It was 30 years ago (in Japan), the Sony PlayStation arrived in stores. On this occasion, PlayStation recently launched a range of limited edition products stamped “PlayStation 30th Anniversary“, and just rolled out a nostalgia-filled PS5 update. And among the immense PlayStation game library, when it comes to revisiting iconic titles, we often tend to return to the same ones, namely Crash Bandicoot, Metal Gear Solid, Spyro, Resident Evil, Gran Turismo, Tekken, Final Fantasy VII, Driver (and its famous parking lot)… However, there are also many more or less unknown gems on Sony’s first console, and here is a small in-house selection.
F1 97: the Formula 1 game of an entire generation?
Launched during 1997, F1 97 was “the official Formula 1 video game” of the time. All the teams were present in the game, as well as all the circuits and all the drivers, apart from Jacques Villeneuve, replaced by an enigmatic “Driver No. 1” at Williams. Second game in the series (after Formula One), F1 97 manages to supplant its predecessor, with its graphics, its physics and of course its official side.
And you, which was your VERY FIRST PlayStation game? 🎮#playstation #30thanniversary pic.twitter.com/MLxOzZhT9o
— Stéphane Ficca (@StephaneFicca) December 3, 2024
The game allows you to compete in the 1997 world championship with the possibility of experiencing the grand prix in their entirety, and takes into consideration numerous elements such as dynamic weather, tire wear, tear offs in cockpit view, damage, mechanical breakdowns, flags, fuel management… All this accompanied by comments from Jean-Louis Moncet and Jacques Laffite and an overall very well-worked sound environment. An absolute must.
Nightmare Creatures, French horror
Launched in 1997 on PlayStation (but also PC and Nintendo 64), Nightmare Creatures is a beat’em all with a strong horror tendency, which allowed you to play as Ignatius or Nadia, and whose goal was to progress in a city of London filled with monsters, and all this in 1834.
Without being extraordinary, the game signed Kalisto Entertainment (a French company) stood out for its violence and its gothic atmosphere, but also for gameplay which allowed you to precisely cut your enemies. Not necessarily very handy, nor very beautiful, Nightmare Creatures nevertheless enjoyed its small success, helped (as often) by a playable demo provided by the magazines of the time and by an overall very unique atmosphere.
Heart of Darkness, the other little pearl “made in France”
In 1995, Eric Chahi (father of Another World) revealed his new project: Heart of Darkness. A game developed by a very small team, initially expected on 3DO, Jaguar and Saturn, but which finally landed on PlayStation… in 1998.
The title has indeed accumulated delays, but upon its release, Heart of Darkness shines with its extraordinary atmosphere and strikingly beautiful graphics. We follow the adventures of a young boy, Andy, who finds himself thrown into a parallel universe, armed with a plasma rifle and a strainer as a helmet. The game is based on puzzles to be solved via synchronized actions to be carried out, and each error is synonymous with game over. A sublime title, giving pride of place to real-time shadows and pre-calculated settings, but which unfortunately did not enjoy the success it deserves.
Um Jammer Lammy, Parappa the Rapper but in six-string version
In 1997, PlayStation players discovered a colorful character: Parappa the Rapper. A very original musical title, which will be a great success, and which will be entitled to a sequel on PS2. But in the meantime, the NanaOn-Sha teams have offered another musical video game of the same ilk.
Um Jammer Lammy, that’s its name, allows the player to lead a young guitarist named Lammy. The game system is similar to that of Parappa the Rapper, as is the artistic direction. However, the timing, already tight in Parappa the Rapper, is even more mysterious here, and Um Jammer Lammy proves particularly difficult… so much so that it is not impossible to block from the first level.
Alundra, the Zelda of the PlayStation?
In 1997, the PlayStation was already enjoying enormous success, driven by already iconic titles. However, at Sony, we are jealous of competitor Nintendo and the Zelda license, which is a hit with players. Also, Matrix Software is developing The Adventures of Alunda, an action/adventure game largely inspired by the first Zelda games, and related to the Landstalker series.
We play a blonde elf game called Alundra, who begins the adventure with a dagger before evolving with a sword that he finds in an old temple at the start of the game. There are also various weapons, bows, but also wands of fire, not forgetting objects that will allow the young hero to benefit from special abilities. A deep, well-crafted title, with endearing characters, which was not spared by critics upon its release, but which figures in a good position in the hearts of many fans, as “PlayStation Zelda“.
