The first Sony Playstation has a thriving library of masterpieces and underrated gems that have seen multiple remasters and even remakes. With ports finally coming out for classics like Chrono Cross, it feels good to take a walk down nostalgia lane. But there are still games in the library that haven't seen the light of day since the '90s.
Enter Playstation Premium. The service aims to give access to games that haven't been able to be played since at least PS3. Sony has an opportunity to get back in the good graces of fans and release some forgotten by time.
Final Fantasy Tactics (1997)
It goes without saying, most of Squaresoft's Final Fantasy series will probably be included but FF: Tactics often gets overlooked. It's different, more strategic, and hasn't technically had a true console port since its initial release. War of The Lions was a PSP update, some preferred the handheld version but other fans just prefer the original disc in hand.
The strategy RPG classic is expected but not guaranteed. As the service grows, so will demand for the golden standard. Final Fantasy Tactics is a must-have on a starting lineup that will keep RPG fans satisfied with the pricey service.
Syphon Filter (1999)
Another PS1 game lost to time, Syphon Filter has also found minor success since its first entry, but eventually dwindled. Fans liked it for its contributions to the 3rd person shooter genre and its high-stakes tension. Its creative use of proto-sandbox mechanics and over-the-top taser moments cemented its cult following.
Surprisingly, it's not available on PS Now even though it's published by Sony. This exclusive darling could shine once more as soon as Sony digs into the archives and starts to finally give the fans what they want, preservation of games long past.
Vagrant Story (2000)
Another Squaresoft game made from the Final Fantasy Tactics team, this game saw them turn away from traditional turn-based battle mechanics with a unique targeting allocation akin to Fallout's V.A.T.S. system. Opting for a more action RPG focus, Vagrant Story took fans by storm with its platforming and customization.
With a new title in the series just announced, this is a perfect opportunity to give Sony fans a refresher or a little background to newcomers. Playstation Premium really needs to double down on the core of what made the PS1's library so vast, and the majority of it is fondly remembered for incredible RPGs such as this.
Fear Effect (2000)
Fear Effect may not have been the first horror game on the PS1 or even the most known, but its fan base has been through a lot in order to track down its copies. Combining puzzles and scares like other survival horror staples, Fear Effect's cel-shaded graphics and EKG health meter helped it stand out.
Once again, there's no real way to play this, and even the 2017 announcement of Fear Effect Reinvented has gone under the radar, leading some to believe its development has been canceled. Horror buffs need this hidden gem to make an appearance in the Playstation Premium option to expand what PS Now is lacking. This will only help pave the way for more overlooked horrors such as Clock Tower, Chaos Break, and Nightmare Creatures.
Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver (1999)
This gothic dark fantasy's mechanic of shifting between different planes of existence was mind-boggling at the time. Inventive and dark, Soul Reaver built upon the Legacy of Kain series, finding itself in the pantheon of vampire essentials. Its puzzles and soul-stealing make it refreshing, even to modern audiences.
Sony is lacking in a lot of categories in its PS Now library and this is just another reason to expand if they want to compete with Microsoft's Game Pass. They have a longer history and a bigger library, but it won't mean anything if they don't use it. Sony needs to assess all of its genres and cherry-pick trendsetters like Soul Reaver to offer something Xbox has never had on any of its consoles to port.
Digimon World Series (1999-2002)
In the '90s, there was a line in the sand. One was either team Pokémon or Team Digimon. Digimon World was Bandai's take on a monster simulator opting for a closer friendship like the shows rather than collecting them all. It was tougher, with more stakes and hardships. No one wants to lose a friend to death, but Digimon World balanced this sorrow with community and vision. As the series progressed, customization and choice became the focus, leading to a challenging but different experience with each entry.
Although Nintendo has seen Digimon releases, Sony could once again corner a market that is underserved by getting their hands on these missing underdogs. Digimon World 3 in particular is fun to digest, while 1 is often sought by the more hardcore fans. It's an easy pick-up for Sony, considering they're the only ones to ever had Digimon World 2 & 3 appear on their console.
Metal Slug Series (1996-1998)
Sure Metal Slug been released in compilations over the years, and it's still an arcade favorite, but the Neo Geo run and gun deserves a spot just like anyone else. Sony needs big hitters, even if they are available elsewhere. But it's not available on PS Now, which is a letdown. Metal Slug 3 is, but it's not enough, and fans deserve to be able to play the entire series if they're going to pay $120 a year for the service.
When Sony has an alternative to a classic like Contra, there's no reason they can't give gamers one of the best in the genre. It's just sitting there waiting to be played by an active fan base. With Metal Slug Tactics coming out this year on other consoles, it'd be a smart move to pull them back over with a full library.
Einhänder (1997)
Einhänder is one of the PS1's most notorious rare finds and needs to have a home on Playstation Premium. This scrolling shooter ranks up with the best of the genre with favorites like R-Type, Radiant Silvergun, and Gradius. Nail-biting maneuvers and tense gun-play help it outshine its peers as players destroy cores to increase their multiplier bar and unleash chaos in this bullet hell.
While Nintendo is sleeping on their amazing collection of scrolling shooters, Sony would be smart to strike the iron while it's still hot, to fill an untapped void in the genre.
Bushido Blade (1997)
Even to this day, there are not that many games similar to Bushido Blade's realistic take on fighting games. With its body damage system, Bushido Blade carved a name for itself by having a realistic battle simulation. One swift move could end the game if players timed their precision. On top of this, the 3D environment was still new to the genre, thanks to Virtua Fighter. This only helped moved fighting from the 2D to the 3D plane, by giving Bushido Blade some clout where others had failed.
A historical addition to '90s fighting games such as this shouldn't be relegated to archives never to be seen again. It should be displayed as the powerful movement that it was, offering players a different kind of fighting game choice. Sony shouldn't sleep on this one if they want to further make themselves a market to the fighting game community after its recent purchase of EVO.
Legend of Dragoon (1999)
Most physical purchases of Legend of Dragoon on disc start around $75 and can go up to $700 for an untouched copy. Without a PS Now offering, this expensive JRPG fundamental could be lost to time without a port or offering on Playstation Premium. It is often praised to be a fan favorite for its fun battle system and dragoon transformations. These elements make it stand out with its robust story and complex characters.
Although available on the PS3 store, not everyone has access to a console that is quickly approaching retro status. Last year, that very store was in danger of shutting down which would have cut off the only access to Legend of Dragoon and other classics that yet have been given a port or remaster. Thankfully, fans spoke up and saved it but Sony needs to provide a means of preservation with Playstation Premium; Otherwise, most people will not find the value in its steep price point without treasures like this.