Modern machines like the PlayStation 5 thrive on the idea that modern-day gaming needs to look, feel, and transcend our understanding of gaming. Unfortunately, it’s all too often that video games today cannot even keep up with classics that were released decades ago.
While PlayStation Plus has some great retro games like Twisted Metal, there are many that aren’t in the collection yet but should surely make it up to the library sooner or later. Here are the top 5 we’d like to see.
5. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins (1998)
Long before games like Ghost of Tsushima and Rise of the Rōnin, there was one game that mixed gruesome violence with fascinating level design. Tenchu was one of the earliest takes on stealth games that got the ‘ninja vibe‘ right to them, and to this day, many games are trying to live up to those expectations.
This was also one of the few games that let players enjoy non-linearity with how they wanted to do missions. There were many ways of carrying out assassinations, and almost every level taught you something about your unique playstyle.
4. Time Crisis (1997)
There are few games that replicate the experience you’d have at an arcade. The bright and loud sounds around you, with gunshots that are louder and flashier than anything you’ve seen in a video game. Time Crisis was one of those epic experiences that would quickly get you into the game, and you’d refuse to put it down until you completed a level.
The game would mix hiding behind cover, shooting, and quickly transitioning between spaces. Somehow, it feels like most modern shooters take away this arcade-esque game design and give players way too much time to think. Time Crisis doesn’t.
3. Metal Gear Solid (1998)
There’s hardly a soul in the gaming community who hasn’t heard of this franchise. Through the years, Metal Gear Solid has evolved and enriched the lives of countless players. With a careful mix of storytelling, stealth, tactical combat, and well-written characters, the games have proven to be some of the best there is in the action-adventure genre.
Konami’s classic take on the stealth genre subverted everyone’s expectations. To this day, the modern titles in the franchise rely on those classic gameplay loops that have you fooling enemy AI and completing objectives in several different ways.
2. PlayStation 1’s Spider-Man (2000)
Sure, the modern era of PlayStation is known for games like Marvel’s Spider-Man. But, during the PS1 generation, the original Spider-Man was everything players wanted out of a superhero game. The game played close to the source material, making most of everything comic book readers were well aware of.
Not only was this game aesthetically pleasing, but it also had some solid combat mechanics and a range of enemies and bosses that made the PlayStation game so interesting and replayable. Of course, it felt close to nothing like the modern titles, but hey, that’s the charm of retro superhero games, right?
1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (2000)
There’s seldom a time when you come across a game about skateboarding that leaves a cultural impact so big that it changes the way people think of arcades. Tricks, twists, turns, and tactics get you through some of the most challenging skateboarding scenarios in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, making it a cult classic that players still talk about.
The game’s urban environments felt like home, with familiar settings and landscapes serving as a playground for players to show off their tricks. Throughout the game, players could earn cash rewards by performing multiple tricks while also setting a new record for themselves. Few legends have even completed the game in one go, in less than an hour’s time.
While this list doesn’t mention a lot of great classics, PS Plus is a service that has a reputation for surprising its players with new (and old) content. Who knows what we’ll get next?
Even though some essential PlayStation games that survived many generations have left the console, these retro games would genuinely make a good entry to the system at some point. What are some of your favorite retro games that you’d like to see on PlayStation Plus? Let us know in the comments below.