Soul Reaver: Vampire, did you say vampire?
Also in 1997, PlayStation players (among others) discovered a certain Blood Omen, a vampire game with a false Diablo-like feel. But it is its sequel, taking place 1,500 years after the events that occurred in the first opus, and called Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, which will experience success.
A 3D action/adventure game, in which you play as Raziel, a former vampire lieutenant of Kain. Murdered by his master, Raziel returns to life in the form of a specter, and will be able to satisfy his quest for revenge with the soul-drinking sword of his former master: the Soul Reaver. A very successful game, which immersed players in the world of Nosgoth, supported by nine pillars and as many guardians, allowing them to slip into the skin of a particularly charismatic fallen vampire. A game very well received by critics and players upon its release, and which will be the subject of a remake (with Blood Omen) in a few days.
Bloody Roar, the fighting game that has dogs (even wolves and rabbits)
When we talk about fighting games on PlayStation, we often think of Street Fighter, Tekken or even Soul Blade. However, there have been many fighting games on the Sony console, and among childhood/adolescent memories, many remember Rival Schools, but also a certain Bloody Roar.
And for good reason! Launched in 1997 (definitely!), Bloody Roar had the particularity of allowing each fighter to temporarily transform into an animal. Visually very successful, Bloody Roar also had its transformations into animals and its very spectacular special moves, which made it an extremely pleasant fighting game… and undoubtedly also one of the most underrated titles on the PlayStation.
Colony Wars, because there’s more to life than Star Wars
At the end of the 90s, the very prolific Psygnosis (Destruction Derby, Formula 1, etc.) launched a brand new license: Colony Wars. A space combat video game, Star Wars style, exclusive to the Sony PlayStation, allowing you to project yourself into the 45th century, the League of Free Worlds having to face a counterattack from the terrible Fleet.
In addition to its stunningly beautiful space opera side, Colony Wars is also a game with a complex storyline, which evolves over the player’s victories and defeats. As a result, the game allows you to enjoy a total of 5 different endings and is full of information and other briefings to immerse yourself in the universe. We pilot many very different ships, with several types of arsenal to tame, not to mention explosions of remarkable intensity. Two other opuses will be released on PlayStation, before the license disappears forever in the depths of the galaxy.
Parasite Eve 2, between Resident Evil and Final Fantasy
Developed by Square (Final Fantasy), Parasite Eve 2 (the first not having seen the light of day in Europe) places us in the shoes of an agent from a special section of the FBI: Aya Brea. She will have to investigate a group of Neo-Mitochondrial Creatures (also called NMC), which have seized the Akropolis tower, eliminating all those who tried to block their path.
The gameplay of Parasite Eve 2 is atypical to say the least, with Resident Evil-style movements, but RPG-oriented combat, even though the role-playing component is less pronounced than in the first opus. Acclaimed by the press and by players alike, Parasite Eve will unfortunately live in the shadow of Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Final Fantasy, and is undeniably one of the most underrated games on the Sony console.
Die Hard Trilogy, full of Bruce Willis
Launched in 1996 on PlayStation, Saturn and PC, Die Hard Trilogy is a 3-in-1 game. Indeed, the title includes a total of three distinct games, each paying homage to the first three films in the Die Hard saga. We obviously play John McClane, with the possibility of enjoying a TPS (Crystal Trap), a rail shooter (58 Minutes to Live) and finally a racing game (A Day in Hell).
Die Hard Trilogy was not necessarily praised by critics when it was launched, but it was nevertheless one of those “classics” of the first PlayStation, those which rekindle a beautiful flame of nostalgia, if only for its ambitious side of bringing together three experiences in one. We find all the spirit of the films, with the added bonus of variety and a very arcade orientation, whose simple goal, like any good self-respecting video game, was to entertain us.
Obviously, these are only a small handful of games launched on PlayStation, and which also deserve your full attention, alongside the many essentials of the console. We could also have added Vib Ribbon, Bushido Blade, Silent Bomber, Klonoa, The Legend of Dragoon, Incredible Crisis, Pocket Fighter, Tobal 2 and many others.
And for you, what are the most underrated games from the first PlayStation?
