The PlayStation 5’s collection of PS1 emulations weren’t great at launch. But after receiving more games and some important changes, it’s now one of the best ways to revisit the PS1’s greatest hits.
PS1 Emulation Is Finally Good on the PS5
When Sony first launched the PlayStation classics collection—which contains official PS1 emulations for the PS4 and PS5—many players noticed that some of these emulated games ran at lower frame rates than their original PS1 versions.
The downgraded performance was a result of certain emulations being based on the PAL-region versions of their respective games, which ran at a 50 Hz refresh rate rather than the standard 60 Hz used in NTSC regions. This difference caused the PAL versions of most PS1 games to suffer from lower frame rates, visual bugs, and overall worse performance than their NTSC counterparts.
The drawbacks of PAL versions aren’t severe enough to make a game downright unplayable, and the performance difference is unnoticeable in some games. However, the omission of NTSC versions meant players would get a better experience on the original hardware or unofficial emulators.
Thankfully, most of the emulated PS1 games have been updated to include both their PAL and NTSC versions. Additionally, the PlayStation Classics collection was initially exclusive to PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers, but its games are now available for anyone to purchase from the PlayStation store.
10
Resident Evil: Director’s Cut
There’s a good reason why the original Resident Evil is often considered the grandfather of survival-horror games. While it wasn’t the first of its kind, Resident Evil set the standard for the rest of the survival-horror genre with its emphasis on resource management, atmospheric exploration, and terrifying encounters with nightmarish creatures. Even the game’s more dated elements, like its fixed cameras and cumbersome tank controls, add to the tension of trying to slip past shambling zombies and mutated dogs.
The version available on the PlayStation Store is Resident Evil: Director’s Cut, which adds new game modes, quality-of-life features, and a few other surprises, but otherwise retains everything fans loved about the original release. If you’ve never played a Resident Evil game or are looking to revisit the early entries, Director’s Cut marks a fantastic starting point for the series. While the 2001 remake is arguably the better game, it’s also substantially tougher and features numerous changes that you’ll appreciate more after playing the PS1 original.
9
Dino Crisis
Dino Crisis is another survival-horror classic from the creators of Resident Evil, but it hasn’t received the attention it deserves. Much like Resident Evil, the game revolves around exploring a creepy facility, solving abstract puzzles to progress, and using your limited resources to fend off foes.
What sets Dino Crisis apart from other PS1-era horror games is its titular antagonists. Unlike the undead enemies of Resident Evil, the velociraptors and pteranodons of Dino Crisis are fast and ferocious, giving you only a few seconds to react to their attacks. Combat in Dino Crisis is much more intense than its contemporaries, and the game places a heavier focus on action rather than quiet exploration. That doesn’t stop Dino Crisis from being absolutely terrifying, as you’ll also need to contend with a limited supply of ammo and healing items, which makes every encounter and missed shot feel absolutely panic-inducing.
8
Ape Escape
The PS1 was home to many of the best 3D platformers ever made, and Ape Escape stands out as one of the console’s greatest. Ape Escape follows Spike, a young boy tasked with capturing an army of evil, time-traveling monkeys—not apes, despite what the title may lead you to believe. Throughout the game, you’ll use a small selection of gadgets to traverse open-ended areas and capture over 200 monkeys scattered across the different levels.
Along with its entertainingly bizarre premise and silly sense of humor, Ape Escape manages to feel refreshingly different from other 3D platformers. Capturing each monkey requires that you figure out the best way to reach them without being seen, as they will run away or attack if you’re spotted. Some monkeys can only be reached by platforming to high areas, while others require you to use environmental obstacles to block their escape. Ape Escape constantly finds new ways to shake up its simple formula with fun gimmicks and entertaining boss fights.
Twisted Metal helped kickstart the vehicular combat genre, yet it’s still one of the genre’s best games, with only its sequels surpassing it in quality. The original Twisted Metal nearly perfected the concept of a heavily-armed demolition derby, wherein players battle with weaponized vehicles to be the last one standing. Beyond being addictively fun, Twisted Metal was also notable for its iconic characters and apocalyptic story.
The first two Twisted Metal games are featured in the PlayStation Classics collection, and while both games still hold up, Twisted Metal 2 is often considered to be the pinnacle of the series. The sequel improves upon the original’s explosive vehicular combat in just about every way, expanding the roster with new vehicles and adding more stages based on real-world locales. Twisted Metal 2 also introduces a co-op mode, allowing you to play through the campaign with a friend.
Apart from these additions, Twisted Metal 2 doesn’t change much from the first game, instead focusing on refining the series’ formula and keeping the carnage that fans loved from the original.
6
Syphon Filter
Most third-person shooters from the 90s didn’t age well, but Syphon Filter is one of the rare exceptions. Syphon Filter delivers a thrilling blend of fast-paced shooting and simple-yet-satisfying stealth—both of which are helped by the game’s impressively unpredictable AI. The exciting gameplay is upheld by a campaign with plenty of mission variety and a sizable selection of weapons, though you can get through some areas by relying solely on the taser. Syphon Filter also delivers an engaging spy-thriller story, with a plot centered around terrorist organizations, government conspiracies, and a heap of dramatic twists and turns.
