The best RPG games available only on PS1, ranked

Summary

• The PS1's library of RPGs was crucial to its success.

• Titles like Beyond the Beyond, Brave Prove and Thousand Arms remain stuck on the PS1.

• Alundra 2 and Koudelka are examples of great sequels, but they weren't re-released, lacking modern platforms.

Without a strong supporting library of RPGs, PS1 it might not have been a smash hit. One of the smartest decisions Sony ever made was re-releasing PS1 games digitally on PSN for use on both PS3 and PSP. The moment gamers realized they could play games like Final Fantasy VII on the go it must have been an eye opener.

Final Fantasy VII and many other Square Enix and non-Square Enix RPGs have made it past the PS1 through those aforementioned digital ports and other releases. These other games are still stuck on the PS1, though with no way to play them other than emulation or a hard copy and a good old PS1.

6

Beyond Beyond

Sony's first sun

• Developer: Camelot Software Planning

• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

• Platform: PS1

• Released: September 11, 1996 (NA)

Beyond Beyond was one of the earliest RPGs released for the PS1. It was developed by Camelot, which was a small name back then, but grew in size thanks to Nintendo. They are the team responsible for Golden Sun and various Mario sports titles that are borderline RPGs.

Beyond the Beyond battle, the UI looks a lot like Golden Sun, with large sprites and colorful animations. Sony recently re-released PS1 games on PS4 and PS5 with small upgrades, so maybe one day Beyond Beyond can be returned as Legend of the Dragon. For now, though, it's stuck on the PS1 and Sony should get Nintendo to do a deal on that one.

5

Brave proof

Go west Young man

• Developer: Data West
• Editor: Data West
• ISSUED: April 16, 1998 (Japan)
• Platform: PS1

Brave proof it was only released in Japan in 1998, when the PS1 was cooking with gas. It is an action RPG developed by Data West, a company that fans should not confuse with Data East, creators of beautiful games such as BurgerTime and Joe and Mac. Brave Prove has large, bulky sprites, but they are well detailed compared to the game's more polygonal backgrounds.

For 1998, it might have seemed too dated to release outside of Japan. However, retro fans can appreciate it now, especially since there are English fan translations, and the hack-and-slash gameplay is satisfying even if it can get old.

4

Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins

The first one is safe, but not the sequel

Alundra was the PS1's answer to The Legend of Zelda with a strong emphasis on dreams. It was a top-down action-adventure game that was re-released on digital storefronts like the PS3. Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins was a more ambitious sequel that featured full 3D backgrounds and characters.

He played similar to Mega Man Legendsanother hidden gem from the PS1, but with swordplay instead of using a gun. Unlike its predecessor, Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins It never made it out of the PS1, and hopefully the hacking adventure can see the light of a console again.

3

Thousands of weapons

Befriend woman, become a master Smith

Thousands of weapons would fit right at home in a persona fan collection, and not just because it was published by Atlus. It's also a turn-based RPG that features romance mechanics. Players are a young blacksmith named Meis who can only get stronger with his hammer if he falls in love.

Players will encounter various female party members on their quest, and dialogue options can increase or decrease these relationships. It's a very silly story, similar to a harem anime Tenchi Muyo or Love Hina except a lot more battles per turn.

2

Koudelka

A precursor to Shadow Hearts

Koudelka is a turn-based horror RPG set in 1898. Players can move their party around a grid-based piece on the battlefield, albeit a tactical mini-RPG of sorts. Players assume the role of the titular Koudelka, a psychic who is sent to investigate a mansion similar to resident evil.

It is the forerunner Shadow heartsanother obscure RPG that takes place in the same universe. There were plans to port Koudelka to the Neo Geo Pocket Color and Steam at separate times, but those plans fell through and now the game is officially locked forever on the PS1.

1

Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

A truly forgotten past

• Developer: Heartbeat
• Editor: Enix
• ISSUED: November 1, 2001 (NA)
• Platform: PS1

Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past was a late game for the PS1 and a late entry in general in the Dragon Quest series. The sixth entry was a SNES game and was in 1995 in Japan. Due to its late release and seemingly outdated graphics, many passed on this PS1 classic and then it became rare.

It was eventually remade for the 3DS, which is really the best way to play it, and then there was also a mobile version based on the remake. So it is possible to play Dragon Quest 7: Forgotten Fragments elsewhere technically, but not in this original form, which is a different experience on PS1. Dragon Quest purists would definitely love the chance to play this time travel game again.