What Are The Best PS1 Games For Today?

[Gamerforlife]

Darkstalkers 3 may not have been the best example, but it was not mutilated. It didn't lost any ESSENTIAL frames of animation and it had extras not available in the Saturn version like a FANTASTIC original character creation mode that let you customize and name a character, then make then insanely powerful by "levelling them up" in a series of battles. What it lacked in character size or missing animation, it made up for in content. Gameplaywise, it was no worse than the Saturn version and that's what counts. Plus, it still looks good, even if not as good as the Saturn version

I was really referring more to the SF Alpha ports though, which were really good and critically acclaimed as Racketboy alluded to. Big sellers too, nobody who played them cared what they were missing out on with the Saturn. The SF Alpha gamers were a staple in most PS 1 owners libraries, and many people will list at least one of them when discussing the PS1's best games. Frankly, Capcom probably made MUCH more money with the Playstation versions of the Alpha series than the Saturn ones

Plus, Rival Schools was a pretty good pseudo 3-d figher, as well as its Japan only sequel. PS 1 owners also got a fine version of Pocket Fighters.

I know retro gamers love to declare the Saturn and Dreacast as the best 2-d systems. For the most part it's true, but don't think Capcom and 2-d in general didn't have a presence on the PS 1. The only games Capcom really butchered were X-Men vs Street Fighter and its follow ups as the system did not have enough RAM for all those characters and couldn't do the tag team feature properly. I could also mention Megaman X4 and Castlevania Symphony of the Night as better than their Saturn versions graphically(Plus, SOTN had worse load times on the Saturn)

[Intangir]

I'll mostly reiterate since I'm so late, but if someone took away my PC, SNES, NES, etc, and all I had was my PSOne to play--well, that'd really suck. Hardly any great RPGs and those early 3D graphics (which look like the software-rendered caliber of bad) just look horrific nowadays (non-emulator). Nevertheless you'd find me going through these games:

Metal Gear Solid (Duh)
Symphony of the Night (Duh)
Suikoden 2 (probably the only true RPG on the system I'd return to)
Vagrant Story (Duh)
Final Fantasy Tactics (Duh)
Brave Fencer Musashi (3D Action-RPG goodness, almost completely overshadowed by Ocarina of Time)
Alundra (2D Action-RPG goodness)
Twisted Metal 2 (So much fun in its day)
Syphon Filter (I still have good memories of this game, don't know how long I could play it today though)
Einhander (Duh)
Bushido Blade (I don't even like fighting games and I was playing this)

I played through Chrono Cross last year and totally hated it. It does win points for being a polished title, but if we're operating under "What I'm looking for are games that haven't been made obsolete by newer sequels" then we're way off. Well, not way off. It's more like an inverse of that. Actually it's not quite an inve--I'd rather play Chrono Trigger, ok. Even if I didn't have access to my SNES, I'd... I don't know... prick my finger with my tooth and draw doodles of Chrono Trigger on the walls instead of replaying Chrono Cross.

[RadarScope1]

I'd second many of the games already mentioned, including SOTN, FFT, Einhander, PaRappa and MGS.

No one's really mentioned racers. The Wipeout series was excellent, as it it had a different kind of feel and play mechanic than any other racer. I still have fun going back to the first one, but I'll admit I'm not that familiar with the other two, which are probably better. With only one sequel early in the next console generation (and a PSP offshoot), it would seem to fall into RB's criteria.

I still have fun playing Ridge Racer games, too, but those are everywhere and probably not good for this list. If you must have one, R4 would be best to include.

MMX4 was mentioned, but I'll say that I do like MM8. Really tight gameplay and a decent little upgrade system.

So is this board going to kick the three FF games to the curb? Too obvious a choice? Too overrated? In the "games for today" category, I'd vote for 8. FF7 looks dated and is overpriced.

[racketboy]

Darkstalkers 3 may not have been the best example, but it was not mutilated. It didn't lost any ESSENTIAL frames of animation and it had extras not available in the Saturn version like a FANTASTIC original character creation mode that let you customize and name a character, then make then insanely powerful by "levelling them up" in a series of battles. What it lacked in character size or missing animation, it made up for in content. Gameplaywise, it was no worse than the Saturn version and that's what counts. Plus, it still looks good, even if not as good as the Saturn version

I was really referring more to the SF Alpha ports though, which were really good and critically acclaimed as Racketboy alluded to. Big sellers too, nobody who played them cared what they were missing out on with the Saturn. The SF Alpha gamers were a staple in most PS 1 owners libraries, and many people will list at least one of them when discussing the PS1's best games. Frankly, Capcom probably made MUCH more money with the Playstation versions of the Alpha series than the Saturn ones

Plus, Rival Schools was a pretty good pseudo 3-d figher, as well as its Japan only sequel. PS 1 owners also got a fine version of Pocket Fighters.

