The original PlayStation today
Anyone remember a time when the PS1 (or PSX) was a quintessential modern staple? Even when the PS2 launched, the fact that every PS2 console was near fully compatible with the PS1 meant that the PS1 stuck around for several years after. Even by 2005 when the PS1 was starting to feel its age, nobody seemed to mind that PS1 games were rougher looking than PS2 fare of the time.
It's been more than another 10 years since and people tend to look at the PS1 as if it were a fossilized dinosaur, which is a real shame. The part I find strange is, PS4 notwithstanding, the PS1 hardware standard stuck around for a very long time. The controllers can be used on both the PS2 and PS3, the latter with a USB adapter technically. Pretty much every PS2 and PS3 will play PS1 discs when inserted. Even the memory cards still work. Square Enix still sells a few of their PS1 RPGs in their online store.
What I mean is the PS1 is not that ancient, given how Sony has kept compatibility for it after all this time. Who else finds it strange that the PS1 is looked at as a museum piece despite its modern design and extended hardware support?
It's been more than another 10 years since and people tend to look at the PS1 as if it were a fossilized dinosaur, which is a real shame. The part I find strange is, PS4 notwithstanding, the PS1 hardware standard stuck around for a very long time. The controllers can be used on both the PS2 and PS3, the latter with a USB adapter technically. Pretty much every PS2 and PS3 will play PS1 discs when inserted. Even the memory cards still work. Square Enix still sells a few of their PS1 RPGs in their online store.
What I mean is the PS1 is not that ancient, given how Sony has kept compatibility for it after all this time. Who else finds it strange that the PS1 is looked at as a museum piece despite its modern design and extended hardware support?
Comments
Also, Estil, go buy a freemcboot memory card from eBay. You just have to pop it in a slim PS2 and that will enable playing games from any source, USB, network, almost anywhere. It's not a perfect solution, but it's a very nice option when PS2 classics get too high in price.
When I got a PS2, the PS1 games played SO much better on the PS2.
Also the FMV intros to everything were so much better back then, especially NBA games
If it wasn't for the PS2, PS1 would be my second favourite console.
Also, Estil, go buy a freemcboot memory card from eBay. You just have to pop it in a slim PS2 and that will enable playing games from any source, USB, network, almost anywhere. It's not a perfect solution, but it's a very nice option when PS2 classics get too high in price.
Why is it not a "perfect" solution exactly? What would my options be exactly?
I owned an N64 and a PSX. I've always been a Nintendo fan and I always will be. There is something about their brand and culture that they've cultivated that makes me love their ecosystem the most... however towards the end of the 90s the PSX is the only system, and I mean only system ever, that I enjoyed far more than Nintendo's offering.
What got me to jump ship was FF VII. I know it's rather cliche to say it but I'd been hyped about that game since it was first mentioned years prior. The PSX also had a couple of Star Wars ports from PC, which I really wanted to play since I wasn't a PC gamer... there was Twisted Metal II which was an insane multi-player game that my buddy and I stayed up to many nights to count.
I know it's fighting words to some but Tekken became my favorite fighting saga and it killed Street Fighter or any other competition. My favorite puzzle game-- it's probably a tie between Tetris and a game called Intelligent Qube, which was short lived and cost a lot of money for a puzzle game. (seriously worth a look.) Schmup? I've not played many but Einhander is exceptional. And, of course, if you are an RPG nut, the thing has about one-billion of them, so there's that.... AND HOW CAN I FORGET RESIDENT EVIL 1 AND 2!!! It seriously just keeps going.
The N64 had a lot of good games but the PSX just seemed to turn out classic, after classic, after classic. As a rule, I hate SONY as a company and I've vowed to never, ever buy anything new from them ever again, but that's a different story which doesn't related to video games but to music. The PS2 was an exceptional follow-up and I had (and still have) a sizable collection of PS2 games but about that time I still fell to my old ways and I just loved the simplicity of the GameCube even though it was rather under powered compared to the PS2. GameCube games proved what Nintendo has always been about, and that's making fun games regardless of the hardwares capability.
