10 Underrated PS1 Exclusives

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I can confidently say that the PlayStation 1 era was a golden age for video games. And while classics like Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil have rightfully earned their place in gaming history, there are several hidden gems that deserve more attention. In this list, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite underappreciated PlayStation 1 games that you should definitely check out!

The modest gray device from Sony has given life to numerous cherished game series that you continue to enjoy today. While its iconic games are worthy of praise, there’s more to the PlayStation 1 than just its top-selling titles.

On the PlayStation, there are numerous hidden gems in its game collection that continue to be fun even now. Compared to other consoles, the diversity of games available on the original PlayStation is hard to beat. Here are some titles you definitely shouldn’t skip out on.

To ensure a variety of genres are represented, I made an effort to include many different types of underappreciated treasures. If you feel that some of your preferred lesser-known favorites have been overlooked, please feel free to share them with everyone in the comment section!

10. Kingsley’s Adventure

Move Over, Croc

Key Information Details
Developer Psygnosis
Genre 3D Adventure
Release Date October 1999

3D platformers are a dime a dozen on the PlayStation and vary wildly in quality.

Luckily, there are numerous understated champions in this field, and one of the most adorable is “Kingsley’s Adventure”. As you might have figured out, you assume the role of Kingsley, an orphaned fox who yearns to be a genuine knight.

During your adventure, you explore various lively locations that have unique looks and feels. Accompanying Kingsley is a small sword and shield. There’s also combat from a distance using a crossbow. The game is visually appealing, although the movement might not be as finely tuned as in something like Crash Bandicoot, it still manages to accomplish its purpose.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time playing ‘Kingsley’s Adventure’, and it’s necessary to point out that the camera can be incredibly frustrating, even for games within this genre. At times, it can be overly problematic.

9. Team Buddies

A Foul-Mouthed Action RTS

Key Information Details
Developer Osiris Studios
Genre Action RTS
Release Date September 2000

In a lively rephrasing, “Team Buddies” can be described as an exhilarating Real-Time Strategy game in which you assume the role of mischievous beans with a colorful vocabulary, bearing a striking resemblance to the characters from “Fall Guys.

Team Buddies isn’t a traditional RTS, but a non-strategic approach will absolutely get you killed.

The strategic aspect arises from scattered items throughout the map, which you can collect and bring back to your base. By arranging these items in different ways, you can construct weapons, vehicles, and even additional team members.

In addition, you don’t always have to play fair. Feel free to seize or block items your opponents are moving across the maps. And let me tell you, there’s no better feeling than surprising them with a tank they didn’t even know you were constructing.

The battles may not be perfectly smooth, but I wholeheartedly suggest giving Team Buddies a try due to its fresh take on the genre and hilarious voice acting lines.

8. T’ai Fu: Wrath of the Tiger

Tony The Tiger Has Competition!

Key Information Details
Developer Danger Close
Genre 3D Platformer
Release Date March 1999

T’ai Fu: Wrath of the Tiger is a fun 3D brawler where you play as a badass anthropomorphic tiger.

In T’ai Fu, you assume the role of the final living member of the once-vibrant Tiger Clan, embarking on a mission to vanquish the Dragon Master. The gameplay in T’ai Fu offers an enjoyable fusion of intricate platforming puzzles and intense martial arts combat.

As a seasoned gamer, I can confidently say that T’ai is an expert in the art of combat. The thrill of battle never fades, thanks to the seamless combos and abilities that I uncover throughout my adventure. With each step forward, I find myself growing stronger and mastering new techniques, which serve as powerful motivators to conquer even the toughest stages ahead.

3D levels and the camera can occasionally make combat and platforming a bit disorganized, but given the console’s capabilities, this is understandable. Despite being seldom discussed, it remains an engaging game that’s worth playing.

7. No One Can Stop Mr Domino

You’ve Never Seen A Puzzle Game Like This

Key Information Details
Developer Artdink
Genre Puzzle
Release Date January 1998

Mr. Domino Cannot be Held Back” presents an intriguing and ingenious challenge, though it carries a darker undertone when contemplated deeply.

In each level, there’s a repeating sequence of events, similar to different rooms in a townhouse. You need to arrange dominoes in such a way that they fall when it’s your turn, activating buttons in each stage as the levels repeat.

The sinister aspect lies in the functions of those buttons. Each one instigates an action within the scene, and some are seemingly harmless, such as tipping over a packet of noodles. However, others set off chaotic occurrences, for instance, detonating a bomb hidden in an oven, causing an explosion in a kitchen!

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t get enough of Mr. Domino – it’s utterly captivating! What keeps me hooked is the unpredictability; you just never know what’s coming next. The gameplay is silky-smooth, and here’s the heartbreaking part: there’s simply nothing else quite like it out there in the gaming world.

6. Devil Dice

Almost Educational

Key Information Details
Developer Sony
Genre Puzzle
Release Date June 1998

The collection of games on PlayStation is rich with creatively designed puzzle titles, although some may lack in conception, this isn’t true for Devil Dice.

As a charming fairy or sprite, you control a unique character that navigates an arena while moving and aligning dice. The objective of the game is to cluster dice so their faces display identical numbers, earning greater rewards for larger values.

