. The little stories included with each team that you race for, the large variety of cars to choose from, the fun courses to race on, and the amazing soundtrack make this the total package when it comes to arcade-style racing games. Gran Turismo got most of the attention during the PS One days, but Ridge Racer Type 4 is just as good in my opinion...And in some ways, even better.
ape's rating:
Silent Hill - PlayStation
Release Date: January 31, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: KCET
Genre: Adventure - Survival Horror
After Resident Evil was released, a ton of sub-par survival horror clones were published by various companies....Then came Silent Hill, which at first glance may look like a Resident Evil clone, but Resident Evil is like Sesame Street compared to Silent Hill. This game is dark, demented, and relies on psychology to scare the player rather than cheap tricks like a dog jumping through a window. Many people think that Silent Hill 2 is the best game in the series...Personally, I prefer the original and would gladly journey through Silent Hill in the shoes of Harry Mason again today.
ape's rating:
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 - PlayStation
Release Date: September 20, 2000 (NA)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Neversoft
Genre: Sports - Extreme Sports - Skateboarding
Let's make things clear here - my lists on here are by preference...That said, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 is definitely the best game in the series...but it's not my favorite, which is why it's below the original. Make no mistake about it, though, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 is a masterpiece - possibly receiving more perfect reviews from magazines and websites at the time than any game before or since. If you haven't played it, give it a shot - you don't need to love skateboarding to love this game. It's magnificent. If it weren't for my fondness of the original, I may very well consider it the best sports game of all time.
ape's rating:
WWF Smackdown! 2: Know Your Role - PlayStation
Release Date: November 21, 2000 (NA)
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling
Oh, man...The hours that I've spent with this game. Call me crazy, but while everyone was going on and on about WWF No Mercy, I actually preferred the simplicity and fast pace of WWF Smackdown! 2. While the gameplay isn't nearly as deep as WWF No Mercy, the never-ending Season mode helps make up for it in my eyes. I recently just started playing it again and got hooked just like I did a decade and a half ago. If I were to review the games side by side, WWF No Mercy is technically the better game. If I were to just go my preference, which I do on these lists, I'm that crazy guy that puts this ahead of the N64 classic. It's not a perfect wrestling game, but it's still dang good.
ape's rating:
Final Fantasy IX - PlayStation
Release Date: July 7, 2000 (JP)
Publisher: SquareSoft
Developer: SquareSoft
Genre: RPG
I really adore Final Fantasy IX. For a few years after it was released, it rivaled Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VI as my favorite in the series, with my mind consistently changing between the three. In time, it has settled in behind both of those games, but my love for this gem remains. The graphical style, the return to the fantasy roots, the characters (except Eiko...I wanna punt her like a football), the soundtrack...I love it all in this game. Next to FF7, this is probably the game I've played through the most times in the franchise...It's that good.
ape's rating:
Suikoden II - PlayStation
Release Date: December 17, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: RPG
Suikoden was a great, but short, RPG. The sequel increased the length of the game, introduced a slew of new characters to recruit, and improved on the graphical look as well. The story was also done a bit better, in my opinion, in comparison to the original. If you play your cards right, and have a save from the previous Suikoden on your memory card, you can even recruit the hero from the original Suikoden to join your ranks in this game. Suikoden II can go for over $200 USD online, and if you're a fan of RPG's, then it's definitely worth every penny.
ape's rating:
Tomba! - PlayStation
Release Date: December 25, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Whoopee Camp
Genre: Platformer
If a game has a sense of humor, I'm probably going to like it. If it's designed well, controls well, and looks gorgeous...well, that's a bonus. Tomba! is such a good platformer...It has loads of personality, just about every level is a treat to traverse, and the character you control (Tomba, like the title suggests) has pink hair....PINK HAIR!! If that doesn't scream quality platformer, I don't know what does. But seriously, this is a fantastic game. The price for a physical copy is kind of steep but well worth the cash if you've got it...If you don't, you can always pick it up on PSN for cheap and make those evil pigs pay on your Vita or Playstation 3.