I don't know. I don't mean to ramble but to me the PSX is probably my second favorite system to the NES and the only reason why the NES beats the PSX is probably because it gets 1000x more nostalgia points for being my first video game love from my early childhood.
Also, Estil, go buy a freemcboot memory card from eBay. You just have to pop it in a slim PS2 and that will enable playing games from any source, USB, network, almost anywhere. It's not a perfect solution, but it's a very nice option when PS2 classics get too high in price.
Why is it not a "perfect" solution exactly? What would my options be exactly?
I'm not experienced with hombrew other than freemcboot. The issues I've come across with FMB is that cutscenes or full motion video sometimes doesn't work. I think I read about possible issues with text. Not every disc image works. Sometimes you have try a few different images, like from different rippers or regions. Overall, it's fantastic. Gameplay has been 100%. It was also very painless to get everything setup. It took about 5 minutes.
I also wanted to add that I would never play a PS1 after owning a PSP. The PSP eboots are far superior to playing from a disc. The only drawbacks are the PSP is missing shoulder buttons and multiplayer.
The PS2 was an exceptional follow-up and I had (and still have) a sizable collection of PS2 games but about that time I still fell to my old ways and I just loved the simplicity of the GameCube even though it was rather under powered compared to the PS2. GameCube games proved what Nintendo has always been about, and that's making fun games regardless of the hardwares capability.
No, it's just the opposite, the GC was leaps and bounds hardware specs wise compared to the PS2 (that's the price PS2 paid for coming out first and over a year prior to GC/Xbox), and in fact was almost as power as the Xbox. But of course just like PS1 vs N64, PS2 had the edge in terms of having a lot more room on their discs than GC's discs.
Not to say of course, PS2 can't make fantastic looking games, far from it *cough*Final Fantasy 12*cough*.
I enjoyed a lot of the games, and still do, TBH. The PS1 has something for everyone, and typically three or four of something for everyone. I'd consider it one of my favorite consoles, up there with the PS2 and DS.
Will always and forever consider the PSX my favorite console. Even if you werent a fan of the 3d polygons there were tons of titles that still played with rich animated sprites. And for many of us it was the first time seeing animated sequences in a game, it was amazing.
When you say "PSX", do you mean the combo device (DVR/PS1/PS2) or the console that only played PS1?
Regarding hardware, I have a PS2 setup at my house and a PS1 in my office. I would have to concede that the PS 2 is better, if for no other reason than you can flip the switch in settings to beef up the shading of the graphics a bit. Side-by-side comparisons are obvious, but unless you're very familiar with the game, you may not notice the effect. Having the ability to cut off this feature is also a benefit since it may not always play nice with some games, though I can't seem to recall owning a game in my library that didn't look better on the PS2.
But, I've always been an original hardware nerd. The experience of playing PSX games on the PS2 is nice but I still love hearing that extremely loud buzzing motor every time the system reads from disc and I also can't help but love the SONY boot loading screen, with the orange logo and the "epic" sound.
I still to this day love the PS1's graphics, games, and just overall charm. Definitely way better than the N64 IMO.
I almost want to have a PS1 and PS2 hooked up just so i can hear the PS1 startup theme when i play games.
It definitely doesn't get enough love right now, but i definitely think there is a pretty good size fan base for it.
And as far as collecting goes, it is an extremely fun and rewarding system to collect for. Finding good condition disks, jewel cases, and artwork are not as easy as you would think.
The library is also massive and has some of the greatest games of all time IMO.
I am at about 100 titles, mostly RPG's and pricier titles. Need a handful of $75+ and then it is just commons for me.
It's getting to the point where a lot of these opinions are starting to show people's age. I can't believe how many comments I see on YT that state a PS1/64 game or later was someone's first ever game. I know I shouldn't be surprised, I couldn't imagine missing out on the NES and SNES.