Lately I've been tackling some older games in the libraries of certain consoles. Usually when we talk about good games in a console's library after it's been discontinued we tend to list a lot more of the newer games than the older.

In a certain sense I get this with older consoles. I mean not that it makes them bad but earlier PlayStation games do leave a lot to be desired graphically... but then 3D was still infancy. Despite the fact it was pretty ugly I had a blast with Pandemonium! and was able to find a copy of Re-Loaded for next to nothing... but beyond a few key examples (and excluding first party Nintendo cause that'd be easy) I can't think of that many examples...

Can anyone else think of some earlier gems that popped up in a console's lifespan? In a certain sense this really harkens to the recent launches of the PS4 and (soon) XBox one because while some people are excited for these games, I can't help but think how no-one will remember any of them in a few years. Launch line-ups are usually pretty anemic and people tend to forget that.

Of course, with the advancements in graphics I don't think later gen titles will outgun early gen titles to the level they once did.

Anyone have any thoughts on this or any games they feel fill that bill...?

I really like the stuff people did in the early days of the PSX.
Console games had finally made the jump from cartridge to CD-ROM, and I think this enticed a lot of developers to just go crazy with FMV and high-quality synth (if not actual live instruments). I think this trend kind of died down over the years, which is why I perceived a drop in audio quality in a lot of games back then (for instance, Street Fighter Alpha and Tekken 2 got remixed soundtracks that were a lot better than the original stuff in later games IMHO. I also think Suikoden 1 had MUCH better audio than 2, the music in Tomb Raider 1 and 2 was much better than 3 and 4, Croc > Croc 2, Alundra > Alundra 2, Toshinden > Toshinden 2 etc etc).

So the early PSX era to me is an era of high-quality synth with some live instruments thrown in here and there that seemed a bit experimental and I love that.

Also, the original Rayman was awesome.

Blast Corps

Star Gladiator falls into this category as well and after you heard the reworked PSX redbook audio I don't know why you would track down the arcade soundtrack. There isn't that much difference in the darker numbers (like Gore and Bilstein's themes) but there is a world of difference in the more upbeat numbers like Zelkin's theme, one that I often play in my car.

It's funny you mention Toshinden because I've had several people ask me why this is even in my game collection and every time the answer is the audio. It's true I do like the characters for some odd reason (even though they are as cliche as you can get) but the themes for Duke, Ellis and Sofia are always on my playlist.

Klonoa 2 was the best thing to hit the PS2 early in its lifespan and as far as action platformers go, it still is near the top. I've always enjoyed Fantavision too.

Smash Brothers Melee is still played competitively and is much preferred over Brawl. Pretty impressive for a near launch title. Me personally, it's the only Gamecube game I still play on occasion (unless Ikaruga counts).

The games that hit both the NES and SNES near their early periods just smell of high quality. Actraiser, Final Fantasy 2, Balloon Fight, Ice Climber, SMB, Wrecking Crew, the early DK games, Mario World, Final Fight (yeah, I know its a lousy port, but to me it really signified a huge jump from the NES and Master System), Castlevania IV (oh yes!!! hell yes!!!), SNES Simcity, Zelda 1/Kid Icarus/Metroid/Punch Out if you want to go a little farther out on the NES (1987 or so), not mention the original Megaman and Castlevania. And by summer 1992, SNES had both TMNT IV and Street Fighter 2 out. That was the juggernaut 3rd party developers Konami and Capcom flexing their might right there. And I know I'm leaving stuff out for both systems.

Dreamcast launched with Marvel vs Capcom and 9 months later, had an arcade perfect version of Marvel vs Capcom 2 out. SCORE!!! Also, Sonic Adventure and Hydro Thunder early on were easy buys for me.

Gameboy launched with Tetris and Super Mario Land, which are usually the first games I go for when I boot up a GB emulator. Likewise, Neo Geo pocket launched in the US in Sept 1999 (I bought Metal Slug 1st Mission and King of Fighters R2 for it) and within four months had two SNK vs Capcom games AND a portable Sonic game out for the holidays. That system was short lived, but it was a damn impressive run.

And the N64 launched with some game called Super Mario 64. I hear that ones a pretty big deal.

I think Suikoden was streamed mostly, while Suikoden 2 was done mostly on the PSX soundchip. Space reasons. Street Fighter Alpha 1 and 2 are upgraded from their arcade counterparts (I was in for a rude awakening when I bought the Alpha 2 soundtrack...the PS version DESTROYS it) Then Alpha 3 was the same on both arcade and PS1, but...Not a fan of the style change, so moot point.

