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[PeteBull]

It's already hard to pick games that have aged well, if you disqualify based on framerate we are fucking done

its a fact ff9 was capped at 20fps in combat and when on world map, which even then looked and fellt terrible, i remember it to this day and back then i didnt know even what framerate was, i was teenager, game just fellt choppy/unresponsive af even tho it hat atb system

 

[Krathoon]

I thought Alundra 2 was pretty impressive. Kind of an anime look.

Klonoa was good.

 

[GymWolf]

its a fact ff9 was capped at 20fps in combat and when on world map, which even then looked and fellt terrible, i remember it to this day and back then i didnt know even what framerate was, i was teenager, game just fellt choppy/unresponsive af even tho it hat atb system

I played on my father leftovers pc since forever so i was used to games running at shit framerates.

I think i played halo for the first time at 640x480 and like 15 frames average

 

[BigBeauford]

I thought Heart of Darkness looked amazing

 

[GymWolf]

I thought Heart of Darkness looked amazing

Animation work was outstanding.

The deaths were particularly well done

 

[CosmicComet]

Gran Turismo obviously takes the crown.

On CRTVs at a glance people thought the replays were actual races at the time.

For non racing games, the winner is Soul Reaver.

 

[cireza]

I thought Heart of Darkness looked amazing

Yeah. When you think that it was a Saturn game to begin with, then became multiplat, then was cancelled on Saturn. Really sad for us Saturn players

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Crash 3 looks great for a 1998 game running on a 1994 potato of a computer.

Naughty Dog were always Naughty Gods…

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Yeah. When you think that it was a Saturn game to begin with, then became multiplat, then was cancelled on Saturn. Really sad for us Saturn players

It was f**king depressing being a Saturn owner during its decline.

Only console I've ever being bullied for owning

 

[Xaeroxcore666]

I´m gonna mention some others, may be no one has mentioned yet (not sure)


Quake 2, do i need to say more?



I don´t like wrestling games too much, but Smackdown 2 looked awesome for a PS1 game. Correct me if i´m wrong, but i don´t remember any N64 wrestling game with characters with that level of detail. For me, it´s the graphically peak wrestling game of 5th gen and one of the best looking fighter and sports game also of the entire gen.

 

[SweetTooth]

The games in the recent collections look so fugly compared to sotn.

Well.. all thanks to Nintendo backward-ass hardware mentality that cuffs developers hands.
Looking at DS capability vs PSP at 2004. You just realise how Nintendo has fallen from GC days

 

[Lysandros]

Even though Ridge Racer 4 is amazing, to this day I still prefer Rage Racer. I think the graphics are at the same level, the game flows better - I don't really like the dialogues and story mode in RR4, as I think it hurts the outlandish essence of the old games in the franchise - and the tracks seem more interesting, well thought out. and the art in general seems more whimsical to me, like a natural evolution of the original concept.

I have a particular fondness for Rage Racer too. Even though that Type 4 is indeniably for advanced in areas like texture smoothness, lighting, post processing effects and car models, Rage Racer remained unmatched in matter of sheer track detail and sense of speed. In 1996 it was actually quite jaw dropping, like a near magical sense of having a cutting edge acade racer right at home. Another graphically very impressive and somewhat underrated racer was Porche Challenge in my opinion. Exquisite really, albeit with some obvious popping and only a single car model (still, the best car rendering until Gran Turismo i think).

 

[RetroGamingUK]

TL;DW:

1. Alien Resurrection (2000)
Pioneered the use of dual analog sticks for first-person shooters on consoles. It showcased impressive graphics with detailed enemy designs and atmospheric environments, including dimly lit corridors and smooth animations.

The only 90s console FPS that feels like a modern FPS

Just make sure you enable the infinite health cheat, the difficulty is a twat

 

[Alexios]

4. Macross VFX2 (1999)
Known for its detailed Mech designs and smooth animation. The game ran at a steady 60 frames per second, handling intense aerial combat with impressive visual effects, including missile trails and explosions.

