10 PS1 Games Better Than They Have Any Right To Be

The original PlayStation has one of the most diverse libraries in gaming history. You can find just about anything, from simulation racers to battle puzzlers and boomer shooters.

It was an experimental period for the games industry, and while many games tried and failed, others blew the doors off and exceeded every expectation.

If you’re after some games that dared to be different and are far better than they have any right to be, here are some of the best Sony’s humble gray box has to offer.

10 Pepsi Man

More Than A Meme Game

Systems

Released: March 4, 1999
Developer(s): KID
Publisher(s): KID
How Long To Beat: 2 hours
How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs): 3 hours

Pepsi Man may not be the best game on this list, but it’s a decent title with a simple gameplay loop that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Pepsi Man is like Temple Run before phone games really took off. You play as Pepsi Man on a quest to deliver sugary sodas to those who need it most. It’s essentially an auto-runner set in a handful of levels, each with its own hazards and challenges.

The game is a little rough around the edges, with odd spikes in difficulty, which can lead to frustrating deaths. You’re also never told how to sprint, which is essential to finish the game (it’s forward + slide, you’re welcome!).

There are some unfair moments, but they are worth slogging through for some of the console’s most ridiculous, unforgettable cutscenes.

9 Kensei: Sacred Fist

A Minnow Among Sharks

Released: November 19, 1998

Tekken dominated the 3D fighting game market on the PS1, and its reign was so oppressive that there was little point in competing.

Kensei: Sacred Fist is an admirable attempt at breaking into the market, and while we never got a sequel, it’s a superb pallet cleanser. The character roster is decent, but Kensei makes the list for its unique approach to defense.

Players typically hold back to block. In Kensei, blocking is a stance. Your character bobs and weaves around attacks instead of magically eating them, and the animations are surprisingly smooth.

Kensei is a hidden gem in many ways, but remains an excellent, underappreciated fighter. Fighting game fans lost their minds at how blocking looked in the upcoming Virtua Fighter gameplay demonstration. Kensei was all over that two decades ago.

8 Breakout

An Arcade Classic Gets A Makeover

Pong already has a decent PS1 game with clever gimmicks to spice up the classic formula. But what if I told you the Pong paddle had a story-driven adventure game of its own?

Breakout has you play as Buster, the red paddle from Pong. His girlfriend, Daisy, is kidnapped by Batnix, an evil purple paddle, and he must travel across time itself to rescue her.

It sounds like something that should never have left the drawing board, but it’s seriously good fun. The level of variety is staggering. One moment, you’re knocking down a pyramid pong-style. The next, you’re playing sumo with a flock of angry ducks!

Breakout makes the list because the stars somehow aligned to make this mish-mash of ideas work.

7 Pandemonium

And The Award For Ugliest Protagonists Goes To…

Released: November 5, 1996

Everyone remembers legendary platformers like Crash Bandicoot and Rayman. The titles are household names, and the iconic main characters are a big reason for that.

Pandemonium decided to throw that last part out of the window and put players in the shoes of an ugly jester called Fargus. Alternatively, you could play as Nikki, a character so unmemorable that you’ll forget her name by the time you finish this list.

If you can look past the roster, Pandemonium offers some of the tightest 2.5D gameplay on the platform. The challenge is firm but fair, and the bizarre environments keep you on your toes until the end credits.

Against all odds, Pandemonium proves you don’t necessarily need a standout main character to put on a show. We all love a good platformer, and Pandemonium 1 and 2 join the list of absolute must-plays in the genre.

6 Bushido Blade

One Strike Is All It Takes

Systems

Released: September 30, 1997
Developer: Lightweight
Publisher(s): Square , Sony Computer Entertainment
ESRB: t

Fighting games come in all shapes and sizes, and the PS1 library is overflowing with them! The idea of killing your opponent with one hit may sound cool on paper, but there’s a reason it hadn’t been done before.

Bushido Blade is an exceptional fighting game, trading fists for blades and hammers. The series’ unique gimmick is you can kill instantly with a well-placed attack. It shouldn’t work. If anything, it should feel cheap, yet somehow it feels oddly strategic and intuitive.

