The best PS1 RPG Games or Role Playing games, the library had some of the most memorable RPG games in history. Beautiful graphics, complex narratives and a wealth of content to explore were hallmarks of several of the genre’s classics that came out on the PS1.

Simplicity is a word you have seen thrown around when people write about Final Fantasy IX. They say that it is the game that brings the series “back to the basics,” that it is a celebration of the past.  We have to wonder if this game was a success or not, as explained in this Final Fantasy IX Review. These statements aren’t incorrect, but they undermine the quality and charm of the game. Released in 2000, the game is in so many ways a reaction to the two games that came before it, but it bests its two immediate predecessors with a coherency neither of those game achieved. Final Fantasy VII was too busy successfully launching the series into the 3D era to mind that the game veered wildly from serious melodrama to a wacky slapstick section where the main character cross-dresses as a female escort as if that was totally normal,...

It's been a couple of years since the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and the Nintendo Switch release. Which has brought the video game industry fully into the eighth generation of console gaming. This 8th generation of console wars has settled into a battle for exclusives, price differences, and online and social gaming advantages. Which is fine, anyone looking to buy a video game console this year will have more games and better prices (and fewer bugs) than last year's early adopters. PS1 Vs N64 All the same, a few new games is never as exciting as a launch system, so since the 2020s isn’t offering us that kind of fun, I thought I’d return to the console launch of yesteryear. Today, I bring you retro Launch Wars: The Fifth Generation. To review, the major players of the fifth generation of the gaming industry were the Original PlayStation,...

It is a dark night, clouds harboring ghoulish dangers roll across the sky, and far off in the remotest out corner of Jersey Town is a castle of unwholesome architecture brooding from a hill over the scattering of farm houses below. Mad Dr. Knarf is in his laboratory clicking his heels and tongue as he works on his diabolical experiments to corrupt wholesome vegetables and deny their freedom to grow and be eaten by Man. Suddenly, in a moment of stillness where the sweat rolls off the brow in rushes in through the door with a loud bang the man-child pumpkin headed assistant- "Master, Master!" "This better not be a rat again," replies the exasperated Dr. "OH NO! LOOK!" That's right, it's no rat, but something far cuter... and far deadlier- it's the little baby Jersey Devil! KABOOOM! No more lab.  Years later, when Jersey town has mushroomed into a growing...

Most retro gaming fans have a closet full of widely-known platformers, RPGs, and party games. And why wouldn’t they? The most popular games are the all-ages are the all-ages, general-audience titles that everyone can enjoy. These are also the games that get the most press coverage and prestige. As such, there’s one genre that retro gamers always seem to overlook: old-school horror games. And that’s a real shame. Like all retro games, horror games had their golden age in the 80s and 90s, too. So today, we’re dragging the best horror video games back into the limelight. These are the scariest games that sent shivers up our spine and made us afraid to walk into a dark room. They also gave us some of the scariest moments in gaming history. Now, read on, if you dare. Splatterhouse on the TurboGrafx-16 - Released 1990 What do you get when you (unofficially) turn...

Chances are, the reason you’re visiting The Old School Game Vault is that you’re interested in building your retro game collection. Lucky for you, we’re about to make that a whole lot easier. You see, rather than buying retro games one cartridge at a time, you can purchase classic game anthologies that include several games. And, below, we’ll tell you how to get your hands on the best classic game compilations for PS1. Why PS1, you ask? The original PlayStation is one of the best platforms for collecting retro game anthologies, for several reasons. One: the PS1 has a lot of truly excellent anthologies—some of the best, really. A few of these contain bonus content, enhancements, and other PS1-exclusive features. And many include unaltered ports of original arcade games as opposed to the inferior ports that were released on previous consoles. Two: PS1 discs are (usually) also playable on the PS2...

Embark on an electrifying journey through the most iconic Mega Man video games that have revolutionized the gaming industry! These legendary titles not only captured our hearts but also pushed the boundaries of what video games could achieve. With breathtaking graphics, innovative gameplay mechanics, and unforgettable boss battles, these Mega Man games elevated our gaming experience to unprecedented heights! From the nostalgic charm of the original Mega Man to the cutting-edge 3D excitement of Mega Man X, each entry on this list showcases the evolution and enduring popularity of this beloved franchise. Join us as we celebrate the thrill of battling alongside the Blue Bomber, outsmarting evil Robot Masters, and uncovering the mysteries of Dr. Wily's nefarious plans. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or new to the Mega Man universe, this list promises to take you on an exhilarating journey through the very best of the Mega Man series. So, grab...

