Top 50 PlayStation Games

[digitalpress]

Ace Combat 2
Ape Escape
Armored Core
Bomberman Party Edition
Castlevania: SOTN
Chrono Cross
Colony Wars
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Crash Team Racing
Devil Dice
Driver
Einhander
Elemental Gearbolt
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy VII
Front Mission 3
G-Darius
Gran Turismo
Hot Shots Golf
Intelligent Qube
Jumping Flash 2
Medal of Honor
Metal Gear Solid
Micro Machines V3
Mr. Driller
Pac-Man World
Parappa the Rapper
Point Blank 2
Resident Evil 2
Ridge Racer 4 (RR4)
Roll Away
Silent Hill
Sled Storm
Soul Blade
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo
Syphon Filter
Tekken 3
Tempest X3
Tenchu
Tony Hawk 2
Twisted Metal 2
Vagrant Story
Valkyrie Profile
Warhawk
Wipeout XL
WWF Smackdown 2
Xenogears
Xevious 3D/G

[theaveng]

Why FF9 and not 7? (just curious)

[geelw]

no problem with any of those on youe list- though i'd replace destruction derby 2 with warhawk- dd2 had me in pain for a bit until i actually finished a race, lol...=^P

also, glad to see you gave the bomberman game the props it deserved- that's one forgotten character these days, especially when hudson keeps trying to make "adventure" games- it's all about the multi-player!... :twisted:

[Sylentwulf]

Well, even though I'm sure Theaveng doesn't mean it :)

Why no Final Fantasy VII? Why FF9? I would DEFINITELY switch them if not include them both (I liked FF8 WAY better than FF9, but I know I'm in the minority there)

[NvrMore]

:roll: oh look, theaveng still won't let it go

I agree with Sylentwulf, you can't throw FF9 onto that list without putting FF7 on, look at the impact FF7 had, the following it still commands and.. it's greatness ;)

Personally FF7 is one of the few PS1 games I really did enjoy so IMO there's pleanty of games on that list that you could probably drop to make space, if you prefer to drop a game of the same genre I'd say drop FF9 or Chrono Cross, otherwise any number of games are possibilities e.g. Ace combat 2, Devil Dice, Mr. Driller, Tenchu etc, but again this all comes down to personal taste.

[Sylentwulf]

If nothing else, get rid of silent hill *Looks for Puking smiley face :pukes:

[geelw]

lol, i know folks are entitled to their opinions, and i can dig that, but what, pray tell, is *wrong* with silent hill?...=^P

[mauigamer]

That list looks great. The only thing I would add would be Street Fighter Alpha 3. IMO that is the definitive Street Fighter. I also liked Silent Hill. When that phone rang my heart sunk.

[Arcade Antics]

Wow, what a list!

Can't complain, but I'm surprised to see that one of the Bust A Move games (I'd vote for #4) isn't on the list. Like Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga, it's one game I still see in every arcade.

A question for the masses: should Tempest X3 be dropped in favor of Dance Dance Revolution? (The Jag version is better IMO.)

The only other thing I can offer is that PaRappa the Rappa should be PaRappa the Rapper. :)

http://www.rodneyfun.com/chara/image/CDB00.gif

[Sniderman]

WHAT?!? NO APE ESCAPE!?!

[digitalpress]

OK I can't do much with this latest discussion.

Drop Silent Hill, guess not since more vote to keep in on.

Add Ape Escape, FF VII, Street Fighter III Alpha... well what gets knocked OUT?

I *was* able to replace Destruction Derby with Warhawk and fix the spelling on Parappa, however. :)

[geelw]

crap. it's getting tough...

drop mr domino in favor of ape escape, in the meantime.. it's great, but devil dice takes care of the "street game"/puzzle hybrids, i guess, lol...

[AlanD]

Why not just make it a top 60 list. That would represent the top 5% of the 1200+ released U.S. games.

This message is actually from Allen's lazy roommate Richard.

[AlanD]

Oops ! Make that Alan's lazy roommate Richard.

[Kid Fenris]

Since this discussion is evidently still going (and I missed the first time), I'll throw in my suggestions.

Drop G-Darius, Jumping Flash 2, Tomb Raider, Pac-Man World, and Xevious 3D/G.

Add SFA 3, FFVII, Ape Escape, Valkyrie Profile, and FFVIII.

Keep Silent Hill.

I'd give reasons, but I'm too tired at this point. G'Night.

