Decent PS1 games

Yep... you read that right. PS1 games. I used to have a PS2/Gamecube/XBOX, but had to flog them all this year for financial reasons. Anyhow, I dug out my PS1 and wondered if there were any good games I missed first time around that I could maybe pick up for cheap (key word) now. I'm hankering for something to play over the Christmas break, when I can loaf about on the couch, rather than being sat at the PC.

I mainly enjoy RPG's and strategy titles, although the Final Fantasy games irritate me because of the random battles. One of my favourite games was Vandal Hearts, and XCOM is fantastic (although I've played both these to death).

Any suggestions? Please... only sensible posts - if I could afford to buy a PS2 or whatever then I wouldn't have created this thread! I know that the PS1 graphics are a bit crusty nowadays (to say the least), but all I'm after is something with great GAMEPLAY to keep me amused when I want a break from coding.

Anything will do. Just look for real bargains at rock bottom prices - ie less than a dollar / pound, and snap up loads and be suprised!

I wish PS1 games were less than a pound! My local shops still charge an average of £5 each for them (some are £3, some are £10!). Even if I win one on eBay at £1, the postage normally drives it up to £3. £3 that I'd rather not spend on an awful game.

I understand what you are saying about taking a chance and I might be pleasantly surprised, but some input on what to look out for would still be appreciated.

Gran turismo, or Gran turismo 2. :)

Excellent games, but unfortunately not RPG or strategy.

There are loads of stinkers so watch out, but also some total gems that'll keep you going for ages: some that I bought (from memory):

Tomb Raider
Ridge Racer 2
Rage Racer
Pademonium (great platformer)
Crash Bandicoot (cool fun)
Die Hard Trilogy
Tekken 2
Alien Trilogy (looks a bit poor now compared to modern FPS but I liked it at the time)
Final Fantasy VII
Wipeout (and 2097)

I'm sure there were loads more but that's all I can remember now.

So you only want RPG/strategy game suggestions, then? That kinda rules me out but I was going to suggest Bishi-bashi for some Japanese (i.e. weird) and mindless party-gaming fun.

I'd prefer RPG / strategy game suggestions, but something like Tomb Raider or Medieval is ok too. Although Gran Turismo was indeed excellent, I've since played number 4, and would find it hard to go back to 1 or 2. This isn't so much of a problem with RPG's or strategy, as you can look past the graphics to the story or depth of play.

Bishi-bashi sounds interesting, but is fetching £10+ on eBay right now, so I'll have to pass.

£10+??? Sounds like it's quite collectable, or something, then. See if you can find it in a game shop bin for less.

It seems most of my old long-since-flogged PSX games are now worth money. I had a limited edition Castlevania which I sold for a few quid which is apparently worth about £50 now. :/

Still got my Jap Namco classic collection CDs, though. :)

Vagrant Story & Chrono Cross.

Thanks Genexi2 - Vagrant Story looks just right, and there are a couple on eBay "Buy it Now" for £10. I'll try and dig up some old reviews, and then might try and win one a bit cheaper. I only found one Chrono Cross, but it was NTSC format, and in the USA. I'll investigate to see if a PAL copy exists.

Vagrant Story is pretty tough, decent game though. Although it's really repetitive in battle.
Also Chrono Cross was NEVER released outside of America, so you won't find it. I'd recommend Parasite Eve but of course that's only in America too. Very unusual RPG action is Parasite Eve, top game though.

Also look out for Incredible Crisis.

At one of those garage sales things...I caught a glimpse of Tekken3...one of my all time favorites but couldnt afford it when I was younger.....I bought it for $0.99 cents....plays like a charm.

Gamespot's review has convinced me to give Vagrant Story a go, and I managed to buy it pre-owned on Amazon for £7.49 including postage. I'm still open to other suggestions, for something to get once I've completed this. :)

Shame Chrono Cross and Parasite Eve are NTSC only. I should chipped my PS1! $0.99 for Tekken 3 is amazing... what a find!

I've got most of my PSX games, since i now use an emulator- My PSX got destroyed when my Colin mcrae Rally disc cracked in half!

All my playstations are chipped. If you just stick with Euro games then you're missing out on, at the very least 20 classic games. Just on PS1.

Not really funny but... LOL!

As "puki" would say... major sniffage. :(

If only there were a Blakes 7 game! Tck!

;)

lol.

IPete2.

If Breath of Fire IV ever got a PAL release, I'd highly recommend it. Star Ocean 2 definitely *did* get a PAL release, and that's probably the best RPG on PS1 in my opinion. Suikoden 1 and 2 also got PAL releases, and are excellent RPG's, but they might be hard to find ( and I'm not selling mine. )

Legend of Dragoon was alright too, that got a PAL conversion, I think. Most of my PS1 stuff was NTSC only.