ape's rating:
Final Fantasy VIII - PlayStation
Release Date: February 11, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG
As time passes, and each time I play Final Fantasy VIII, I enjoy the game more and more. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it when it came out...I did, but I was never a big fan of the story. I considered this to be all about the gameplay. Having to draw spells from enemies and allocate spells to your stats was a unique system, and one that I personally enjoy. I also enjoyed how everything levels up with you. You can literally get to level 99 within a few hours of grinding in the forests once you first hit the world map since the monsters, leveling up with you and getting tougher as you do, consistently offer plenty of experience. It is worth noting that the things that I just mentioned about enjoying are the same things that some folks absolutely hate about the game...But I like 'em, so there. It's also worth noting that this game has my favorite music in the Final Fantasy series.
ape's rating:
Grandia - PlayStation
Release Date: June 24, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: Game Arts
Genre: RPG
Grandia may not have the impressive graphics of the Final Fantasy series, but what it lacks in graphical prowess, it more than makes up for in everything else. Grandia is a memorable RPG that will likely hook you if you give it a chance. I enjoy the gameplay, but I'll mention the leveling up system in particular...The party doesn't just level up, the skills do as well. If you want stronger fire magic, keep using it in battle and you'll eventually get experienced enough in fire magic for a new spell to become unlocked. This leveling up requires a decent amount of strategy in battle...Not just in order to survive, but for getting new skills. If you missed out on this game in the Playstation One days, it's available on the Playstation Network for $6 USD, which is an incredible steal for a game of this quality.
ape's rating:
Twisted Metal 2 - PlayStation
Release Date: October 31, 1996 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: SingleTrac
Genre: Action - Car Combat
Until Twisted Metal: Black came out, this was easily the best game in the Twisted Metal franchise. Everything is just so well done here - the level design, the controls, the secrets to discover, the new characters...it's all just so well done. Twisted Metal basically created the car combat genre, but Twisted Metal 2 set the bar for quality so high that even the next three Twisted Metal games on the Playstation One couldn't come close to reaching it. Until Twisted Metal: Black came out, this is what I thought that car combat perfection was like.
ape's rating:
Final Fantasy Tactics - PlayStation
Release Date: June 20, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: Strategy - RPG
The first time that I played Final Fantasy Tactics, I hated it. Due to expecting a faster pace, I thought it was slow and boring...A few years later, I gave it another chance, knowing full well what I was getting into, and I absolutely fell in love with it. Think of it as a chess game with boards of various shapes and sizes - the strategy is that deep and rewarding...and can easily result in 100+ hours put into this gem. Final Fantasy Tactics became the best game of its kind when it came out, and 20 years later it still hasn't been knocked off of its throne.
ape's rating:
Tekken 3 - PlayStation
Release Date: March 26, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Fighting
The first Tekken was good and Tekken 2 was better...But Tekken 3 solidified the series as one of the best fighting game franchises of all time. For its time, Tekken 3 was unmatched. Not only did it have all of the extra modes from Tekken 2, but it included some more like Tekken Ball (volleyball mixed with a fighting game) and Tekken Force (a side-scrolling brawler) to make sure that you continued to come back for more. I also don't focus too much on graphics usually, but the leap in graphical quality from Tekken 2 to Tekken 3 is really amazing. Tekken 3 improves just about everything from the first two games to near perfection. If you're a fan of fighting games, then this is a must-buy. If you're not a fan of fighting games, Tekken 3 might be worth giving a chance anyway...I've actually seen it win some people over.
ape's rating:
Valkyrie Profile - PlayStation
Release Date: December 22, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Enix
Developer: Tri-Ace
Genre: RPG
Valkyrie Profile can fetch for a pretty penny online, but it's a game that is completely worth the cost. The unique setting, story, and combat all make this a worthy title to play for even the most jaded RPG fan. If you want to play it, but are looking for a cheaper alternative, there's always the PSP version, which is basically the same game, except you can play it on the go.