In another article, I discussed the relative merits of the two main fifth-gen consoles—the Nintendo 64 and the PlayStation (One)—during their first holiday seasons after launch.  I’ve left out the Sega Saturn and other also-rans because I don’t consider them serious contenders. I’ll start with the advantages of each system before announcing my verdict at the end. So without further ado, I give you Console Wars: The Fifth Generation N64 vs. PS1.  For me, it's about which console left a better retro gaming legacy. N64 Vs PS1 - The Game Library Perhaps the most obvious advantage of the PlayStation over its whole lifespan is the depth of its game library. While only about 387 games were released for the N64, the PS1 offered over 1,100 titles (in North America). To put this in context, the PS1’s library was impressively large for its era, while the N64’s was small even by the standards of...

Classic RPG fans, prepare your arguments. We’re about to settle one of the longest-standing console war showdowns of all time: SNES vs PS1 RPGs. It’s quite a bold claim, we know. Both consoles produced numerous titles that are still considered the best RPGs ever made. SNES gave us Earthbound, Final Fantasy II and III (IV and VI in Japan), and Chrono Trigger. PS1 gave us Final Fantasy VII-IX, Final Fantasy Tactics, Legend of Dragoon, Parasite Eve, and more. At this moment, you may find yourself involuntarily screaming at your screen, audibly (and angrily) naming the obvious winner of this showdown. We understand. Some will tell us that Final Fantasy VII is the game that changed the world of RPG gaming forever. If that’s you, you’re right. Alternatively, you may argue that Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy III changed RPG gaming first. You’re right, too. But which console truly reigns supreme in the...

Playing the Best PS1 Hidden Gems.  Somewhere in the world, we imagine there’s a collector who keeps all 7,918 games behind security-enforced display cases. There they remain, day after day, barred from any human interaction. Gee, how fun. So when was the last time you played Koudelka, Top Shop, or Rival Schools on PS1? Just kidding! That was a trick question. If you’re like most gamers, you’ve never even heard of these titles before. And that’s a real shame because these games are true masterpieces of the PS1 era.  Sadly, though, there are loads of hidden PS1 gems like these that were simply overshadowed by other PS1 hits. Of course, this is bound to happen when such games are released alongside historical hits like Final Fantasy VII. . Read on to discover the best PS1 Hidden gems that you’ve been missing. 1. Bushido Blade As a retro gamer, you’ve probably played...

Are you wondering, what does “black label” mean in video games? You’re not alone. It gets confusing when one game is released under so many different labels. You’ll often see Gamecube Player's Choice vs black label or PS2 black label vs red label, among other variations. What do these different release labels of video games mean for the cost and content of the game? Technically, they don’t inherently mean anything. Or, rather, these relabeling campaigns mean something different for each console. Nor does each labeling campaign mean the same thing every time. Yes, we understand that this answer does not even slightly clarify the issue. That’s why we’ve written you this comprehensive guide. It compares the various labeling campaigns of several different consoles to give you a complete answer. Read on to learn all you need to know. PlayStation Black Label vs Green Label Avid gamers are well versed in these...

Whether you’re throwing a hadouken, dodging an uppercut, or ripping out your foe’s entire skeleton, one thing’s for sure. Fighting games are the pinnacle of competitive recreation (barring anything that requires actual physical training, anyway). There’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush you get from destroying your friends in a Flawless Victory. Of course, the next round may find you on the defense, frantically smashing buttons to escape an unstoppable onslaught of fists and fireballs. And that’s saying nothing of reversals and C-C-C-Combo Breakers! As such, it’s no surprise that many of the most successful arcade games ever are fighting games. The genre was already hugely popular when the PS1 rolled around. And the graphics prowess of the console let gamers enjoy some new and unforgettable fighting experiences at home. Today, we take a look at the best PS1 fighting games ever released. Fight on! 1. Tekken 3 Tekken was a...