A reader recalls some of his favourite games on the original PlayStation, focusing on titles including Tekken 3 and Rollcage Stage 3.
So here I am, back to deliver what I promised – a continuation of my reminisces about my video game past. Let’s pick up where I left off: the Sony PlayStation.
But where do I start? I’ve already mentioned where most people began their time with the console: Ridge Racer. For its time, it was an amazing game, even if it only had one course. You’ve got to start somewhere.
My only other option back then was the demo disc that came with the console and, yes, it was glorious.
On a possibly unrelated note, I loved gaming magazines. I probably spent more money on them than on actual games. I convinced my dad to buy The Official PlayStation Magazine (mainly for the demo discs) and Computer & Video Games (CVG) for the articles. Do I remember any of those articles? Not a single one. But I do remember the feel of the magazine, printed on that cheap, recycled paper.
There were other magazines too – because print wasn’t dead – but the ones I remember best are The Dandy and The Beano (because I was a kid) and Viz (because what kid doesn’t want to read comics that are completely inappropriate for their age?).
What was I talking about again? Oh yeah, demo discs. I won’t do a deep dive here – for that, go check out Caddicarus on YouTube. The guy is hilarious, and I don’t think anyone loves PlayStation more than he does.
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This is more of a ‘games I played and whatever pops into my head’ kind of thing.
Being young and naive, I thought every game looked amazing, though some, even back then, looked rough. Nightmare Creatures I didn’t like it, that much I know.
Then came Tekken, and my mind was blown. Everyone knows Tekken – there are eight main games now – but back then, it was revolutionary. My favourite character was Jack (I’ve always had a thing for robots). I’ll admit it: I’m a button-masher. I never learn combos, maybe a special move or two.
The first three Tekken games were fantastic, and Tekken 3 – I’ll say it – is the best in the series. Actually, I’ll go further: it’s the best fighting game ever made. It had so much content. I loved Tekken Force, even if it didn’t totally work, because who expects a side-scrolling beat ’em-up inside a fighting game?
If we’re talking Tekken, we’ve got to talk Street Fighter. Everyone’s played Street Fighter 2, it’s been re-released as many times as Skyrim (someone else can count). My favourite, though, is Street Fighter Alpha 3. It was a visual treat, and I actually liked the announcer commentary. I guess I have weird tastes.
I also had Mortal Kombat Trilogy, probably for the violence, though I didn’t play it much.
Another gem: Soul Blade. It has the best video game intro ever, and the best song of all time: The Edge of Soul by KHAN. The game itself was fantastic, with every character wielding unique weapons and fighting styles.
Then there was Bloody Roar 2, a game I swear not enough people played. If they had, the series would still be going today. Sure, it was another fighting game but how many let you transform into an animal mid-fight? My favourite character was Alice, who could turn into a rabbit. (Not that I have a thing for rabbits, unless we’re talking Jessica Rabbit. And yes, I did binge all of Beastars in one night.)
One more fighting game before I move on: Evil Zone. I doubt many have heard of it, but it was amazing – basically an anime style fighting game, and I was actually good at it. The two-button system (attack and guard) probably helped. Every character had their own story and my favourite was Sho Mikagami (aka Danzaiver), because he looked like a red Power Ranger.
Speaking of Power Rangers, my top three series are SPD, Lightspeed Rescue, and Dino Thunder. Yes, I know Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is the classic, and it lives in my heart (and its theme song in my head), but it’s not in my top three.
If you love anime, you need to give Evil Zone a chance. It’s easy enough to play these days, probably even on your phone.
Let’s talk about racing games.
As much as I loathe modern racing games for how samey they’ve become, back in the day you didn’t need a magnifying glass to tell one from another. Focusing on the PlayStation era alone, there were around 50 released. I’ve always loved cars – I wouldn’t have over 1,000 Hot Wheels if I didn’t – so it’s no surprise I loved Gran Turismo.
I remember buying Gran Turismo 2 for my birthday after school in Peterlee and, yes, I smelled the disc. (Not weird, I promise.) It actually smelled like petrol if you scratched it. Probably not the best idea for disc longevity, but memorable nonetheless.
Playing it now, the graphics are rough. The cars sort of look like their real-life counterparts, but your imagination had to work overtime. Still, Gran Turismo made the world fall in love with the Nissan Skyline and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
Me? I fell in love with the Dodge Viper GTS – a beautiful, uncontrollable beast of a car.
Since I like anime, it’s no stretch to say I love sci-fi too, so I have to mention two futuristic racers: WipEout 2097 and Rollcage Stage 2.
WipEout 2097 had an incredible soundtrack – give Landmass by The Future Sound of London a listen – and piloting those ships around tight, twisting tracks was a blast.
But I think I had more fun with Rollcage Stage 2. The cars looked like cheese wedges on wheels, but being able to drive upside down was pure joy.
Of course, Nintendo has always ruled the kart racing genre, but that didn’t stop others from trying. Some say Crash Team Racing was the best on PlayStation, I never played it. The ones I did play were Street Racer and Speed Freaks.
Street Racer was basically a Super Mario Kart clone, but it had charm. Squint hard enough, and it even felt a little like Wacky Races.
Speed Freaks was great fun – bright, colourful, full of personality. The characters had no arms or legs, just hands and feet, which was all you really needed for driving. The tracks had shortcuts and rewarded mastery, pure fun.
And finally, the game I still believe is the greatest driving game ever made: Ridge Racer Type 4.
It’s a work of art that still holds up today, even on an emulator. The soundtrack is incredible (Pearl Blue Soul by Hiroshi Okubo is a must-listen) and while technically there are only 44 unique cars, unlocking all 320 variations was worth every hour.
Even if unlocking Pac-Man wasn’t.
Still, Ridge Racer Type 4 is a masterpiece and who doesn’t love Reiko Nagase?
I think that’s where I’ll leave it for now. I’ll continue soon and dig even deeper into my gaming past.
Thanks for reading – you’ve been wonderful
By reader Steven Carroll
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