Weirdest Platformers on the PS1

Summary

The PS1 had its share of weird platformers, like Tomba! and Saban’s Iznogoud, which were eccentric but had their unique charm.
Pandemonium! stood out with dual protagonists, while games like M&M’s Shell Shocked resembled Crash Bandicoot.
Jersey Devil offered a unique mix of thematic elements, while Skullmonkeys’ deranged claymation style was truly bizarre.

In the early days of console gaming, platform games were highly profitable businesses. Before titles like Grand Theft Auto 3 revolutionized the open-world format, platform games were considered engaging adventures suitable for any intellectual property (IP). These games certainly lived up to their potential.

As the PlayStation 1 (PS1) came onto the scene, developers were hurriedly adding fresh designs to a time-tested game formula. Titles like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon contributed significantly to the console’s popularity, but many imitators didn’t make much of an impact. Let’s dive into some of the most peculiar platformer games available on the PS1.

7. Tomba!

Pig Rustling

It’s important to note that not every game on this list is poor quality. In fact, one game, Tomba!, has garnered a significant fanbase and even received multiple ports across various platforms, including a special edition for the latest consoles. However, I must admit that the concept of a wild, pink-haired child hurling himself around the screen to retrieve his grandfather’s bracelet while engaging in battles with anthropomorphic pigs is quite unusual, to say the least.

In terms of platforming games, Tomba! stands out as quite quirky. The gameplay is fast-paced and often involves the character, Tomba, bouncing around in rapid succession. Coupled with its bright, vivid graphics, it borders on being overwhelmingly stimulating.

6. Pandemonium!

The Jester and The Sorceress

Originating from Crystal Dynamics, famous for the Tomb Raider series, and Toys For Bob, known for reinvigorating two beloved PlayStation platformers with the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy, this timeless gem is an early venture by these two developers that fans of platform games may recall.

In the game “Pandemonium!”, it stands out among its peers with two playable characters, Nikki the sorceress and Fargus the jester, whose roles can be interchanged freely by players. Nikki has a double jump ability, while Fargus boasts a spin attack as an extra move. To save their vibrant world from peril, players must utilize these skills in tandem, navigating through hazardous challenges like tumbling watermelons. This unique character design, featuring Fargus’ harlequin appearance and enemies that seem to have broken free from Spore, sets “Pandemonium!” apart.

5. Saban’s Iznogoud

Nominitive Determinism

In simpler terms, Iznogoud is a well-known French comic character who isn’t very popular beyond his home country. Despite this, he got a platforming game on the PlayStation 1, named Saban’s Iznogoud. This game had impressive graphics for its time, but unfortunately, that seems to be the only positive aspect about it.

The system functioned awkwardly and seemed outdated, while the mysterious nature of the game didn’t draw many players. For those unfamiliar with it, the idea of jumping from enchanted rugs in one moment and then hurling objects at alien creatures who juggle their own heads on the moon in the next was often too complex or bizarre to grasp.

4. M&M’s Shell Shocked

When Mom Says We Have Crash At Home

Platforms: PlayStation
Released: September 28, 2001
Developer: Boston Animation

Many games attempted to emulate the massive popularity of Crash Bandicoot, but M&M’s The Lost Formulas managed to avoid a potential legal action from Sony. Instead, they cleverly secured a port for the PS1 console under the title M&M’s Shell Shocked.

The design of the game levels seems quite reminiscent, and it’s interesting to note the three varieties of M&M’s crates scattered throughout each level. They can either shatter, initiate a timer, or detonate upon collision. With the M&M’s branding splashed everywhere, one might wonder how this clearly advertorial game managed to get approved. However, given its adherence to the original formula, it undeniably serves as an engaging replica for fans seeking a more vintage take on the classic Crash experience.

3. Jersey Devil

Vengeance For The Bat Man

In this new game, titled “Jersey Devil,” the creators have drawn inspiration from popular titles such as Crash and Sonic for its narrative elements, featuring a crazed scientist carrying out experiments. However, the gameplay mechanics resemble those of Super Mario 64 more closely. This fusion results in an engaging experience set within a mysterious, cryptid-themed universe.
The main character, bearing a resemblance to a Bat-Man parody from Animaniacs rather than the legendary terrifying creature, navigates through expansive 3D levels to confront and defeat the evil scientist who brought him to life.

In a variety of creative possibilities, the designers considered cryptids as potential enemies and bosses. However, quite unexpectedly, they opted for humanoid creatures spawned from mutated plants and resurrected dinosaurs as the antagonists to the Jersey Devil. It undeniably falls under the category of strange, but it’s an intriguing choice for enthusiasts of classic platform gaming.

2. Skullmonkeys

Just Look At It

Skullmonkeys steered towards the unusual and instead veered into the chaotic and disquieting. The game showcases a unique claymation art style reminiscent of its predecessor, the eccentric point-and-click adventure titled The Neverhood, which is hard to forget for those who are trying to suppress the unsettling memories it evokes.

In an attempt to offer something unique, the developers marketed Skullmonkeys as a creative and offbeat gaming experience, emphasizing its quirky aspects through level and boss design. One boss that stands out is Joe Head Joe, whose entire form is a large, photorealistic representation of the game designer, capable of shooting projectiles from his mouth at the player.

1. Eggs of Steel: Charlie’s Eggcellent Adventure

Factory Maintenance

In this game, named “Eggs of Steel: Charlie’s Eggcellent Adventure”, the character, Charlie, who happens to be an egg man, navigates treacherous parts of his factory, aiming to shut it down. It turns out that the factory has somehow gained consciousness, but the unusual twist is that our hero, Charlie, is not your typical human or animal character – he’s an egg! The title might seem confusing, but it does fit the game’s quirky premise.

Perhaps it’s Charlie’s odd waddle and the camera angles that make him seem even stranger. Maybe it’s his frantic movement patterns when attacking enemies or the constant sound effects of his calls for action. Regardless, there’s something eerily disturbing about this game. Even the unsettling cutscenes won’t help alleviate the unease during breaks from gameplay.

2025-07-05 01:34