Replayed: Castlevania Symphony of the Night

A must play PS1 classic 

Game no: 558

Genre: Action (Metroidvania)
Platform: PS1
Release Date: 1997

This is one of the best games I played. This can be considered at one of my top 10 games I play of all time. The key indicator of an amazing game is that even with cheats this game is still fun to play. That is what I did. I installed some cheats. The most notable cheats is the ability to walk through lock doors and walls, also high attack damage. Playing this game in such way makes me appriacte how complex is a Metroidvania game.But the cheat does cause certain things to trigger unexpectedly which is okay by me. Overall the combat is great, the enemies are fast and responsive and you'll get hit a lot of times. 

I got the talisman which prevents me from taking damage. After that this game is really about exploring the castle and all its secret. What makes this game stands out from the others. Discovering a hidden passage or a new secret makes me want to continue exploring the castle. The game has a lot of powerups that you get through the game. You'll end up to be a bit floaty once you get the jump higher and float power. It just makes the game a bit slower but not a big deal. In the end I beat the game with the inverted castle (which really makes the game go on to hard mode since its very difficult). Overall this is one of the best PS1 every. A must play. I'll give this game an S-Rank.

Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000

I love fighting games. This did the trick 

Game no: 556

Genre: Fighting 
Platform: PS1
Release Date: 2000

I love crossovers. There is nothing much for me to review a fighting game. It's just a basic concept of two guys enter a stage and one will leave victorious. In this case teams of two (Capcom style) or 3 (SNK style) fight off until whoever is declare the winner. I never understood SNK fighting techniques. I mean I get the how to control the characters but I don't know how to execute the Supers. So the whole crossover Super moves is also a bit confusing. Excuting an SNK character super but using a Capcom fighting style takes a while getting used to. Other than that nothing too fancy. There is no end cinematics. Its just basically texts. I do like the art style which is drawn by SNK artist. Makes the characters look real. I give this game an A-Rank. 

Replayed: CTR - Crash Team Racing

PS1 answer to Mario Kart.

Game no: 555

Genre: Racing
Platform: PS1
Release Date: 1999

I remember playing this game when I was young. Since we can't get that many games I played this game extensively. CTR is basically all the Crash Bandicoot characters in a kart setting. What makes this different than Mario Kart is that this game has a very robust single player mode. You have a central hub where you go around to race in differnt tracks. The gameplay is almost similar as Mario Kart. The difference is that if you collect 10 fruits your weapon will get an upgrade. Once you get 10 fruits you are practically unstopabble. There is a story to all of this but I wasn't interested that much in the story aspect. After finishing the story mode and beating the final boss. You have the chance to get bonus items like coins and relics. Overall this is a great ps1 game. I certainly had fun so I am giving this an A-Rank 

C: The Contra Adventure

This game is a missed oppurtunity 

Game no: 553

Genre: Shooter
Platform: PS1
Release Date: 1998

I love Contra. I think Contra is the first game that remembered I played when I was young. To my suprised that they have a PS1 game, I have to try it. Starting this game it was a typical side scroller with the ability to change 3 different weapons (including the spread gun) and one button for the bomb. After that, thats all the similarities end. This game suddenly switch prespective into a 3D shooter and this where the problems lie.  This game was design before the dualshock 1 was release or probably when a lot of gamers do not that that controller. This game doesn't work that well in 3D. The gameplay became a bit slow sluggish. The absent of a strafe button makes shooting a bit frustrating. In the end I spend playing the 3D section for a while and watch the rest on youtube since it is an interesting game. I gave this a C-Rank

Replayed: Bushido Blade 2

It is much better the 2nd time around 

Game no: 552

Genre: Fighting
Platform: PS1
Release Date: 1998

It's been close to 10 years since I played this game. I think I have a better appriciation of this kind of games and I wonder why 30 years later there is no game eqivalent to like this. A game with no time, no health bar just pure timing on who will get the first strike. This game has potiential but because of the hardware limitation of the PS1 the game feels a bit rigid. The controls feels clunky, the move set is limited. The gameplay is in a loop where its just the same types of enemies. The bosses from the stages have a bit of variety. One of them have a rifle and the other uses magic where makes it harder to hit. After playing it for a couple of round I got what the game is going for. This game is nothing special but this game is really special in its own way. I wish we will get a remake one day or something better. I will give this game a B-rank

Bushido Blade

Why they don't make games like this anymore

Game no: 550

Genre: Fighting
Platform: PS1
Release Date: 1997

I've played the sequel to this game before. Never played the first one. This is a very unique game where its realistic in a sense you only have one hit kill for your enemy. There are no timers, just stage and see who gets the first hit. You start by choosing your desired fighter with their weapon of choice. Their weapon consists of katanas, short swords, rapiers, lancer and so on. The game offers omni directional controls which means you can around to get your first blow. There is a story for each different characters but so far only one I got to play until the end of the game. So I really don't know how to trigger it. I finish ariound 3 characters and then I call it a day. I give the game a A-Rank. 