LOL @ IPete2... you know me too well. ;)

Suikoden 2 on eBay - £72.99 "Buy it Now". LOL - I don't think I will buy it now, or indeed anytime soon at that price.

Thanks for the info on Breath of Fire IV and Star Ocean 2, I'll check those out too.

[EDIT] Wow... Star Ocean 2 also seems rare - £69.99 "Buy it Now" on eBay!

Breath of Fire IV seems quite cheap, but Breath of Fire III seems fairly rare - there's one ending in four hours that is up to £14.51.

I've never been into RPG's but I did try one once on the PSX called Alundra - I think, something with an 'A' work in the tirle, anyway. :P It seemed pretty good.

This site any help? :
http://www.vidgames.com/ps/software/rpg.html

I did play Alundra, but couldn't get into it at the time. Can't remember why.

Thanks so much for that link big10p - great stuff! :)

Heh, got my copy at a pawn shop for $19.99 (CAD). =\

Good game, aside from the fact that last boss is $#@(*&$%(*#@*&$)(@#ing hard, quit playing after getting my characters to lvl 112 and still getting whooped.

Totally forgot about BoF IV, to the point where I should go back to playing it & beating it right now....

I was trying to remember Alundra I got it and it was good got really far, loaded up another day and it crashed. Played again and reloaded and same crash, never touched it after that, really annoying!

How come no one has said Xenogears? Xenogears!

*Front mission 3
Chrono Cross
*Final Fantasy 7 8 and 9
Final Fantasy Anth. and Final Fantasy origins, and Final Fantasy Chronicles.
*Final Fantast Tactics
Parasite Eve 1 and 2
Vagrant Story
Legend of Dragoon


Basicly anything with square or squaresoft tagged on it for the ps1 is good if not great.

I put a * next to the really good ones.

FFT and Front mission are both strat RPGs.

Thanks DampeS8N. I have played FF7, 8 & 9, but the endless random battles frustrated me (when I was trying to explore!). I completed 7, but didn't even get onto disc 2 (of 4!) for 8 or 9.

Then pick up, Front mission 3, FFT and Parasite Eve 1 and 2.... I don't remember about any others.. but those don't have random battles.

EDIT... or maybe PE does have something random... I don't remember it as random..

Its an action RPG that is like Resident Evil meets Legend of Mana.... very neat stuff.

Final Fantasy 7 is a must I think.

More non-RPG/strategy games:

Einhander
NO2

FFT is one of my favourite games of all time. Tekken 3's a real crowd pleaser, until you pummel everyone's sorry ass.

populous-the beggining is good for PS1

Hogs Of War - The best!

was thinking of getting some PS1 games for my Xbox PS1 emulator. Wasn't sure which ones, so thanks for the thread :)

Avon!

CHEAT! FF8 is awesome when you get rid of those feild battles!

Cygnus... you don't have to cheat... i forget if it was cactuar or tonberry who gives you it... but learn the no battle skills... hehe.. course... you have to wait till the 3rd disk... bah... ok.. cheat

Because it never got a PAL release. Neither did several of Dampe's. Like Enay said, you miss out on a lot of RPG's if you don't get a modchip. The PS2 has had a few more PAL conversions ( I was impressed how La Pucelle Tactics, Disgaea, Phantom Brave and Makai Kingdom have all had PAL releases. ) but there are still some major omissions.

Sorry to hear about the high price of Star Ocean 2 and Suikoden 2. I had no idea they went for that much. Shame I love em too much or I could turn a tidy profit on a few of these.

All the RPG games I actually own are Squaresoft - so ones without random battles and released in PAL (I'm in Aus, so very limited) are : Vagrant Story (wholly recommended, semi-realtime RPG battler, always aim for the legs first so you can run away easier if need be! :) Bloody fantastic and original graphic style, am actually listening to the music in Winamp as we speak too), Parasite Eve II (I hear most people don't like it as much as PE1, but I havn't played that, so I don't know, but this one is a very good version of Resident Evil basically (re: actually fun), with RPG elements)... also I recommend Erhgeiz (or however it was spelt) - this was essentially a Squaresoft beat em up, but it had a miniRPG sub game in it too, which kept me busy for quite some time. If you like Tekken 3 you might like Bushido Blade - typical beat em up action, except battles are more life like - 1 good blow can kill your opponent, so the battles are quick. Most people I know don't like this one though.

