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10 PlayStation Classic games Sony must include
PlayStation Classic is on its way, and these are the titles that need to be included.
After the roaring success of Nintendo’s reintroduction of old-school consoles in the NES and SNES Classics, it’s hardly surprising to see other platform heavyweights getting in on the action. Now, Sony have announced that their little grey phenomenon, the original PlayStation, will be getting the same treatment, with the PlayStation Classic set to arrive at the end of this year, pre-loaded with 20 nostalgia-fuelled delights. We’re champing at the bit to get our hands on already-announced titles such as Tekken 3, Ridge Racer Type 4 and, gasp, Final Fantasy VII, but there’s plenty more we’re dying to see – these are some of the PS1 classics we can’t wait to play on the PlayStation Classic.
1. PaRappa The Rapper
Back when the rhythm action genre was still in its infancy Sony released this unique title, based around the work of American artist Rodney Greenblat. The star was a rapping dog by the name of PaRappa, but his songs weren't about run-ins with the police – instead, this pooch's main concerns were getting his driver's licence or learning how to cook properly. The title's unique paper-like visuals and simplistic yet challenging gameplay made it a cult hit at the time of release, and a direct sequel followed on the PlayStation 2 in 2001, with the spin-off UmJammer Lammy arriving two years earlier on the OG PlayStation. A PlayStation Portable version surfaced in 2006 and the game is due to be remastered for the PlayStation 4 this year. Irrespective of which platform you happen to play it on, this is one of gaming's quirkiest hits and is well worth a blast.
2. Final Fantasy Tactics
While it has the Final Fantasy name on the cover, this turn-based strategy title has more in common with the likes of Tactics Ogre, Fire Emblem and Shining Force. Released in the wake of the hype for Final Fantasy VII, it gained a legion of fans thanks to its gorgeous visuals, stirring soundtrack and surprisingly deep and convoluted storyline, which features more twists and turns than your average M. Night Shyamalan movie. Exclusive to North America and Japan upon its original release, Final Fantasy Tactics thankfully saw a global launch on the PlayStation Portable in 2007, a lovingly remastered edition which has subsequently been ported to smartphones.
3. Ridge Racer Type 4
Thankfully already announced as pre-loaded for the PlayStation Classic, Namco's Ridge Racer series is practically synonymous with PlayStation, and the astonishingly accurate port of the arcade original is often credited as the game which "sold" the console to the masses. Sony's system saw sequels such as Ridge Racer Revolution and Rage Racer, but it's Ridge Racer Type 4 which arguably constitutes the zenith of the franchise on the 32-bit platform. While it lacked the depth and complexity of Gran Turismo – released at roughly the same time – Type 4 offered addictive arcade-style racing alongside some of the best visuals on the console. It even came with a souped up version of Ridge Racer on a separate disc which ran at a higher resolution than the original PlayStation release.
4. Final Fantasy VII
This is a fairly obvious one, but if you're new to the world of PlayStation then it's about as essential as it gets – and it’s already been confirmed as pre-loaded on the PlayStation Classic. Square's epic RPG spanned three CD-ROMs and packed in more emotion and drama than most Hollywood movies, and has since gone down as one of the finest examples of the genre. Indeed, it is Final Fantasy VII which is credited with popularising the RPG in the west; prior to its release, such games were seen as complicated, obtuse and geeky. Now role-playing titles from Japan have gained mainstream acceptance, and Final Fantasy as a series continues to sell millions all over the world. As you might expect, there are a wide range of ways to play Final Fantasy VII today – including PSN and mobile – but Square is also hard at work on a remake.
5. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
It's ironic that one of the most pivotal moments in the long-running Castlevania series received such a frosty reception upon release from some quarters of the gaming press. Symphony of the Night was attacked by some magazines for its 2D visuals, yet behind the 16-bit style was an epic, non-linear platforming RPG which pulled in the best bits of previous Castlevania outings, as well as Nintendo's legendary Super Metroid. While Symphony of the Night sold well in Japan and North America, the PAL copy was an undeserved flop and is therefore worth a substantial amount these days. Thankfully you can play it on your PS Vita by downloading the PSN version – and save yourself a few pennies in the process.
6. WipEout 2097
The first WipEout was a defining game in the PlayStation's launch library, but it was the second title which really refined the concept of anti-grav racing. Everything was turned up to the next level, with better visuals, faster action and a pumping soundtrack which included the likes of Orbital, The Chemical Brothers, Leftfield and The Prodigy. The WipEout series would see more sequels but 2097 is often cited as the one hardcore fans prefer, with its mix of tight gameplay, superb track design, excellent audio and inventive weaponry all combining to produce what is arguably one of the best racers on this – and any other – console.
7. MediEvil
Developed in the UK by Sony's Cambridge studio, MediEvil was loosely billed as a spiritual successor to Capcom's Ghosts 'n Goblins series at the time of release. It was blessed with a similar aesthetic, with cartoonish characters and a game world which felt like it had come straight out of a Tim Burton movie. While it wasn't exactly shy of proclaiming its inspirations, MediEvil nevertheless delivered a polished experience and became a best-seller all over the world. A sequel followed which set the action in the Victorian era, and the original was rebooted for the launch of the PlayStation Portable, but it's the very first title which really stands out as a solid-gold classic.
8. Metal Gear Solid
It's not the first entry in Hideo Kojima's world-famous tactical espionage action series – that honour falls to Metal Gear on the MSX home computer, which arrived in 1987 – but 1998's Metal Gear Solid is undoubtedly the title which turned it into one of the gaming world's most popular franchises. Kojima and his team harnessed the 3D power of Sony's console to create a movie-like outing which featured action, stealth, puzzle-solving and memorable characters, establishing the groundwork for a series which would culminate in 2015's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Kojima has now parted company with Konami and is working on new projects, which makes it even more important to experience this '90s classic with a fresh pair of eyes.
9. Gran Turismo 2
The first Gran Turismo was nothing short of miraculous, offering the kind of visuals that few thought the PlayStation was capable of. A sequel was inevitable but this second offering truly took things up a gear; 27 different tracks were included this time around – some of them based on rally racing – while nearly 650 cars were accurately modelled and represented. Not only did the game pack in an amazing amount of content, it also offered one of the most realistic game engines ever seen in a racing title, making this perhaps the best example of the genre on any 32-bit system. Gran Turismo 2 still holds up today, despite the technological advances made in the genre.
10. Einhänder
The 2D shooter went rather out of fashion during the 32-bit era, but that doesn't mean we didn't see plenty of examples on Sony's console – including RayStorm, R-Type Delta and Thunderforce V. Perhaps the most striking is Einhänder, a 1997 effort produced by RPG expert Square. Based around a core mechanic which sees you grabbing gunpods from fallen foes using your craft's single arm ("Einhänder" is a German word for a sword which is held in one hand), this visually spectacular effort has more than its fair share of thrilling set pieces, most of which revolve around its massive, screen-filling bosses. Einhänder never saw release in Europe, and has seen its value rise as the years have rolled by – a consequence of the high esteem it is held in by shooter fans. A Japanese PSN release took place in 2008, giving potential players a somewhat cheaper route to purchase.
PlayStation Classic is released on December 3, 2018.
