PlayStation Classic Games, Ranked

Actual decades ago, I (Tim Rogers) played every single one of the 20 games included on the upcoming PlayStation Classic all the way to completion. Today, I made this video ranking them all based on how likely I am to want to play them again.

[@shaneos2727]

Tim Rogers should be the president of video games

[@troyevanthompson]

I'd vote for a fellow hoosier grad! Tell me when he's on the ballot.

[@dumbkoffcrow974]

I could go for his iron fisted reign.

[@rob40480]

His platform? Abolish death by hunger.

[@iidoyila]

no , i played rayman 1 first and loved it and didn't even have rayman 2

[@seventhpeasant]

this is like catnip to me. officially requesting a Top 20 Best PS1 RPGs video-sequel to this

[@kotaku]

Alex Fulton i would have a Conflict Aneurysm composing the list. that aneurysm would probably make me a better writer

[@tapirman111]

Yeah I'm typing his list out because I want to check it later: Alundra Blood Legay: Omen of Kain Breath of Fire III Breath of Fire IV Brigandine (oh snap I remember this game it rules!) Bust A Groove Bushido Blade Castlevania SOTN Final Fantasy Tactics Final Fantasy VII Ghost in the Shell Grandia In the Hunt Jumping Flash 2 Mega Man Legends Mega Man Legends 2 MGS The Tron Bonne game with the little dudes Persona 2 Rage Racers Resident Evil 2 Soul Blade Suikoden Suikoden 2 Tale Concerto Tekken 3 should be here imo Vagrant Story Valkyrie Profile Vandal Hearts Warhawk Wild Arms Xenogears

[@Fullbatteri]

I can almost *sense* when a Kotaku video is going to be made by Tim.

[@kaizerkoala]

I'm glad that you give the recognition to Jumping Flash. Remember, it's released before Super Mario 64 and Crash... It showed that great 3D platform is possible way before people realized.

[@jacks.cosplay]

No castlevania SOTN is a big glaring omission for me. If konami can licence MGS they can licence their other games like the first silent hill as well. Also no wipeout or gran turismo on this either

[@adammccormick95]

It's probably because they released SoTN on PS4 like a month ago. Silent Hill is definitely kinda weird to omit though. As for GT/Wipeout, I imagine the licensed music didn't help, though both games do have versions in certain regions with all original music so I dunno. GT also has all the brand licenses, but I dunno how that works compared to music licensing.

[@ShinobiPhoenix-YT0]

And Sony says to you: "Please buy Castlevania Requiem".

[@jacks.cosplay]

SoTN may be on ps4 but so is resident evil 1 and and final fantasy 7 and i think oddworld abe's oddyssey (or is that the sequel on ps4?). Both of those are on the ps1 classic. I forgot wipeout had licenced music. In that case i can understand its omission. I understand their are remakes of spyro, crash, medievil but people will still buy them remake be damned.

[@ShinobiPhoenix-YT0]

Jack Critelli Unlike Symphony,The others are not newly on PS4 for a PREMIUM price they can upcharge, let alone with a bundle.

[@jacks.cosplay]

@@ShinobiPhoenix-YT0 ok fair enough. The only other thing missing here is ape escape. Granted that uses dualshock controllers but they could've included that or sold dualshock controllers separately.

[@vito]

OH MAN I was definitely not going to click on this seeming clickbait but then I saw it was Kotaku and I thought "wait maybe Tim made this one" and he did! If his name had been in the title I would have just clicked it without thinking!

[@vava85]

Kotaku has a Playlist with all of Tim's videos.

[@aTalkingKoala8294]

Hey its Vito!! I remember you from EFAP. I think it was the episode where the guy said "you get to look at women" lol

[@vito]

@@sshrdlu You mean my good friend Tim Rogers who I've spent the last 15 years collaborating with? Nah I think we are good.

[@crispy_asch7110]

Megadeth over Metallica? Re 3 over Re 2? Man this video is almost as scandalous as the PS classic lol

[@argublio]

tim ur content gives me hope

[@Wezzeth]

Tim's fantasy PS Classic list: Alundra Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain Breath of Fire III Breath of Fire IV Brigandine Bust A Groove Bushido Blade Castlevania: Symphony of Night Final Fantasy Tactics Final Fantasy VII Ghost in the Shell Grandia In the Hunt Jumping Flash 2 Mega Man Legends Mega Man Legends 2 Metal Gear Solid The Misadventures of Tron Bonne Persona 2: Eternal Punishment Rage Racer Resident Evil 2 Soul Blade Suikoden Suikoden II Tail Concerto Tales of Destiny 2 Vagrant Story Vandal Hearts Warhawk Wild Arms Xenogears

[@justwatching234]

Tim is the master of lists.