ape's rating:
Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMix (JP) - PlayStation
Release Date: June 1, 2000 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: KCET
Genre: Music - Dance
The childhood rhyme of 3rd is a turd does not apply here. In fact, Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix is a vast improvement over an already enjoyable DDR 2nd Remix...such an improvement that even if you had mastered most of the songs on the previous games, aside from new songs in 3rd Mix, you also had several new modes and options. The previous games in the series, which were amazing for their time, immediately felt dated by 3rd Mix due to all of its additions. Folks accustomed to the North American version of Dance Dance Revolution will be more familiar with many of the modes found here. Plus, if you've got a Pocketstation, this is one of the few games that you can use it with. Overall, this is easily one of the best music games ever created...and one that I fondly remember from my college years.
ape's rating:
Brave Fencer Musashi - PlayStation
Release Date: July 16, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: Adventure
I remember that when Brave Fencer Musashi came out, some video game magazines claimed that it was Squaresoft's attempt at creating a Zelda killer. I never really saw the comparison, honestly. I'd compare this game more to Kirby than any other Nintendo franchise. I did, however, fall in love with this game almost immediately. Exploring around, finding villagers, absorbing enemy skills, and just interacting with and watching all of the entertaining characters in the game - it's just fun from beginning to end. It has some flaws, sure, but if you like action adventure games and if you like humor, then you'll probably fall in love with this gem, just like I did.
ape's rating:
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile - PlayStation
Release Date: December 11, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Platformer
Klonoa was a very solid platformer that was unfortunately overlooked by a lot of people...Which is a shame. Klonoa provided a unique platforming experience for fans of platformers, with an ability to pick up enemies and either throw them or use them to perform a double jump to reach normally out-of-reach areas. Door to Phantomile can cost a bit if you search for it online, but if you'd like a graphically updated version, it was released on the Wii a few years ago simply as "Klonoa." And, much like Door to Phantomile, the Wii remake was also overlooked by most consumers. It's a cryin' shame.
ape's rating:
Dino Crisis - PlayStation
Release Date: July 1, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Adventure - Survival Horror
I'm usually in the minority when I say this, but what the heck, I'll say it anyway - I prefer Dino Crisis to the first three Resident Evil games. I like Resident Evil and all, but when you take the Resident Evil formula, get rid of the slow-as-dirt zombies and replace them with lightning quick dinosaurs, it just makes for a more exciting game to play in my opinion. Yeah, the story and characters are kind of corny, but maybe that's where the game charmed me. I like corn.
ape's rating:
Gran Turismo - PlayStation
Release Date: December 23, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Genre: Racing
I can thank my car-fantatic friends for getting me into Gran Turismo. I've never been big into cars, and I've never been big into realistic racing video games...But dang it, the original Gran Turismo took hours upon hours of my life away. The concept of starting with the least powerful and most basic of cars (after obtaining your driver's license, of course), and through winning races, slowly build your way up to buy more powerful, faster cars and modify them to make them go as fast as possible until you're essentially the king of the racing world turned out to be a great idea for a racing game. Later Gran Turismo games added much, much more to the table, but the first one is still my favorite to this day.
ape's rating:
Gunners Heaven - PlayStation
Release Date: April 28, 1995 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Media Vision
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person
Gunners Heaven is basically Media Vision's attempt at creating a Gunstar Heroes game - the games are very similar in several ways. Despite the similarities, however, Gunners Heaven isn't quite as good as the game it seems to emulate. That said, this game is still incredibly fun and highly addicting. Known as Rapid Reload in Europe, it's a crying shame that this entertaining shooter never made its way to North America. If you like games like Contra, Metal Slug, or of course, Gunstar Heroes, then you'll probably fall in love with this game just like I did. It's very good.
ape's rating:
Parasite Eve - PlayStation
Release Date: March 29, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG
I remember when I first played Parasite Eve, I thought it was so cool...Nearly fifteen years later and I'm still a pretty big fan. Parasite Eve was an attempt by Squaresoft to toss some survival horror elements into an RPG...and it turned out pretty dang well, in my opinion. While it wasn't necessarily scary, the game created a unique atmosphere...one that made it hard for me to put the controller down. The unique, turn-based combat is also pretty fun. The overall package results in a solid game that I'm a pretty big fan of.
