PS1 "hidden gems"

[Michi]

All right! I love this thread! All these great suggestions are really going to help me improve my meager PS1 collection. The Racketboy guides were helpful, but the PS1 library is just so huge that "hidden gems" really can't be summed up in a handful of titles.

[Bradtemple87]

I also thought to suggest The Raiden Project or Gekioh, fantastic shmups

[brunoafh]

Thought of a few more random ones that aren't on the RB list

Wild Arms 1-2 (not sure if they're hidden exactly, but I always thought they were overlooked due to the massive PSX RPG library)
Chocobo Racing
Chocobo's Dungeon
Tecmo's Deception
PO'ed (worth playing for a laugh)
Bust a Groove

[elmagicochrisg]

[Battlescore]

I have been collecting PS1 games for years, and I have come up with my little list of amazing games that don't get a lot of limelight (some of these I have for sale here, check the marketplace):

- Star Ocean the Second Story: Top 5 RPG for the PS1, combat is super-fun, item creation is addicting, and there are lots of variations to the storyline depending on who joins your party. Some of the best RPG music too.

- Einhander: Squaresoft's attempt at making a sidescrolling space shooter, and while it wasn't completely revolutionary, it had a nice feel and was very entertaining.

- Fighting Force: I used to beat'em up games like Streets of Rage, and this was basically a 3D version. Cheap game, lots of fun.

- Legend of Legaia: When it came out, I was too engrossed in the Final Fantasy games, but when I sat down and gave this game a chance, it turned out to be really fun. Combat was similar to Xenogears where you are setting up moves and combos. Definitely an underrated game.

- Persona Revelations: Very JRPG, interesting story and gameplay made for a memorable game. Good choice if you're into hardcore JRPG and appreciate a heavy story.

- No One Can Stop Mr. Domino: Quirkiest game of them all, who here as actually heard of this game? It's stupid fun, set up your dominos and try to get the best result while the wacky world of insane Japanese humor unfolds around you. Definitely have to watch the ending videos for all the playable characters.

[noiseredux]

I also thought to suggest The Raiden Project or Gekioh, fantastic shmups

dammit I still need Raiden Project. I have Raiden DX and Raiden III.

Gekioh is really good though. I also think Mobile Light Force (Gunbird) is TOTALLY underrated.

[Czernobog]

I have to give a shout out to Ehrgeiz just because I just played it at a Brunswick Zone Arcade and was very very surprised to find an Ehrgeiz cabinet. Bustin skulls with Red XIII Power Stone style while at the arcade is good fun.

I also absolutely loved and spent many hours with Chocobo Racing.

[Auron_Amarth]

- No One Can Stop Mr. Domino: Quirkiest game of them all, who here as actually heard of this game? It's stupid fun, set up your dominos and try to get the best result while the wacky world of insane Japanese humor unfolds around you. Definitely have to watch the ending videos for all the playable characters.

I remember that game, it was on one of my Official US PlayStation Magazine demo disks back in the day (remember those?). It was pretty cool.

Remember Pepsiman? It was only out in Japan I think, but I've played it on epsxe emulated and its really fun. Simple, yet fun. Check out the intro movie lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZpF6Ju2jEA

[BurningDoom]

The King's Field series, for sure. Very immersive, unique, and rewarding gaming experience.

I personally loved FutureCop LAPD and never hear anyone else talk about it. It was basically a mech-game with a Transformers-like ability, but you're a police mech, and you blow the hell out of everything in sight like in most mech games. There was also a very cool, and unique, multiplayer aspect to it where you could fight each other, take control of automatic turrets placed throughout levels, and create drones to fight for you.

Fighting Force is a great beat-em up that unfortunately just came out at the wrong time. At the time of it's release, gamers had just moved past the TON of beat-em ups that came out of the 16-bit era so many gamers shunned the game. But it's a ton of fun with destructible environment and you can use practically anything as a weapon. My only complaint being that the game is far too short.

I also agree that the Syphon Filter games were great for their time. Great mix of shooter-action and stealth-espionage. But I wouldn't call it a hidden gem. When they were out, they were pretty popular, which is why it spawned so many sequels. It just hasn't stood the test of time as well as Metal Gear Solid or Medal of Honor has.

[Xeogred]

I can definitely back Einhander, great PSX shmup.

Yeah the first Fighting Force was really awesome, it's a shame it didn't do too well I guess. Kind of hated how the second one actually ditched a lot of the bare handed combat for more guns, guess that was them trying to appeal to more people but it backfired for me I'd say.

I have to say I looked into Legend of Legaia recently and it looks really top notch and fun, I'm gonna have to track it down sometime soon.