The original PlayStation introduced the world to some of the biggest video game franchises to date. Resident Evil, Crash Bandicoot, Grand Theft Auto, Tomb Raider and many more all started on the PS1. Unfortunately, many of these massively successful games overshadowed other great lesser-known titles.
Here are five of the best original PlayStation games that flew under the radar.
Tomba!
Tomba! is one of the best platformers no one is talking about. Tokuro Fujiwara, director of classic games like Ghosts ‘n Goblins and Bionic Commando, helped create Tomba! after leaving Capcom in 1995. His expertise shines brightly in this 1998 quirky platform adventure.
Players take the role of a boy named Tomba as he ventures through the world searching for his golden bracelet, after a group of evil pigs steal it during a scuffle. During his journey, Tomba notices the evil swine known as Koma Pigs cursed his homeland. Tomba seeks to save the land from the pesky porkers while he searches for his golden bracelet.
Tomba! sold poorly, despite receiving high ratings from critics. The strange plot along with its cartoony cover art may have hindered its sales. Regardless, the game is great for video game fans of all ages and is a must-own for any fan of the platforming genre.
Wild Arms
The original PlayStation housed a slew of amazing RPGs and one of the most overlooked RPGs on the console is Wild Arms. This traditional JRPG put all the things gamers love from traditional RPGs into an old, Western-style setting. Wild Arms has everything from memorable characters to an excellent fantasy plot.
Since the game was one of the first RPGs for the original PlayStation, the graphics are a bit dated. However, what the game lacks in visuals, it more than makes up for in outstanding gameplay.
Wild Arms follows a group of young adventures as they explore the vast land of Filgaia to protect the world from evil invaders. The plot might sound generic, but it is much more detailed and complex than it seems. Players learn the history of Filgaia as well as the lore behind the characters and invaders. While Wild Arms has a complex backstory, the game itself not overly complicated and many newcomers to the RPG genre can jump into Wild Arms without feeling overwhelmed. Wild Arms received a few sequels as well as a remake on the PS2. Any RPG fan will enjoy this underappreciated title.
Wild 9
If you combined the Oddworld series with the Rayman games while adding zany characters and graphic violence, you would get Wild 9. The team behind the Earthworm Jim series came up with this bizarre action platformer back in 1998. Players control a man named Wex Major as he sets out to save his friends from the evil Karn before he destroys the galaxy.
Wild 9 relied heavily on its combat system as a major selling point. Wex Major uses a device called The Rig to pick up enemies and slam them into nearby objects. Players can defeat their enemies by throwing them into grinders, spikes, fan blades and more.
The game’s graphic nature is a bit shocking for a '90s game. Amazingly, Wild 9 didn’t receive a mature rating, which is probably why it struggled to find an audience. The game’s goofiness appealed to kids, but the brutality of the game turned off many parents. Wild 9 is still relatively unknown even though it offers a solid gaming experience; it's worth trying for players who are looking for something strange and different in an action platformer.
Alundra
Alundra is an underrated, 1997 action-adventure game that is still beloved by the few people who played it. The game plays similarly to the Legend of Zelda series but deals with much more mature themes.
Alundra follows the eponymous young man, who has the ability to jump into people’s dreams. Alundra finds himself stranded on an island that is inhabited by people suffering from nightmares. These night terrors are so powerful, they often lead to death. Alundra decides to save the villagers from their torment by entering into their dreams and figuring out what is plaguing the island.
Alundra’s story grows darker the further players progress. It tackles issues such as depression and human purpose, which was unheard of in video games at the time. The mature and somewhat dark subject matter might have led to disappointing sales. It also didn’t help that the game had a limited release. Alundra’s Zelda-like gameplay and mature plot made it an unforgettable game. Just be warned that it can be very difficult at times and a physical copy of the game will cost a pretty penny.
Future Cop: LAPD
This action-packed mech shooter is one of the original PlayStation’s best hidden treasures. Future Cop: LAPD takes place in the year 2098 as a crime war starts breaking out within Los Angeles. Players take charge of a futuristic, crime-fighting mech as it cleans up the mean streets of L.A. The mech, known as the X1-Alpha, can transform into a quick pursuit vehicle or a slower-moving war machine.
Future Cop: LAPD offers a variety of different modes including a single-player story, co-op and free combat mode. The game's simple, yet fun structure makes it perfect to enjoy with friends. It's easy to spend hours roaming around L.A., taking out the numerous gangs causing havoc all over the city. Any fan of mech games or shooters will definitely love Future Cop: LAPD.
The original PlayStation had countless underrated and overlooked games. These are just a handful of titles video game fans may have missed. There are plenty more great hidden PS1 games out there that deserve more love and it’s nice to see many gamers are going back and finally giving these games the credit they deserve.