I can also add Jumping Flash 1 > Jumping Flash 2 and Ridge Racer > Ridge Racer Revolution to the list too. I do respectfully disagree on Toshinden 2's music, it's one of my favorite fighting game OST's.

Didn't realize this was an early title. I just played the remake on the Wii and want to play this... but the hitch is this a sequel or a prequel? I want to know what happened after the first game... but all the GBA games seem to be prequels.

Not really into Smash that much but I don't think the Melee vs Brawl debate is ever going to die...

I've had the chance to buy both this and the sequel a few times but I never bite the bullet... kind of like Mario RPG but the difference is I've played Mario RPG. Actraiser is an unknown to me...

You know, I have like three versions of IV and there is still something about this game that is incompatible with me. I know this is a great game... and the problem lies more with me than the game... but I just can't sing praises about this game for some reason.

These have been on my want list for a while and I can't tell you how many people I know that have vouched for Balloon Fight. I've heard the audio for both but haven't played them.

Unlike Balloon Fight and Ice Climber I was able to find a copy of this... and the fact that it's an early NES title is exactly why I got it. NES games started out a little more self-contained in the beginning before games like Zelda and Metroid started fleshing them out more.

Thank you! I don't see this opinion often enough. As important as Final Fight was it really was downgraded in a lot of ways. Personally I liked Mighty Final Fight more (and I'm glad I bought it before the price exploded)... but have you seen the prices for Final Fight 2 and 3...? Yikes!

Actually I back you up on this one... I'm not really big on the NES trilogy (the Ninja Gaiden games kind of stole my attention there) but IV is the first old-school CV game that got my attention even though Symphony started it all. However, I recently played Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge on the GameBoy and loved the hell out of it. Did you like that one...? It's up there with IV in my opinion.

I can't deny this was a big one... but I think time has certainly but it's two cents into the equation. I don't think people look back on this one with as much gusto as they did when it came out. Of course I'm REALLY the wrong person to ask about it as I don't even think the Genesis games were as good as they were back in the 90's. Out of all the fanbases out there Sonic's is one I will never understand. I don't mean that to sound like a low blow but they've had to deal with so much disappointment over the years... do they just ignore it or they just flat out learn to live with it?

I kind of feel about this one like I do with Sonic Adventure... but in this case I've actually played it so I have a leg to stand on. I just have a hard time wondering why'd I play this when I have Golden Coins on hand. It's kind of like the original Diablo on PC or original Mega Man. Yeah, it's important in the scheme of things but....

Nintendo first party = way too easy. But yeah... as far as launch titles I can't think of anything more important.

You know, when it comes to Alpha 2 I must be the only one that likes the SNES rendition of the music. I don't know why (probably cause I grew up with it) but I love that neutered port for some reason. The game was so slow that when I tried to play it on the PS2 decades later it was too damn fast!

Brawl puts me to sleep, both playing and watching it. I almost considered getting it (I mean, it had Kid Icarus in it!), but at this stage, Melee is far ahead (it was at Evo this past year). Being able to get back to a ledge from almost anywhere was a bad idea.

I played all the Final Fights, but only the 1st one keeps my attention. The rest are pretty average beat em ups that warrant a playthrough and little else. I can play the first one forever though.

I actually need to fire up Belmont's Revenge. The music is great, I know that.

Klonoa 2 was out in summer of 2001. The PS2 launch up to that point was filled with garbage (and it wasn't helped by Sega bailing on the Dreamcast), so it really was a breath of fresh air at the time, as most of 2001 was pitiful for gaming (GBA launch aside). It's a full blown sequel.

I'm glad to hear that about Klonoa 2. I just loved the ending to the first game and how it was such a punch to the gut... but you kind of want some resolution after that. Nice to hear that will be the case when I get it.

When I had saved up enough money in anticipation to get the original Playstation in anticipation of Final Fantasy VII releasing on it, I had to wait and the game on the shelves of EB that stood out to me was Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen.  At the time I enjoyed the hell out of it, but knowing how bad the load times are I don't think I could go back to it now.

Oh and it wasn't near launch or anything, but going along with Tekken 2, Soul Edge had 3 BGM: Original, Remastered, and Khan Super Session.

I nabbed this one as well yet I haven't gotten around to it. But yeah, I've heard the load times are horrific...

