Originally coming from a failed agreement between Sony and Nintendo, thePlayStationmade its way to US store shelves in 1995, almost a whole year after its debut in Japan. Though it may have been a little late to the party, the PlayStation quickly became one of the best-selling consoles on the market and marked a gigantic leap forward for gaming technology, coming just a few years afterNintendo’s SNES. But while its technology paved the way for greatness, it’s the console’s wide selection of games that cemented the PlayStation as a gaming icon.
TheCrash Bandicootseries,Gran Turismo, andResident Evilhave all become synonymous withthe PlayStation brand, and all three can trace their roots back to that first PlayStation console. Unfortunately, none of those were included in the PlayStation’s launch line-up. In fact, out of the 11 games that launched with the PS1 in the US, there are only a handful that are remembered today, but that doesn’t mean the rest are bad.
RELATED:Controversial Retail Gaming Store DKOldies Explained
Every US PlayStation 1 Launch Title
By far the most memorablePlayStation 1 US launchtitle isRidge Racer. An impressive port of an arcade game,Ridge Raceris the very first racing game to ever use 3D texture-mapped graphics, and that was easily one of the biggest selling points at the time.Ridge Racerwas used constantly in Sony’s marketing for the original PlayStation, being used as the primary example of just what the console was capable of. Though it isn’t perfect, and it certainly looks a little dated today,Ridge Raceris still one of the most iconic PlayStation 1 titles.
Another standout of the PlayStation’s launch line-up is the beautifully bright and colorfulRayman. The first in a long series of platformers, action-adventures, and party games,the firstRaymanwasn’t a PlayStation exclusive, but it did become one of the best reasons to get one in its early days. Highly detailed and bright textures popped on the PlayStation’s hardware, and thoughRaymanwasn’t the most technically-impressive title, its high-quality gameplay and presentation have kept it in the hearts of countless gamers.
The PlayStation launched with three sports titles, a trend that would only continue to expand with every subsequent console launch. The most memorable of the two isNBA Jam Tournament Edition, a souped-up version of the 1993 arcade game. As far asarcade-y sports titles go,NBA Jamis about as good as they come, with its tongue-in-cheek tone and responsive gameplay holding up even today.ESPN Extreme Gameswas the second sports title on the launch line-up. Though its gameplay was frantic and fun, its blocky textures and stuttering framerate keptESPN Extreme Sportsfrom being written on the annals of history. But by far the worst of the three sports launch day offerings wasPower Serve 3D Tennis, a lackluster tennis game that had unintuitive controls and repetitive gameplay.
The rest of the PlayStation’s US launch line-up is, unfortunately, largely quite forgettable.Battle Arena Toshindenwas an impressive-looking 3D fighter, but it was destined to be overshadowed bySoul Calibersoon after its release.The Raiden Projectwas a solid port of the first twoRaidenarcade shoot-em-ups, but didn’t quite capitalize on what made the originalPlayStationso impressive. Two flight simulators were also available on launch,Air CombatandTotal Eclipse Turbo, withAir Combatbeing the more memorable of the two thanks to its impressive graphics and engaging combat. A disappointingly monotonous first-person shooter,Kileak: The DNA Imperative, was also on the launch line-up, though few will remember it. The final game on the PlayStation 1’s US launch line-up wasStreet Fighter: The Movie, another lackluster game that marked a low point for the franchise.