ape's rating:
Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped - PlayStation
Release Date: October 31, 1998 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Genre: Platformer
I was never the biggest fan of the Crash Bandicoot games, but Crash Bandicoot: Warped got me hooked. The varied levels and how many of them play differently from each other prevents any feeling of repetition set in, and tends to create one of those experiences where you've been playing for hours before you realize that you only meant to play for 30 minutes. In my opinion, this is by far the best game in the Crash Bandicoot series. If you're into 3D platformers, this is one of the best in the genre.
ape's rating:
Tobal 2 - PlayStation
Release Date: April 25, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Dream Factory
Genre: Fighting
Tobal 2 is a fantastic fighting game, improving on much of what made the original Tobal so fun...Unfortunately, it never made it over here to the 'States. The brawler/RPG mode is back with several improvements and the ability to unlock an insane number of characters to use in arcade mode by playing it. If you enjoyed the original Tobal, then you'll definitely find it worthwhile to import the sequel.
ape's rating:
Breath of Fire III - PlayStation
Release Date: September 11, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: RPG
I'm a big fan of the first two Breath of Fire games on the SNES, so I'm naturally a fan of the third game as well - especially since it's done just as well as the previous two games. It also features a ton of fishing - the fishing mini game is one that can be played in plenty of locations in the game world, and new bait and equipment can be found all over as well. So, I suppose if you like solid RPGs and fishing mini games, then Breath of Fire III is more than likely going to be the game for you.
ape's rating:
LSD - PlayStation
Release Date: October 22, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Asmik Ace Entertainment
Developer: OutSide Directors Company
Genre: Adventure
LSD is supposed to be a dream simulator - basically, you walk around, in first-person view, and experience dreams...and nightmares. Using today's terms, it could be classified as a walking simulator as there is no real goal here, at least from what I could see, aside from walking around and exploring, trying to trigger events like a girl's head falling off and her walking towards you, or a statue on the fireplace suddenly coming to life and attacking you. You could walk for a while before discovering something unique and interesting, but that's part of the charm, and it lets you take the bizarre dream worlds in. This game definitely isn't for everyone, but I absolutely love it. If you enjoy wandering around, exploring, and really bizarre imagery, then you'll probably love this game, too.
ape's rating:
Street Fighter Alpha 2 - PlayStation
Release Date: August 9, 1996 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting
Almost one year to the date that the abomination known as Street Fighter: The Movie hit store shelves, Street Fighter 2 arrived to make up for everything. And make up for everything it did, with one of the best Street Fighter games to come out in years. It improved on just about everything found in Street Fighter Alpha, plus added new characters, and controlled so silky smooth that if you were a impressionable lady, you would have thrown your underwear at it....Heck, I wasn't an impressionable lady, and I still threw my underwear at it. Street Fighter Alpha 3 blew this game out of the water when it came out, but until that time, this was one of the absolute best fighters that you could find on any console.
ape's rating:
Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling: Ouja no Kon - PlayStation
Release Date: April 8, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Human Entertainment
Developer: Human Club
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling
What do you get when the folks behind the Fire Pro games make a 3D wrestling game? Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling: Ouja no Kon, the game that pretty much laid the groundwork for the excellent King of Colosseum games that would be released a few years later. Before you even get into a match, the ring introductions are amazing with licensed music of your favorite AJPW stars, the ring announcer doing his thing, and the crowd yelling and chanting for their favorites. Once in the ring, the in-ring action is slightly different from what you may be used to with the R1 button being needed to hold down in a combination with another button for a lock-up move. There are also spheres that almost act like finishers in the modern WWE games, except they're not limited to finishing moves - you can use them to escape holds and pinfalls as well, which often results in a fantastic match with wrestlers kicking out when you think they're done or reversing out of a hold to start making a dramatic comeback. Whether you're battling the computer, a friend, or just watching the computer battle each other, the in-ring action is always a blast. Non-gameplay related, this game also sports one of my favorite cover arts for a wrestling game with the Triple Crown title gracing the cover. Overall, this is a very solid wrestling game and well worth importing both if you're into playing wrestling game and/or if you just like to watch wrestling - have the computer battle each other and you'll often be treated to an entertaining match. Regardless of your preference, this is a wonderful wrestling game for wrestling fans.