There’s also an unwritten honor code that you must obey if you want to reach the true ending of the of the campaign. It sounds complicated, but you’re golden as long as you don’t hit your opponent in the back or while they are spouting exposition.

The pacing of combat in Bushido Blade demands patience, and it’s hugely satisfying when things go your way. The formula will never replace traditional fighting games, but the title proves it can co-exist.

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5 No One Can Stop Mr Domino

Off The Tabletop And Into The Real World

My favorite thing about the PS1 era is that developers weren’t afraid to try new things and innovate. It’s a stark contrast from the safe number chasing we get nowadays, and this title may be one of the strangest concepts on the console.

No One Can Stop Mr Domino is a bizarre puzzle/adventure game where you play as a sentient domino who must activate switches on a circuit, domino rally style.

Those switches trigger weird events, like blowing up people in kitchens, making you question if you’re really the hero in this story! The craziest part is that the game works and provides an addictive, skill-based gameplay loop.

No One Can Atop Mr Domino is one-of-a-kind and a shining example of a wonderful mix of ideas making an unforgettable finished game.

4 G-Darius

Not Your Average Space Shooter

Key Information	Details
Developer	Taito
Genre	Space Shooter
Release Date	April 1998

Space shooters need to innovate and go above and beyond to stand out. Fortunately, that’s precisely what G-Darius does.

G-Darius is part of Taito’s Darius series, known for its iconic aquatic-themed boss battles. The series makes a fantastic transition to the PlayStation with 15 stages, each with multiple routes that slightly alter the boss waiting for you at the end.

Players are also given exceptional ways to customize the gameplay, including at least eight difficulty modes.

On that note, the campaign has five endings and a ‘capture’ system where you can enlist enemy units for help. This well-polished title has an impressive amount of content, and it is a must-play for shmup fans.

3 Rayman 2: The Great Escape

Embracing The Third Dimension

Systems

Released: October 31, 1999
Engine: RenderWare
ESRB: t
How Long To Beat: 8 Hours

Rayman is a beloved hard-as-nails 2D platformer with gorgeous graphics, whimsical worlds, and creative boss battles. Ubisoft had nailed the formula, so imagine the surprise when it was announced that Rayman 2 would be in 3D.

Many games tried and failed in transitioning to 3D in the PS1 era. Even the mighty Mega Man. Fortunately, Rayman 2 manages to recapture the original’s magic, and Rayman is a joy to control in 3D space.

There’s plenty of variance in the environments, and traditional platforming is broken up with activities like wake surfing. Rayman 2 even adds some light puzzle solving, fully using the 3D environments.

It was a bold move to swap from a perspective players already loved, but Rayman will go down in gaming history as a protagonist who could do it all.

2 Tomba!

Don’t Let The Hairdo Fool You

Released: December 25, 1997

The PlayStation library is overflowing with platformers, and for every diamond in the rough, there’s another that’s a complete waste of money.

Tomba, or Tombi, as it’s also known, is a brilliant and deceptively deep 2.5D platformer. There’s a generous helping of puzzle-solving and quests. There are even metroidvania and RPG mechanics.

You play as the game’s namesake on a quest to defeat a group of evil pigs. Cutscenes are beautifully animated, and the game’s art style is sublime.

Both Tomba games are underrated and command ridiculous prices if you want the physical discs. Still, they are worth your time if you can get your hands on them.

1 Die Hard Trilogy

A Movie Tie-In On A Grand Scale

Systems

Platform(s): PC , PS1 , Sega Saturn
Released: August 20, 1996
Developer(s): Probe Entertainment
Publisher(s): Fox Interactive
Engine: game engine
ESRB: m

Movie tie-in games are a mixed bag, and a single game covering three legendary action movies is a ridiculous proposition. At least, it should be.

Die Hard Trilogy is an exceptional title offering a completely unique experience for each movie. Die Hard is a 3D adventure game, Die Harder is a lightgun game, and Die Hard with a Vengeance is played entirely behind the wheel.

The crazy part is that all the games are good! None of them are groundbreaking, but Die Harder, in particular, offers a great reason to dust off your G-Con 45. The driving game is compatible with a steering wheel, and it’s hard not to appreciate the value for money.