Summary

Without a strong supporting library of RPGs, thePS1may not have been a smash hit. One of the smartest decisions Sony ever made was re-releasing PS1 games digitally on PSN to be enjoyed on both the PS3 and PSP. That moment when players realized they could play games likeFinal Fantasy 7on the go must have been eye-opening.

Final Fantasy 7and many other Square Enix and non-Square Enix RPGs have made it past the PS1 via those aforementioned digital ports and through other versions too. These other games are still trapped on the PS1 though without any way to play them besides emulation or a hard copy and a good old PS1.

6Beyond The Beyond

Sony’s First Sun

Beyond the Beyondwas one of the earliest RPGs released for the PS1. It was developed by Camelot who was a small name then but it grew in size thanks to Nintendo. They’re the team responsible for Golden Sun and the variousMariosports titleswhich are borderline RPGs.

Beyond the Beyond’sbattle, U.I. looks a lot like Golden Sun’s with big sprites and colorful animations. Sony has been re-releasing PS1 games on PS4 and PS5 recently with small upgrades, so maybe one dayBeyond the Beyondcan return likeThe Legend of Dragoon. For now, though, it’s trapped on the PS1 and Sony should get ahold of Nintendo to make a deal on this one.

5Brave Prove

Go West Young Man

Brave Provewas only released in Japan in 1998 when the PS1 was cooking with gas. It’san action RPGdeveloped by Data West, a company fans should not confuse with Data East, makers of fine games likeBurgerTimeandJoe & Mac. Brave Prove has big, bulky-looking sprites but they are well-detailed as compared to the more polygonal backgrounds of the game.

For 1998, it might have looked too dated to release it outside of Japan. However, retro fans can appreciate it now especially since there are fan translations of it in English and thehack-and-slash gameplayis satisfying even if it can get old.

Alundrawas the PS1’s answer toThe Legend of Zeldawith a heavy emphasis on dreams. It was a top-down action-adventure game that was re-released on digital storefronts like the PS3.Alundra 2: A New Legend Beginswas a more ambitious sequel that featured full 3D backgrounds and characters.

It played similarly toMega Man Legends, another hidden gemfrom the PS1, but with sword gameplay instead of using a gun. Unlike its predecessor,Alundra 2: A New Legend Beginsnever made it off of the PS1 and hopefully, pirating adventure can see the light of a console once again.

Thousand Armswould fit right at home in aPersonafan’s collection and not just because it was published by Atlus. It too is a turn-based RPG that features romance mechanics. Players are a young blacksmith named Meis who can only grow stronger with his hammer if he falls in love.

Players will meet various female party members on their quest and dialogue options can increase or decrease these relationships. It’s a very goofy story akin toa harem animelikeTenchi MuyoorLove Hinaexcept with a lot more turn-based battles.

Koudelkaisa turn-based horror RPGset in 1898. Players can move their party on a grid-based tile set on the battlefield though sort of like a mini-tactical RPG. Players assume the role of the titular Koudelka, a psychic who is sent in to investigate a mansion similar toResident Evil.

It is the precursor toShadow Hearts, another obscure RPG, which takes place in the same universe. There were plans to port Koudelka onto the Neo Geo Pocket Color and Steam at separate points in time but those plans fizzled out and now the game is forever trapped officially on the PS1.

1Dragon Quest 7: Fragments Of The Forgotten Past

A Forgotten Past Indeed

Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Pastwas a late game for the PS1 and a late entry overall in theDragon Questseries. The sixth entry was a SNES game and that was in 1995 in Japan. Because of the late release and the seemingly dated-looking graphics, many passed this PS1 classic by and then it became rare.

Eventually, it was remade for the 3DS which is truly the best way to play it and then there was a mobile version too based on the remake. So, it is possible to playDragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotelsewhere technically but not in this original form which is a different experience on the PS1.Dragon Questpurists would assuredly love a chance to play this time-traveling game once more.