Best RPG From Every Year Of The PS1’s Life

Sony shook things up when they made their own console following a botched partnership with Nintendo. While Nintendo negged on the deal, they are probably kicking themselves now because Sony hypothetically drank their milkshake by poaching a lot of good partnerships away from them.

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Squaresoft, for example, was tight with Nintendo until Sony came along. One of the biggest genres on the PS1 was RPGs thanks to Squaresoft’s involvement. That said, the releases were slim in the West for the first few years which is why these dates will correspond more with Japan. From the Japanese premiere in 1994 to the waning years of 2002, let’s take a look back at the PS1’s RPG history.

9 1994: King’s Field

Metacritic Score: N/A

• Released: December 16, 1994
• Developer: FromSoftware
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 4, PSP, Mobile

King’s Field was the first game that FromSoftware ever made and it never made it over here. The West’s first introduction to the developer and series was via King’s Field 2 in 1996 which was just renamed to King’s Field.

Like other FromSoftware games, this one will not hold the player’s hand as they dive into a labyrinthine dungeon. Monsters and treasure are around every corner and survivability is slim. While not an outstanding RPG, the pickings were slim in 1994.

8 1995: Suikoden

Metacritic Score: N/A

• Released: December 15, 1995
• Developer: Konami
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Nintendo DS, Sega Saturn, PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Suikoden looked like a higher-res version of a SNES game so it didn’t blow anyone away graphically which is even more true in 1996 when the West got it. However, the core turn-based gameplay was unique for an RPG.

The basic premise revolves around gathering over a hundred party members. Some were used for battling and others were for taking care of the home base and it’s still one of the most interesting PS1 games to this day. Other notable Japanese releases include Arc the Lad and Beyond the Beyond.

7 1996: Wild Arms

Metacritic Score: N/A

Wild Arms was an interesting mix of fantasy-based RPGs like Final Fantasy and Western games like Sunset Riders. The world was a vast desert with little plumage in the background. The sprite work made everything look like cute chibi characters which clashed against the more serious tone of the narrative.

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The series would get better from here as it worked in more Western themes but this was still a good first start and North America would get it in 1997. Other notable Japanese releases include Arc the Lad 2 and Vandal Hearts.

6 1997: Final Fantasy 7

Metacritic Score: 92

1997 was an amazing year for RPGs including Breath of Fire 3, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Tales of Destiny but they pale in comparison to the power of Final Fantasy 7. This was a rare release as it was launched in the same year in Japan as in the States. It showed PS1 players what the system was capable of and what this series was capable of.

It had a mature story with language to boot, CG cutscenes, unforgettable music, an addictive Materia system, and so much more. There is a reason why this game created a legacy, unlike most other mainline entries in the series.

5 1998: Parasite Eve

Metacritic Score: 81

Parasite Eve is another example of a Squaresoft game launching in the same year globally. It makes sense since the game focused on New York City as its backdrop. It took the horror and puzzle elements from Resident Evil and added RPG elements with a magic-like system and guns as the primary weapons.

Aya Brea was the heroine who was a detective in charge of investigating a mass outbreak of monsters in the city. Besides this game, other notable Japanese releases include Suikoden 2, Star Ocean: The Second Story, and Xenogears.

4 1999: Front Mission 3

Metacritic Score: N/A

Front Mission 3 was the first game in the series to be released in the West, which was a year after Japan’s in 2000. The series began on the SNES and they all followed relatively similar plots involving nations warring with each other. This was the future so instead of ground troops, soldiers fought in mechs called Wanzers.

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Gameplay took on the form of a tactical RPG and players got deep customization options with their Wanzers. It was good but other notable 1999 releases for Japan include Final Fantasy 8 and Wild Arms 2.

3 2000: Final Fantasy 9

Metacritic Score: 94

Final Fantasy 9 was another simultaneous release between Japan and North America. This was a throwback to classic games in the series that focused on crystals and magic above high-tech gadgets. It also had an incredible amount of world-building in it thanks to all of the kingdoms and races.

It’s an unforgettable entry in the series that is brimming with adventure and whimsy which may be why rumors are swirling around it getting a remake. Other notable releases include Breath of Fire 4, Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, and Vagrant Story.

2 2001: Final Fantasy Chronicles

Metacritic Score: 89

2000 was the last big year for new RPGs but there were still notable ports and collections coming in. Final Fantasy Chronicles in 2001, for example, saw the release of Final Fantasy 5 and Chrono Trigger on the PS1.

This was a first for Final Fantasy 5 as it skipped the West upon its initial release on the SNES in 1992. Chrono Trigger did come out over here but this port added more things like anime cutscenes. The one downside to both of these ports was the load times but it was convenient to have these classics on the PS1.

1 2002: Final Fantasy Origins

Metacritic Score: 79

Final Fantasy Origins was a collection of the first two Final Fantasy games which was a 2002 release in Japan and even later released in the West in 2003. This was three years into the PS2’s life cycle astoundingly. Unlike Final Fantasy Chronicles, this collection was more than a port as it redid the graphics for both games and made them more palpable and less archaic.

This was a first for the West as well since Final Fantasy 2 was never released over here in 1988 on the NES. Instead, North America’s Final Fantasy 2 was actually Final Fantasy 4 and the confusing names didn’t stop there.

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