[ROBOTRON]

Nectaris (millitary Madness)
Arcade Collection (The one with Burgertime on it)
New version of Asteroids (Warning: This game destroys subwoofers)
Tempest
Einhander
R-Type Delta

[digitalpress]

Since this discussion is evidently still going (and I missed the first time), I'll throw in my suggestions.
Drop G-Darius, Jumping Flash 2, Tomb Raider, Pac-Man World, and Xevious 3D/G.
Add SFA 3, FFVII, Ape Escape, Valkyrie Profile, and FFVIII.
Keep Silent Hill.
I'd give reasons, but I'm too tired at this point. G'Night.

I like most of the games you're suggesting to add, especially Ape Escape... but I can't believe my eyes with the games you want to drop! No way! I'd argue that G-Darius is the system's best shooter. Jumping Flash and Pac-man World are great platformers. Xevious?! Wow even if you didn't like Xevious (I didn't), the remix and the 3D version are spectacular! The only one I'd maybe give you is Tomb Raider but I think we're considering dropping that because it's so overdone NOW. The original game is STILL a classic though.

[Andy Rampage]

Jumping Flash and Pac-man World are great platformers. Xevious?! Wow even if you didn't like Xevious (I didn't), the remix and the 3D version are spectacular! The only one I'd maybe give you is Tomb Raider but I think we're considering dropping that because it's so overdone NOW. The original game is STILL a classic though.

"Good list D.P. ! ... but "Why? Res. Evil 2 and NOT Res. Evil ??" :o
You justify "platformers" like JUMPING FLASH (for example)
Why don't You "consider: The FIRST Res. Evil GAME in The SAME way??
it "Made" The Sony PLAYSTATION "worth" owning, after a series Of Dogg Games that came-out for it then!! .. .
in My humble opinion :hmm: .... i Stayed Up & inside ALL SUMMER playing & Beating that Game, over & over, it's One Of those GAMES that i think Of, when Someone says: "PLAYSTATION" .....
the 2nd, to me, was Quite a-bit of a dis-appointment.
... but alas, it is Your list & Not mine ...
think of it this way too ...
it Not Only STARTED The SURVIVAL HORROR Haze/Craze,
seen NOW in GAMES, it also pretty MUCH"defined" it!
it's un-fair, i believe, to have SILENT HILL up there and Not it's Pre-decessor, that created The GENRE'! and IS a "CLASSIC", by Any Other Name! DROP 2 and put RESIDENT EVIL in it's proper place!
i "think" it should be On the list!
GAME'On Bro.!

[Kid Fenris]

I like most of the games you're suggesting to add, especially Ape Escape... but I can't believe my eyes with the games you want to drop! No way! I'd argue that G-Darius is the system's best shooter. Jumping Flash and Pac-man World are great platformers. Xevious?! Wow even if you didn't like Xevious (I didn't), the remix and the 3D version are spectacular! The only one I'd maybe give you is Tomb Raider but I think we're considering dropping that because it's so overdone NOW. The original game is STILL a classic though.

The trouble is, I never liked G-Darius, and even though I dig the original Xevious, I thought that the remake was ugly and tedious. Since you're attached to them, though, I'll suggest some others.

How's about we dump Thunder Force V (decent stuff, but not great), Silent Bomber (a good game, but there are better ones not on the list), Spider-Man, and, as geelw suggested, No One Can Stop Mr. Domino?

I still think that Tomb Raider should get yanked. It was groundbreaking and impressive back in the day, but the years since have turned it into a fairly boring game.

It's also tough to keep my personal likes/dislikes out of this. I'd actually rather see Guilty Gear and Soul Blade on this list instead of Tekken 3 and SFA3.

[batmanlivesatmyhouse]

X-Com would make my list, along with adding the obvious SFA3. Go Chrono Cross! Yes, X-Com is also a computer game, but being a turn based and Microprose game, it is great! I played it first on the PS anyhoo. Me and my friend played it a whole summer on the PS. He later traded his PS for an N64 (his reasoning was better games and better graphics, and Star Wars). He cried a lot after that, and his disposition changed forever.

[digitalpress]

OK I made a few changes based on popular opinion.

I can just see the Mr. Domino gang teaming up already though. I have a feeling it will make it's way back on the list. When we originally did this it was on a few people's FAVORITES list!

But let's see how it goes. Take another look.

[beamish13]

Ghost in the Shell

Crash Bandicoot 3

Sheep

Mr. Domino

[klimatron8]

Alright I know I'm late but...I've got some points.