[@kotaku]

and they're so easy to make . . . . . . . if only they got a lot more hits . . . . . . .

[@ThePhilatron]

Phenomenal writing and editing as always

[@kotaku]

ThePhilatron thanks!! i’m gonna keep makin em like this, i figure

[@nickhowe8745]

I finally got to play roms of the Tomba games a couple of years ago.. I remember seeing the commercials as a kid and wanting them so badly (we never had a playstation). I'm so glad I finally got to play them! So many fun secrets and environments, and the art is beautiful. A switch port would be a dream..

[@pwnedd11]

Hey Tim, this isn't the first time I've heard you talk about the original ps controllers so positively, and I was wondering... does the Dualshock 1 have worse plastic than the original controller? Or is it a form factor thing... like do the joysticks interrupt the feel of the controller? I mean, to me, it certainly looks cooler and better without the sticks. But I had an N64 at the time, so I'm totally ignorant on this stuff...

[@Sheamu5]

That is the Rayman I think of tbh. And Vagrant Story would've been a great addition.

[@akaRicoSanchez]

The main problem with the PlayStation Classic is that it apparently runs very poorly and offers no video setting of any kind. Also, some of the games are the PAL versions running at 50fps, so you get both the slowed down gameplay inflicted upon Europe at the time AND stuttering visuals as frames need to be duplicated to fill the 60fps of the PS Classic video output... With the blurry mess that is the automated up-scaling to 720p (which, to make matters worse, will be upscaled again by your TV to fill a 1080p or 2160p screen), the dips in frame rate caused by poor hardware, the inaccuracies caused by poor emulation and the mess that using some PAL games creates, you get in 2018 something that is several steps down when compared to the late '90s experience of playing a PlayStation on a CRT in RGB. On these technical issues alone the PlayStation Classic deserves to be skipped, but with the game selection on offer, the choice is that much easier to make!

[@MrFox94]

I'm still waiting on a "The Legend Of The Dragoon" remake or at least just re-released.

[@kotaku]

Brandon Spark yeah come to think of it they’re probably gonna announce a 16:9 4K remaster any day now!!! lol you know what game i didn’t DARE put on my fantasy list because i was sure people would think it was a joke? SHADOW MADNESS . . . i love that game

[@MrFox94]

I always did like the artwork for their characters, as silly as they are. Looks like something straight out of an old D&D game or book.

[@kennethnelson3437]

Tim, you're my favorite video game person and the fact that you acknowledged Azure Dreams was a thing makes my love you even more. Why in the world are there not more Pokemon/City Builder/Dating Sim/Roguelikes in the world!?

[@HeyJoshLee]

Tim Rogers, your work is fantastic.

[@NathanPrattNappingRat]

What does he mean when he says "before the employee realized the E was red?"

[@SneakingMissionable]

For a time PlayStation marketing had a tag line of “u r not e” (with a red colored e) as You are not ready kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpq0oGCVl7J7mcU

[@kef0205]

I'd love to watch a video where Tim explains his own PS Classic lineup at length. And then more on every console he wants to do.

[@StefanHayden]

Warhawk was one of my first playstation games. the live action video cut scenes were amazing.

[@TheRacePig]

As far as I'm concerned not having Vagrant Story on the PS classic might as well be a crime. Arrest Sony now, they have gone too far. Or not far enough, I don't know.

[@BeaverDaBeaver]

Glad to see Tail Concerto make the list, Tim-dono!

[@kyugull]

Finally, someone is talking about how Mr. Driller owns.

[@StuCupid]

Mr Driller fan here, can confirm

[@haughtygarbage5848]

tim, real random but ive been curious about older JP music for a while but plastic love and ryo fukui only get one so far, do you have any hot recs to dish out loving it as always

[@momamario]

big fan of japanese city pop. Have you ever heard a long vacation by eiichi ohtaki? It's a masterpiece

[@scarecrow7x]

Please don’t edit you laughing at yourself that was honestly great haha!Anyone else remember Legend of Dragoon and Jade Cocoon btw? Much love there

[@NovaChild17]

Can you do this for the Sega classic collection (switch version probably for hits though I have the older steam variant) so we can hear you talk about a better collection of retro games?

[@nickhannan8008]

Great video Tim Rogers this gave me something enjoyable to do while eating this chicken pot pie.