Replayed: Bloody Roar 2

Better than the first one 

Game no: 548

Genre: Fighting
Platform: PC
Release Date: 1998

What can I say about this game that I didn't tell before. Nothing much. It is just a better than the previous one. Improve graphics, better controls and new characters. The graphics are so much better that this is one of the hardest titles to emulate on the ps1 due to a lot of particle effects. For 1998 that is considered a techincal marvel. But the fighting is a stiff as usual. The thing with most ps1 3D fighting games is that I think running a game in 3D eats up resources which means you can't have it top fluid. But it is a still a fun game to play nontheless. Played it again just to see that if it holds up. Yes it does. I give it a B-Rank 

Replayed: Bloody Roar

Classic PS1 fighting game 

Game no: 546

Genre: Fighting
Platform: PS1
Release Date: 1997

In the begining of the PS1. Fighting games were really quite basic. There are no complicated combos to do. It is mostly who gets to land the hits first. Bloody Roar took that formula and added a beast mode function to the game a little more interesting. The transformation will give you and extra advantage in power. Different move sets does give it an advantage in the game. But in the end, its a fighting game. If you are not that great with it, you are going to suck anyway. Played until the final boss and I consider the game is done. I give this game a B-Rank 

Assault: Retribution

Still manage to play game this month 

Game no: 545

Genre: Shooter
Platform: PS1
Release Date: 1998

This game is basic to the core. What do you do. Your run, jump and shoot while avoiding some obstacles. That's about it. It is fun and you can basically just mash a button and run straight till the end. The controls are a bit tank like with jumping can be particularly frustrating. Other than that its a short game which you could finish in under 2 hours. Overall B-Rank

Apocalypse

First game of the year

Game no: 540
Genre: Shooter
Platform: PS1 
Release Date: 1998

So the jouney to try every PS1 game begins with this gem. I am going to say Apocalypse is a twin stick shooter before twin stick shooters are a thing. This is probably due to the original PS1 controller doesn't have dual joysticks. So the developers have to be creative and use the face buttons as directonal arrows. So each face buton is the direction you supposed to be shooting. 

This game doesn't have any unique mechanic. This is basically a run and gun which quite fun. Going from point A to B which shooting a horde of demon is really fun. On the way you will get power ups that give you an extra boost in firepower. The thing to look forward to in a game like this is a cutscene with advance 3D graphics (during that time) but I didn't bother with the story too much since the game was very enjoyable. The main character is a 3D Bruce Willis and he provided a lot of voice over work for this character. Every couple of minutes he has a quippy line that he says which is entertaining. 

In the end this game is a just a fun arcade shooter which I really enjoy. It is nothing to deep and going forward playing PS1 games, I can see these are probably the games I gravitate too. I give this game an A-Rank 

ATV Mania

The PS1 game journey starts now 

Game no: 537
Genre: Racing
Platform: PS1 
Release Date: 2003

So the Playstation 1 is a system where there are a lot of games from all different genre from across the spectrum. So the main goal this console is to play games that are fun. The moment they stop becoming fun I will find another game since there are a lot of games here. So the first game is ATV Mania. Think Mario Kart but with ATV. The contols are sharp and the game is quite fun. There is a story mode but it is just a lot of text so I decided to skip that. Other than that this game is short. After beating the game you can play it again with a harded difficulty. Overall I give this game a B-Rank

Ape Escape

This game still holds up

Game no: 378
Genre: Platformer
Platform: PS1
Release Date: 1999

Factory Sealed: 210

What is it about?
You play as Spike and is in charge to capture escape monkeys 

What I liked?

Multiple weapons use to capture the monkeys 

Dual stick controllers makes the game fast and fun

Each monkey provide a certain challenge 

Different stages provide unique skills that needed to be masters

What I didn't liked?

