10 Underrated PS1 Exclusives

Sony’s humble gray field is liable for many beloved franchises you continue to play immediately. We may sing in regards to the console’s hottest titles, however that is not all of the PS1 is thought for.

The PlayStation’s library is filled with improbable titles that slipped underneath the radar, a lot of that are nonetheless pleasing immediately. Few consoles get pleasure from a variety as numerous because the PS1, and here is a variety you merely do not need to miss.

I’ve tried to maintain the style choice as widespread as attainable. With this in thoughts, do not get upset if I’ve missed your favourite underrated gems. Actually, why not hold forth within the feedback?

10 Kingsley’s Journey

Transfer Over, Croc

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

Luckily, there are many unsung heroes within the style and one of many cutest is Kingsley’s Journey. As you most likely guessed, you play as Kingsley, an orphaned fox who aspires to change into a “true knight.”

You go to a number of vibrant areas that appear and feel totally totally different throughout your journey. Kingsley has a brief sword and protect, and there is even ranged fight with a crossbow. It is a fairly sport, and whereas motion is not as exact as one thing like Crash Bandicoot, it will get the job achieved.

I’ve performed lots of Kingsley’s Journey, and I’ve to say that the digital camera is an absolute menace. It is not an unusual drawback within the style however is especially egregious at instances.

9 Staff Buddies

A Foul-Mouthed Motion RTS

Staff Buddies is an exhilarating RTS the place you play as potty-mouthed beans that look suspiciously like Fall Guys.

Staff Buddies is not a standard RTS, however a non-strategic strategy will completely get you killed.

The technique aspect comes from blocks scattered across the map, which you’ll be able to take to your base. Relying on the way you assemble stated blocks, you’ll be able to construct weapons, autos, and even new teammates.

You need not play good, both. You possibly can intercept blocks your opponents are ferrying across the maps, and nothing beats blowing their socks off with a tank they by no means noticed you constructing.

Fight is a bit of janky, however I can comfortably suggest Staff Buddies for its distinctive spin on the style and ridiculous voice traces.

8 T’ai Fu: Wrath of the Tiger

Tony The Tiger Has Competitors!

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

You play because the final surviving member of the once-flourishing Tiger Clan on a quest to defeat the Dragon Grasp. Gameplay in T’ai Fu is a satisfying mix of difficult platforming puzzles and demanding fisticuffs.

T’ai is an adept fighter, and fights are pleasing due to the sleek combos and skills you may study via your journey. You are all the time getting stronger and studying new strikes, that are nice incentives to push via some notably grueling levels.

Fight and platforming are generally a bit of messy, due to the 3D ranges and digital camera. That stated, it is to be anticipated from the console, and it is an pleasing sport I hardly ever see anybody speak about.

7 No One Can Cease Mr Domino

You have By no means Seen A Puzzle Sport Like This

No One Can Cease Mr Domino is a weird however sensible puzzler that is slightly sadistic if you consider it for too lengthy.

Every stage performs a looping scene, like rooms in a townhouse. It’s essential to push a number of buttons in every stage by putting dominoes earlier than them to topple in your subsequent loop.

The sadistic half comes from what these buttons do. Each triggers one thing within the scene, and plenty of are harmless, like knocking a packet of noodles over. Others set off wild occasions like blowing up a woman in a kitchen with a bomb within the oven!

No One Can Cease Mr Domino is addictive since you by no means know what’s coming subsequent. The gameplay is clean, and the saddest half is that there’s nothing else fairly prefer it.

6 Satan Cube

Nearly Academic

The PlayStation library has a powerful quantity of imaginative puzzle video games. Some are ill-conceived, however that is not the case with Satan Cube.

You play as an lovable fairy, sprite, creature that may transfer and manipulate cube in an area. Your objective is to push cube collectively, so the numbers match, with extra factors awarded for larger numbers.

There’s an addictive “chain” system that rewards combos, and you will want a agency grasp of the mechanics and the way a cube is constructed in order for you these excessive scores. Afterward, cube are made out of totally different supplies, affecting how they transfer and reply to your actions.

I discovered that reverse sides of a die all the time add as much as seven, due to Satan Cube, and the title takes the idea so far as it might probably go.