This one's a very weird inclusion, it looks like a game that would be at home on Saturn, GunGriffon or Gundam Side Story style thanks to using VDP2 for the either way mostly flat ground instead of polygons. It most definitely doesn't hold 60fps when the action gets heated either.

...It's definitely no Ace Combat 3 or Colony Wars...

But this is apparently video #4 which the OP skipped so they're running out of stuff I guess. Alien Resurrection is worth listing but also overhyped, some really nice models and certain areas but in general juvenile design not beyond Alien Trilogy with oversized vents, switches etc...​

 

[FreeckyCake]

Parasite Eve 2 is one

 

[chokotoureiki]

Einhander was dazzling to the eyes as far as particle effects and Ergheiz had some of the best looking character models at the time.

 

[Redneckerz]

Outside of the more obvious ones and Quake 2:

• Forsaken (Admittely, this looks good regardless of platform)
• G-Police (But the PC version was essentially a 2000 game in 1997)
• G-Police: Weapons Of Justice - The 1999 PSX-only sequel.
• Men In Black: Crashdown - a 2001 (!) FPS looking so colorful

I always loved how PSX did dynamic colored lighting. One of the system that punched far above its weight.

 

[Doctor Hades]

I was always more impressed by the 2D PSone games personally as even back then I was annoyed at the polygon seams and lack of texture perspective correction in the 3D games, although I do recall the DOOM port being impressive as it avoided both those issues and supported the PS mouse, which I bought to play Broken Sword and Command & Conquer.

2D games like Lomax in Lemmingsland and the original Rayman were great looking art work. The PSone was clearly very adept at doing 2D. Loved the port of Mortal Kombat 3 and the Street Fighter Alpha games too on PSone.

 

[Alexios]

Never came across this one before, looks pretty rad (hard to find nice footage, game seems quite involved with all sorts of different scenarios, not just 1 on 1 fights or similar, and very well directed anime and in-engine cut scenes and stuff, not an ace player here, like he often forgets to strafe etc.).

Various other characters are playable too. Idk if you choose them or only in some modes or if you just progress linearly to their scenarios as you play. I tried to find a longplay to show it off properly but couldn't. At least this footage doesn't seem to use an emulator with the issues those can display.

 

[archangelmorph]

My list in order of superiority:

1. Gran Tourismo
2. Tekken 3
3. Xenogears
4. FFIX / FFVIII
5. FFVII
6. Ridge Racer

 

[Emet_bp]

I would add Gran Turismo (1) which looked and ran exceptionally well.

On the other end... there was also the Need For Speed 4: Hight Stakes which also had good car models but... tracks looked better than you would think PS1 can handle (+ rain and working headlights at night)... and actually that's right, because it ran at about 20fps.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Great 60 fps graphics. But a dogshit racing game.

 

[bruno_shady]

Don't forget these games looks much better in CRT monitors then modern displays...

 

[bruno_shady]

I would add Gran Turismo (1) which looked and ran exceptionally well.

On the other end... there was also the Need For Speed 4: Hight Stakes which also had good car models but... tracks looked better than you would think PS1 can handle (+ rain and working headlights at night)... and actually that's right, because it ran at about 20fps.

Hight Stakes was one of the best need for speed in my opinion.

I remember getting impressed with the car getting scratched and having to pay to fix it...

 

[Victhemic]

Hight Stakes was one of the best need for speed in my opinion.

I remember getting impressed with the car getting scratched and having to pay to fix it...

My favourite NFS. Was obsessed with it and yes, technically the game is VERY impressive. You can see the driver, which turns the wheel, cars could crash/turn over, damage model, good A.I., great looking tracks, great special effects/lighting. The menus are PURE VIBES. Ahh I love this game so much...

 

[Impotaku]

One of my faves for PS1 the graphics look like the manga brought to life. GeGeGe no Kitarō: Gyakushū! Yōkai Daikessen shows you that you can use the PS1 to make some super stylish games.

