The original Sony PlayStation was released in December 1994, which means it is now 30 years old. In honor of this milestone, I'm taking a trip down memory lane by listing my 30 most memorable PSX games.
1) Auto Destruct - Combining high-speed driving and weaponry warfare, Auto Destruct is every hardcore gamer's fantasy to enjoy driving in an open world while carving destruction against terrorist forces. In this game, you are part of The Temple and you're avenging the death of your family against an extremist terrorist cult called The Cult of Lazarus. You are driving a high-tech sports car loaded with an arsenal of weapons essential to bring The Cult of Lazarus to oblivion.
2) Theme Hospital - Theme Hospital is one of my all-time favorite games. I love building my own hospital, managing the staff, curing patients, and researching new equipment. It's a serious game that needs to be taken seriously, and the earthquakes add an extra layer of challenge.
3) Star Ocean: The Second Story - I know this game says "Second Story," but it's actually the first Star Ocean RPG for the PSX. This game has a huge fanbase, and I got hooked on it. Whether you choose Claude or Rena as your main character, the game's epic storytelling is worth getting addicted to. My favorite characters are Celine, Bowman, and Dias. Celine has powerful magic spells, Bowman's Poison Pills attacks are wickedly powerful, and Dias sees Claude as his rival.
4) X-MEN Vs. Street Fighter - I remember playing X-Men vs. Street Fighter as a kid with my family. I loved Street Fighter, but I always lost. This game is a crossover fighting game that combines characters from both franchises. You can play as your favorite characters from either franchise and battle it out in tag-team brawls. The game features a variety of locations and allows you to unleash powerful combos to defeat your opponents. Unfortunately, I couldn't pull off any of the powerful combos.
5) Mortal Kombat 4 - Mortal Kombat 4 is a cult classic that features some of the most memorable characters, such as Raiden, Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Sonya, Sub-Zero, and Scorpion. It's the first MK game to feature weapons that can unleash devastating damage on your opponent. The game is very brutal and bloody, but it's worth addicting until you get to the "FINISH HIM/HER" part, where you can unleash character-specific fatalities. FATALITY!
6) Gran Turismo - Gran Turismo is one of the most successful PlayStation games ever made. It features a huge roster of licensed cars from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Chevrolet, Aston Martin, Dodge, and TVR. For starters, you can buy a used car, but you can't afford a car from the new car dealership. You can tune your used car to make it competitive, and then you're off to the races. Before you can join the big leagues, you must get a license. Each race requires a certain license, and to get one you must pass a series of challenges. Getting a bronze target may be enough, but true professionals go for the gold. I know, license challenges keep getting tougher and tougher, but if I get it right, I had the urge to pass all challenges to get the license.
7) Gran Turismo 2 - Two years later, the Gran Turismo experience expanded in Gran Turismo 2, which I believe is undoubtedly the best GT game I have ever played in ages. For an added twist, GT2 has two discs; disc one is called the Arcade Disc where you can race against opponents, time attack, two-player, and so on. Disc Two is called the Simulation Disc where in this disc, you are here to collect over 500 cars, complete license tests, and race in different cups to win new cars. The cars you obtained from Disc Two can be imported for Disc One gameplay. Of 500 cars in the game, there has been the inclusion of rally cars (which were new back then), kei cars, and the hybrid car they called the Toyota Prius. One of my favorite cars in the game is none other than the fan-favorite Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak Version because with over 900HP of power and 4WD, you are truly invincible in most races! Other memorable cars include the long-forgotten Venturi, the Vector M12, the Renault Espace F1, the HKS Drag R32, the Daihatsu Midget II truck, and many other cars that made a huge mark in this game. There's also some one-make race series hosted by car manufacturers in GT2's Simulation Disc. Pick the right car for the race and race against equally matched cars! Simple as that.
8) R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 - Ridge Racer Type 4 is the fourth installment of the Ridge Racer series. It was released in late 1998 by NAMCO. It is one of my favorite installments in the series because of the game's grooving music and closing theme song. In this installment, you get to be part of one of four racing teams, and then choose a machine to drive for the championship. Each team serves as a difficulty setting for gamers. The Team Mappy gives cars better handling, the Pac Racing Club possesses a well-balanced performance, RT Solvalou focuses more on speed, and the Dig Racing Team is by no means the hardest team to be for the championship.