ape's rating:
Philosoma - PlayStation
Release Date: July 28, 1995 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: G Artist
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person
I'm a huge fan of Philosoma and what it tries to do. Basically, Philosoma is a little bit of every kind of third-person shooter that you can think of - vertical scrolling, side scrolling, rail....different perspectives, different angles, shooting ahead and backwards, changing up and leveling up weapons on the fly...It's a beautiful mess of just about everything you can think of from other shooters you know all crammed into one game - and it's even got a story to boot! This was one of the better early Playstation One games to come out, and one of the better games on the console, period. If you like shooters and want a variety of levels that all play differently from one another, then give Philosoma a try. I bet you'll fall head over heels for it like I did.
ape's rating:
Dance Dance Revolution - PlayStation
Release Date: May 9, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Music
Different from the game with the same name released in Japan, the North American Dance Dance Revolution game includes some of the more popular songs from the various "Mix" editions of the game in Japan. I was first exposed to the DDR series in college, where a friend of mine had imported a copy of Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix...She would set up DDR parties and we'd have a jolly ol' time. Shortly afterward, I went out and picked up this game so I could A) get some practice in and B) have a copy of DDR that I could enjoy if I had the urge to play when no party was going on. This is also one of those games where it's just as fun to watch someone else play as it is to play yourself...Especially if they're absolutely terrible at it.
ape's rating:
Persona 2: Innocent Sin - PlayStation
Release Date: June 22, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG
Persona 2: Tsumi (also known as Innocent Sin), until recently via the PSP, was never released outside of Japan...Probably due to an appearance by Adolf Hitler and the option for the main character to have a homosexual relationship, which back in '99 was a bit more controversial than it would be today. As a result, anyone who enjoyed Persona 2: Eternal Punishment outside of Japan only got to see half of the story of Persona 2. Innocent Sin looks and plays just like Eternal Punishment, which is to be expected as they were made to be played together. Fans of Persona 3 and 4 may not be as enthralled with the gameplay as I am, but both games in the Persona 2 pair are personal favorites of mine.
ape's rating:
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment - PlayStation
Release Date: June 29, 2000 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG
I enjoy Eternal Punishment quite a bit, but if I had to choose between this and Innocent Sin, I'd pick Innocent Sin. The games play very much the same, but I prefer the story in Innocent Sin to the story found here...But that's not a knock to this game as the story here isn't too shabby, either. Anyway, like I said with Innocent Sin, this isn't like the very popular Persona 3 or 4...So if you're new to the series, you may not be as enthralled with this game as I am, but it's still a quality RPG worth plaything for fans of the genre.
ape's rating:
Point Blank - PlayStation
Release Date: August 7, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: TOSE
Genre: Shooter - First-Person - Light Gun
I like games that are bizarre and games that have a sense of humor...Point Blank has both in abundance. Point Blank is a very enjoyable light gun shooting game where you basically participate in a series of minigames. If you fail, you lose a life. Lose all of your lives, game over. Pretty standard stuff, until you play the games and see how unique and fun they all are. And when you're done with all of that, you can play the RPG in the game, where you control the characters by firing your gun in the direction that you want them to go, and random battles are fought by you winning various shooting mini games. It's just a fantastic overall package and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone with a sense of humor and an appreciation of the odd.
ape's rating:
Shin Nippon Pro Wrestling: Toukon Retsuden 3 - PlayStation
Release Date: March 26, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Tomy Corporation
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling
The third entry into the Toukon Retsuden series was the best in the franchise at the time of its release. With an expanded, updated roster and more tweaks to the gameplay, Toukon Retsuden 3 quickly established itself as one of the best wrestling games available on the Playstation. Entrances with official theme music also make their debut in this entry of the Toukon Retsuden series, which is a very welcome addition. The end result is one of the best licensed wrestling games that you could find for its time. This is well worth importing if you're into wrestling games, or if you just want to see what a match between a young Antonio Inoki vs. a young Keiji Mutoh would look like.