 

[Alexios]

I forgot about this PAL exclusive Starfox 64 clone by Sony Europe. I rediscovered it via VCDecide.

It's got everything, from on rails space and ground missions, to all range style free roaming stuff. Edit: oh and it's by Rage software, also known for Darklight Conflict, Eurofighter Typhoon, Incoming and others. It's a shame they never tried another rail shooter with their next gen tech made later.

I thought there's mainly Omega Boost & Gamera 2000 for on rails shooters on PlayStation but this seems to fit quite nicely. Maybe Vanark, Internal Section and a couple other games that borderline fit the genre (Elemental Gearbolt is more of a lightgun game but is clearly Panzer Dragoon inspired).

 

[TintoConCasera]

You guys might need to click on the image and zoom in a little bit but damn, I love the look of Brightis so much.

 

[WX3]

I bought a PS1 with my wedding gift money in December of 1995. Wife wasn't pleased, but I picked up a game that she seemed interested in. That game was called "D". I thought the shit looked real back then! So we get the game and I have to work that night of the game purchase and the wife says she will wait for me to get off and we will play it together. When I arrived home some ten hours later, I find out that while I was away, she decided to go ahead and give the game a try. Apparently she couldn't put it down once she started! When I got home, I find out she beat the fucking game in one sitting! Even being visually impressive to me, I lost all desire to play the game and went and took my frustration out on another title I thought was realistic looking, "Destruction Derby"!

 

[Insane Metal]

Wip3out

 

[Alexios]

I bought a PS1 with my wedding gift money in December of 1995. Wife wasn't pleased, but I picked up a game that she seemed interested in. That game was called "D". I thought the shit looked real back then! So we get the game and I have to work that night of the game purchase and the wife says she will wait for me to get off and we will play it together. When I arrived home some ten hours later, I find out that while I was away, she decided to go ahead and give the game a try. Apparently she couldn't put it down once she started! When I got home, I find out she beat the fucking game in one sitting! Even being visually impressive to me, I lost all desire to play the game and went and took my frustration out on another title I thought was realistic looking, "Destruction Derby"!

Haha, I actually didn't remember that game released on PlayStation. You could play the superior Saturn version for old times sake (keep in mind it's a FMV point & click esque game of course). I was looking it up cos of your post, I didn't know/recall Kenji Eno was so pissed at Sony for not making enough copies to meet preorders (28k made for 100k preorders) that he took the stage on PlayStation Expo 1996 to present Enemy Zero as a previously known PlayStation exclusive, then had the PS logo replaced with the Saturn's and announced he had switched over to that. What a legend. RIP.

 

[bender]

I bought a PS1 with my wedding gift money in December of 1995. Wife wasn't pleased, but I picked up a game that she seemed interested in. That game was called "D". I thought the shit looked real back then! So we get the game and I have to work that night of the game purchase and the wife says she will wait for me to get off and we will play it together. When I arrived home some ten hours later, I find out that while I was away, she decided to go ahead and give the game a try. Apparently she couldn't put it down once she started! When I got home, I find out she beat the fucking game in one sitting! Even being visually impressive to me, I lost all desire to play the game and went and took my frustration out on another title I thought was realistic looking, "Destruction Derby"!

Someone else who's first PlayStation game was D.

 

[Midway-AGNC-]

TL;DW:

1. Alien Resurrection (2000)
Pioneered the use of dual analog sticks for first-person shooters on consoles. It showcased impressive graphics with detailed enemy designs and atmospheric environments, including dimly lit corridors and smooth animations.

2. Tobal 2 (1997)
Improved upon its predecessor with enhanced polygon counts and high-resolution graphics (640x480), achieving smooth 60 frames per second. The game featured richly detailed stages and character models.

3. Spyro: Year of the Dragon (2000)
Represented a high point in PlayStation platformers with improved visuals, including detailed character models and varied, vibrant level designs. The game maintained a smooth 60 frames per second, despite the limitations of the system.

