PS1: these are the best PlayStation games in its history

We are celebrating a birthday. Indeed, PlayStation (better known as PS1, PS or PSOne) is celebrating its 30th anniversary today. Both the brand and Sony's first console have been with us for three decades and, although today the latter is a little more forgotten, it still has a very important place in the video game industry. Many of us grew up with it and were introduced to the world of gaming after trying some of its first releases. It's pure nostalgia, but... was it really that good? Yes, it was, and to prove it today I want to talk about something very special: what are the best PS1 games in history?

I'll try not to repeat sagas, so if you're missing a game, that's probably why. Also, I've had to leave out a lot of titles that I really love, such as Tombi, Gex or Oddworld. Unfortunately, they don't fit in this topic... Even if they are great. And that's because, luckily for everyone, PS1 had a catalogue so, so, so good that it's impossible not to forget a lot of great games when you talk about the most outstanding ones. That said, let's get started.

Final Fantasy VII

In the end, talking about the best games on a given platform is quite subjective, especially when it comes to ranking them. That's why this topic is not really a top list. However, if you ask me, I would say that the best PlayStation release is Final Fantasy VII. Cloud and company's story has everything you could ask for in an RPG in those days: graphics, soundtrack, narrative, story, charismatic characters, script... It also brought with it one of the best equipment systems (the materials) in the history of JRPGs. Undoubtedly, an indispensable PS1 game.

Metal Gear Solid

What is said to be one of Hideo Kojima's greatest works is also one of the most powerful games in PlayStation's catalogue. Released in 1998, it is the third instalment (in order of release) in the series. It was a commercial success and is considered by many experts to be one of the most important releases in history. As a stealth game, it's a true masterpiece and full of detail. A giant among giants whose legacy is still very much alive.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

According to Metacritic, the best PS1 game of all time with a rating of 98 out of 100. Personally, I don't think so, although it is equally true that during my childhood I dedicated hours and hours to it. And although it has not aged well at all, if we value it within its context, we could say that it is one of the most fun and entertaining sports games of all time. In its time it was a real monster at a technical level and offered a gameplay hitherto unthinkable.

Resident Evil 3

If terror had a name, it would be called (with apologies to Silent Hill) Resident Evil. As a curiosity, in the West it was released with a different name due to licensing problems, as its original name (Biohazard) was a ed trademark. If I had to single out one particular instalment, I would say that Resident Evil 3 is the one that had the most impact. Its antagonist, Nemesis, is considered one of the most impressive villains of its generation, as well as one of the most brutal and significant. Beyond that, RE3 managed to stand out thanks to its gameplay. Although today it would be said to be clunky, in 1999 it was an absolute blast.

Tekken 3

If we change the paradigm and talk about fighting games, there are two big names on the table: Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Tekken 3. Personally, I've always been more of a Tekken fan, and that's why I would put it ahead of SF in this regard. Why? Largely because of the use of three dimensions and the graphics. Although SFA 3 is very nice, I think Tekken 3 made much better use of the PS1's strengths thanks to its three-dimensional finish and character design. It made much better use of the console's strengths, and that's why I think it was much more important in its catalogue.

Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

If we talk about platforms, there are two sagas that stand out above almost any other. One of them is Crash Bandicoot. As a saga, it always stood out on PS1, but if I had to choose one installment above the rest, it would be Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. Without a doubt, it was the one that offered the most refined gameplay. After years of experience, Naughty Dog gave us a great game where the learning curve and challenge was of the highest quality. Its characters, already well known in the community, had a supernatural charisma and the design of the scenarios was outstanding.

Spyro: Year of the Dragon

If we talk about Crash, we also have to talk about Spyro. Like his rival and friend, the purple dragon reached his best level in his third installment. It is the one that many with more affection thanks, among other things, to mini-games as fun as the skateboard. As a platformer it is really fun, but it goes further. Although it is narratively simple, this third installment was much more solid at the plot level, as it presented a much more interesting story. In addition, it managed to take all the good things from its predecessors and improve them.

