It could be easily argued that the PS1 is one of the greatest consoles of all time, if not the greatest. Those who grew up in the 90s can fondly remember bringing home that beautiful gray console, popping in a disc, and then being wowed by the iconic startup music. That startup music alone can send nostalgic chills down any PlayStation fan’s spine.
There are several reasons why the PS1 is important to gaming culture and why it’s an easy console to go back to today, at least for its games. So, let’s argue the point that the PS1 is the greatest console ever made. Here are some easy-to-understand reasons why that’s the case.
It Brought Sony Into The Console Race
A Console For The People
At the time, it was unfortunate that Nintendo lost faith in Sony and pulled out at the last second on their deal to develop a console. Now, Sony can look back and see it was the greatest thing to happen to them because, as a result, they dominated the first 3D console market. The PS1 outsold the N64 by a large margin, thanks to its better roster of games, lower prices, and an earlier launch.
Sony’s embrace of the disc-based format was a blessing as they were cheaper to produce, thus leading to cheaper games prices than what N64 cartridges could offer. Plus, the PS1 could play CDs and act as a home stereo, which was cool and very on-brand for Sony since their Walkman was also revolutionary at the time.
The Greatest Roster Of Final Fantasy Games
And One Black Sheep
On the PS1, mainline and spinoff Final Fantasy titles stood out. Final Fantasy 7, especially, broke new ground in graphics, storytelling, and CG cutscenes. Final Fantasy 9 was a strong farewell to the series’ classic style, and Final Fantasy Tactics helped popularize tactical RPGs.
Though divisive, Final Fantasy 8 remains highly regarded by many. These four games could overshadow the entire libraries of other consoles, without even mentioning the numerous spinoffs and collections that were also on PS1.
Squaresoft’s Most Experimental Age
From Fighters To Shooters
While the PS1 played host to stellar Final Fantasy games, it was also a factor in Squaresoft’s golden era, before they became Square Enix. The developer’s original and published titles stood out for experimentation. Brave Fencer Musashi echoed Zelda, Bushido Blade was a one-hit fighter, and Einhander was a side-scrolling shooter.
Then there were the RPGs that had weird gameplay or unique settings, like Parasite Eve, Vagrant Story, Valkyrie Profile, and Xenogears. While all of these didn’t branch off and become as successful as Final Fantasy, they were all bangers. There were more great non-Squaresoft RPGs on the PS1, but Squaresoft definitely played a big part in making the console an RPG juggernaut.
Gave Birth To Modern Survival Horror
The Nightmare Begins
Resident Evil debuted in 1996, and was temporarily a PS1 exclusive, and it changed horror games forever. While it can be hard to go back to the first three games in the series thanks to their tank controls, they are still important horror experiences. They helped give rise to other horror franchises, both big and small, like Dino Crisis, Fear Effect, Parasite Eve, and Silent Hill.
To this day, Silent Hill is still probably the greatest horror franchise rival to Resident Evil, and it’s great that they’re both trying to do something different for the horror genre. Perhaps this Halloween, PS1 fans should relive the console’s full horror offerings.
Wildly Distinct Range Of Graphics
From 2D To 3D
The PS1 has an incredibly wide variety of artistic choices in its games. The low polygonal look is catching on once again with modern games, and it’s easy to see that these new developers are PS1 fans. Resident Evil and Final Fantasy were groundbreaking for their time as stunning, fully 3D games.
Beyond fully 3D games, there were also 2D games that used pixelated graphics or 3D models, like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Tomba. Finally, there’s Mega Man Legends and Parappa the Rapper, which used more cartoonish art styles that helped them stand the test of time. Beyond genres, these examples help showcase how diverse the PS1 became graphically.
Pushed Forward Dramatic Storytelling
Metal Gear Solid’s Reemergence
There are better stories in games today, admittedly, but the PS1 can be thanked for pushing video game storytelling forward. Also, while confusing in some respects, these games still have engaging narratives, even if they’ve aged in other respects. Metal Gear Solid is the best example, as it was an incredible leap forward from the NES days, what with its long cutscenes and credible voice talent.
Final Fantasy 7, again, is another fine example, as it made that series more mature, from its themes to its bloody content. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver is another premiere PS1 narrative, a dark tale that is well-voiced with a gripping tale of revenge. The PS1 may be decades old, but these stories are timeless.
Future Proof Backwards Compatibility
For Two Consoles, At Least
The PS1 discs were known to get smudged and scratched, but with the right tools, they could be mended. What’s astounding is that any games that PS1 fans grew up with then stayed with them for two more console generations.
The PS2 was backwards compatible without any other device needed. The PS3 launched as a fully backwards compatible PS1 machine, and the first round of consoles were also backwards compatible with most PS2 games. Sadly, that feature was removed in later generations, but PS1 discs still worked. It is truly remarkable that the PS1 was such a well-constructed console to develop for that it was easy enough to make its games playable on at least two future consoles natively. How’s that for a legacy?
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