The five best games from PlayStation 1 –

5. Exterminate 2097

When the PlayStation was released, it came with a demo disc featuring a technical demonstration of T-Rex (which felt photorealistic at the time) and Wipeout. The latter was so incredibly good, but it was with the sequel Wipeout 2097 where everything fell into place. For the first time, the game was really cool and had some of the world’s best designers and musicians, complemented by great attitude and absolutely first-rate gameplay. I was absolutely floored by Wipeout 2097, and to this day it is hypnotically good and the gold standard by which all futuristic racers are compared.

4. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

The Castlevania series had completely charmed gamers on the NES, Mega Drive, Super Nintendo and other more obscure formats with absolutely phenomenal titles. But it was on the PlayStation with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night that the pieces fell into place and the so-called Metroidvania genre was born. Alucard’s adventure contained layers upon layers and semi-infinite amounts of secrets, and is one of the few titles that doesn’t need a remake. Thanks to the 2D graphics, it looks as good today as it did when it was released, and the soundtrack is a serious contender for the best of all time.

3. Tomb Raider

Of course, Tomb Raider was actually released on the Saturn just before it came to the PlayStation, but it was almost considered a beta. It was for the PlayStation that all the pieces fell into place and we were treated to an almost surreal action adventure that almost resembled an Indiana Jones simulator, and almost overnight made Lara Croft a global icon. Tomb Raider was a multi-stage experience where, mission by mission, I was increasingly surprised and blown away by what was presented.

2. Metal Gear Solid

This game was so incredibly good that it feels crazy to talk about what it has meant to the gaming world, when everything should really be about entertainment value. Yet it is Hideo Kojima’s groundbreaking adventure that in many ways I would describe as the first modern and truly cinematic action adventure. It had so many layers, so much story, so much gameplay, so many surprises and so much innovation that even I – who despise stealth – can’t help but call this the second-best game to come to the PlayStation.

1. Final Fantasy VII

A predictable choice? Maybe, but I have no doubt that Hironobu Sakaguchi created magic in 1997 when it was finally time for Europe to be introduced to Square’s classic role-playing game series. Many of us had read about Final Fantasy in gaming magazines and a lucky few had played imported versions, but it was like being literally floored by an uppercut to experience it for ourselves officially. Cloud Strife’s adventure was bigger, better and more lavish than any game ever before, and it has a depth that was downright stunning. The story was also extraordinarily well written, and combined with Nobuo Uematsu’s soundtrack, it created game magic so special that gamers screamed for a remake for nearly 20 years before Square Enix finally gave in. We’re not just talking about the best game for PlayStation, but one of the best titles in gaming history, regardless of format. Pure magic.

What are your five favorite PS1 games?