16 Weirdest & Strangest PS1 Games Ever Made
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The PS1 was my first 3D console. I bought the N64 shortly after, however the PlayStation’s huge online game library (and entry to imported Japanese video games) saved it related for years after its launch.
Certainly one of my favourite issues in regards to the PS1 is how you might at all times find yourself within the online game equal of Youtube’s unusual facet that you simply solely attain after letting the autoplay run for hours.
When you weren’t cautious whereas shopping for discounted or used video games, you’d be aware of some actual bizarre stuff. The truth is, it wasn’t even unusual within the PSX days.
And on reflection, the console wouldn’t have been the identical with out these uncommon video games. We’ll be having a look at a number of the finest.
16. Velocity Freaks (1999)
Our first entry isn’t bizarre due to its gameplay, however due to its aesthetic and artwork course.
Developed by Funcom Dublin, Velocity Freaks is the PS1’s reply to Mario Kart – or somewhat, it was competing with Crash Crew Racing for the spot.
What’s so bizarre about it’s the pilots’ design, which you’ll be able to inform simply from wanting on the cowl.
They’re like the center floor between an enormous child and Rayman, which is a bit horrifying.
Fortunately you’re solely ever taking a look at their backs, and it’s not so unhealthy. The gameplay is fairly good. And whereas it’s not the tightest racer, the programs are actually enjoyable to traverse.
It’s in regards to the journey somewhat than the vacation spot.
15. D (1996)
Warp initially developed D for the 3DO as one of many console’s many interactive film video games. It will definitely made it to the PS1 in a fairly competent port of the unique.
On this horror sport, you’re tasked with exploring a hospital and discovering your father, who’s barricaded himself in after a presumed killing spree.
Issues take a flip and change into extra Silent Hill-y when you’re inside, although. And what was a hospital turns right into a dank medieval fort.
You’ll clear up puzzles to progress additional into the fort towards one of many sport’s a number of endings.
With psychedelic visuals, a creepy ambiance, and human fashions sitting proper in the midst of the uncanny valley, this sport has weirdness for days.
And that is a part of an odd horror trilogy with an fascinating historical past.
14. The Misadventures of Tron Bonne (2000)
Some video games are bizarre not for his or her content material, however for the only real cause of current.
In Capcom’s Mega Man franchise, Tron Bonne is the one character aside from Zero (from Mega Man X) to ever star in their very own spin-off sport.
That is bizarre not solely as a result of Mega Man Legends was considerably obscure, however as a result of Tron Bonne is a woman – and robust feminine protagonists weren’t all that frequent again on the time aside from Lara Croft.
Fortunate for everybody, the sport is fairly good. Each stage options totally different gameplay mechanics, making it remarkably various. It’s bought motion, some difficult puzzles, and the story weaves into Mega Man Legends completely.
Plus, Tron Bonne is cute.
13. Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman (1999)
UEP System’s Rising Zan isn’t solely among the best video games on the PS1, however one of many weirdest as a consequence of its mixture of Western and Japanese aesthetics and motifs.
The sport follows a type of samurai cowboy going towards demon ninjas, evil robots, and many different bizarre enemies with decidedly Japanese origins – all within the American Wild West, after all.
No one stated you couldn’t comply with the Bushido code with a revolver.
12. Pepsiman (1999) (JP)
Pepsiman was Pepsi’s superhero mascot in Japan throughout the second half of the 90s, starring in TV commercials the place the character would ship a can of Pepsi to a thirsty bystander earlier than getting trashed in more and more ridiculous accidents.
They usually made a online game about this man.
The sport follows the identical system, besides it’s flipped round.
You’ll management a operating Pepsiman as he narrowly avoids oddly inconvenient hazards in your method to ship a recent can of Pepsi. It’s the world’s most weird Temple Run clone – besides it got here out over ten years earlier than the hit app.
To no one however developer KID’s shock, the sport didn’t promote properly – but it surely’s nonetheless fairly entertaining, and most of the people who owned it bear in mind this wild sport fairly fondly.
11. Baldies (2003)
Contemplating I’m a die-hard RTS fan, and most significantly a bald man, it’s stunning I’d by no means heard of Baldies earlier than testing it for this rating.
Developed by Inventive Edge Software program, the title combines battle simulation and god sport mechanics. Your goal is to lift and lead a military of “baldies” – hairless egg-shaped folks – as they tried to subdue the “hairies” and conquer the complete identified world.
PS1 Baldies is a port of the PC model, although the net multiplayer is sorely missing.
The sport could be performed simply wonderful with a daily PS1 controller, but it surely additionally helps the usage of the PlayStation Mouse for an expertise nearer to the PC model.
10. Hogs of Conflict (2000)
One other whimsical wargame comes within the type of Hogs of Conflict, which took the turn-based artillery gameplay of the Worms franchise and took it to 3D.
Aside from modern and fascinating gameplay, the sport shines for its interesting 3D graphics goofy humor. It contains pigs from all all over the world with silly names and foolish voices, which makes blowing them up funnier than I’d anticipated.
Whereas goofy, the sport can also be fairly strategic – from customizing your pig soldier squad earlier than every battle to fastidiously planning every shot to maintain the higher hand.
Get it for some incredible sofa multiplayer.
9. Bishi Bashi Particular (2000)
To not be confused with the 1998 JP-only title of the identical title, Konami’s Bishi Bashi Particular (EU) is a compilation of the 2 first video games within the franchise to ever come out on PS1 – translated and launched for Western audiences.
The sport is fairly much like WarioWare.
