In the current age of gaming, the industry has hit the sweet spot where some of the first classic games are far enough away for a good reboot. While new games are still flowing out of studios, it’s hard to find a classic that hasn’t at least been attempted to get the modern facelift.
The execution varies from title to title but massive opportunities are missed when they leave a title in the shadow of the past. Relying more on fanbase than game quality, it’s up to the fans to bring back these forgotten titles. Sporting some of the highest ratings from their era, these titles will breathe some life and story back into their respective franchises and introduce the younger crowd to some classics.
10 Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver
In this 1999 classic players will be taking control of Raziel, a betrayed wraith who was once the lieutenant to the powerful Kain. Unfortunately, Raziel was killed by his master and sent down to the Elder God. Now he’s the weapon of his saviour and will exact his revenge on Kain.
To get through a lot of the game players will be bouncing between our realm and the spectral plane to progress through each level. Changing between physical combat and navigating through dangerous terrain using the spectral realm. The gothic theme and free-roaming world keep you engaged while you fight your way through the vampire hordes.
9 Viewtiful Joe
Joe was just your average, everyday teenager until he stumbled into all of our inner teens dreams. Dragged into a movie to save his teen girlfriend after they’re both dragged through the screen at his dad’s movie theatre. Being transformed from his regular teen self into a superhero, Joe muddles through as he learns his new powers while moving through the plot.
Players will have to use all of the respective powers that you acquire to complete a piece of every level you’ll come up against. A combination of puzzles and fast-paced side scroller, Viewtiful Joe will test both your problem solving and reflexes as there’s no blocking in this game. Limited to strictly jumps and ducks, players will need to keep on their toes at all times.
8 Ape Escape
Scattered through time, players are sent to complete the harrowing task of capturing a gang of errant monkeys. In a strange series of events a monkey has been gifted super intelligence and is now trying to make apes the dominant species.
Armed with a stun club and a net, players will have to move through different points of time in order to catch the groups of apes that have been sprinkled through space-time. Dodging Specters many nuisances and distractions will be challenging as he has enlisted the help of both monsters and advanced robots.
7 Vagrant Story
Trudging your way through underground tunnels and catacombs, Ashley Riot is stuck between a rock and a hard place. The terroristic Mullenkamp Cult and the Valendia Knights Of Peace, players will have to navigate the complex and detailed conflict between the two groups.
Players will have to face goblins, ghosts, and the undead. Luckily, you get one of the most comprehensive customization options for the time, meaning you can carve your battle strategy out in a detailed way. A combination of puzzle-solving and intense cinematic storytelling makes Vagrant Story one of the best games to come out of Playstation.
6 Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga
Though DDS is a pair of games they roll directly into one another and create one of the most compelling stories of the 2000s. Set in a rugged and disheveled future, players will be thrown into the Embryon tribe that are fighting to take over the remaining junkyard tribes.
Being in control of a tribe of characters means you’ll have to be well versed in a variety of battle styles. While you’ll upgrade your skills throughout the story, all players will be turned into their demon forms in battle from the get-go. Combat is turn-based and means players will have to strategize instead of relying on their reflexes.
5 Outrun 2006: Coast To Coast
While racing games have come a long way since 2006, Coast To Coast still holds a certain hold over the minds of players. Impressive for a game that’s over a decade old, combining the best parts of the previous two games has a lot to do with its success.
Keeping the formats simple, Coast To Coast gives you especially curvy and unexpected tracks that will keep you on your toes against the clock. Heart Attack mode will send you into a chaotic frenzy by challenging players to perform specific stunts in very short sections. Whether it’s the feel of the drive or the challenges in whatever direction you choose to go, Outrun will put you to the test in some of the most satisfying driving available.
4 Timesplitters 2
Time seems to be a running theme in the highly-rated Playstation games of the past. Each level will take you into a different time in the past, fortunately, you have a companion. A co-op is an option so if players have a good teammate there won’t be much to stand in your way.
Running through objectives at each level, depending on the difficulty you can both extend the objective list and the difficulty of enemies. Not all objectives are combat based so players will have to switch brains a lot to keep up with the level, especially if the health is halved in co-op mode.
3 Burnout Revenge
Revenge has the benefit of its predecessor working out all the kinks when they first moved to EA games. Burnout’s fanbase was wary when they started to veer from your standard racing game, Revenge has taken it to the next level with slow traffic becoming a crash derby target instead of something to avoid.
While all the usual events and races are in the same ballpark, the newly added traffic mechanic means players will have to both prepare for and use it to their advantage. Having a good weapon to force opponents to make a mistake and a nuisance for you trying to get past. A true playground for cars and some of the most engaging challenges in any racing game around.
2 Chrono Cross
For the players who like a little variation in their character roster, Chrono Cross is the game for you. Sporting a heavy 45 character squad that will guide you through the dimension blurring adventure. Trying to solve your own murder requires a touch of detail and subtlety, especially when you have so many groups vying against you.
As far back as the late ’90s, Chrono Cross was on the frontlines as far as RPGs go. Using many of the current RPG mechanics, the game holds up to this day. The counteracting world’s that the players are constantly dipping in and out of would be able to be capitalized on in both controls and graphics.
1 Colony Wars
For such an old game, Colony Wars was one of the first to employ a decision-based story in the gaming scene. Through the 2 disc series of missions, players will have to battle their way between 2 armies. Every battle you win or lose will greatly impact the direction the story takes, deciding what side will gain the upper hand.
One of the best things about Colony Wars is the great feel to flying the craft, the limited story is made up for with incredible scenery and a great control system. While today many games have adopted the decision heavy plot, the combination of gameplay and the potential today’s technology could have with the graphics is a special game.
NEXT: 10 Near Perfect Playstation Games That Never Got A Sequel (But Should Have)