Duke and Ellis are great yeah, and Sofia's really good too. I love Rungo's and Eiji's theme as well.
Did you ever try the Retake & Remix album? It's got some really kick-ass arrangements actually.

Not saying it's bad, it was just not as good as 1, I felt

Unfortunately no, the only non-redbook Toshinden album I've had was the soundtrack to the second game... which is just an odd item considering the second game also uses redbook audio. Kind of a redundant item unless the Japanese version used a different kind of audio...

Startropics on the NES is one of my favorite ol' gems. Awesome, stick-in-your-head-for-days music, too! I mean, name another game from that era where you could beat the shit out of a jerk octopus with a baseball bat and a yo-yo. Like a couple of you guys, I also have a really strong affinity toward the first Tomb Raider, and also think it's a much more authentic experience than the anniversary version. Beating that game felt like a true accomplishment.

EDIT: Looks like Startropics came out way later than I thought. 1990, when the NES was 1985. Still a dope game.

I actually need to check this game out. Also, didn't it get a sequel, Zoda's Revenge or something?

Breath of Fire 3 is infinitely better than 4.

Yes, and while gameplay is basically the same, it went way off base thematically (no longer island hopping).

Oh and thinking back for PS2, they aren't exactly launch titles but at roughly the one year in mark you had Shadow Hearts and Silent Hill 2.  Still, SNES is almost unfair in it's early lineup compared to any other console.

Zoda's Revenge is usually forgotten because it was one of the last NES games to come out. I need to give both games another try, the grid-based fighting system throws me off.

Also, PS2 ended up with FFX roughly in its first year too, which wasn't too shabby. Coming from the PS1, it was a real leap forward in graphics (and the load times, which plagued later PS1 Square games). Made up for the Bouncer, in any case.

And just keeping the theme going...FF7 > FF8/FF9.

4 >>>>> 5 >>>> 3 > 2 > 1

Zoda's Revenge isn't as rigid as the first Startropics. You can move/jump/attack freely in 8 directions, which makes for more smooth combat but the occasional frustrating jumping section as you won't be able to line up the way you could in the first (a la Tomb Raider).

Also, the first 5-10 minutes of that game are pretty aggravating. You have to go through a snow field where there are hidden pits that lead you to one of three or four repeating caverns. Gets old by the time you make it out, but then the game picks up (thankfully).

Heaven bless you.

I conquered that game in my youth. I did EVERYTHING, even got that rank at the end entitled "You can stop now."

That game was insanely fun.

From the N64, I am always urging people to play the Goemon game that made it to the US (Mystical Quest 64?), that game was incredible and so much fun. I also loved Treasure's "Mischief Makers" puzzle/platformer. I never got all the yellow gems in that. I'd like to go back and do that someday. Around that same time (was that Christmas '98?) I also got Bomberman 64, which got SUPER HARD by the end. Awesome large-scale adventure game.

From PS1, Alundra. A fan recently made this music video, where he sang the words "I out-Zelda'd Zelda." Which I'm sure is blasphemy to some of you, but that's how I feel about Alundra.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1PMhIM- … e=youtu.be

From SNES, I had two brief obsessions (once at time of release, again during college) with Uniracers. Certainly worth replaying, I think it holds up over time.

That's all I'm thinking of right now.

Actually, I got to side with Idolores on this one... I find 4 to be way to dry for my tastes and the dull colors the game uses doesn't really help in my case. III has it's problems but I would take it over IV if given the chance.

And DQ I haven't even played yet so I can't really say anything yet I think most people around here know I like II a lot.

DQ is 3>4>6>1 for me, of the ones I've played. I finished 3 back in the day (talk about a grind), but I never got too far in Chapter 5 of DQ4 even though that's where the meat of the game is. I enjoyed the Chapters leading up to it. Haven't touched my save file for 6 on the DS in years now, but it was pretty good up to that point (maybe 10 hours in). Definitely scratched the itch for classic JRPG gameplay I had at the time and I can see where it's going with the light world/dark world. And DQ1 is...DQ1. I hate it in JRPG's where you only control one character, so I can't imagine playing a full game like that nowadays. "Hurtmore" is one of the greatest spell names ever conceived though.

Dat dragon gene splicing. Dat mentor system. Dat enemy skill learning.

First I was like, "There's a Breath of Fire 6!?"
Then I realized you're talking about Dragon's Quest.
When Ashley said "DQ" he meant Breath of Fire 5, which is subtitled Dragon's Quarter

I honestly haven't played enough DQ games to rank them.

