10 PlayStation 1 Hidden Gems

One of the first consoles that supported 3D video games and one of the most successful ones is the PlayStation 1. Released in 1994, it was in production for nearly 11 years, before finally being retired. Naturally, this means that the console had a lot of video games in its catalog, and many of them are often overlooked or underrated when good games are discussed.

This doesn’t even include the number of Japanese titles that were never translated or saw an English release. So, without further ado, here are some of the classics that you should play right now!

Air Combat 1995

About
	Release Date June 30, 1995
	Developer Namco
	Publisher Namco
	Genre Flight Simulation
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

PS1 Releases
1995-06-30
1995-09-09
1995-10-13

Developed by Namco, and released in 1995, Air Combat is based on the arcade game released two years prior. It was then re-created from the ground up for the PS1 and was the foundation for the series that would later become Ace Combat.

It is a fast-paced arcade combat, it also featured both single-player and multiplayer modes. In single-player the game is rather linear, but as the game progresses you can hire wingman(s) to help you out. Multiplayer is rather simple and the objective is to destroy the opponents as fast as possible. By completing special objectives you can also unlock additional planes, or in some cases extra minigames. It’s a good introduction to the series, and if you’re looking for a fun fast-paced combat, in the vein of Afterburner, then give this one a try.

Tail Concerto 1998

About
	Release Date April 16, 1998
	Developer CyberConnect2
	Publisher Atlus
	Genre Action Adventure
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

PS1 Releases
1998-04-16
1999-11-03

Bandai, before merging with Namco, also published several unique and original games, one of them being Tail Concerto. Taking place in a world of steampunk floating islands, you play as Waffle Ryebeard, a canine cop as he fights a group of sky pirates, the Black Cats Gang, who are stealing magic crystals.

Also, you get to control a mech, simply named “Police Robo”, which can also run, jump, climb, and of course toss enemies around. Since the mech has mechanized arms, you can also pick up boxes, bombs, and a long-range blaster. The game is a mix of an action-adventure mixed with some RPG elements. This means that you get to explore the world and talk to its inhabitants. Tail Concerto is also the first game in the Little Tail Bronx series, which was featured in developers (CyberConnect) and several other games. A colorful, fun game that oozes that PS1 charm, we all know and love. It also features Kokia, before her debut in the music industry.

Fear Effect 2000

About
	Release Date February 24, 2000
	Developer Kronos Digital Entertainment
	Publisher Square Enix Europe
	Genre Action Adventure
	Concept Sci-Fi
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS1 Releases
2000-02-24
2000-08-03

A presentation is always important in games, and being unique is one way to stand out. Fear Effect, released in the 2000s, was among the first games to try out cel-shaded graphics, mixed with survival-horror mechanics. Instead of using pre-rendered 2D graphics, it also uses streamed FMV for its backgrounds.

However, Fear Effect isn’t a survival horror game, but rather an action one, in which you control a group of mercenaries, who are looking for a missing Triad daughter. The kicker is that they aren’t there to rescue, but instead get to her first, and hold her for ransom. To better complete this task, besides using tank controls, you can also run and gun (while dual-wielding), and duck and roll when necessary. Besides its unique presentation and gameplay improvements at the time, it also has an engaging story. It also got a prequel, one year later, and a sequel in 2018.

Koudelka 1999

About
	Release Date December 19, 1999
	Developer Sacnoth
	Publisher Atari SA
	Franchise Shadow Hearts
	Genre JRPG
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

PS1 Releases
1999-12-19
2000-06-29
2000-09-27

A good concept can never die, but it must be executed properly. One of those concepts is the classic haunted house, a staple of the horror genre since its inception. Koudelka is a JRPG mixed with survival horror, similar to Resident Evil games. As such it features exploration, puzzles, JRPG-style combat, and of course engaging cutscenes.

The game has you controlling three characters from the start, the titular character Koudelka a psychic, an adventurer Edward and a bishop James. All of them have their unique attack and abilities, and they form an unlikely alliance while exploring the Nemeton mansion. One of the more remarkable things about the game is that it tries to be period specific, as it is set in the turn of the century (1898), and references real people and events. The developers, Sacnoth, also traveled to Wales, to do research and make it more realistic.