There’s a system in place that creates an addictive chain of rewards based on combos. To achieve those top scores, it’s essential to have a good understanding of the mechanics and how the dice operate, including their construction. Later, you’ll find that the dice are made from various materials, which impacts their movement and reaction to your actions.

I discovered that when you combine any two sides of a dice, their total is always 7. This fascinating fact was brought to my attention by the game called Devil Dice, and its title fully embodies this idea to its extreme limit.

5. Bust a Groove

Shout Out To The EZ Mouse

Key Information Details
Developer Metro Corporation
Genre Rhythm
Release Date June 1998

I’m quite fond of rhythm games, and the PlayStation 1 has some truly fantastic titles in this genre. I bet many of you are familiar with “Parappa the Rapper,” but have you ever tried “Bust a Groove”?

Metro Corporation’s “Bust a Groove” is a rhythm game where you need to outperform your opponents and maintain center stage. This is achieved by inputting commands in sync with the music, and pulling off more intricate moves with complex inputs, making them look particularly stylish.

In addition, you can strategically draw attention away from your opponents by using unique maneuvers, thus making the cameras and spectators concentrate more on you when your opponents are facing challenges.

It’s a cool concept, and the music selection includes some excellent tunes.

4. Lifeforce Tenka

An Ambitious Take On Horror FPS

Key Information Details
Developer Psygnosis
Genre Sci-fi FPS
Release Date July 1997

In the early days, first-person shooter games were still being experimented with on the PlayStation, and many developers had yet to adopt the two-stick control scheme that we see widely used in modern times.

For enthusiasts of Sci-Fi horror genres willing to accept less refined controls, the title “Lifeforce Tenka,” or “Codename Tenka” as it’s called in the U.S., could offer much enjoyment.

You assume the role of Joseph D. Tenka, who is given the mission to eliminate an armed force that has undergone genetic mutations, orchestrated by the influential corporation known as Trojan Incorporated. Despite the rudimentary graphics, the grotesque enemies are unnerving as they relentlessly charge towards you in dimly lit passageways.

The most unique part of Lifeforce Tenka is your weapon selection. You use the same gun throughout the entire game, but it has modular functions. These modes include rapid-fire bullets and even laser beams! Lifeforce Tenka sometimes feels a little muddled, but it’s an enjoyable retro boomer shooter with impressive visuals for the platform.

3. Kensei: Sacred Fist

The School Of Hard Knocks

Key Information Details
Developer Konami
Genre Fighting
Release Date November 1998

Among the many fighting games available on PlayStation, there are quite a few duds to steer clear of. However, there are hidden gems worth discovering, so you don’t necessarily have to limit yourself to the popular choices for an enjoyable gaming experience.

In the engaging game titled “Kensei: Sacred Fist“, each character boasts a distinct combat style, and the fights feel authentic. What particularly appeals to me about Kensei is its innovative approach to blocking. Unlike traditional games where you just hold back to miraculously defend everything, in this game, blocking is a stance.

Instead of constantly taking hits like in most combat games, you sidestep and dodge attacks while defending, offering a nice break from the repetitive collisions. The move sets are imaginative, and an unusual racing mini-game becomes available for play after extended sessions.

Kensei may not have the refined quality typical of games like Tekken 3, yet it remains a decent fighting game worth exploring for fans of the genre.

2. Racing Lagoon

The Street Racing RPG You Never Heard Of

Key Information Details
Developer Square
Genre Racing RPG
Release Date June 1999

There’s a sense of playfulness about adding “Racing Lagoon” to the list, given that it was primarily a Japanese release on PS1. However, let me assure you, it’s an exceptional racing game with a rich narrative, and if you look carefully, you can find English versions available today. And just in case you missed it, this game was created by Square!

Currently, I’ve sparked your curiosity; “Racing Lagoon” is an engaging racing game with a narrative focus, in which you assume the role of Sho, a rookie captivated by street racing. The story, however, is unintentionally humorous due to its poetic writing style that seems to fall flat.

Still, racing is fun and challenging, and the allure of new parts to improve your ride is a great incentive to see Racing Lagoon through until the end.

Racing Lagoon may not be the ultimate racing game, but cars in role-playing games are quite scarce, and this one is definitely worthy of your attention.

1. Wild 9

Wexcellent!

Key Information Details
Developer Shiny Entertainment
Genre 2.5D Platformer
Release Date September 1998

Shiny Entertainment is particularly famous for the creation of “Earthworm Jim”, an eccentric and captivating 2D platform game, which later inspired its very own animated television series.

The makers behind the game “Earthworm Jim” are also the ones who developed “Wild 9”, a smooth 2.5D platformer for the PlayStation. In this game, you join Wex on his quest to save his friends from the clutches of the villain Karn.

In the style typical for its genre, “Wild 9” delivers all you’d anticipate. The controls are snug and reactive, offering occasional brain teasers in the form of light puzzles along the way.

What truly catches the eye is Wex’s distinctive “Rig,” a device that captures objects and foes using laser beams. You won’t be expected to behave gently with the Rig, as numerous hurdles demand you to eliminate enemies in gruesome manners. It’s a dark twist, but certain initial challenges necessitate you to toss enemies into meat grinders while they plead with you not to.

It’s not surprising, given their past, that they would create something as unpleasant as described, considering they developed a game where you compete in a bungee jump against a ball of mucus.

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2024-12-17 18:09