ape's rating:
PaRappa the Rapper - PlayStation
Release Date: December 6, 1996 (JP)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: NanaOn-Sha
Genre: Music
Master Onion. That's really all I need to say. From the minute you start playing this quirky game, and see Master Onion, it's hard to not fall in love with it. From the various songs and the various characters that help PaRappa sing them, this game is utterly charming from beginning to end. It may not be the best music game that I've ever played, but it's easily one of my favorites.
ape's rating:
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins - PlayStation
Release Date: February 26, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Acquire
Genre: Action
I was never into ninjas when I was young, so the concept of Tenchu never really appealed to me until after I had played Metal Gear Solid and really got into the stealth-style of gameplay. Once I began to play Tenchu and silently crept along rooftops and slithered from shadow to shadow to avoid detection as I fulfilled assassination contracts, I was hooked. The often gorgeous, Asain environments and wonderful soundtrack just helped add to the experience - an experience that I don't think any other game in the franchise has been able to match.
ape's rating:
Jarrett & Labonte Stock Car Racing - PlayStation
Release Date: August 25, 2000 (EU)
Publisher: Codemasters
Developer: Codemasters
Genre: Racing
Well, I'll eat my words here...I've had friends recommending this to me since it was released and I never bothered trying it. They're car fanatics, afterall. I'm not. That said, I should have listened to them. Codemasters has a very good track record, pun intended, with racing games. This is no exception. If you like racing games, and if racing on tracks around the world sounds interesting to you, then you can't do much better than Jarrett & Labonte Stock Car Racing.
ape's rating:
Gran Turismo 2 - PlayStation
Release Date: November 30, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Genre: Racing
Gran Turismo is one of my favorite racing games that I've ever played, so when a sequel came out, naturally I was looking forward to getting it. Despite having a few tweaks and improvements, more customization options, and a lot more vehicles to choose from, I just never got into this game like I did the original. It's not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination - it's very good. But since I'm not a car nut, I felt like I already did a lot of this before, even if much of the content is new. Anyway, if you liked the first Gran Turismo, you'll probably like the second. If you're like me, you'll like and appreciate the second, but still prefer the first.
ape's rating:
Champion Wrestler: Jikkyou Raibu - PlayStation
Release Date: February 16, 1996 (JP)
Publisher: Taito
Developer: Taito
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling
Of all the import wrestling games I've played, this is one that I'd heard the least about prior to playing, and it's surprising because it's actually quite good. It's your standard off-brand Japanese wrestling game of the time, with a roster full of real people, but with changed names to avoid copyrights. The learning curve may be a little steep for some, especially if you're a button-masher, but once you get the hang of it, this is a very solid wrestling game. If you take the time to actually learn and understand how to play the game, and there's an in-game training mode that should help, this very well could become one of your favorite wrestling titles on the original Playstation.
ape's rating:
No One Can Stop Mr. Domino - PlayStation
Release Date: January 8, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: ArtDink
Genre: Action
No One Can Stop Mr. Domino is one of those odd games where you play it out of curiosity 'cause it just looks weird and then find yourself hooked when you realize that it's actually a very well-made game. Basically, in Mr. Domino, you run around a course, dropping dominos in specific spots with the goal being that you trigger environmental stuff that keeps the domino tumble combo going. It's more difficult than it sounds, and that challenge kept me coming back for more. If you've never played this game before, and it sounds interesting to you, give it a try, you may just become smitten with it like I am.