There was also an RPG (non Square) that used a multitap to support 4 players... it was hell fun, but I can't remember the name for the life of me. Also, you havn't expressed any interest in this genre, but if you liked Twisted Metal 1 or 2, get Rogue Trip. It's the next game of that type by the same people, not by the people who killed Twisted Metal 3 and onwards.

I don't know what is released where and all that bs... All I know is what I was able to get and play here in the USA... if you can't get them in whatever country you are in... well.. sorry.

but you won't be able to get that Ergeiz game... (i can't spell it either)

it is one of the most sought after games in existance... and is also a piece of crap.

LOL... er, I'll pass, thanks!

Cool - mine is due to be posted today, so I'm looking forward to it.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, it is most appreciated. :)

> I did play Alundra, but couldn't get into it at
> the time. Can't remember why.

That's because it was rubbish! Nice music though :)

I'd also second stuff like Xenogears. Xenogears has like 70 hours of ACTUAL story and gameplay and rivals Final Fantasy VII for overall story and coolness. Front Mission 3 is a top game, I'd recommend that, best tactical RPG game I've played (kinda like Lazer Squad but with big mechs.) Plus after a decision you make right at the beginning in the first hour you can have 2 seperate stories that are completely different, both lasting about 30-40 hours each. Deffo top game and amazingly Front Mission 3 for a PAL release.

I like both Parasite Eve 1 and 2, PE1 is better, but PE2 definitely has it's moments and is good in its own way. PE2 is more like a Resident Evil RPG game but with RPG elements in it.
Both have great music too. PE2 got a PAL release but PE1 didn't.

Thanks ENAY and DampeS8N - I've just bought it on eBay for £7.99 including postage! Just don't tell the wife!!! ;)

I can't find a PAL Xenogears... which is probably just as well, as I've spent enough now! Sounds like a good game though.

None mentioned Metal Gear Solid or Castlevania: Symphony of the Night?
Those are my all time psx fave games

Metal Gear Solid.



There :)

That's a relief!

Oh! I forgot to put my vote in for Front Mission 3. That is a good game too.


Really?!? Amazing. I should dash down to my video store and offer to buy their copy that's still sitting on the shelves, then =]

Toby... snatch it up and sell it on ebay.... people just don't look for that game in the stores anymore.

Its like finding a copy of Chronotrigger in the old SNES bin.... it might be there for years till someone finds it and knows what they got. And then the 50+$ price tag will put most other people off hahaha. Until they see what copies sell for on ebay.

somebody posted front mission 3 above

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-5380705259560800386

check out this video of EARLY front mission 3 levels!!

I liked Hogs of War (I think that's what it's called), total blast with a few mates and beers! :D

Dabz

Vandal Hearts & Castlevania are the only PS1 games you need.

You should play Front Mission 3 John, it's the daddy of RPG/Turn based games. I know you're a big fan of advance wars and Naked War was inspired from it, but for inspirational turn based combat, you can't fault Front Mission 3 in any way.

Well.. technically Front Mission, bahamut lagoon and Ogre Battle are the daddies of the genre... FM3 was a great game though... Perhaps the best small team turn based strategy game ever... and well over 100 hours of gameplay AND a great storyline.

Chris Kamara's Street Soccer
The Amazon reviews say it all really:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004ZCVH

10 months later, I hope your finances have improved Avon.

was gonna suggest some games but see I already posted first time round :-)

Me too, but I'm going to post again anyway.

I'd recently remembered some old favourites of mine... mostly rare games I've managed to play but not own... don't really fit into the origial poster's requirements but this assuming this thread has been resurrected by the 'Decent PS1 games' title, not the OP's comments =]

Team Buddies - little capsule dudes collecting crates to build big weapons and shooting the crap out of each other. Fantastic game, even fantasticer with a multitap and 3 real life friends =]

Trash-It - fat little buggers with huge mallets. Aim is to whack the crap out of the background graphics and hoover the debris up, then make it to the exit before the time runs out. Great in 2 player if you both know the intricacies of the game. Many people I knew couldn't be bothered to play single player, so they didn't like it much. But if you get into it, some of the levels (hit a single trash can and watch the rest of the level that was balanced on it fall down) is really quite hypnotising.

Trap Gunner - this one's not very rare, but it's kinda what Spy vs Spy (PS2) should have been, from what I've read in reviews =] Two people in a maze like construct laying traps and collecting some sort of prize. Great with two skillful players.

Micro Machines 3 - recent attempts don't hold a torch to this little beauty. Collect tiny little cars by racing them in environments like outdoors, kitchen table, school room, science tables, etc... also mini boats too, in the outdoor ponds. A rediculous number of game modes. 4 player fun without a multitap! Even race a buddy with cars you've collected for fun or for pink slips...