4. Macross VFX2 (1999)
Known for its detailed Mech designs and smooth animation. The game ran at a steady 60 frames per second, handling intense aerial combat with impressive visual effects, including missile trails and explosions.

5. Xenogears (1998)
Utilized fully rendered 3D environments instead of pre-rendered backgrounds, offering a distinctive look. The game featured high-resolution, fluidly animated 2D sprites and well-designed polygonal mechs.

6. Siphon Filter 3 (2000)
Pushed the PlayStation's limits with detailed environments and character models. It featured impressive textures, lighting effects, and fluid animation, creating a cinematic experience.

7. Dead or Alive (1998)
Boasted highly detailed character models with realistic clothing and hair physics. The game ran at 60 frames per second, showcasing advanced visual effects for its time.

8. Saga Frontier 2 (1999)
Employed hand-drawn watercolor visuals, giving the game a unique and artistic look. The game's graphics were notable for their detail and animation quality, contributing to a visually striking experience.

9. Crash Bandicoot: Warped (1998)
Featured enhanced graphics with detailed textures, dynamic lighting, and varied level designs. It demonstrated significant improvement in visual quality and level complexity compared to previous entries.

10. Fist of the North Star (1995)
Known for its detailed polygonal character models and elaborate textures. The game delivered impressive visual effects, including destructible environments and numerous enemy types.

No Gran Turismo 1 and 2 is an offense.

 

[The Fartist]

Rendered at 4K (DuckStation) but still one PSone's best looking games ever.

 

[SomeNorseGuy]

I bought a PS1 with my wedding gift money in December of 1995. Wife wasn't pleased, but I picked up a game that she seemed interested in. That game was called "D". I thought the shit looked real back then! So we get the game and I have to work that night of the game purchase and the wife says she will wait for me to get off and we will play it together. When I arrived home some ten hours later, I find out that while I was away, she decided to go ahead and give the game a try. Apparently she couldn't put it down once she started! When I got home, I find out she beat the fucking game in one sitting! Even being visually impressive to me, I lost all desire to play the game and went and took my frustration out on another title I thought was realistic looking, "Destruction Derby"!

"Thank you for playing D, there are however things you have yet to see. Please try again."

Me and my sister still quote this to this day. We never did get to 100% the game, but we were blown away by the graphics at the time.

 

[Harkonnen]

Ridge Racer Type 4 wins for me

- Best car models
- Gouraud shading on cars and tracks
- Motion blur and faux reflection in replays
- Gorgeous colour scheme

I spent so many hours on RR4 ! One of the best racing game of all time for me, it was a blast playing it with the jogcon. So beautiful, and the soundtrack was perfect.
I cherish my japanese collector edition to this day.

 

[Lumpyoatmeal]

Being around back then I don't remember any title being graphically impressive on the PS1, keep in mind arcade cabinets were still around. Probably Need for Speed Hot Pursuit? That impressed me the most back in the day on the PS1 because it was rare to see console racers with the cockpit view.

In fact, I don't even think it was Hot Pursuit that did the cockpit view on the PS1, I think it was another Need for Speed title on the PS1 that did it, trying to remember.

 

[Victhemic]

Being around back then I don't remember any title being graphically impressive on the PS1, keep in mind arcade cabinets were still around. Probably Need for Speed Hot Pursuit? That impressed me the most back in the day on the PS1 because it was rare to see console racers with the cockpit view.

In fact, I don't even think it was Hot Pursuit that did the cockpit view on the PS1, I think it was another Need for Speed title on the PS1 that did it, trying to remember.

It was NFS 1 and 2. Later also 4, but only with cheats.

 

[Lumpyoatmeal]

It was NFS 1 and 2. Later also 4, but only with cheats.

Yeah I think the PC version of Hot Pursuit had the cockpit.

Need For Speed 2 is the title I think I remember playing on the PS1 checking out the cockpit view, it was rare back then for racers on consoles.

 

[Bigfroth]

Omega Boost, Vagerant Story, Colony Wars, I remember being impressed by. Also, Tekken 2 and 3 were crazy good Home ports, too.