ape's rating:
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo - PlayStation
Release Date: November 30, 1996 (NA)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Puzzle
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo was an interesting concept; take the head-to-head fighting of the Street Fighter games and put it into a puzzle game setting. Games like Puyo Pop had been doing this head-to-head model of puzzle games a few years earlier, where you can actually 'attack' your opponent by eliminating blocks in combos, but Puzzle Fighter underlined the fighting aspect by giving each character their own "move sets" in the form of different patterns that they drop blocks on you...Essentially making this what the title makes it sound like - Street Fighter in puzzle form. In many ways, the game borrowed ideas from the Puyo Pop games, from the gameplay itself, to many of the ideas...But in many ways, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo also improved on those ideas and/or gave them a unique twist to deliver a moderately unique experience, and one well worth playing. This game is a gem...Pun intended.
ape's rating:
Spyro the Dragon - PlayStation
Release Date: September 10, 1998 (NA)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: Insomniac
Genre: Platformer
In the days before Grand Theft Auto III made wandering around and doing nothing fun, Spyro the Dragon was a game that I have fond memories of just doing nothing in. I remember doing everything I needed to do...And then I would just wander around and explore the well-designed levels. But this game wasn't just about wandering around for me - the game itself is just fun. And as someone who enjoys hunting down and collecting things, rescuing all of the dragons was a blast to do. Year of the Dragon really perfected the Spyro formula, but the original game was a fantastic start to the franchise.
ape's rating:
R-Type Delta - PlayStation
Release Date: November 19, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Agetec
Developer: Irem
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person
R-Type Delta isn't just one of the best games in the R-Type series, it's one of the best bullet hell-type scrolling shooters that I've ever played. Graphically, everything is gorgeous and on top of that, everything is easy to see. No cheap deaths. If you die, it's your fault - you don't feel like a bullet blended in with the background to cause a cheap death. On top of that, the enemies are varied and interesting to look at, as are the various kinds of firepower that you can equip your ship with. The speed is also ramped up in comparison to previous R-Type games, which makes everything more hectic than usual, which makes for some fun times. If you're a fan of scrolling shooters and have an opportunity to give this game a shot, or feel like picking it up on PSN, I highly recommend doing so.
ape's rating:
Driver - PlayStation
Release Date: June 30, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: GT Interactive
Developer: Reflections Interactive
Genre: Action
This style of game has evolved tremendously since Driver came out, with the ability to the the missions outside of the car, on foot, swap cars when need be, etc...But the original Driver, for its time, really was an absolutely amazing game. You couldn't just fly around at top speed, ignoring traffic laws like you can in the Grand Theft Auto games...Ignore the traffic laws, and the police will be after you. Run a red light, go faster than the speed limit, and drive on the wrong side of the road all you want...Just make sure that no police are around when you do it. That aspect of realism included in the game is really a big part of what made this game so fun.
ape's rating:
Suikoden - PlayStation
Release Date: December 15, 1995 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: RPG
Suikoden was a great early RPG for the Playstation. Though graphically, it looked a generation behind, the gameplay more than made up for any visual unpleasantries. The game is short by RPG standards (20-25 hours for most folks), but the ability to find and recruit 107 other members for your party helps add the the replay value a bit. Most of the later Suikoden games are better than the original in most aspects, but with how solid the original game was, that's more of a compliment to later games in the series than an insult to the game that started it all.
ape's rating:
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*NOTE* This is a work in progress list. I own roughly 700 Playstation One games, and have played many of those titles. So, listing 'em all here will take a while. Also, I'm adding games in randomly, as I feel like it, so I can mix well-known and more obscure games in the updates to prevent myself from getting bored.
I'll be doing lists like this for all systems eventually. As I play games for the system, I'll add them to the list. They're ranked by my own personal preference, so keep that in mind if you can't figure out why game A is ranked above game B.
For release date info, I took the first release date and included the region the date comes from. Here's the key for that: NA - North America, JP - Japan, EU - Europe, AU - Australia
I'll be doing lists like this for all systems eventually. As I play games for the system, I'll add them to the list. They're ranked by my own personal preference, so keep that in mind if you can't figure out why game A is ranked above game B.
For release date info, I took the first release date and included the region the date comes from. Here's the key for that: NA - North America, JP - Japan, EU - Europe, AU - Australia
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Video Games - ranked by preference
(55 lists)list by ape
Published 12 years, 8 months ago
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