9) Metal Gear Solid - The stealth action game that started the craze is one of the best PSX games of all time. It's the pride of Konami and the creator Hideo Kojima because even though it's complicated to progress because it's focused on stealth just like its MSX predecessors, the storyline is brilliant as are the characters, the soundtrack, and the boss battles. One of the most memorable boss fights is against Psycho Mantis where players try to defeat him using the second controller from their PSX. This game really set the template for other installments of this hit franchise and it keeps evolving as years pass by. SNAAAAAKKKKEEEE!!!
10) Bust-A-Move - One of the most memorable rhythm music games in ages and by no means one of the most complicated games to play. In this game, you have to tap the right buttons before the next set of buttons to tap will appear and do it over and over until the music is over. Even though the gameplay sounds tricky for a rhythm game, the soundtrack is enjoyable to listen to over and over again. My favorite soundtracks from this game are from Shorty, Strike, Hamm, Hiro, and Kitty-N. Can't believe Japanese music label Avex got involved in this game.
11) Syphon Filter - I'm sure most of you hardcore gamers remember this one. In this game, you are Agency operative Gabe Logan, and your mission is to stop the terrorists from unleashing the Syphon Filter virus. Spanning around the world from Washington D.C. to Almaty, Kazakhstan, this game is worth pulse-pounding as you progress through each mission. What's disturbing is shooting down enemies equipped with Flak Jacket and what's cool is the taser weapon that can barbecue enemies in a few seconds. Cool.
12) Crash Bandicoot 2 - Crash Bandicoot 2 is the first game in the series that I played. It's a sequel to the original Crash Bandicoot, which was developed by Naughty Dog a few years ago. In Crash Bandicoot 2, the once-defeated N Cortex is back with a vengeance. You play as Crash Bandicoot, warping through a series of twisted dimensions, defeating enemies, and stopping bosses like Ripper Roo, Komodo Bros., Tiny Tiger, N Gin, and N Cortex to save the universe. To complete a level, you have to find a crystal. Seasoned pros will want to smash every single crate, but some crates are dangerous, such as the TNT box that detonates within three seconds and the Nitro box that explodes on contact. The only way to destroy them without touching them is with a voodoo mask.
13) Crash Bandicoot Warped - The third installment of the Crash Bandicoot game is always an enjoyable one and not only you can enjoy the added thrill that you expect from the last two, but you can also play as his sister Coco for the first time but only in the part where she rides with a baby polar bear or a baby tiger named Pura. In this installment, there are power-ups to collect after defeating a boss and these can be a lot helpful in numerous situations.
14) Syphon Filter 2 - Continuing where the first one left off, Lian Xing is captured by the Agency and Gabe Logan is on a race against time to stop the virus from spreading, with the help of a former Agency operative Teresa Lipan (via radio). This sequel features a whole arsenal of weaponry such as handguns, snipers, or close-range weaponry such as a knife and a hand taser. Not only you can play as Gabe but also Lian as she tries to survive with the virus in her body. If solo gameplay isn't their thing, they can play as their favorite characters and go all-out with the 2-player versus mode.
15) Crash Team Racing - Crash Team Racing is a racing game suitable for the whole family. You can play as Crash Bandicoot, his friends, or his enemies. The goal is to race your way to victory. Power-ups scattered throughout the track can speed up or slow down your foes, making the game more thrilling. In quest mode, you must progress through numerous races, defeat bosses, and collect keys to defeat Oxide. Have you made it all the way?
16) Spyro the Dragon - I remember playing one when my mom introduced it to me. It's about the titular character named Spyro as he sets on an adventure to free his dragon race from their crystalline prisons done by the evil villain named Gnasty Gnorc as he sets off across six worlds, running, jumping, gliding, rolling, and spitting flames against baddies. Although I might find this game a lot boring, the first Spyro game is enjoyable and repetitive as you're looking for some secrets lurking around the world around him.
17) Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! - In this sequel, Spyro wanted to deserve a break after saving the world of dragons from Gnasty Gnorc so he's on vacation to Dragon Shores until... Well, that's how the sequel tells and on this sequel, Spyro the Dragon is on the biggest adventure of a lifetime, saving the world from the evil Ripto and his henchmen. Throughout his journey, Spyro gains some new abilities such as swimming, climbing, glide-hover, ground stop, superfly, supercharge, and superflame. These newly found abilities are highly essential for gamers as they progress through a vast world of surprises, meeting new friends, stopping new enemies, and saving the world...again.
