Why Weren’t These Games Included in the PS1 Classic? October 30, 2018

After Nintendo released the NES Classic console, which bundled thirty of their greatest original games for a reasonable price last year and received incredible sales numbers, many game companies are trying to cash in on that magic. Over two decades ago, Sony made an iconic console with games people still credit as staples of gaming, the PlayStation (or PS1). A few weeks ago, Sony announced they would release their own mini-console preloaded with games called the PS1 Classic. Yesterday we found out the list of 20 games that would be included with the mini-console. People were not happy. Only three of the projected ten games I expected were on the list. While great games like Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy VII were included, a lot of the best games from the PS1 were not. Why? Most of these games have already been digitally re-released as a PS1 Classic title for the PS3 and PSP, which should give them a higher probability of appearance.

What games do I think should have been included in the PS1 Classic? For the purposes of simplicity we won’t be including any of the games that were already announced for the classic on this list. That means games like Final Fantasy VII and TEKKEN 3 will not be included. However, we will include sequels from the same franchise as separate games that could be fair game. We also won’t have more than ten games on this list because I want people to add their own picks in the comments section below. No self-imposed limitations will be included either. Since we know the multi-disc MGS is included, Sony must have solved the problem of including multi-disc games in the classic console. The console won’t include Dual Shock controllers, but none of the games on this list will require them.

Now let’s get started shall we? I want to make it clear this list is in no particular order.

• Silent Hill – A beloved game from Konami’s archives. In it, you play as a man looking for his daughter in a creepy town inhabited by weird creatures and even weirder people. It set a new standard for horror and set the stage for one of the best games ever made. Its controls, on the other hand, take some getting used to but they would have felt fine on the PS1 controller.
• Parasite Eve – A stylish horror action game with incredible art style and unique gameplay. Square published it while riding high on FF7’s success and their risk paid off. It’s equal parts action game, visual novel, With a smattering of RPG and adventure game mixed in. I would love to play this one during a Christmas break.
• Pa Rappa The Rapper – One of the first popular games released for the PS1 was also one of the best entries in the rhythm game genre ever made. On top of that the game has some very catchy songs. To this day people still remember the lyrics, “Step on the gas, step on the gas, step on the brake step on the brake.” The game’s protagonist remains forever entwined with the PlayStation brand and that alone should have earned him a spot on this list. When I say boom boom boom you say bam bam bam.
• Spyro: The Dragon – The incredible PS1 game from the studio that would go on to create Resistance: Fall of Man, Sunset Overdrive and Spider-Man cannot be neglected. One of my first experiences playing on the PS1 came from playing a Spyro demo disc. It redefined the concept of a 3D platformer by adding the ability to glide.
• Final Fantasy VIII – That’s not a typo, I really want to play Final Fantasy 8 on the PS1 Classic. I know what you’re thinking, why would I want to play a game that has been looked upon so negatively in the last few years? Well, the game has a lot going for it. It has a unique art style and a gameplay system we haven’t seen in any Final Fantasy game since. Its story, while panned in recent years, is still iconic with a beautiful art style which has not been revisited. Also, the game has become hard to find as of late. While it did get re-released as a PS1 Classic on the PS3, PSP, and PC, it is not currently offered on the PS4 or smart devices. Guess I’ll have to hold on to my PS1 discs.
• Crash Bandicoot – At least three Crash Bandicoot platform games were released by Naughty Dog during the lifespan of the PS1. I’m choosing the first game for the simple reason that it was the game that made Crash the PS1’s unlikely mascot. No joke, many people picked up Crash Bandicoot thinking its titular hero would be the PS1’s answer to Super Mario Bros, and it was a great game to boot. Many gameplay moments first made popular in this game would go on to become staples of the gaming industry. Without Crash there would be no Uncharted and certainly no The Last of Us.
• Tomb Raider – I know this was hardly a PS1 exclusive game, but so many people remember first playing it on the original PlayStation the fact it appeared on the PC shouldn’t matter. Before its 2013 reboot, the original Tomb Raider has been considered by many to be the best of the franchise, which each sequel getting worse as time went on. Lara Croft was an instant gaming icon precisely because of this game, which defined 3D action shooters. It belongs on the PS1 Classic.
• Syphon Filter 2 – I know what you’re thinking, why Syphon Filter 2 when the first game is being included in the Classic? Well if I can be selfish for a second, from a personal perspective I think Syphon Filter 2 is a better game than the first in nearly every way. It had a better story, better graphics, and the instant switch to night vision in dark areas was one of the coolest effects I had seen at the time. I loved this game and would have been happy to see it return.

What did they miss that you want to see on this list? Post a comment below with your thoughts