Since its inception in 1994, Sony’s PlayStation brand has played host to some of the game industry’s most compelling and innovative software releases to date. Whether it be pioneering the 3D movement in its infancy with early staples such as Tomb Raider and Tekken, nurturing blockbusters such as God of War and Gran Turismo or providing a launching pad for fresh IP in the form of LittleBigPlanet, Sony’s inexorable console efforts have greatly facilitated and shaped the fortunes of our industry in a trend that is unlikely to stop anytime soon.
It all had to start somewhere, though, and in conjunction with the 15th anniversary of the original PlayStation, PSU decided to take a step back in time and look at ten of the most important games to hit Sony’s grey behemoth throughout its lengthy genre-defining life cycle, highlighting their importance at the time of release and the subsequent games they went on to inspire.
Join us now as we extol ten PlayStation games that defined a generation.
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1. Metal Gear Solid
Why? – Hideo Kojima’s stealth-action masterpiece offered unprecedented cinematics, boasting a compelling script rivaling Hollywood blockbusters, in addition to its richly diverse gameplay, fusing stealth and action-packed set pieces. In particular, Snake’s inaugural 3D adventure is remembered for innovative gameplay touches, such as the controller-swapping antics of the Psycho Mantis battle, as well as the now infamous fourth-wall breaking commentary.
Likely inspired — Splinter Cell, Assassin’s Creed, Syphon Filter
2. Grand Theft Auto
Why? – Clouded by controversy upon release due to a decidedly mature edge, GTA planted the seeds for what would later become known as the sandbox genre, offering an unprecedented degree of freedom, as players wiz around a sprawling metropolis tackling diverse and copious mission objectives fuelled by pinching flash motors and evading tenacious coppers.
Likely inspired – Saint’s Row
3. Tekken 3
Why? – Hailed as one of the greatest home console beat ‘em ups of all time, Tekken’s PSone swansong proved a staggering port of an already exquisite arcade brawler, packing in a substantial, diverse character roster, each one boasting a comprehensive array of techniques to master. Aside from that, the game pushed Sony’s aging hardware to its limits, throwing in a heap of mini games to indulge in, from the Streets of Rage-esque Tekken Force to the bizarre Tekken Ball. In short, the complete fighting package which raised the proverbial bar for console beat ’em ups.
Likely inspired – Street Fighter IV
4. Tomb Raider
Why? – Voluptuous archaeologist Lara Croft’s arrival on the scene back in 1996 signaled an emphatic leap forward in 3D gaming whichever way you approach it, from the revolutionary visuals to the sheer scale of the environments. Guiding Croft on a globe-trotting treasure hunt from the mountains of Peru to the lost continent of Atlantis, players solve increasingly complex riddles and battle hordes of pugnacious wildlife in a quintessential slice of 3D action adventure, which ultimately cemented Croft as one of the most iconic videogame stars of the late 1990s.
Likely inspired – Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
5. Resident Evil
Why? – Resident Evil bought Survival Horror mainstream success, immersing players in a spooky mansion filled with legions of flesh hungry undead, nightmarish bio-weapons and fiendish traps. Its pre-rendered environments afforded an inherently cinematic approach to gameplay, combining dramatic camera angles with shock set pieces in what has gone down in history as one of the first genuinely frightening videogames ever conceived.
Likely inspired – Silent Hill, Siren, Dead Space, Dino Crisis
6. Gran Turismo
Why? – Polyphony Digital’s shiny simulator marked a rapid departure from a market saturated by arcade racers upon its arrival in 1998. A totally disparate beast from the likes of Ridge Racer and SEGA Rally, Kazunori Yamauchi’s brainchild injected a much-needed sense of realism in to the racing genre, offering tight, responsive controls, a mammoth career mode, and heaps of fully-licensed motors. For gamers in the late 1990s, this was essentially as close to the real thing as you could get from the comfort of your own living room.
Likely inspired – Metropolis Street Racer, Forza, Project Gotham Racing
7. Final Fantasy VII
Why? – Square’s seminal PlayStation exclusive raised the proverbial bar for RPG’s, presenting three discs worth of massive boss battles, sumptuous CGI, sprawling environments, an intricate storyline and more than 50 hours worth of playtime. Quite simply, nothing of this scale had ever been witnessed before in a videogame up until that point.
Likely inspired – Countless other RPGs, from Skies of Arcadia to Dragon Age: Origins
8. Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2
Why? – The quintessential skating package, Pro Skater 2 raised the benchmark for the extreme sports genre, building on the success of its equally compelling predecessor with refined gameplay, a superb and diverse range of tricks to perform, and intricate customization options.
Likely inspired – Skate
9. ISS Pro Evolution 2
Why? – Footy fanatics back in the early 2000s had two choices when it came to console adaptations of the Beautiful Game – FIFA or Pro Evo. The former was good for a quick kick about and attracted the more casual punter, while the latter offered what many considered to be the most comprehensive, realistic interpretation of the sport available on any home console. A defining sports romp that would set the bar for soccer sims for over half a decade.
Likely inspired – FIFA
10. Medal of Honor
Why? – Long before Activision stepped on to the scene, the WWII-based shooter crown firmly rested on the heads of the all-conquering, ubiquitous publishing powerhouse Electronic Arts. For many, the inaugural Medal of Honor offered the most cinematic and immersive console shooter on the market, capturing the intensity and drama of WWII-era combat with action-packed set pieces, meticulously realized visuals and a gripping plot penned by Hollywood’s very own Steven Spielberg.
Likely inspired – Call of Duty