The PS1 library contains some of the most nostalgic video games ever made, depending on who you ask. Sony’s first console saw franchises like Gran Turismo, Crash Bandicoot, Wipeout, Tomb Raider and several others take off. However, there remains a few (almost) forgotten classics that PlayStation should revive.
While we’ll only be talking about five classic titles that are in need of a revival, we’ve also got a few honourable mentions in the form of Vagrant Story, the critically acclaimed RPG from Square Enix which only received one entry in 2000, and Destruction Derby, the vehicular combat racing game from Psygnosis which fizzled out after its glory days on the PS1.
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Parasite Eve
In 1998, Square Enix released their acclaimed role-playing horror game Parasite Eve, which was undoubtedly unique for its time. While it managed to gain enough success to warrant an arguably better sequel in Parasite Eve II, Square Enix and PlayStation haven’t revisited the series since its lesser known PSP sequel, The 3rd Birthday, back in 2010. There have been some rumours about a potential revival or remake of the original PS1 classic, but it remains to be seen whether or not the companies will actually play ball. The IP is currently owned by Square Enix, who seem to already have their hands full with developing other remakes like Final Fantasy VII for the time being.
Wild Arms
PlayStation is currently sitting on a goldmine with Wild Arms, an RPG series that received plenty of attention when it released on PS1. Since most RPGs swayed towards the medieval fantasy aesthetic, Wild Arms was the first that dared to break tradition by taking us to the wild west. The merger of these unlikely genres is what gave the series longevity – enough to earn four sequels all the way into the PS2 era. Where is it now? Like Parasite Eve, the final nail in the coffin for Wild Arms was a PSP release called Wild Arms XF, which got a very mixed reception. Given the highly original style, it would certainly make for a refreshing RPG today.
Bloody Roar
The modern fighting game scene is ruled by the likes of household brands like Tekken, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, but back on the PS1, several emerging fighters were battling for the spotlight. One of these forgotten gems was Bloody Roar, which injected its gameplay with the unique element of beastly transformations. The series went on to spawn four sequels across multiple platforms, but faded out during the mid-2000s as other fighters seized the market. The IP is currently owned by Japanese publisher Eighting, who have since worked on several games from Monster Hunter to Pikmin.
Pandemonium!
This one personally hits close to home for me, as it was my first introduction to hard-as-nails platformers on PS1. Pandemonium! existed at a time when 3D platformers were beginning to take off thanks to the PS1’s power, and might’ve been overshadowed by numerous other competitors. Looking back at it now, it has all the makings of a game highly deserving of a revival or remake. The quirky, off-kilter characters, witty writing and colourful fantasy aesthetic all made Pandemonium! an unexpectedly brilliant, if somewhat dated, PS1 classic. Original developer Crystal Dynamics (yes, that Crystal Dynamics) currently holds the IP. We hope Sony will allow it to breathe one day.
Dino Crisis
Finally, we come to the one you’ve been waiting for: Dino Crisis. This has probably been talked about and requested more than every game on this list combined, but for a good reason. Capcom might’ve glided on the success of the Resident Evil series on the PS1, but they also experimented with an incredibly unique dinosaur-themed survival horror. They accidentally created one of the most beloved games to ever be ignored. Thanks to Capcom flexing their remake muscles with 2019’s Resident Evil 2, it’s no wonder fans are salivating at the thought of a big-budget survival horror game with freaking dinosaurs. At the moment, Capcom still holds the IP close to their heart and away from gamers’ dreams.
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