First off -Joe -you seem to have this fascination with games that were "groundbreaking" i.e. - Jumping Flash, Hot Shots1, Gran Turismo1. Yes, these games were (jf) unique and weird, and (hs/gt) first of their kind, but.....that doesn't equal "best". To me Jumping Flash 1, 2, or 25 is not a Top 50 game. Hot Shots is real good but Hot Shots 2 is even better. Same with GT - Gran Turismo 2 has it all over the original -faster, better tracks, more cars = better game. So I say add the number 2 to both of those titles. I just picked up the new GMR magazine (eb) and in their top 25 PS games they list:

Colin McRae 2.0
FF Anthology
FF VIII
Madden 2001
NFL Gameday 97
NHL 98
Oddworld -Abe's Exodus
Worms Armageddon
You Don't Know Jack


I think at least two of these belong in your list. Colin McRae is widely known as "the" rally racing game to have and is definitely a top 50 game. Oddworld- Abe's Exodus is right up your alley - it's a groundbreaker -stunning visuals, great voice work, unique gameplay and.... it's a great game -gotta be added.
I'd delete Jumping Flash2 and probably MicroMachines. I've never heard anyone describe any version of MicroMachines as "great". Good yes -great -no. thanks...

[Jeff-20]

Nectaris? :hmm:

[Rev. Link]

Ugh, please drop Vagrant Story. That game put me to sleep. Why not throw in Blood Omen instead?

[whoisKeel]

oddworld:oddysee, sure it had been done b4 (persia, flashback, etc) but that game had spunk! it was way better than it's 2 sequels as well. one of the best 2d for psx

i vote for crash bash as well, just for the multiplayer aspect, as psx was lacking in those, and that game was ultra fun imho, exp. dragon drop :D

[Dahne]

Ace Combat 2
Ape Escape
Armored Core
Bomberman Party Edition
Castlevania: SOTN
Chrono Cross
Colony Wars
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Crash Team Racing
Devil Dice
Driver
Einhander
Elemental Gearbolt
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy VII
Front Mission 3
G-Darius
Gran Turismo
Hot Shots Golf
Intelligent Qube
Jumping Flash 2
Medal of Honor
Metal Gear Solid
Micro Machines V3
Mr. Driller
Pac-Man World
Parappa the Rapper
Point Blank 2
Resident Evil 2
Ridge Racer 4 (RR4)
Roll Away
Silent Hill
Sled Storm
Soul Blade
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo
Syphon Filter
Tekken 3
Tempest X3
Tenchu
Tony Hawk 2
Twisted Metal 2
Vagrant Story
Valkyrie Profile
Warhawk
Wipeout XL
WWF Smackdown 2
Xenogears
Xevious 3D/G

I resurrect this thread with a gasp of incredulity at Suikoden 2 being left out. I'd say take off FFIX, but that's just personal bitterness talking. Chrono Cross shouldn't be there, either. Suikoden 2 managed to put more interest and personality into each of 108 characters (and a few more, if you include bad guys) than CC had in any of its thirty-odd. The dialecticizer method is just unacceptable. I'm just now replaying Suiko2 again, trying to both collect every character and do Clive's quest, and I can't help but be amazed all over again at the sheer emotional impact of the story. How many novels manage to give international politics and warfare such accesibility and resonance? Whereas Chrono Cross didn't even bother to give its two seperate worlds enough difference to make it possible to tell them apart without glancing at the label on the bottom of the screen.

Where I'd give CC the boot for being out-and-out lousy, I might have to suggest nudging off Vagrant Story in favor of Suiko2, not because it's bad, but because it's just not quite as good. I can't speak for many of the other, since RPGs are my area of expertise.

[Dahne]

Ack, didn't mean to include the whole list. Where'd my edit button go?

[Nez]

Its classic baby 8-) no eddits allowed. Why is Grand Turisimo on there instead of GT2? I figgured it was the better of the two.

[Daria]

Chrono Cross
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy VII
Front Mission 3
Valkyrie Profile
Xenogears

Where I'd give CC the boot for being out-and-out lousy, I might have to suggest nudging off Vagrant Story in favor of Suiko2, not because it's bad, but because it's just not quite as good. I can't speak for many of the other, since RPGs are my area of expertise.

Egads. That's the creame of the fanboy crop there. Are we looking for the best the Playstation Library has to offer or just the most popular?

Axe Chrono Cross for Suikoden 2, Vagrant Story for Alundra, Final Fantasy Tactics for Tactics Ogre, and as much as I love Final Fantasy IX I'm positive that there are more deserving RPGs for the system.

Xenogears, Valkyrie Profile, and Front Mission 3 can stay, and Final Fantasy 7 while being completely over rated deserves recognition for turning Sony's head regarding their formly strict RPG policies.