Gran Turismo

If we go by the scores, Gran Turismo is better than Gran Turismo 2. Do you think the same way? In the end, it depends on what each person considers. I would go with GT1 for relevance, impact and innovation. After all, it was one of Sony's first major exclusives made by an in-house studio along with Wipeout. The latter, by the way, also often enters many rankings as one of the best PS1 games. Either way, GT1 was quite special as it was the first game to use the DualShock as a control system, one of the ones that gave more importance to realism in movement and allowed us to configure the car, among many other things.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

You can't talk about the best PS1 games without talking about Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. While it didn't take advantage of the PS1's 3D like so many other games, it's so good that it's impossible not to mention it. Released in 1997, it was presented as a 2D side-scrolling action-adventure title. It's so good that it's said to be the main inspiration for a lot of contemporary games... even more so than its predecessors. What's more, the Castlevania saga is so powerful that a genre has even been created that bears part of its name along with a Nintendo title: Metroidvania.

Silent Hill

The other great horror saga that kept us well hidden under our sheets (because we all know that a sheet is more powerful than a knife, a monster or a ghost) was Silent Hill. If we go by the concept of "fear", it is ahead of Resident Evil, as the latter is more of an action and horror game. Widely compared, they actually have many differences. In of popularity, RE has always been one step ahead, but we should not detract from one of the best horror games of its time.

Chrono Cross

Within the world of JRPGs, Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest have been the most popular sagas. However, in the PS1 generation there was a game that directly rivalled the quality of their best instalments: Chrono Cross. As a non-direct sequel to Chrono Trigger, it is one of the most ambitious RPGs of its time thanks, among other things, to its 45 recruitable characters and numerous endings. Unfortunately, the original edition never made it to Europe and we only got to enjoy it when it was released in remastered form as Chrono Cross - The Radical Dreamers Edition.

Final Fantasy IX

The only exception to not repeating a saga will be FF IX, as I consider that Square was able to produce several of the best games of the entire generation. As to which is the better of the two, it depends very much on personal perspective. I prefer Final Fantasy VII, but that doesn't mean I think IX is bad. Quite the opposite, in fact. Narratively, it's one of the best JRPGs in history. In addition, it has a very strong cast of characters. The progression system was very good and it has a very high quality soundtrack.

The best games according to their Metacritic score

And since I'm sorry to leave so many great games in the inkwell, I wanted to make a final section in which to place the best PlayStation 1 games according to their score on Metacritic. In this list I have placed all those that have 90 points or more, although there are some that... Well, I won't say that they are superfluous, but I agree with their bad score (Dance Dance Revolution with a 3.7 out of 10) from the public, so personally I would not place it among the best. Be that as it may, those with 90 points or more are:

• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 - 98/100
• Tekken 3 - 96/100
• Gran Turismo - 96/100
• Final Fantasy IX - 94/100
• Chrono Cross - 94/100
• Metal Gear Solid - 94/100
• Gran Turismo 2 - 93/100
• Street Fighter Alpha 3 - 93/100
• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - 93/199
• Wipeout XL - 93/100
• Vagrant Story - 92/100
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater - 92/100
• Final Fantasy VII - 92/100
• Medal of Honor (1999) - 92/100
• PaRappa the Rapper - 92/100
• Colony Wars - 91/100
• Tomb Raider - 91/100
• Spyro: Year of the Dragon - 91/100
• Resident Evil 3 - 91/100
• Resident Evil - 91/100
• Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver - 91/100
• Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped - 91/100
• Ape Escape - 90/100
• Syphon Filter - 90/100
• Dance Dance Revolution - 90/100
• WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role
• Collin McRae Rally 2.0 - 90/100
• Final Fantasy VIII - 90/100
• Madden NFL 2001 - 90/100