The game library for the much-anticipated PlayStation Classic was announced recently, and there was a fair amount of consumers disappointed in what's being offered in the $100 retro console. Put simply, there are quite a few games many would see as integral to the PlayStation 1 experience that are missing in lieu of far less popular games. Here are seven that we believe should've been included in place of some of the lesser offerings, or just included in general.
Tomb Raider
The Spyro and Crash Bandicoot games being kept off the PlayStation Classic lineup was at least understandable given one just recently released a remastered trilogy and the other has one on the way, but there's little excuse for excluding Tomb Raider. The franchise had five titles on the PlayStation alone, with its first three titles in the top 12 of the console's best selling software.
To say it's baffling not one of those titles was considered is an understatement. It's such a glaring exclusion that one has to think there's a specific reason why it didn't make the cut. Until then, Lara Croft fans will have to get their fix playing the rebooted series, which is a good consolation, but not quite the same thing.
Gran Turismo
Leaving Gran Turismo off the PlayStation Classic is almost like if Nintendo left Mario Kart off of the SNES Mini. We say "almost" because it's actually more akin to the SNES Mini not having Super Mario World, as Gran Turismo was the top selling game on the PlayStation. Again, how did Sony keep such a classic title off the final cut?
This one is especially confusing, as the Gran Turismo franchise remains a massively successful franchise to this day. Having the original on the PlayStation Classic might've swayed franchise loyalists to pick it up just to say they have it, and maybe to play a race or two just for nostalgia's sake. Instead, buyers get Ridge Racer Type 4, which didn't crack the top 100 in software sale for the console.
Chrono Cross
To be fair, Chrono Cross may have been considered for the PlayStation Classic RPG fix, but was ultimately beat out by the legendary Final Fantasy VII. Few RPG's can outshine one of the greatest games the Final Fantasy series has to offer, although Chrono Cross could've justified a spot alongside it. Especially given some of its innovative features for an RPG, it's safe to say few would've complained if it appeared.
Chrono Cross would've been a solid choice, mainly for its length and replayability. Multiple endings would mean multiple playthroughs, which would increase the longevity of the PlayStation Classic's usefulness for quite a few. That seems useful when the console it appears on has a limited library and no capability to add games. Perhaps there's a parallel universe where this game is on the roster, and we just need to wait for our other selves to come give it to us.
Silent Hill
Again, this may have been a case where a game would've had a better shot at making the list had there not been a more popular title in the franchise like it. It's hard to believe otherwise, as Silent Hill has been living under the title of "Resident Evil clone" since it was first released in 1999. Despite that, the series still has its fans, as evidenced by the amount of people saddened when Silent Hills was canceled.
As mentioned though, it's far more understandable why Silent Hill was excluded when Resident Evil Director's Cut is in the lineup. The two do have their differences, of course, but the survival horror genre isn't for everyone. Having two on one pre-packaged lineup might've been overkill, although maybe not for diehard horror fans.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
What better way to relive all that late '90s nostalgia than with a few rounds of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater? Anyone reading this right now is probably subconsciously hearing the game's soundtrack as they read because this game was that popular. For the kids who wanted to be a pro skater, but quickly realized it was a hard thing to master after getting a skateboard for Christmas, this game was the next best thing.
This might be the key to why some have been so disappointed with the PlayStation Classic roster. The lineup has its share of solid games, but few of them evoke the feeling of late '90s nostalgia quite like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater or other games might. After all, part of the fun of owning a classic console is thinking back on one's life when they were first playing those games, right?
Jet Moto
Jet Moto may not have been the best racing series on the PlayStation console, but it had some of the most character. Flying around on hoverbikes and racing on scenic landscapes was visually stunning for the time, and a remake could probably do the same. Unfortunately, Jet Moto is one of those franchises that have been lost in time, which is all the more reason PlayStation Classic should've brought it back.
Granted, there may have been some licensing issues considering the game had big advertisements for Mountain Dew and other brands all throughout. While that added a touch of realism to the game at the time, it'd probably have to be changed by Sony now to avoid any payout to those companies be it legal or otherwise. If it meant we'd be backflips on hoverbikes while going over the edge of a waterfall come December, it would've all been worth it.
Driver
If Tony Hawk's Pro Skater wouldn't have given a PlayStation Classic audience that gaming induced flashback to 1999, Driver certainly would've. Grand Theft Auto certainly won the war between these two franchises, but it goes without saying the original game was much more popular with PlayStation gamers back in the day than the original Grand Theft Auto.
That was then, of course, and this is now. It's hard to dispute having the original Grand Theft Auto, despite its original entry being far removed from the current state of the series, won't catch more eyes than Driver these days. It's also subjective now which one is the better product of the two, although sales numbers will tell you many in the '90s thought it was Driver by a large margin.
Are there any entries we missed, or ones that should've been added? Let us know in the comments below. The PlayStation Classic launches Monday, December 3.
