As many know, the PlayStation 3, PSP, and PS Vita digital storefronts are shutting down this summer. A lot of digital-only games will be lost with no official way to play them. Many have been working on whichimportant digital-only titles players should check out, but even those had barely begun circulating when it was revealed that some games were already losing their patches and DLC. Now, it’s a mad rush to figure out what the average consumer wants and can salvage from these old digital stores.
It’s not just PS3, PSP, and PSV games that have been caught in the crossfire, either.PlayStation 1and 2 Classics titles are also going away, with many being the only way for a modern gamer to reliably purchase some of those games. There have been a ton of hits throughout Sony’s console history, and it would be a shame to lose them to the ravages of time and executive decisions. To that end, here is a list ofPlayStation 1 Classicsthat PS3 owners shouldn’t forget about while building up their collectionsIN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.
RELATED:Rare PS1 Classics to Download Before PlayStation Store Shuts Down
10Strider 2
Strider 2is the 1999 arcade follow-up toStrider 1. Not the non-canonStrider 1for the NES, thecanceled open worldStrider, or the 2014Striderreboot made by Iron Galaxy, only the arcade version ofStrider 1. ThisStrider 2is also developed and published by Capcom, setting it apart from the European developedStrider 2that came out in 1990. It’s all rather messy, but what players today need to know is that the arcade and PS1Strider 2is considered the best of the classicStridertitles. Sporting 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds, this action-platformer still holds up as a quick and thrilling ninja hack-and-slash.
9Suikoden 2
Sometimes cited as one of the greatest video games of all time, 1999’sSuikoden 2is a JRPG that contests its seniorFinal Fantasy 7through sheer grit. While the graphics are 2D in a time where many other games took the leap to 3D, the story and battle mechanics did more to offset this in fans’ eyes. The game’s primary claim to fame is the ability to recruit over 100 characters to the player’s side, over 40 of which are playable in normal combat. The rest can be used in massive war sequences, an impressive feat for the era and genre. There is a good reason why the recentcrowdfunding campaign for aSuikodensuccessorwas so successful.
8Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2is widely considered a survival horror classic and is in the running for one of the best games in theResident Evilfranchise. Capcom’s 1998 classic still holds up,even compared to the recentResident Evil 2 Remake. Sure, it’s dripping with awkward cheese, but evenResident Evilat it most serious is a little goofy. The original game has a classic soundtrack, and its zapping system allowing for Claire and Leon to leave items for each other’s B playthroughs is unique to it.
RELATED:5 Classic PlayStation Games That Deserve A Remake (And 5 That Should Remain Untouched)
7Metal Gear Solid
The 1998Metal Gear Solidmay have slightly outdated gameplay compared to its GameCube remake, but theimpact of one of Hideo Kojima’s defining masterpiecesis still apparent today. Its iconic voice acting and cutscenes are still intact, andMGS’s innovations in stealth gameplay can still be felt in modern games. The plot, isolated from the rest of theMetal Gearfranchise, stands strong as a slightly futuristic and politically-infused thriller featuring plenty of gaming’s early aspirations towards cinema.
6Wild Arms 2
Wild Arms 2released in 2000, and has been praised for its compelling story and competent combat system. The setting is also an interesting one compared to most JRPGs, as firearms are in regular use by main characters alongside the typical arsenal of magic. Players also have many options in navigating the environment by using the cast’s different tools. Its Wild West aesthetic is rarely reproduced, so it’s likely to bea very memorable RPG experience.
5Bloody Roar 2
As an alternative to most of the genres present on this list,Bloody Roar 2is a unique-feeling fighting game, and one that still has its fans today. Released in 1999 for arcades and PS1, the game features characters that can shift between human and animal forms to give themselves a combat advantage. It may not be the most refined game in the series, but it is still very well liked.
4Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaverreleased in 1999 for the PlayStation 1, and was the second game in theLegacy of Kainseries. The game is regarded as one of the best titles in the franchise, butunfortunately has a very abrupt endingdue to Crystal Dynamics’ troubled development. Still, its worth experiencing for its story and well-realized gothic setting.
3Silent Hill
The legendarySilent Hillis a 1999 horror classic developed by Konami. The first installment in theSilent Hillseries, the game follows Harry Mason as he searches for his missing adopted daughter in the fictional American town ofSilent Hill. Famously, the developers fog and darkness to muddle the graphics and keep the game from outstripping its console’s capabilities. This alsoenhancedSilent Hill’s atmosphere, and has become a staple aesthetic throughout the series.
2Parasite Eve
Parasite Eveis a 1998 action-RPG developed and published by Square. The game is a sequel to the novelParasite Eve, and is well-remembered for its unique modern New York setting and compelling plot. The interesting combat system and grotesque monsters arepractically begging for a remake, but until then, the original will more than suffice.
1Klonoa: Door To Phantomile
Klonoa: Door to Phantomileis a platformer developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation in 1997. The story follows Klonoa and his friend Huepow in their efforts to save the dream world of Phantomile from an evil spirit intent on turning it into a world of nightmares.The platformer is remembered as a cult classic, and was successful enough to receive several sequels and a Wii pseudo-remake.Klonoaoffers what might be the best 2D platforming on the original PlayStation, a rare genre at the time due to games shifting to 3D. It’s still worth going back to, both to experience it as a piece of somewhat obscure gaming history and to enjoy.
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