Switching between weapons is tedious 

Some stages require you to hunt down the monkeys and its just so annoying 

Status: Played the game until the last 2 stages. And then just watch the longplay of it

Fun Factor: It's a fun game. That's about it

Super Puzzle Fighter II

Street fighter in puzzle form



Game no: 153
Genre: Puzzle
Platform: PS1

What is it about:
Street fighter character is colorful puzzle mode

Game consist of:
- Colour coordination
- Puzzle fighting

What's good
- Game is fun. Even better with multiplayer
- Multiplier combos

What's bad:
- The modes are quite barren (just two)

Status: Finish the fight stage with all 8 characters

Score: A great way to waste your time

Street Fighter Alpha 3

That announcer is something 

 

Game no: 152

Genre: Fighting 

Platform: PS1

What is it about:

The whole street fighter gang is here to fight in the streets

Game consists of:

- Fighting

- World traveling

Whats good:

- The most diverse amount of characters

- better story mode.

Whats bad:

- The fighting is will get bored over time 

Status: Finish a couple of characters 

Score: A great way to waste your time

Resident Evil 3 Nemesis

Most scariest boss ever



Game no: 151

Genre: Action 

Platform: PS1

Factory Sealed: 128

What is it about: 

Play as Jill Valentine and you escape from Racoon City

Game consists of:

- Shooting

- Weapon and health crafting 

- Story branching 

- Puzzle solving 

What's good:

- The game is more action oriented 

- Quick evade which is awesome 

- Story and acting is better 

- The nemesis. Damn scary and will appear out of nowhere 

What's bad: 

- Shorter than the previous.

- Lots of backtracking 

Status: Finish the game. Killed nemesis

Score: Worth to be played at least once

Resident Evil 2

First game with 2 disc mode



Game no: 150
Genre: Action
Platform: PS1

Factory Sealed: 124
Disc: 2 (Leon and Claire)

What is it about:
A zombie outbreak has effected Racoon city. Two individuals just arrived and this is going to be a bad day.

Game consist of:
- Puzzle solving
- Shooting
- Item crafting
- Zombie Killing

What's good
- The storyline is good.
- Weapons and enemies are varied
- 2 disc with both different adventures
- Shotgun is the best weapon

What's bad:
- Voiceover still needs work
- Tank controls are forgivable but you can't do anything about it

Status: Finish the game with both characters

Score: Worth to be played at least once.

Tekken 3

The best version of this game for PS1. The game that keeps on giving

Game no: 149

Genre: Fighting 

Platform: PS1

What is it about:

Son got thrown back to volcano. Now grandson is here to seek revenge

Game consist of:

- 3D fighting 

- Bowling (minigame)

- Volleyball (minigame)
- Side scrolling bowling

What's good:
- Better gameplay and characters
- Lots of other minigames which are fun to play
- CGI cutscene are awesome. GON cutscene is an unless loop
- Bowling is fun



What's bad:
- Eddy gordo is cheap
- Ogre is cheap
- Kazuya is missing

Status: Finish the game with all characters

Score: A rare gem, worth to be played multiple times

Tekken 2

The king of iron first tournament 2... Bigger and better



Game no: 148
Genre: Fighting
Platform: PS1

What is it about:
Son now throws his father in the volcano. The father comes back and want his revenge. (This story makes very little sense)

Game consist of:
- 3D Fighting

What's good:
- More characters
- Better CGI cutscense
- More modes like team battel (my favorite mode)



What's bad:
- Not to sure...  This game plays better than the first one so there is no complaints

Status: Finish the game with all cutscenes

Score: Worth to be played at least once

Tekken

I finally finished the PS1 game list. Now I am listing all the games that I've played at least once

Game no: 147

Genre: Fighting

Platform: PS1

What is it about:

The father threw his son in the volcano, now the son is back for revenge

Game consist of:

- Fighting

- 3D movement

What's good:

- The first mainstream PS1 fighting game

- Diverse characters with a lot of fighting style

- No ultra powers, just good old brawling

- Fast paced running smooth on PS1 hardware

What's bad:

- Nothing much, its a good 2 player game

Status: Finish every characters with all endings

Score: Worth to be played at least once

Crash Team Racing

Mario Kart for the PS1

Genre: Racing
Platform: PS1

What is it about:
Crash and friends race to different themes of the game

Game consists of:
- Racing
- Weapon hurling
- Boss fighting

What's good:
- Hub world
- The tracks and weapons are varied with extra boost on 10 apples
- Lot's of characters

What's bad:
- Need to win to proceed further

Status: The game got stuck on the third world. Didn't get to finish it

Game: Worth to be played at least once (if you get an least buggy version)