The presentation is amazing and stretches the PS1 to its limits. Despite its moderate success at the time, it served as a foundation for the Shadow Hearts series.

Vagrant Story 2000 ベイグラントストーリー (Beiguranto Sutōrī)

About
	Release Date February 10, 2000
	Developer Square
	Publisher Square
	Genre JRPG
	Concept Anime
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

PS1 Releases
2000-02-10
2000-05-15
2000-06-21

If you’re familiar with PS1, you have heard of Vagrant Story. Developed by Square, it’s currently somewhere between being forgotten and a hidden gem, but at the time of its release, it was positively received by both gamers and critics. You play as an elite agent, Ashley Riot, tasked with investigating a link between a cult and a parliament member from the kingdom of Valendia.
What follows is an intriguing story full of details, twists and turns, and memorable characters.

However, Vagrant Story is different from your standard JRPG. The game doesn’t have any shops or interaction with NPCs, and while this may seem strange at first, the primary focus of Vagrant Story is on puzzle-solving and strategy. An interesting take on the genre, which only adds to its uniqueness. Usually, the game is played from a third-person perspective, but it can be changed to first-person for more immersion.

Dungeon crawling is still a large part of the game, but the combat is more real-time with pause, unlike the more traditional turn-based one. You can target specific body parts, and the goal is to link as many chain attacks as possible and combine them with spells. With its unique presentation and approach to genre convention, Vagrant Story shouldn’t be missed out on and will keep you up for hours.

Dino Crisis 1999 ディノクライシス (Dino Kuraishisu)

About
	Release Date July 01, 1999
	Developer Capcom
	Publisher Capcom
	Franchise Dino Crisis
	Genre Survival Horror
	Concept Dinosaur
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

PS1 Releases
1999-07-01
1999-08-31
1999-10-29

When talking about survival horror on the PS1, everyone knows the classics such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Well, Capcom also created one more series, that has dinosaurs instead of zombies!
Dino Crisis is in a lot of ways similar to Resident Evil, yet it has its unique charm to it. You play as Regina, who is sent with a team to investigate a secluded research facility, and as luck would have it, it’s overrun with dinosaurs. While it may sound like a straight rip-off of Jurassic Park, it also draws inspiration from Aliens.

Unlike the zombies, the dinosaurs are much faster, more agile, and in some cases intelligent and overall more dangerous. Capcom would market it as “panic horror”, rather than a survival horror, but it does have its fair share of scary scenes. More often than not, you’ll find yourself running away from dinosaurs, narrowly avoiding them, until you get a bit more powerful weapons.

The presentation in the game is some of the best on the system, and one of the highlights is the detailed environment, music, and voice acting. It’s also the first game in the series, and the franchise will later get three more games. In conclusion, Dino Crisis must be tried at least once. Its presentation, gameplay, and level of detail make it a worthwhile experience.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment / Persona 2: Innocent Sin 2000 / 1999

About
	Release Date June 29, 2000
	Developer Atlus
	Publisher Atlus
	Franchise Shin Megami Tensei
	Genre JRPG
	Concept Anime
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

PS1 Releases
2000-06-29
2000-10-22

About
	Release Date June 24, 1999
	Developer Atlus
	Publisher Atlus
	Franchise Shin Megami Tensei
	Genre JRPG
	Concept Anime
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

PS1 Releases
1999-06-24

The second game in the Persona series developed by Atlus (P-Studio), is a vast improvement over the first game. Usually, it’s the other way around, where the sequel is lackluster, but it seems that Atlus learned from the mistakes and improved the game. In essence, the gameplay is the same, the dungeon crawling is the same, and the turn-based combat is slightly improved among some other lesser mechanics.

You control a group of high school students, investigating reality-warping rumors throughout Sumaru City, which quickly turns into something much more sinister. They are of course aided by their Personas, the personified aspects of their personalities, as you may already know. One of the biggest mechanics in the game is the rumors themselves, where rumors that are spread can be used to your advantage. For example, if you hear a rumor, you can spread it and in turn, get new items, or if you push it, a new shop that can greatly help you out.