I know retro gamers love to declare the Saturn and Dreacast as the best 2-d systems. For the most part it's true, but don't think Capcom and 2-d in general didn't have a presence on the PS 1. The only games Capcom really butchered were X-Men vs Street Fighter and its follow ups as the system did not have enough RAM for all those characters and couldn't do the tag team feature properly. I could also mention Megaman X4 and Castlevania Symphony of the Night as better than their Saturn versions graphically(Plus, SOTN had worse load times on the Saturn)

I guess I would agree with that...
I just didn't want the blanket statement of all 2D Capcom fighters to be out there.
And yes, Rival Schools was great, but would anyone think it has advantages over Project Justice on the DC?

[Intangir]

So is this board going to kick the three FF games to the curb? Too obvious a choice? Too overrated? In the "games for today" category, I'd vote for 8. FF7 looks dated and is overpriced.

I think everyone here's just moved past that whole old-generation Final Fantasy/RPG tedium. I for one wouldn't be able to find the time, patience, or the will to replay any of the standard FF games for the PSOne.

The mass majority may complain about the absence of FF7, though, since I reckon most new-agers cut their teeth on it.

Edit: Crap I forgot the Oddworld games! Good call.

[Gamerforlife]

Actually Racketboy, you're right. I was kicking myself for saying ANY Capcom fighter on the PS1, but I did kind of mention the ones I was more referring to. Though, in retrospect, while I like the PS 1 port of Darkstalkers 3, I probably should have left it out and just mentioned the Street Fighter Alpha games. I think most people would agree that both PS 1 and Saturn owners got good versions of the Alpha games, though I would imagine the Saturn versions were every so slightly better. I still think they had more of a presence on the PS 1 though than the Saturn given the wider audience the PS 1 had, and the good reviews the PS 1 ports got.

It's been brought up that nobody was mentioning Final Fantasy. I was going to,but I figured I didn't need to because I KNEW other posters would. I was trying to get in a few games that I didn't think others would mention and EVERYONE knows of FF 7's impact on the PS1. If we were talking about defining PS 1 games, I would at least mention FF7, but I think Racketboy is looking for PS 1 games that haven't really been matched or done better, and Square has made FF quite popular on the PS 2, and it could be argued(and I'm not necessarily expressing my own opinion here)that FF X outdid the PS 1 FF games.

[landpirate36]

I second the oddworld garmes and parrapa the rappa.

Also how about point blank 2? may be a bit pricy, but its still a great party game.

[tHePhAnToM!??!]

Point blank was awesomeo.
list is like this

Koudelka
Megaman Legends 1 and 2
Legacy of Kain Blood Omen and Soul Reaver
Legend of Dragoon
Jackie Chan Stuntmaster (love this game lol)
Wipeout 3
Evil Zone
Fear Effect 1 and 2
Threads of Fate
Soul of the Samurai
Both Bushido Blades
Jet Moto
Jade Cocoon
of course a lot of the games already mentioned
OOOOOO...............ORE NO RYOURI!!!!! this game was fucking awesomeo to the max. Cooking mama aint got shit on this game.
a few i can not remember right now but will later. ima go play cannon spike

[RadarScope1]

I for one wouldn't be able to find the time, patience, or the will to replay any of the standard FF games for the PSOne.

Well I can definitely relate to that. But that doesn't necessarily mean others don't have the time. Guess it depends on what is meant by "best for today." I would think price would come into play on that, and I saw a copy of Valkyrie Profile at one of my local game stores today for $150. Great game but not very practical to get hold of outside of emulation.

[Gamerforlife]

So is this board going to kick the three FF games to the curb? Too obvious a choice? Too overrated? In the "games for today" category, I'd vote for 8. FF7 looks dated and is overpriced.

I think everyone here's just moved past that whole old-generation Final Fantasy/RPG tedium. I for one wouldn't be able to find the time, patience, or the will to replay any of the standard FF games for the PSOne.

The mass majority may complain about the absence of FF7, though, since I reckon most new-agers cut their teeth on it.

Edit: Crap I forgot the Oddworld games! Good call.

I tend to play FF games only once. They're fun the first time through for the awesome graphics, surpises, cutscenes and story but much less interesting the second time through. I usually use a faq on my first playthrough of any FF game so I can just get everything on the first run.

I did play FF3/(6 in Japan)more than once though, but it was my first rpg so I think it was more of a fascination with a new genre