1st Gen ps1 games were the best

[j_factor]

I was just thinking about this some more. I have over 200 games in my personal PSX collection now, and just 13 of them are from the longbox era. Granted, my collection is not "done", so there's a few on my want list, and there's also a handful that I only lack because I already have the Saturn version and you could really go either way (e.g. Gex, NBA Jam T.E.). All that considered, though, the early era for the Playstation was pretty weak IMO.

Interesting note: Of those 13 that I have, 3 are published by Sony, 4 are published by Psygnosis, and 6 are various ports. Checking out this handy list, almost all of the longbox releases fall into one of those three categories.

[Valkeerie]

I was impressed by PC ports at the time. Descent (PS1) was great and it played fine with a digital configuration. Magic Carpet was specially great on the Saturn with such a mysterious atmosphere. Mechwarrior 2 was much improved from its old release in terms of graphics, while Lobotomy's adaptation of Quake to the Saturn should have been met with the acclaim they deserved, if not for completing an awesome trilogy of shooters from Powerslave (Exhumed) to Duke Nukem 3D.

[RPGbandit]

I'll have to try out next for you. I know tears of the Sun was a good game soon. Medicine to give me the great news you coming to kill me. I love you put us in the same field field who would be movies of hot ones in the USA is one of the greatest rpgs of the system. along with shadow tower made by the same makers

[RPGbandit]

Dbl

[Thief]

No Castlevania was better than 1997 on psx!

SoTN ain't a true Castlevania to enough folks. Including me. If you want a real Castlevania game try Chronicles for PS1 which is a port of the X68000 that includes the original and and an easier graphical & sound enhanced version of the game too.

I tried to replay SotN a few times. It never happened once. Not even the Saturn port could make me replay that game again (and Saturn is my fave console). So yeah. Great the first time and only the first time for me personally.

I was just thinking about this some more. I have over 200 games in my personal PSX collection now, and just 13 of them are from the longbox era. Granted, my collection is not "done", so there's a few on my want list, and there's also a handful that I only lack because I already have the Saturn version and you could really go either way (e.g. Gex, NBA Jam T.E.). All that considered, though, the early era for the Playstation was pretty weak IMO.

Interesting note: Of those 13 that I have, 3 are published by Sony, 4 are published by Psygnosis, and 6 are various ports. Checking out this handy list, almost all of the longbox releases fall into one of those three categories.

Early era for PS1 doesn't just have to mean just 1996. It can mean 1997 too, since the first FF came in 1997, so you could still look at it as a first gen enough PS1 game.

Too me, I really started losing interest in 32-Bit era with the death of the Saturn 1998. Still collected EGM, EGM2 & GameFan monthly (so I always new what was out there), but never really seen much of interest for the PS1 after that in these mags or from what new games I was trying. Really felt like the PS1 era died then too to me. If not, I wouldn't mind hearing some gems I missed out on.

And yeah, the very first PS1 launch games didn't grab me at all back in the day. Yet it still beat the Saturn out the gate. Twisted Metal 2 was the first game that finally made me buy a PS1 (even 1cc'ed TM with every character back then).

[4Runner]

they had the most personality. Even NFL Gameday 96 and 97 (before they went polygon) were fantastic to play

You're right! NFL Gameday is hands down the best 2D football sim there was.

[Moirai]

Can't speak for Crash as I could never get into it. But SM64 has no replay value. Tried to replay it for higher/max coin score until I got to the lava stage and the BS in that stage basically showed me scoring as replay was an afterthought. Meanwhile Into Dreams is all based upon scoring. So infinite replay value. Thus is better, no? Either way, by my logic, it is.

Exactly how I feel.

I once played nights every morning for an entire summer. Racking up scores trying to beat my own records. I still play it to this day and I always will play that game. I can't say the same about any 3D mario title.

[EclecticGroove]

I only cared for a few early era PS1/Saturn games. I always felt it was a missed opportunity in terms of games.