[@dicegameuchiha]

shoutout to the digitech whammy!

[@blueshoals]

Thanks for making my lunch break fun! Videogames forever!

[@ddub1253]

Tim.ur a beast dude. I love this shit. Your writing and understanding of English is excellent. And yes...megadeth is better.that's what solidifies your legendary status

[@LeoMidori]

Hey Tim, I know fighting games were everywhere and this might make me utterly furry as heck for asking, but how would you have felt about Bloody Roar or Bloody Roar 2 having been on here?

[@kotaku]

Leo Howler I LOVE THEM like i said dude i go to bat for 3D fighters six days a week and bloody roar ain’t no sunday game

[@Skaless]

I'm happy someone else loves bloody roar

[@andrewhickinbottom1051]

As soon as i saw that font, i was like "Yesss - Tim Rogers content!"

[@Awecyan32]

Tim Rogers is my favorite reviewer. When I saw what he judges based on I laughed and knew how it would go

[@andymofoincross]

I feel like what Tim says at 9:25 is a universal truth, so peculiar yet sooo accurate lmao

[@yakulto1977]

TIM, I LOVE YOU.

[@XZeroKPS]

Tim Rogers is a blessing

[@kotaku]

nice avatar!!!!!!!!!!!

[@XZeroKPS]

@@kotaku thanks! Keep up the great work with the videos

[@occono3543]

I'm actually much more familiar with Rayman 1. It drove me bonkers as a kid, and my dad for me making him help me. It's fucking tough as shit.

[@manfredmoose]

an excellent fantasy list, tim!

[@ThisMusician586]

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I have yet to see anyone really mention the absence of Grand Turismo. I remember my dad taking us to bestbuy the day that game was released because even he, a grown adult, was super excited to play what was advertised at the time to be the best racing sim to date.

[@nicholaslovell3380]

I freaking love when you have that zany horn and xylophone music in your videos. Keep feeding me those kooky, ragtime-esque, fun-time, slap-stick musical air-vibrations!

[@cyngtainvest]

The shoutout to Azure Dreams brings a tear to my eye. I thought I was the only person who has ever played that game.

[@kidflid3225]

Is this footage from the playstation classic?

[@smug_slime]

It's good you acknowledge revelation persona, most people don't even know what it is.

[@pika4668]

Tim Rogers is great. Good job!

[@tzyoggah2898]

I'd definitely buy the version with Tim's list. *dreamily thinking about Bushido Blade*

[@Utkarsh_A]

Is this Regular Car Views lol, great video bro

[@Beledal]

This is why I got Bleemsync on my ps classic... other games I would add to your list are Legend of Dragoon (translation's wacky but the rest is great), Parappa, and Medievil.

[@jyoungAD]

R4's soundtrack is the musical equivalent of a freshly cleaned, all-leather interior.

[@kotaku]

jyoungAD yeah, i love it! rage racer’s soundtrack is the equivalent of a tattered dusty nylon rally car interior and i love it too

[@SunChipss]

I swear, when this fool said, “weaponized nostalgia bricks” I lost my shit 🤣

[@MsZerox50]

I like the idea of the rpg collection , but can we add The Legend of Dragoon and Threads of fate ?

[@averagejoe6897]

Don't forget about the amped snowboarding games amped 2 one of my favorites

[@Sc077ish]

Vagrant Story was crack for me as a teenager. I wish there had been a sequel :(

[@printthelegends]

Still waiting for the follow up ranking the games on the Genesis Mini.

[@FireTiger941]

Top 20 that should have been on there...in my opinion... 1. Crash Bandicoot 2. Spyro 3. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 4. Tomb Raider 5. Grand Theft Auto 6. Twisted Metal 2 7. Resident Evil: Director's Cut 8. Silent Hill 9. Alien Trilogy 10. Destruction Derby 11. Soul Blade 12. Tekken 3 13. Final Fantasy VII 14. Wipeout 15. Oddworld: Abe's Odyssey 16. Soul Reaver 17. Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2 18. Intelligent Qube 19. Dino Crisis 20. Metal Gear Solid Now that is a "Solid" list lol

[@NewGabeOrder]

FireTiger941 Time Crisis is better than Dino Crisis. Some games you listed are better on Dreamcast, and Dino Crisis and THPS2 are a few of them.

[@andrewpauljackson7305]

A+ content. 👍

[@ShowerSkeleton]

I played Legend of Legaia on my PS1 and never played Final Fantasy VII, am I cool?