Actually I'm going to say bump FInal Fantasy IX in favor of Persona 2.

[Azazel]

I'd axe Xenogears with almost any RPG.

[kevincure]

If Alundra is a better game than Vagrant Story, hang me with a Dual Shock cord. Vagrant Story is not only deserving, but it may be the best game on the PSX.

If anything were to be changed now, Armored Core, Jumping Flash 2 and Pac-Man World are questionable. Mr Driller is also only the 3rd best puzzle game on the PSX, at best.

[Dahne]

Ah, I forgot about Alundra. It definately deserves a place on the list.

I've never heard anyone call Vagrant Story the best game on the PS before. Granted, I'm not a very objective judge here, as it just isn't my kind of game. Too brown, the battle system was interesting but repetitive, and too much of a dungeon crawl. If I don't have townsfolk to bother, I get lonely. :)

[Dart]

Like the Super Nintendo list, this one is also pretty good but just a bit too biased towards shooters and RPGs.

[PDorr3]

here are some games not on the list that DEFINITLY deserve to be.

Heart of darkness
Klonoa
Skullmonkeys
Star ocean

[suckerpunch5]

like dart said, this list is biased towards RPG's I think. And I guess Tomb Raider got bumped off? How is that possible? It was a huge breakthrough game when it came out. Heck, it is the reason I got a playstation. Same for a lot of other people. It should definitely be back on the list, IMHO.

[KingofGames]

Some games I definitely feel should be added to the list:

Wild Arms: At a time when RPG's were rather bland on the Playstation, this gem had everything you could possibly ask for; Awesome soundtrack, intriguing story, loveable characters, and one of the best intros in gaming history. I don't know how much impact this game had in the creation of other great RPG's, but it sure put everything together for the time.

Tomba!: I remember looking through magazines at previews of this game. I was in love at first sight! A platformer with awesome graphics, a very unique character, a cool "quest" gameplay system, and much more. The game definitely delivered on release and gave us everything that was promised. Very few platformers were as enjoyable on the Playstation.

Armored Core: Most mech games are typically slow and more thought-provoking. They usually require lots of customization, or involve controlling lots of mechs in a strategic battle. Some of the better mech action games are Cybernator, Ranger X, and Metal Warriors, all in 2D. Armored Core really set the stage for 3D Action mech games, offering tons of action and pretty fast gameplay. There was also lots of customization, but it was easily accessible and didn't require too much planning. The mission-based gameplay allowed for some freedom, and while it was a difficult game at times, the game didn't penalize you too greatly for failing missions. Easily one of the best shooter/action games the Playstation has to offer.

Suikoden II: Last but not least is my favorite Playstation RPG. While this game wasn't very innovative, it successfully delivered in every aspect of the game. Very nice 2D sprites, very quick, awesome battle system with a sweet "unite" system that wasn't magic-intensive, a soundtrack that suited the game to the T, and one of the best storylines to be told on the Playstation. Never has a game latched on to it's player so quickly and not released it's grip until the final battle. Most great RPG's took their time to develop a storyline (Chrono Cross), but Suikoden II brought you into the action immediately. It's also host to one of the best villains in an RPG. It's no wonder the game spiked so greatly in price in such a short period of time.

[KingofGames]

Not sure how I missed Armored Core on that list, but I'm glad it's there. :) I also feel that Pac Man World and Jumping Flash 2 aren't deserving of a top 50 list, but that's only because I feel there are better games than those two. Also, neither of the Lunar games made it!? Man, I thought one of those games would make it on name alone.

[poopnes]

I hate to add to this super-old topic...but not really. Just 2 things:

1) No Klonoa?! Surely it was just accidently overlooked.

2) R4 Ridge Racer Type 4 over the original?! As a Ridge Racer nut, I still don't think any Ridge Racer beats out the original.

Of course that's just MHO.

[50TBRD]

My list would have to include Armored Core, Darkstalkers 3, Bloody Roar, SFA3, Strider 2, Battlestations, Bomberman Party Edition, Brave Fencer Musashi, BOF4, Castlevania:SON, DBZ Utlimate BAttle 22, FF7, FFT, The Italian Job, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, MM8, Metal Gear Solid, Motor Racer 1, 2, and 3, One Piece Mansion, Point Blank 1, 2, and 3, Star Ocean, Xenogears, Front Mission 3, Jedi Power Battles, Twisted Metal, Strikers 1945, Grand Theft Auto 1 and 2, Worms Armaggeddon, X-Men Children of the Atom, Panzer General, and Mr Driller. Thought of 35 just off the top of my head.