18) Syphon Filter 3 - In the third installment of the franchise, Gabe and Lian are under trial for the crimes they didn't commit. As they retold about their past missions, the virus keeps spreading and in this race against time, they have to clear their names and find out who's responsible for this. This third installment features a flashback full of storylines gamers will progress through numerous missions in the name of redemption, more exciting 2-player VS mode, and mini-games that will test your skills.
19) Die Hard Trilogy - Three games based on three Die Hard movies are in one unique game for hardcore gamers and movie fans alike. There's the first Die Hard in the form of a third-person shooter, then there's Die Hard 2: Die Harder in the form of an arcade-style shoot-em-up game, and then there's Die Hard With a Vengeance in the form of a driving game in a race against time to save New York from exploding the heart of the city. Whichever Die Hard game I've played on this 3-in-1 PSX game, Die Hard Trilogy really feels like I'm reliving the first three Die Hard movies starring Bruce Willis as John McClane. Yippee Ki Yay!
20) Chocobo Racing - This Final Fantasy spin-off features the loveable Chocobo as he and Mog are on a quest to find fragments of the legendary Blue Crystal, which they can only gather by racing against memorable FINAL FANTASY characters. Although being childish for a fantasy racing game, it's still cute to play even when there are powerups and special abilities that can turn the tide in your favor. Yes. I said it's cute because there are very cute characters on the roster except for the unlockable one.
21) BIOHAZARD 3: Last Escape - As the third entry of the BIOHAZARD (Resident Evil) franchise, this third installment is set during the events of the previous game. Former STARS officer Jill Valentine is trapped in the zombie-infested Raccoon City and she does all means to escape this hellhole, even under the prying eyes of Umbrella's deadly weapon; Nemesis.
22) Dino Crisis - Made by the folks behind the BIOHAZARD franchise, this pee-in-the-pants survival horror game centers on a SORT agent named Regina as she and the team's mission to track down the missing scientist caught in a primeval hellhole.
23) Dino Crisis 2 - Sequel to the hit survival horror game, this installment sees Regina joining forces with Dylan as they venture through a mysterious island infested with dinosaurs. This game features a currency system that allows players to purchase items, weapons, equipment, and upgrades, not to mention post-game content.
24) 007 Racing - Living the Bond lifestyle just got a whole lot crazier as our dream of driving some of the best Bond cars in the films comes to life in 007 Racing. From the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger to the iconic Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me, each Bond car is crafted specifically for different kinds of missions to execute and you can play head-to-head against a mate a la Twisted Metal.
25) Twisted Metal 4 - The fourth installment of the Twisted Metal franchise, this twisted chapter saw Sweet Tooth take control of the Twisted Metal game from Calypso. Only those who are "twisted" enough to beat Sweet Tooth and grant their wishes. In addition to new playable characters, including a guest appearance by Rob Zombie, this game is the first to feature a vehicle creation system where you can create your own twisted machine and battle.
26) Metal Slug - A unique side-scrolling game by SNK, Metal Slug pits players in the role of a soldier battling against enemy forces while rescuing prisoners. In addition to collecting power-ups such as Heavy Machine Gun, Shotgun, Flame Shot, and Rocket Launcher, they can even ride a tank to level the odds.
27) GTA2 - GTA2 is one of my favorite games on my PSX. In this installment of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, players venture across three cities dealing with rival factions and a shadowy organization called Zaibatsu. Gaining respect for each faction requires completing their missions and consequently, killing rival faction goons. More respect results in more missions. This game says it all. Respect Is Everything.
28) Assault: Retribution - A shooter game reminiscent of the Contra games, Assault: Retribution pits players as one of the soldiers on a mission to eliminate alien threats. Solo gameplay is good but it's fun as a two-player co-op.
29) LEGO Racers - LEGO Racers is a racing game where players can build their own race car and driver. The game features a variety of racetracks, including a seaport, a haunted castle, a jungle, and even space. The goal is to defeat the toughest drivers and win the championship. Do you remember playing this game?
30) Point Blank 2 - Point Blank 2 is the second installment of NAMCO's Point Blank games where players enjoy numerous shooter games, testing their marksmanship in various situations. There's even a story mode where you must rescue the princess who went missing around the theme park.
HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY TO THE PLAYSTATION! Here's hoping for the evolution of the PlayStation brand in the future.