[@trance1215]

Fuck yeah

[@bamboozler3302]

Fuck yeah

[@ShinobiPhoenix-YT0]

I am much older than the PS1 and I played Xenogears, Wild Arms, Tales of Destiny, and Breath of Fire III before caring to play Final Fantasy VII. Especially because people wouldn't shut up about it, but I have "interesting taste" and VII will never be VI for me. Am I still cool by your grading scale?

[@kotaku]

Cody Ridley wow liking VI more than VII is like 200% ok by me . . . i like em both for many different reasons. in summary: i played ffvi at age 15 and ffvii at age 18, so . . . maybe i’m exactly the right age to appreciate them both?? like, at age 18 i yearned for some “edgier” games, so ffvii blew my mind. and at age 15 i was definitely trying to feel cool by reading old literature (i say “trying,” though now at age 39 i KNOW that reading old literature is cool lol) so ffvi completely nailed that tone for me! and buddy breath of fire iii is absolutely amazing, even now

[@ShinobiPhoenix-YT0]

@@kotaku Final Fantasy VII came out literally days after my 16th birthday, Symphony of the Night was a few months later. You'd think I'd be happier about the one near my birthday, but then Justin Timberlake is also January 31st and I don't have to like him as much as Symphony of the Night either. People chose VII, I chose Symphony because I will always love Castlevania a bit more than Final Fantasy.

[@captltrl]

I slapped my goddamn hands on the counter when I heard you lament the lack of vagrants and stories in this selection. YES. I am not alone in my pain.

[@adammccormick95]

Devil Dice is actually on the Japanese version of the Classic, just under the JP title 'XI [sai]'

[@kotaku]

adammccormick95 heh yeahhh i promise i meant to mention that

[@gmkgoat]

I wasn't expecting a reference to Beyond the Beyond (a game I hate), in the middle of a segment talking about Wild ARMs (a game I love).

[@josephretucci350]

Anybody know what game he is saying after Umihara Kawase (around 6:08)?

[@badtrinket]

chippoke ralph no daibouken, or the adventures of little ralph. it's real cute!

[@chapter_black3234]

Valkyrie Profile? YASssss. DO IT!

[@Zaswarley]

playstation doom is hot but man... that n64 doom

[@kotaku]

Zaswarley that one owns, too!! and like playstation doom, it too is Meaningfully Different from PC doom

[@Zaswarley]

yeah having grown up on consoles i associate doom more with dark ambient than with paraphrases of famous guitar riffs. not that there is anythign wrong with the latter@@kotaku

[@vuuvovuuv]

that "the E is red" line got a hearty chuckle

[@muddyeyeball15]

THANK YOU.

[@KinnonYee]

Jumping Flash 2 or Ghost in the Shell? I kinda really love playing as that Tachikoma more than anything

[@303cerebral]

Yes Tim, Yes!

[@rexthesheep]

WRT Twisted Metal, why not give Gas Guzzlers Extreme a try? Recently it FINALLY came to consoles after being a PC exclusive like several years. It's got racing and battle modes, and while its singleplayer content is lackluster, it's a lot of fun.

[@costadinover]

I like that Tim likes Grandia, it's my favourite rpg of all time.

[@JoshBurcham104]

I cant believe Tim said that the new Abes Oddysee better than the original. The new one us fine but the shiny new coat of paint just completely removed the soul of the original. Those beautiful pre-renders, replaced by generic backgrounds

[@richierust]

“Weaponized Nostalgia Bricks”

[@CKVideoGames]

I always thought R4 was because the 4 looks like a backwards R.

[@RemmyLebo]

That's awesome. You should be an ALPHA :)

[@CaptainMarvel4Ever]

Had to let the video play for a few seconds so I could be sure it was a Tim Rogers video. Tim, please just make some awesome video recommending all the most awesome RPGs you can remember. Also, that mention SMT V hurt. It's been forever and we have no details at all. It's going to be one of those Atlus games that takes 7 years to make, which will be well worth all 7 of those years, but damn, the waiting is a b!tch and a half P.S. Yes, I am on occasion calling it the Swintendo

[@kotaku]

an RPG list would possibly kill me, though yeah, i gotta do it. getting all the footage would be a chore though YEAHHHHH it'd be good

[@michaelcostaphoto]

Oooh, Blackthorn. Miss that game.