Its unique approach to the genre and the story will keep you engaged, and believe me it’s full of twists and turns at every corner. The game wasn’t immediately localized, but because of its success, it also got a sequel a year later, called Eternal Punishment. It also received several fan translations, so now the game can be played on the original hardware, just as the devs intended.

Parasite Eve 1998 パラサイト・イヴ (Parasaito Ivu)

About
	Release Date March 29, 1998
	Developer Square
	Publisher Square
	Franchise Parasite Eve
	Genre Action RPG
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

PS1 Releases
1998-03-29
1998-09-09

Parasite Eve is a forgotten gem from Square and a fantastic take on survival horror. It is also notable for two things: first, is that it’s Square’s first M-rated game, and the second one is that it was the first Japanese-American collaboration on the project. The game is a sequel to the 1995 book of the same name by Hideaki Sena, which was one of the major influences for the comeback of the genre back in the day.

The plot follows an NYPD officer, Aya Brea, over six days she attempts to stop Eve, a woman that plans to destroy the human race. One of the first things that you will notice is the presentation of the game, which puts the PS1 hardware to its limits. It has some of the best graphics that the system can offer, followed by an amazing soundtrack and gameplay. While technically an RPG, the game is a mix of RPG with Survival Horror themes. The combat is done in real-time, and you have an Active Time bar, that tells you when it’s your turn to attack.

The overworld map is Manhattan Island, which is a nice touch and only adds to the atmosphere. The unique enemy design, and the tone of the game, create a memorable experience. Although Square experimented with the design and mechanics, it was a great success, later getting two more games. Its release was also followed by a film adaptation and two manga books.

Thousand Arms 1998

About
	Release Date December 17, 1998
	Developer Red Entertainment
	Publisher Atlus
	Genre JRPG
	Concept Anime
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

PS1 Releases
1998-12-17
1999-10-13

The great thing about the RPG genre is that it works very well with elements from other genres. However, Thousand Arms goes a bit further and tries a unique approach, a mix between RPGs and dating sims. Thousand Arms plot is pretty standard stuff for a JRPG, where an evil cult is collecting legendary Sacred Flames to bring chaos to the world, and it’s up to you to stop them.

You play as a blacksmith and must find the Sacred Flames before the cult does, by increasing the power of your weapons. The twist is that, to do so, you must meet women and go on dates with them, and as the intimacy level rises, so does the ability of her weapon.

It’s all done in comedic, fourth-wall-breaking humor, and the game has plenty of it. While the story’s premise might seem bland, it is well-made and is supported by a colorful cast of characters and of course dating. The world is also huge and with plenty of puzzles, and a pretty good combat system. It’s a different take on the whole genre, and it has enough to offer to both anime fans and RPG fans alike. Even if you don’t like RPG, its uniqueness, charm, and comedy more than make up for it.

Soul Edge 1996 ソウルエッジ (Souru Ejji)

About
	Release Date December 20, 1996
	Developer Namco
	Publisher Namco
	Franchise SoulCalibur
	Genre 3D Fighting
	Players Multiplayer, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

PS1 Releases
1996-12-20
1997-02-28
1997-05-02

The 90s were a time when fighting games were all over the place, and the transition from arcades to home systems wasn’t always so smooth. However, this wasn’t the case with Soul Edge, developed by Namco, which just after 8 months of its Aracde release, got a console version. The plot of Soul Edge follows 9 legendary warriors seeking the titular sword, and some are looking to destroy it, while others want to wield it.

Unlike other fighting games, where typically characters would use their hands (or legs), where each character has its unique weapon. In case the weapon is destroyed, they will be forced to fight unarmed. The combat is fluid, with plenty of moves to execute, and if that gets old, you can always knock your opponent outside of the ring. The PlayStation version also features a story mode, and each character has two endings. Whether it’s a good one or a bad one, is determined at certain points in the story, by playing a mini-game.

The presentation is great, and all of the CGI for the cutscenes where done in the game’s engine. The soundtrack is also amazing, especially its memorable opening theme. Soul Edge is the first game in the Soulcalibur series, and it lay a good foundation for the future. This and Tekken (another Namco franchise), really stand out as some of the best fighting games on the system.