For most veteran gamers, thePS1, also known as the original PlayStation, was their first point of contact with gaming. Released in Japan back in December 1994, the PS1 had great exclusives, mesmerizing worlds to explore, and likable charactersthroughout its life cycle. Naturally, the console’s graphics no longer hold up according to today’s standards. Still, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it forced developers to focus on other non-hardware-limiting aspects, such as gameplay and story.
Similar to today, some of the best PS1 games back in the day were released by AA studios. These developers had more creative freedom than many of their AAA counterparts, which typically had much larger budgets for development and a considerably bigger employee list. To reminisce and revive some timeless classics, here arethe best AA games on the PS1.
MediEvilfollows the story of Sir Daniel Fortesque. Once the legendary hero of Gallowmere, he awakens in his tomb 100 years after being struck in the eye with an arrow, which caused his death. His mission is to defeat his old nemesis, the evil necromancer Zarok. This game wasn’t just great because of its main character and his quirks, but also because it had a certain air of horror combined with comedy and fun combat mechanics.
For a game of its time, MediEvil has a decent weapon selection, ranging from axes to longbows and throwing daggers. Players can even use Dan’s skeletal arm as a weapon at the beginning of the game.
Parasite Eveis set in 1997 in New York City. It follows the story of police officer Aya Brea in a race against the clock to try and stop Mitochondrial Eve, or simply, Eve, a woman whose sole objective is to end humankind by causing people to combust spontaneously.
This survival horror gamehas many RPG aspects, such as turn-based combat and an often necessary strategic approach to boss fights.Parasite Evewas so beloved by its fans that it received a sequel in 1999 (Parasite Eve II) and a PSP exclusive release in 2010 (The 3rd Birthday).
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddyseefollows the story of Abe the Mudokon, who belongs to an alien species with powerful shamanistic magical abilities. While working his job as a floor waxer at RuptureFarms, Abe overhears his evil boss, Molluck the Glukkon, plotting to turn him and his fellow Mudokons into treats to save his failing meat-packing business. As Abe, the player’s mission is to save as many Mudokons as possible, while fighting off angry guards and navigating through challenging environments.
With its large environmental variety and noble main character, this game is a timeless classic that everyone should play at least once. For players who can’t look past older graphics and want a more modern experience, the most recent franchise installment,Oddworld: Soulstorm,might be the way to go. It’s not as good asAbe’s Oddysee,but it’s not terrible either.
When Alundra, a young elf who can enter people’s dreams, is shipwrecked on the outskirts of the village of Inoa, he sets out on a noble mission. The villagers have recurring nightmares that impact their daily lives and affect them negatively in more than one way. In an effort to help, Alundra will do his best to fight off the villagers' nightmares once and for all.
It’s worth noting that Alundra’s character design and moveset suspiciously resemble those of Link fromThe Legend of Zelda.However, the game still manages to deliverfun and unique gameplay with challenging bosses, like the Soul Leech.
Led by a top-secret agent, Gabe Logan,Syphon Filter’s story seems more like a real-world event than a fictional game. After stealing a lethal secret virus, terrorists plan to unleash it on the unsuspecting citizens of the world. It’s Gabe’s mission to frustrate the terrorists' plans and save humankind from the horrors of biological warfare.
This stealth-based game will have players hide and progress throughtunnels, open areas, and other environmentsperfect for a carefully calculated ambush. WhileSyphon Filterwasn’t the first game of its kind, it helped shape and redefine what, up until that point, was known as a spy game.
Players who played and likedBlood Omen: Legacy of Kainprobably also loved its successor,Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver. Set 1500 years after Blood Omen, this sequel follows the story of Raziel, a former vampire now turned wraith who was executed by Kain. Revived by the world’s all-powerful entity, The Elder God, Raziel becomes the deity’s “Soul Reaver,” the ultimate instrument for revenge.
This underworld-themed beat ‘em up has great combat mechanics, interesting lore, and a grim concept and world design that made it stand out from the crowd back in the day.
Led by elite agent Ashley Riot,Vagrant Storymainly takes place in the kingdom of Valendia. When Ashley is tasked with discovering the suspicious link between a cult leader and a renowned Duke of Parliament, he will have to go through a nearly infinite set of obstacles and enemies to uncover the truth.
Vagrant Storyis not only fun to explore and play, but it also has one of the most complex conspiracy storiesin the history of JRPGs. As they progress through the story, players will have a challenging, yet fun time trying to figure out who’s who.
