Classic PS1 JRPGs That Still Hold Up Today

Key Takeaways

Star Ocean: The Second Story
retains a timeless 2.5D aesthetic with lavish sprite work.
Suikoden 2
offers over 100 characters and polished 2D visuals that still hold up.
Brave Fencer Musashi’s
unique gameplay and mini-games make it worth revisiting.

As someone who grew up with the original PlayStation, I can confidently say that the games from this era were nothing short of revolutionary. Among all these classics, there are a few that truly stand out for me due to their unique blend of storytelling, gameplay, and visuals.

Although some view the PlayStation 2 (PS2) era as the pinnacle for Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs), it’s important to remember that the PlayStation 1 (PS1) boasted a substantial number of JRPG classics too. Many of the JRPG series that either emerged or gained prominence on the PS1 continued their success into the PS2 golden age with later releases.

Approaching the 30th anniversary of PlayStation, some of the classic JRPGs from the PS1 continue to be relevant today. Many argue that these games provide aspects that contemporary RPGs lack. Regardless of individual opinions, these titles remain significant and are worth revisiting in the current era, as they still possess qualities that make them stand out even now.

9 Star Ocean: The Second Story

Science-Fantasy

By 1999, 3D character art was gaining traction, but Star Ocean: The Second Story opted to keep its visual style in line with its anime roots by adopting a 2.5D look, using 2D sprites. This choice proved beneficial, as the game’s impressive use of 2D artwork is one of the key factors that keep it relevant even today.

Instead of many of the rough, polyhedral 3D models prevalent during that era, Star Ocean distinguishes itself with its more refined and aesthetically pleasing 2D graphics. This is evident in the recent remake of the game, which prioritized preserving the original character sprites while opting for full 3D backgrounds instead of pre-rendered ones.

In this game, the battle system reminiscent of the Star Ocean series performs impressively. It offers players direct control over their character during combat, while artificial intelligence manages party members. The player can tweak their behavior with certain settings. Despite being the second installment in the series, it appears to have more depth than one might initially anticipate.

8 Suikoden 2

A Meeting Of JRPG And Strategy

Suikoden 2 was a fantastic follow-up that expanded upon the unique blend of JRPG and tactics-RPG combat styles seen in its predecessor. Notably, it introduced more than 100 characters that could be recruited to your party, enhancing both the tactical, turn-based battles among your party members and the larger, strategic battles equally well.

When it debuted in North America in 1999, some critics found the 2D graphics outdated. However, this very aspect might be part of what keeps the game engaging even today. The 2D characters and backdrops are meticulously crafted, making the game a delight to behold with a nostalgic perspective.

7 Brave Fencer Musashi

Action RPG Pioneer

In terms of graphics, Brave Fencer Musashi certainly shows its roots as an early 3D game. However, its action-RPG gameplay offers a diverse and distinct blend that lacks a contemporary counterpart. The fighting mechanics encompass sword combos, magical abilities based on elements, and various tactics, providing the player with multiple avenues to explore and experiment.

Advancing through the game requires the player to help resolve issues faced by the village folk, thereby learning fresh strategies and skills. Along the way, they seek out five scrolls which bestow powerful sword techniques of legend. This lends the game a captivating, somewhat reminiscent of the Metroidvania style structure.

This game is enriched by numerous mini-games scattered throughout it, along with a day/night cycle featuring distinct enemy appearances, and a stamina system that requires players to rest or risk dozing off in the open. It offers an enjoyable blend of gameplay that’s definitely worth revisiting again.

6 Grandia

Echoes Of A Lost Civilization

The PlayStation version of Grandia closely resembles its 1997 Sega Dreamcast debut. Despite being as classic as JRPGs come, the game’s mechanics and narrative remain engaging for contemporary players. From the outset, Grandia captivates with a relatable thirst for adventure that eventually leads to uncovering a lost civilization, setting the stage for larger-scale events.

The gameplay in this turn-based title, while somewhat familiar to other JRPGs from the era, offers a rich experience. This is primarily thanks to its leveling and progression mechanics, where characters enhance particular weapons and skills by employing them frequently. This simultaneous improvement of character stats makes for an intelligent system that remains engaging even today, making the game enjoyable to play.

