5 Iconic PS1 Games That Aren't As Good As You Remember

When the original PlayStation first came out, it ushered in a new era of 3D console gaming that has been going strong ever since. Many of the greatest gaming franchises of all time were born on this console, and a seemingly endless number of sequels have followed once the era of the PlayStation 1 ended.

These games were revolutionary when they were released, but over time, it quickly becomes clear just how dated these titles are. For a number of reasons, many of the original PlayStation’s biggest masterpieces don't even come close to withstanding the test of time.

Lara Croft is one of the most iconic video game protagonists of all time, and her legacy started with the original Tomb Raider back in 1996. Her first adventure saw her tracking down ancient artifacts related to the fabled city of Atlantis, and it set a new precedent for 3D action adventure games, serving as the inspiration for future franchises like Uncharted .

Revisiting the PlayStation game after all these years can be a rough experience, especially after years of sequels added refinements to improve gameplay. The controls feel clunky, especially when traversing the labyrinthian levels and trying to solve puzzles. Interacting with the world, either in exploration or in combat, feels cumbersome, especially when the camera gets in the way.

The original Tomb Raider was an important game for the innovations it brought to the adventure genre, and none of that should be diminished by its dated controls and visuals. With a remake coming in 2027, it remains to be seen what new improvements will be brought to Lara’s first adventure.

The mysterious Spencer Mansion served as the backdrop for Resident Evil , a survival horror masterpiece that combined tense encounters involving zombies with intricate puzzles that must be solved in order to escape the nightmare. Whether playing as Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield, players are in for an intense ride.

As iconic as the game is, there’s no denying Resident Evil hasn’t aged well . The tank controls are a mixed bag, especially when compared to the more fluid movement of newer games. Exploring the mansion can also be a hassle, as the fixed camera angles can make it harder to aim at enemies, and the load times in between different rooms can make backtracking take too long. Finally, while Resident Evil has never been known to take itself very seriously, the awful voice acting is the kind of unintentional comedy that just doesn’t work.

The first Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game was a revolution for the sports video game genre. It featured several pro skaters exploring worldwide locations, pulling off insane tricks and getting high scores all over the place. It was the start of one of the biggest blockbuster franchises of the early 2000s , making punk skateboarding culture mainstream.

Since Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was the first game in the series, the number of tricks players could pull off was limited. Many of the best combo extenders, like spine transfers and reverts, weren’t in this game. The main career mode, where players have a set time limit to complete goals at a level, is also a far cry from the more story-driven entries that would come in the future.

Those who are looking to replay the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater will be pleased with how simple and fun it made skateboarding look. But those who are looking for a bit more of the gameplay should look to later installments.

After making waves in the arcades, Tekken made its way onto the PlayStation and set a new benchmark for 3D fighting games . It starred a group of eccentric characters fighting in a tournament run by Heihachi Mishima, who is set to battle his son Kazuya after nearly killing him, as well as several other fighters and bosses that would become series staples years later.

With a small roster of 18 characters, many of whom are sub-bosses who share moves with their heroic counterparts, many of the iconic characters and fighting styles from later games are not included in this version. This also goes for the gameplay, as the simplistic combos and mechanics do little to spice things up. And it also doesn’t help that the visuals are very rough, even for a PlayStation game.

Looking back at the original Tekken , it’s crazy to see just how far the series has come. From its roster to its story, everything just gets bigger and better, and it all started with the original arcade classic.

PlayStation has had a lot of different faces over the years , but the very first was Crash Bandicoot. In his debut platformer, the titular bandicoot must rescue his girlfriend from the evil Dr. Cortex, who plans on taking over the world. It featured some of the most intense platforming sections ever created, with many gamers claiming it to be one of the hardest games ever created.

The level design switches from third-person and side-scrolling where avoiding enemies and breaking boxes is the key. Compared to later games, the levels in Crash Bandicoot are a little too basic, and can offer very little surprise to those who have run through this game or its remasters before. Controlling Crash itself can also feel very stiff due to the fact that the game doesn’t support analog controls, meaning that players will be restricted to the four directions of the D-pad for their whole playthrough.

Crash Bandicoot has had its ups and downs over the years, but he is still one of the best video game protagonists around. His original adventure may be a product of its time, but it still managed to be a great game at the time.