During the 16-bit era of video games, Nintendo and Sega were having an all-out war to dominate the gaming industry, with both sides displaying significant prowess in the hardware and software departments.
When it came to the leap into the third dimension, a whole new contender entered the scene and truly revolutionised the industry for the better. That console was the original PlayStation, Sony’s first foray into the gaming market, and what a debut it was.
From the usage of CDs to the amazing support from third-party developers, the PlayStation laid the foundation for a remarkable line of consoles that is still seeing success today even after four different iterations.
So what were the games that made the original PlayStation such a hit and secured Sony’s place in gaming history? Let’s take a trip down memory lane.
Tekken 3
Truly, each Tekken game on the original PlayStation was a steady refinement of the series’ one-on-one fighting system, with Tekken 3 being a culmination of both technological advancement and gameplay perfection when it originally released. While we are up to the seventh entry of the series now, Tekken 3 deserves its place in history as the series blueprint.
Spider-Man
Licensed games are a mixed bag, but when they’re good, they’re really good. Such was the case with many games of the 32-bit era, with Spider-Man being the standout example of how to do a proper video game adaptation of a licensed property. Since then, Spider-Man games have made the PlayStation consoles their home, with even the newer ones being exclusive to Sony’s consoles.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
While Nintendo regaled younger players with Pokemon on their systems, the older kids were out learning skateboard tricks and dream of joining the X-Games. When it was all said and done, these teens went back to the Tony Hawk games to hone their skills further and enjoy some tunes. Pro Skater 2 on the original PlayStation cemented the legacy of Tony Hawk as a legend.
Resident Evil
It’s crazy to think that before the arrival of 3D games, there was no such thing as survival horror games, or even horror games in general. It was Resident Evil that began this spooky trend, one that truly delivered an immersive and engaging scare to players. Why visit a real-life haunted mansion when players could simply explore one from the comfort of their homes?
Armored Core
If you think FromSoftware only made an impact on the PlayStation with the likes of the Dark Souls franchise and Bloodborne, then you are dead wrong. Before they were known as the tough action RPG guys, FromSoftware wowed players with their defining mech game, Armored Core. It definitely set the trend for more player customisation options in games, and placed a heavy emphasis on multiplayer combat.
Crash Team Racing
While we could gush on and on about how the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy redefined platformers as a whole, we thought it would be more important to highlight the bar Crash Team Racing set for the kart racing genre. With intuitive controls and completely 3D models (as opposed to Mario Kart 64’s sprites), it was a true showing of the hardware capabilities of the original PlayStation.
Tomb Raider
During the 8-bit and 16-bit era, it was hard to make a platformer and shooter hybrid that didn’t come off as a cartoon adventure or a hardcore shoot ‘em up. Tomb Raider was the first game to truly find a balance between being both an action-packed and a thrilling globe-trotting adventure. Half James Bond, half Indiana Jones, it’s no wonder Uncharted would later have so much success on PlayStation consoles of the future.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Here’s the thing: at launch, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night wasn’t a major hit, and it was seen as a step backwards due to its usage of 2D sprites instead of 3D models. Flash forward to today, and it is one of the most influential games of all time, being the progenitor of the metroidvania genre. It showed the world that there is still space for 2D games no matter the era.
Metal Gear Solid
Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece paved the way for video games to borrow a whole lot more from film in terms of presentation. With its fully voice-acted cutscenes and riveting gameplay, Metal Gear Solid is what gave the PlayStation its reputation of offering more cinematic video game experiences to its players. It is a reputation that is still upheld today in many ways.
Final Fantasy VII, VIII, & IX
As massive as Final Fantasy VII was, we’re willing to argue that all three mainline Final Fantasy games were important in defining the original PlayStation. Final Fantasy VII showed off the scale and scope players could expect from the console, Final Fantasy VIII proved that it was capable of remarkable audio and video feats, and Final Fantasy IX was a graphical marvel that celebrated the past and future of the franchise in a meaningful way.