It consists of a number of mini-games with easy controls defined briefly originally of every showdown. These fast-paced microgames are fairly daunting at first, as a result of it’s not at all times clear what you’re purported to do.
It’s a part of the allure.
The sport has beautiful hand-drawn anime graphics for probably the most half. However every subsequent microgame can have a unique artwork course than the final one. It’s hectic, various, and loads of enjoyable.
8. Wild Arms (1997)
Very like Rising Zan, Wild Arms makes it onto the record due to its uncommon mixture of the American Wild West aesthetic with one thing fully totally different – on this case, sci-fi.
The sport takes place on Filgaia, a dying world that’s oddly much like the American Wild West – apart from the high-tech weaponry and different kinds of sci-fi/steampunk staples.
This title follows the Dream Chasers, a band of thrill-seekers scouring the world looking for journey and fortunes earned by risking their lives. Now they’re about to become involved in one thing greater than themselves.
The graphics are nothing to write down house about. However the incredible writing, unbelievable soundtrack, and memorable opening cinematic elevate this sport to greatness.
7. Skullmonkeys (1998)
Developed by The Neverhood as a sequel to their eponymous 1996 sport, Skullmonkeys units itself other than different Motion/Platformers on the time with its uncommon and highly-detailed graphics.
The fluid animation of pseudo-3D characters and environments was achieved via claymation strategies, utilizing the identical fashions as these seen within the sport’s cutscenes.
The claymation type gave rise to some weird constructs – together with a boss that’s a photorealistic human head with limbs and one other smaller head on prime.
It might be bizarre, but it surely’s additionally probably the most artistically completed titles on the console.
6. Fluid (1998)
While you consider making a sport centered on music, you’d consider a rhythm sport like Guitar Hero or the DDR collection – however that’s not the one method to go about it.
Opus developed fluid as a easy interactive sound lab the place gamers may create and file their very own mixes by arranging the sport’s samples and beats.
These samples have been collected by controlling a dolphin and swimming via a number of environments on-rails. And these samples can be robotically added to your menu whereas creating “grooves”.
Your mixes may even be saved to the reminiscence card and performed again whereas swimming because the aforementioned dolphin. Due to the comparatively advanced and highly effective mixing instruments, you might make some stable tunes on this sport.
5. Vib-Ribbon (1999)
When you favor to sit down again and hearken to music (somewhat than create it) then NanaOn-Sha’s Vib Ribbon is the proper music sport price attempting.
It’s a type of rhythm platformer the place an anthropomorphic bunny traverses ranges based mostly on totally different songs.
Whereas the sport comes with some good tunes to check out, the concept is so that you can take out the sport’s CD from the PS1 after loading it one time, then changing it along with your favourite music CD. The sport then creates ranges based mostly in your music of selection.
It was a sensible means of utilizing the PS1’s music-playback capabilities, and the entire course of felt fairly mystical and mysterious again after I was youthful.
4. N20: Nitrous Oxide (1998)
The Tube Shooter style has at all times been well-known for its wonderful, vibrant visuals and fast-paced gameplay, however in 1998, no one was anticipating one thing like N2O.
The sport is a bit like Atari’s 1981 arcade hit Tempest, however on steroids. Or somewhat, on some robust hallucinogenics.
In spite of everything, the sport has you amassing shrooms and different… unusual gadgets, together with cash on each stage.
One of many sport’s finest components is the soundtrack, which was specifically recorded by the American music duo Crystal Technique. The truth is, the sport might be performed again on any common CD participant like several customary music CD.
3. LSD: Dream Emulator (1998) (JP)
One other hallucinogenic-related sport that left a mark on our reminiscences is LSD: Dream Emulator.
Asmik Ace Leisure developed it as an adaptation of a Dream Journal saved by one in all their staff on the time. Over 20 years of weird desires have been boiled right down to a wierd, ethereal exploration sport.
It’ll allow you to freely traverse a wide range of surreal places crammed with whimsical creatures that would slot in with everybody else throughout an intense LSD journey.
And get this: whilst a Japan-only title, it lastly bought an English launch.
Properly, fan launch however nonetheless.
This sport is proof that the vaporwave aesthetic has been a factor for over 20 years – we simply didn’t understand it but.
2. Screaming Mad George’s ParanoiaScape (1998) (JP)
Screaming Mad George is the stage title of Joji Tani, a Japan-born American that had made a reputation for himself within the movie business because the writer of terrifyingly lifelike monster make-up and props for horror movies.
His disturbed thoughts was on the entrance of ParanoiaScape, developed by Mathilda as a fusion between pinball gameplay – within the first particular person, thoughts you – and a horror ambiance much like the hellscapes conjured up by the disturbed minds of schizophrenia sufferers.
It may be a bit daunting.
However if you happen to can maintain on to your sanity as you maneuver your ball via these grotesque environments, it’s an unforgettable expertise.
1. Unbelievable Disaster (2000)
The title that merges probably the most enjoyable and weirdness into the identical PSX bundle: Polygon Magic’s Unbelievable Disaster.
This incredible sport follows a working-class Japanese Household as they battle to prepare for Grandma’s birthday. Sure, this can be a real video game.
They’ll attempt to make it to her home in time, solely to be stalled repeatedly by probably the most far-fetched conditions you’ll be able to consider.
The gameplay is paying homage to WarioWare, because it contains numerous fast-paced microgames the place you’ll information our heroes previous no matter hurdle destiny throws at them.
My favourite half is that it options music from the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra – not tremendous bizarre there, however a complete win in my guide.
