5 Forgotten PS1 Games That Pushed The Console To Its Limits

Sony kicked off its debut into the video game console market with a bang, launching the original PlayStation in 1994. With its disc-based hardware, the console delivered crisper visuals and sound design than its cartridge-based counterparts. This was bolstered by an impressive library of video games, including the launch of several powerhouse franchises, taking advantage of the PS1's technical capabilities. Gamers took notice and Sony's PlayStation accomplished something no other console could at the time, by selling over 100 million units worldwide.

Even as Sony began supporting its follow-up home console, the PlayStation 2, the PS1 continued to receive new games. These titles pushed the hardware limitations of the '90s console as far as it could go. This time around, we're celebrating the games that have largely fallen by the wayside for modern gamers but still found ways to dazzle on the PS1. 

Here are five forgotten PS1 games that pushed the console to its limits as some of its most technologically advanced releases.

"Lunar: Eternal Blue" had originally been released in 1994 for the Sega CD before receiving a significant revamp years later. Retitled "Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete," this version of the game came to the PlayStation in 1998. The game added new fully voiced anime cutscenes to the mix, streamlined the game's menus, and improved the animation and level of detail overall, including with the overworld. For example, enemy sprites are now seen in the overworld in this version, rather than the random battle encounters similar RPGs of the era are known for.

"Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete" shipped on three discs, making it roughly the same size as "Final Fantasy VII" without as much fanfare. This came from an all-around upgrade of the Sega CD version, including a more extensive sound design and musical score. The gameplay itself is also improved upon, with plenty of quality of life improvements compared to the original release. An epic RPG that took advantage of hardware advances since its launch, "Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete" gives the original version a much more cinematic presentation.

Speaking of PlayStation RPGs, one of the best RPGs you've likely never played is "Valkyrie Profile." Released for the console in 1999, the game follows its protagonist Lenneth as she recruits the souls of fallen warriors. The sequences between battles play out like a dungeon-crawling platforming game as Lenneth explores her fantasy realm before her final confrontation against Loki. The game's combat is turn-based but with the unique mechanic of allowing all party members to attack simultaneously within a frenetic single turn.

It's that blend of gameplay and presentation that earns "Valkyrie Profile" a spot on this list. Seeing the game seamlessly transition between its navigation and combat systems never gets old, and it's something that organically fits together. The game also boasts engrossing cutscenes as Lenneth learns the backstories of the fallen that she encounters. Well worth checking out through its modern remasters, "Valkyrie Profile" subtly redefines what an RPG can be.

As you've probably noticed, there are a lot of RPGs on this list, because the original PlayStation library was full of them. Among the classic PS1 games that deserve a modern remake is "Vagrant Story," released for the console in 2000. An action RPG, combat and navigation unfold largely in real-time but with a few twists in the mechanics. The combat system allows players to attack specific points on enemies and encourages them to chain attacks together with timed inputs like a rhythm game.

"Vagrant Story" is another overlooked gem in the PlayStation library that deserves wider recognition for what it does with the action RPG genre. Mixing innovative gameplay and an engrossing fantasy world, the title is a reminder that Square was firing on all cylinders going into the 2000s. The game also featured a level of detail above and beyond most other Square titles for the PS1 at the time, right down to character expressions. Backed by a complex combat system, "Vagrant Story" is one of the most intricate titles released for the Sony console in its twilight months.

While Capcom has steadily been reviving its once-dormant franchises like "Onimusha" and "Mega Man," we also wish they'd revamp "Breath of Fire." Another dead video game franchise deserving its own revival, the last game in the series to receive a release on the PlayStation was "Breath of Fire IV." A turn-based RPG, the game features a dazzling mix of 3D and sprite-based animation as it brings its fantasy realm to life. The gameplay also provides its own subtle improvements, including the ability to swap out party members from the reserve roster on the fly.

"Breath of Fire IV" is a marked improvement over its immediate predecessor and a strong reminder that "Final Fantasy" was far from the only RPG franchise on the PS1. The game just looks incredible compared to its countless RPG counterparts, with its blend of animation styles meshing together beautifully. The gameplay is also deceptively deep for an RPG of its time, providing mechanics that many of its contemporaries hadn't tried. While "Breath of Fire IV" has been remastered for PC, we'd love it if Capcom revived the franchise next.

Of course, it wasn't just RPGs that were pushing the limitation of the PlayStation in its final years. Both of the "Fear Effect" games featured presentations that rivaled some of the early games released for the PlayStation 2. The second and final installment, "Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix," really showcases what the series was capable of. A prequel to its preceding title, the game follows four protagonists as they explore Hong Kong in 2048 from a third-person perspective.

With its cel-shaded art style, "Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix" predates later games for more powerful consoles like "Viewtiful Joe" using a similar design. This is juxtaposed with full-motion video in background stimulating an animation environment as the action unfolds. Unfortunately, the "Fear Effect" series has been dormant for 25 years now, despite the advances it brought the medium. Looking back, it provided the PS1 with some of its most ambitious visuals and striking art design.