"And DQ I haven't even played yet so I can't really say anything yet I think most people around here know I like II a lot."

That threw me off. I see DQ, I think Dragon Quest. I see DQ and II in the same sentence, I think Dragon Quest II (a game I somehow missed on the NES).

And you may want to brace yourself...There IS a Breath of Fire 6 coming, but I doubt it's anything anyone would be interested in...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breath_of_Fire_6

"Set for release in Japan sometime in 2014,[2] the game is being created for touch-based Windows computers, as well as iOS and Android smart phone, and tablet devices,[3] with a Western release in North America and Europe currently undecided.[4]"

I reiterate: RIP Capcom, for treating your franchises like shit.

I adored BoF 3 but that was the first one I had played. BoF 4 never came out over here so I imported a US copy but, by the time I did, the PS1 was winding down and I had a backlog and just never got around to it. So I still have the PS1 disc and have never actually played it. And it's not available on our PSN store here (probably because it never came out here) and switching accounts is a total pain on Vita so I can't really get it on that.

May have to dig out my PS1 again soon...

I then got both 1 and 2 on GBA with full intention of playing them but, being honest, 1 was just that bit too retro for me and I stopped for a break at some point and never went back to it. So actually BoF 3 is the only one I have played through.

On the subject of older gems, I'll bring up the same gem I always bring up when this topic comes up anywhere - Soleil (Crusader of Centy in US). A Megadrive/Genesis Zelda-like that is probably my favourite Zelda game. Fantastic gameplay, great atmosphere, lovely music and tons of charm. If anyone missed it, seek it out. I can't imagine anyone would be disappointed.

There are so many though. So many wonderful games, not all of which were massive hits. If I had the time, I would just have all my old consoles set up and constantly play through old games. That will be my retirement.

Actually I think a game the out-Zelda'd Zelda back on NES was one I owned and never seemed to get mentioned by anyone for years was Crystalis.

THAT game. Was awesome. I also think it was about 3 times harder than Zelda (I never beat it, came close) and kind of a cult classic, so the odds were against it. Also my copy never wanted to work in my NES.

If SNK had put their minds to it, they really could have built an amazing franchise around it. The game was like Zelda gameplay marrying a Phantasy Star environment. They had a slight chance to revive it, but the GBC port was lousy.

For anyone that wants to see the game played through:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlDT89G_Cmo

Yeah, sorry about that... I don't generally call Dragon Quarter BoFV for some reason. I think in some territories a "V" is in the title but in the States I'm pretty sure it's not.

And yeah... BOF6... I'm pretty sure that won't come over here and considering what the game actually is I'm don't think I'm going to be brokenhearted. Still, I guess Capcom is just trying to make ends meat considering social games are supposedly the big thing in Japan these days... or so I've read.

YES. Yes a thousand times to Crystalis. There was a hole-in-the-wall video shop that rented NES/SNES/PS1 games back in the day. I rented Crystalis several times. When they went under, they sold off a lot of their stock for cheap, and I scored a whole slew of amazing PS1 games for under $100. That day was a good day.

I remember loving the atmosphere most of all. Crystalis was a great game.

EDIT: I've also been playing the first Ninja Turtles game on the Virtual Console. When I was a kid, I could never get past the fourth area, those underground caverns. Time has not sweetened its' difficulty. I'm getting pummeled all over the place.

It's funny you mention the first TMNT because I'm kind of annoyed how EVERY YoutTube reviewer has to go out of their way to say this game is terrible. I mean yeah, the game really does quite a few things wrong... but you can't underestimate that it is nearly a universal experience that almost everyone within an earshot of an NES actually played and that has to count for something, right. Rage inducing as that game is would anyone really trade their memories of growing up with it? I mean tear the game a new one if you want to... but AT LEAST give it some context.

Gonna have to jump on the Blast Corps love wagon here. The game was the epitome of rewarding mechanics. That damn dump truck was so hard to master, but once it clicked, the genius of the game design became overwhelming. I didn't get everything like you did, but I did get all of the golds (including the moon) and started getting some platinums before I stopped. I wish Rare or 4J Studios would do an HD remake or sequel. I'd love to revisit it!

I never got to play the original Goemon 64, but I had some fun with Goemon's Great Adventure which came here a little later and had incredible music.

I love the first Goemon Game on N64, it was one of the first games I played in Japanese after I started studying the language, and it has become my go-to "let's see how much better I understand Japanese now" game.
Lots of slang, dialect and extremely Japanese stuff in there.

And the game itself is pretty darn good too