At least here in the USA anyways, it always seemed they wanted to rush into 3D everything too soon. There was TONS of stuff they could have done with 2D gaming with the extra power and storage space on the 32bit systems, and some of my favorite games do just that. But they are in the minority in terms of what I saw released here, and absolutely in the minority in terms of what was hyped.

About 90% of my combined PS1/Saturn library is 2D games or games that used limited 3D with mostly/all 2D worlds.

Other than a few well done stand outs, I don't feel that 3D came into its own until the Dreamcast and beyond.

[cleeg]

Other than a few well done stand outs, I don't feel that 3D came into its own until the Dreamcast and beyond.

The thing about 3D is true I reckon, everything looked a bit janky, especially if the camera was free.

[j_factor]

Early era for PS1 doesn't just have to mean just 1996. It can mean 1997 too, since the first FF came in 1997, so you could still look at it as a first gen enough PS1 game.

Usually "first gen" software means a little more than a year after launch. For a clear example, Panzer Dragoon Orta was dubbed a "second-gen" Xbox game and it came out a year and two months after launch. Given that the Playstation and Saturn both launched at the end of 1994 in Japan, late '96 releases are right out as far as "first gen" status IMO. I definitely don't see NiGHTS as a first-gen Saturn game.

[goldenband]

A list of longbox games comes close to encompassing the first year of (US) PlayStation releases. Glancing at a list it looks like the last longbox releases were in June or July 1996.

Some games from later in the year still retain that grungy feel, like Steel Harbinger, but by Fall 1996 things were clearly changing. I think a good cutoff would be somewhere around Crash Bandicoot, and certainly before Tomb Raider.

Has anyone ever played that JP-exclusive Bonogurashi game? That also came out on the 3DO, and is pretty hard to find.

[j_factor]

A list of longbox games comes close to encompassing the first year of (US) PlayStation releases. Glancing at a list it looks like the last longbox releases were in June or July 1996.

Yeah, I thought that was a convenient, if slightly inexact cut-off point that could easily distinguish the "early"/"first-gen" software. Space Hulk is an odd one, but I'd include it.

[GriskaGyoran]

A tad off topic, but a game I loved on the PS1 back in the day and even today is Panzer Front. I have yet to play a tank sim this realistic and have it still be fun. There is T-34 vs Tiger, but that one was a tad overcomplicated and I didn't exactly like it. World of Tanks is fun and it remains my most played game, but compared to Panzer Front it lacks the realism.

[Team Andromeda]

Usually "first gen" software means a little more than a year after launch. For a clear example, Panzer Dragoon Orta was dubbed a "second-gen" Xbox game and it came out a year and two months after launch. Given that the Playstation and Saturn both launched at the end of 1994 in Japan, late '96 releases are right out as far as "first gen" status IMO. I definitely don't see NiGHTS as a first-gen Saturn game.

Spot on post . Some of the 1st Gen PS titles did look really really good though I have to say

You're right! NFL Gameday is hands down the best 2D football sim there wa

I'll have to say Madden 97 and 98 were far better from me

[Thief]

At least here in the USA anyways, it always seemed they wanted to rush into 3D everything too soon. There was TONS of stuff they could have done with 2D gaming with the extra power and storage space on the 32bit systems, and some of my favorite games do just that. But they are in the minority in terms of what I saw released here, and absolutely in the minority in terms of what was hyped.

Only 3D was hyped because it was new and different. Folks have been playing only 2D up to that point, so naturally everybody jumped on the 3D bandwagon for the most part back then. Only once that excitement wore off did 2D become relevant enough in the media again.

And I actually enjoy 3D games more of the PS1 & Saturn then the Dreamcast. Call me me crazy, but the 3D look & style of the Dreamcast & PS2 really upset me. Wasn't satisfied with 3D advancement until the 360/PS3 era... in fact, I totally bailed out of gaming during the PS2 era.