In addition to the original Syphon Filter, the PlayStation Classics collection allows you to emulate Syphon Filter 2 and Syphon Filter 3. If you enjoy stealth-action series like Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell, don’t miss out on this series.
5
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee tells the story of Abe, a member of an enslaved alien species known as the Mudokons, as he attempts to escape from a dangerous meat-processing factory while saving his fellow captives. Abe’s Oddysee is a “cinematic platformer,” similar to PC classics like Another World and Prince of Persia. As is common for the genre, your movement is slow and grounded—contrasting the fast and floaty controls of traditional 2D platformers—which contributes to the game’s punishing difficulty.
Throughout Abe’s Oddysee, you’ll be jumping over precarious hazards, sneaking past enemies, and solving puzzles—sometimes dealing with all three at the same time. Despite its tough design, Abe’s Oddysee is a rewarding experience full of clever puzzles and imaginatively bizarre visuals.
Abe’s Oddysee received a remake in 2014 titled Oddworld: New ‘N’ Tasty, which is also available on the PlayStation store. Unlike the Resident Evil remake, New ‘N’ Tasty is almost functionally identical to the original game. While some fans prefer the PS1 version’s darker visuals, both versions serve as fantastic introductions to the Oddworld series.
4
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain has largely been overshadowed by its sequels, but the first game is an excellent—and severely underrated—action roleplaying game. Placing you in the role of Kain, a vengeful vampire with an arsenal of magical powers, Blood Omen allows you to roam a non-linear world wherein you hunt bosses, explore dungeons, and acquire abilities for combat and accessing new areas.
Blood Omen also does a fantastic job of immersing you in its world. The land of Nosgoth feels like a real place with dozens of unique locales separated by forests and small villages. The NPCs in these areas don’t just serve as set dressing, as Kain can consume their blood to restore his health or speak with them by disguising himself as a human.
As you progress through Blood Omen‘s story, you’ll learn even more about the history of Nosgoth and its inhabitants. If you can get past Blood Omen’s stiff combat and awkward controls, you’ll find one of the most enjoyable and immersive role-playing games on the PS1.
3
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
The Ridge Racer series has always set itself apart from other racing games with a driving model that combines the blistering speed of arcade racers like Need for Speed with the precise controls of simcade racing games like Gran Turismo.
If that doesn’t already sound like a challenge, Ridge Racer ups the ante with an emphasis on skillful drifting over pure speed, placing a myriad of sharp turns and tight corners on nearly every track. Ridge Racer has a steep learning curve compared to other arcade racing series, but it reveals itself to be one of the PS1’s most exhilarating racing games once you understand its unique design.
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 is often regarded as the best game in the franchise, offering a wide selection of challenging courses, over 300 cars, and an unforgettable original soundtrack that includes pulse-pounding electronica and upbeat jazz. Races are spread across multiple game modes, including standard racing game staples like time attack and Grand Prix modes, as well as multiple full-length story campaigns. R4 offers a breadth of content along with one of the most polished racing experiences on the PS1, making it a must-play classic for any fan of arcade racing games.
2
The Legend of Dragoon
The Legend of Dragoon is a divisive game among JRPG fans, but it has gathered a cult-following since its release. The game features a creative twist on turn-based combat with its “addition” mechanic, which allows each character to initiate powerful combo attacks by successfully completing a series of quick-time events. As characters level up, they’ll unlock longer combos that can deal more damage, but also leave them vulnerable to enemy counter-attacks. However, pulling off these lengthy combos requires extremely precise timing, giving every battle an extra source of challenge.
Outside of combat, The Legend of Dragoon is still an eye-catching experience with its detailed environments and iconic character designs. The story itself is nothing particularly unique, but it’s carried by the game’s likable cast and in-depth world-building. The Legend of Dragoon is a flawed gem, and likely won’t change your mind if you don’t already enjoy turn-based JRPGs, but its strengths make it an underrated highlight of the PS1’s library.
1
Wild Arms
Whereas The Legend of Dragoon was a flawed gem for avid JRPG fans, Wild Arms is a tightly designed experience that anyone can enjoy. Set in a magical re-imagining of the Wild West, Wild Arms boasts a straightforward yet entertaining story and a challenging turn-based battle system with more depth than it initially lets on. While Wild Arms doesn’t try to revolutionize the genre, it’s unconventional setting and consistently enjoyable combat make for one of the most tightly designed JRPGs in the PS1’s library.
Wild Arms 2 is also available in the PlayStation Classics collection, and it improves on just about every aspect of the first game. Combat has been expanded with a larger cast and new abilities, the Western setting is better realized with detailed environments, and the sequel tells a more ambitious story with a much darker tone. You also don’t need to play the first Wild Arms to understand the plot of Wild Arms 2, though both games are equally worthy of your time.
The games on this list make up only a small portion of the PlayStation Classics collection, and there are plenty of fantastic games that I wasn’t able to include. If you own a PS4 or PS5, do yourself a favor and take some time to revisit some of the PS1 classics.