I love gun games but thought that Elemental Gearbolt was not a whole lot of fun. The Point Blank series is by far the best gun games for PSX and I've played them all.

[RetroYoungen]

I would say to take off Twisted Metal 2 (first one I saw that I thought might not deserve to be on there; but then, I'm not a huge fan of the TM series I guess) and I'd like to nominate Top Shop. I thought it was very nicely done, and a Monopoly-esque good time (though maybe I'm one of the few who still can enjoy games like that LOL ).

Maybe take out Driver instead of TM2...

[50TBRD]

The first Twisted Metal was the best and 3 and 4 were completly different.

[RetroYoungen]

The first Twisted Metal was the best and 3 and 4 were completly different.

I never could get into the original, but I did have some fun with TM3. But I don't know if the franchise deserves to be on the 50 Best games list.

[Psycho Penguin]

Chrono Cross
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy VII
Front Mission 3
Valkyrie Profile
Xenogears

Where I'd give CC the boot for being out-and-out lousy, I might have to suggest nudging off Vagrant Story in favor of Suiko2, not because it's bad, but because it's just not quite as good. I can't speak for many of the other, since RPGs are my area of expertise.

Egads. That's the creame of the fanboy crop there. Are we looking for the best the Playstation Library has to offer or just the most popular?

Axe Chrono Cross for Suikoden 2, Vagrant Story for Alundra, Final Fantasy Tactics for Tactics Ogre, and as much as I love Final Fantasy IX I'm positive that there are more deserving RPGs for the system.

Xenogears, Valkyrie Profile, and Front Mission 3 can stay, and Final Fantasy 7 while being completely over rated deserves recognition for turning Sony's head regarding their formly strict RPG policies.

Actually I'm going to say bump FInal Fantasy IX in favor of Persona 2.

I don't think FM3 is anywhere near the "fanboy crop", and there's no way I would put Persona 2 above FF9. Persona 2's retarded talking to demons system really irritated me.

I'd dump CC for Legend of Legaia personally.

[Rob2600]

Several games not listed in the original post were very popular at the video game store where I used to work:

Bloody Roar series
Brave Fencer Musashi
Bushido Blade series
Bust-a-Groove
Colin McRae Rally series
Dino Crisis series
Fear Effect series
Fighter Maker
Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge
Klonoa
Knockout Kings series
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Lunar series
MDK
Medievil series
Monster Rancher series
Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit and High Stakes
Oddworld series
Parasite Eve series
Point Blank series
R/C Stunt Copter
Rival Schools
RPG Maker
Sim Theme Park
Skullmonkeys
Spider-Man
Spyro the Dragon series
Theme Hospital
Time Crisis series
Tobal series
Tomba! series
Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style
X-COM: UFO Defense

Customers told me these games were great and most of them sold well at my store. Any thoughts? I know some of them might not have held up over the years, but maybe some have.

[Cinder6]

I second the two-years-old outrage at no Lunar games mentioned.

[Natty Bumppo]

Brigandine, Vanguard Bandits and Vandal Hearts should be on the list somewhere.

Also, as someone else mentioned, Nectaris should be included.

(And yes, I favor RPG/strategy games. ^___^ )

[The 1 2 P]

You need to add atleast one of the two Bust A Groove games. Those are classics.

[VitaminX]

All the games listed below deserve Top 50 status:

Future Cop: L.A.P.D 2110
Ghost In The Shell
Parasite Eve
Dino Crisis
The Raiden Project
Raiden DX
One (The most underrated PS1 game of all time)
Skullmonkeys
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Time Crisis 1
Crash Bandicoot 1

Who is the idiot trying to get silent hill thrown off the list?. Jesus. Just tell them to remove Metal Gear also, lol...

[josekortez]

All the games listed below deserve Top 50 status:

One (The most underrated PS1 game of all time)


One is one of the most terrible PS1 games of all time. I own a lot of crap for the PS1 including kids' games, and it's the only one I ever traded in and didn't think about after getting rid of it.

[VitaminX]

One is one of the most terrible PS1 games of all time. I own a lot of crap for the PS1 including kids' games, and it's the only one I ever traded in and didn't think about after getting rid of it.

Let me guess Jose, you found it too hard & lost patience, lol...

[cosmicpsycho]

Its nice to see Skullmonkeys getting a little love here.

[DKTheArcadeRat]

Why is Tomba not on the list? I love that game. It is pretty much my favorite for PS1.