[@ShinobiPhoenix-YT0]

22:12 Do you mean "Tales of Destiny 1" (in which you made a typo) or did you actually mean Tales of Eternia which I always forget that they unfortunately just localized as "Tales of Destiny II" in some poor "Squaresoft-ish" move for tying the game to the previous one for marketing? BTW should I be a little sad that you didn't include Lunar: The Silver Star Story Complete or Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete on your Fantasy List? I know you like those two, you have to. You can't even play Eternal Blue now unless a Sega Saturn Mini is on the way. And you can't play SSSC as that version on anything else (the PSP and smartphone version might as well be different games).

[@vito]

He's talking about Tales of Eternia

[@kotaku]

i like the sega cd lunars better! i promise this is not a joke comment! and yes, i meant tales of eternia! i played it back when it was still called Tales of Destiny II :SUNGLASSES:

[@RemoWilliams1227]

The answer for me was add an hdd and software and have all the games I want in the proper framerate with no smeary filter.

[@UnclePa1n]

When satire hits close to home

[@VegasPedro]

The comment about the Eiffel Tower in twisted metal 2 hit me right in the nostalgia gut

[@TheZaius]

"PlayStation Classic Games, Ranked." This sounds so dumb. It must be a Tim Rogers video. "Hello, I'm Tim Rogers." Ah-HA!

[@Ghostie.]

I want to see Tim Rogers and Adam Sessler do a podcast.

[@narcspector]

I was gonna say "is this Pre-Truck Heck?", and two seconds later he said "HASHTAG TRUCK HECK" LOLs.

[@banditMarche]

There actually was a "Super Puzzle Fighter II" on the Game Boy Advance

[@RonCorwin]

a vid about 3D fighters would be really interesting. maybe when they make a new Virtua Fighter lol

[@marvvang5758]

Regular Car Reviews x video games = Tim Rogers

[@dicegameuchiha]

MORE DEETS ON TRUCKHECK!!!

[@ThomasMurch]

Mentioning Blood Omen, Rage Racer, Tomba, and Devil Dice? Thou speakest to mine soul...

[@KieranIsCamera]

I'm a European born in the 90s, so the idea of a PlayStation that doesn't acknowledge Crash or Spyro is crazy to me. It should've just had a DualShock, also. And WipEout! I can't even think what experience I would be booting up most of these games to have. Why does Sony think Jumping Flash is its Banjo-Kazooie? Or whatever it thinks I think about it? Seems like decades of technology-led iterative game design has not found its summary in a retro box. Huh!

[@milsvaard]

I can only think of licencing as the issue in getting those games on the console.

[@kotaku]

Kieran D yeah i sorta understand those (don’t forget medievil!!!) not being on there because of licensing and / or them havin remakes though yep . . . shoulda been on there

[@joshexoh]

Legend of Legaia *sploooosh*

[@dennislepke2125]

I am not much of a ps1 gamer because I had the N64 and my brother the PS1. but a few games that comes to my mind I had fun where. Future Cop LAPD, Gran Turismo, FIFA96, Legend of Dragoon and Suikoden2. and since you can get suikoden2 on a ps vita the only game I wanted would be legend of dragoon.

[@NocturneCesarito]

SOUUUUUUUL BLADE!!!!! (And Castlevania SotN) ... *EDIT NUMBER 3: I would LOOOOOOOUVE a PS1 loaded with Xenogears, Breath of Fire 3 & 4, Legend of Legaia, Legend of Dragoon, Legend of Mana, Vagrant Story, Lunar SSS, Valkyrie Profile, Dragon Quest 7, Megaman Legends 1&2 (and Tron Bonne) ... along with my first two picks.

[@kotaku]

Cesarion 3003 yeah . . . i’d pay $400. i don’t even care about money at that point!!!!!!!

[@NocturneCesarito]

@@kotaku I'm gonna make a screenshot of this reply and put it on a nice frame, Mr Rogers.

[@NewGabeOrder]

More Castlevania Chronicles, less Symphony of the Night.

[@rtrock]

Good lord that U R NOT E joke hit me right in the gut.

[@KlydeVividarium]

Yay Tim Rogers :D

[@andrewdupuis1151]

I am getting mine tomorrow

[@lorenzotosiart]

I wish they would release a ps1 classic console with an adjusted lineup of games..ps1 is literally full of masterpieces...I would buy it instantly.

[@Flammazine]

Rollcage, that was a good racing game

[@sophiajones9616]

I would have loved if gran turismo or gran turismo 2 were on it-would of made my day as I have played 3 4 5 6 and sport but not 1 or 2 as I was not born until 2000

[@schizogony]

Rage Racer's my favorite too!