I do like myself a good Japanese game every once in a while, but right now I’m looking for other PS1 games made outside of Japan that are still very fun to play.
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee and the sequel Abe’s Exoddus. Easily one/two of the best games I’ve ever played. They’re available on PC and other systems these days, but they’re still the definitive Playstation game for me. Unique and one of a kind and even today, absolutely great to play.
I also give a vote to Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver and Medievil. Surprised no-one’s mentioned Oddworld though.
Edit: Ooh I have to add, Rayman! And if you have a friend to play with - Team Buddies.
I think that game was probably my first real critique of capitalism. I played it at a young age and just fell in love with the anti-consumerist and indigenous liberation philosophy, though I didn’t have those words to describe it into much later in life. I really recommend the original Oddyssey and Exoddus over New m Tasty and Soulstorm. New n Tasty covers the same story points, but loses a lot of the environmental storytelling in the process, and Soulstorm is just a completely different game to Exoddus entirely.
The Syphon Filter series
Wipeout 2097 (Wipeout 1 had broken collision detection, no wall grinds. Avoid.)
Driver or Driver 2
Micro Machines (multiplayer best)
Twisted Metal 2 World Tour (multiplayer)
Destruction Derby
G-Police was not bad too.
Japanese recommendations : PaRappa or Tekken 3.
Avoid any FPS or FIFA, all laced with frustration.
Tons of non Japan created PS1 games.
Crash Bandicoot was made by Naughty Dog software, a US based company.
Legacy of Kain and Soul Reaver were Canadian games.
Spyro the Dragon was from Insomniac games in California. Also Spiderman.
Tony Hawk Pro Skater was by Neversoft, again California.
Have you played the MediEvil games?