5 Legend Of Mana

Non-Linear Action JRPG

Although Legend of Mana is fondly remembered, it didn’t receive widespread acclaim upon its initial release. Interestingly, some of the same aspects that were once criticized are now recognized as reasons to revisit the game. For instance, the Land Make system, which allows players to place land tiles and create new areas in a non-linear fashion, was initially met with criticism but contributes significantly to the game’s high replayability value today.

Initially, the fundamental idea behind the game – a player’s home serving as a central hub for crafting, gardening, and pets – was considered unnecessary. However, it’s these very core features that have struck a chord with players and remained popular over time. Moreover, the action-RPG gameplay, offering both single-player and cooperative modes, continues to be enjoyable to this day.

4 Valkyrie Profile

Countdown To Ragnarök

It’s high time to revisit Valkyrie Profile, as its distinctive narrative and gameplay, rooted in Norse mythology, have largely slipped into obscurity in recent years. This timeless JRPG continues to stand out due to its unique setting, offering a fresh perspective even today.

In this game, you’ll experience a blend of JRPG combat sequences with exploration stages that involve side-scrolling platforming. During these exploration phases, you can even freeze enemies to utilize them as stepping stones for traversing new territories. The turn-based battles also come with an intriguing twist: when it’s your turn, your entire team attacks together, and by filling a hit gauge, you can unleash special moves!

In this game, players have several intriguing advantages. For instance, they can select particular opponents for unique bonuses and inflict damage exceeding an enemy’s total health to secure extra loot. From a gameplay perspective, it remains engaging enough for contemporary gamers.

3 Parasite Eve

NYPD Horror JRPG

Among the experimental role-playing games from the 90s, Parasite Eve is particularly notable. Unlike other games of its kind, it combines turn-based combat with leveling up and character statistics. However, what sets it apart is its contemporary New York backdrop, the horror elements in its narrative, and a focus on gunplay rather than melee combat or magic.

In this game, there are special abilities that enhance the turn-based combat system, which are depicted as powers linked to the game’s main theme, parasites. The game stands out by its focus on atmosphere and narrative, positioning itself between a survival horror game and a Japanese Role Playing Game (JRPG) in terms of mood. This distinctive blend doesn’t have a contemporary equivalent, making it an intriguing choice for replay.

2 Vagrant Story

Ashley Riot, Riskbreaker

Vagrant Story, like other Square games, attempted to innovate traditional Japanese Role Playing Game (JRPG) design with unique approaches. Even though it was initially released on the original PlayStation, the game’s 3D art style remains impressively relevant today. Characters are represented as polygons but possess distinct and memorable designs. The diverse environments boast some of the finest in-built lighting effects ever witnessed on this console.

This game’s battle system and user interface might appear complex and hard to grasp if you’re returning after a while, especially for those not accustomed to tactical turn-based Japanese RPGs. However, it offers a rich, intricate system that strategy enthusiasts will appreciate delving into. It’s a game that demands effort but rewards patience, using damage types and enemy vulnerabilities, in addition to a targeting system based on parts, to create an engaging combat experience.

1 Final Fantasy 9

A Timeless Art Style

Among the three mainline Final Fantasy games that graced the original PlayStation, it’s Final Fantasy 9 that still looks the best to me, a gamer, when it comes to visuals. The distinctive character designs seemed to mesh better with the technological constraints of the era compared to the jagged polygons in FF7 or the soft and hazy “realism” in FF8. Additionally, the backgrounds in this game appeared more immersive due to the intricate details that were learned from earlier titles.

Players might prefer different games when it comes to gameplay, but FF9 holds its own in this aspect. The game offers numerous side activities and hidden treasures to discover, along with an engaging twist on the ATB combat system, which shares similarities with other PlayStation Final Fantasy games while still offering distinct features. It calls for a substantial time commitment and some grinding to fully understand its mechanics, but for many contemporary JRPG enthusiasts, this just adds to its appeal.

2024-11-22 11:34