5 Bust a Groove

Shout Out To The EZ Mouse

I am a giant fan of rhythm games, and the PS1 has some absolute bangers within the style. I am certain most individuals studying this checklist have most likely heard about Parappa the Rapper, however what about Bust a Groove?

Metro Company’s Bust a Groove is a rhythm sport the place you should “outdance” your opponents and hold your self within the highlight. You do that by punching in instructions in time with the music, and also you pull off extra fashionable strikes with extra difficult inputs.

You may also sabotage your opponents with particular strikes, which ensures the digital camera and the crowds deal with you rather than your struggling opposition.

It is a cool idea, and the music choice consists of some glorious tunes.

4 Lifeforce Tenka

An Bold Take On Horror FPS

First-person shooters have been in an experimental part on the PlayStation, and most builders hadn’t switched to twin stick motion, which is commonplace immediately.

For those who’re a Sci-Fi horror fan who can overlook the janky controls, you could discover so much to like in Lifeforce Tenka, also called Codename Tenka within the US.

You play as Joseph D. Tenka, tasked with taking down a genetically mutated military created by the highly effective Trojan Integrated. Even with the primitive graphics, mangled enemies are creepy as they rush you down dimly lit corridors.

Probably the most distinctive a part of Lifeforce Tenka is your weapon choice. You employ the identical gun all through the complete sport, however it has modular capabilities. These modes embrace rapid-fire bullets and even laser beams! Lifeforce Tenka generally feels a bit of muddled, however it’s an pleasing retro boomer shooter with spectacular visuals for the platform.

3 Kensei: Sacred Fist

The Faculty Of Arduous Knocks

The PlayStation library is filled with preventing video games with loads of stinkers to keep away from. Luckily, there are some diamonds within the tough, and also you need not persist with the same old suspects to have a good time.

Kensei: Sacred Fist is a superb preventing sport with a various forged. Every character has a novel model, and battles are grounded in actuality. The half I like about Kensei is how blocking works. As a substitute of merely holding again to magically guard every thing, blocking is a stance.

You duck and weave round assaults whereas defending, and it is a refreshing change from the monotonous thudding impacts in different preventing video games. Movesets are inventive, and there is even a unusual unlockable racing minigame if you happen to play lengthy sufficient.

Kensei lacks the polish you anticipate from heavy hitters like Tekken 3, however it’s a serviceable fighter style followers ought to try.

2 Racing Lagoon

The Road Racing RPG You By no means Heard Of

I really feel a bit of cheeky placing Racing Lagoon on the checklist, because it was strictly a Japanese title on PS1. That stated, it is a improbable racing sport with a deep story and may even be performed in English these days if you happen to look arduous sufficient. Oh, did I point out it was made by Sq.?!

Now, I’ve piqued your curiosity; Racing Lagoon is a story-driven racing sport the place you play as Sho, a novice enamored with road racing. The story is unintentionally humorous, due to a poetic writing model that merely would not work.

Nonetheless, racing is enjoyable and difficult, and the attract of recent elements to enhance your experience is a good incentive to see Racing Lagoon via till the tip.

Racing Lagoon is not an ideal racing sport, however Automobile-PGs are a uncommon breed, and this one is price your time.

1 Wild 9

Wexcellent!

Shiny Leisure is most well-known for Earthworm Jim, a bizarre 2D platformer that even has its personal cartoon sequence.

The creators of Earthworm Jim are additionally liable for Wild 9, a slick 2.5D platformer on the PlayStation. You play as Wex on his journey to rescue his associates from the evil Karn.

Wild 9 has every thing you’d anticipate from a strong title within the style. Controls are tight and responsive, with a sprinkling of sunshine puzzle-solving all through.

The half that actually stands out is Wex’s distinctive “Rig,” a laser beam that grabs objects and enemies. You are not anticipated to play good with the Rig, and plenty of obstacles require you to dispatch enemies in grizzly methods. It is sadistic, however some early obstacles require you to drop enemies into meat grinders whereas they scream at you to not do it.

It is as foul because it sounds, however to be anticipated from the workforce that introduced you a sport the place you’ve got a bungee-jumping competitors in opposition to a blob of snot.