How much are you willing to throw to play old PlayStation classic games?
At a whooping $100, the upcoming PlayStation Classic can be quite pricey. The console reintroduces old PlayStation 1 games in one package. Though unlike the popular PlayStation 1, the PlayStation Classic is several times smaller in size and volume.and is only a bit bigger than your hand. But is it worth it?
Without the console even coming out yet and scheduled this December 3rd for release, we can’t properly say for sure. Though there are a few details that might be interesting to know and ponder about to make a decision.
What Games Are On It?
Of course even more important than the console itself is the games. What classic PlayStation 1 games is the PlayStation Classic offering? It’s been announced that the PlayStation Classic is preloaded with 20 games but there are exclusive games that are on the console depending on which region you are.
You see if the PlayStation Classic doesn’t really use any discs. Think of it as a PSP, but not really so portable that it has a screen of its own. The games are already on the console for you to play. And that’s really about the gist of it.
Regardless of what region you may be in, these games are available to you:
- Metal Gear Solid
- Final Fantasy VII
- Resident Evil Director’s Cut
- Intelligent Qube
- Battle Arena Toshinden
- Jumping Flash!
- Mr. Driller
- R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
- Revelations Persona
- Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
- Tekken 3
- Wild Arms
If you count up above, you’ll notice that there’s only twelve games on the list. And there’s a reason for that. Both the US/UK version and the Japanese version have eight different games exclusive to their region.
On the US/UK version, you’ll get:
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six
- Grant Theft Auto
- Twisted Metal
- Rayman
- Cool Boarders 2
- Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
- Destruction Derby
- Syphon Filter
On the Japanese version however, you get different games in return:
- Arc the Lad
- Arc the Lad II
- Parasite Eve
- SaGa Frontier
- Armored Core
- G-Darius
- Gradius Gaiden
- Devil Dice
Now if you ask me, the Japanese version seems to have the cooler games by a thin margin. Now I love Syphon Filter as much as the rest of you, but I’d also rather play some Armored Core. But that’s just my opinion.
Can We Get More Games?
If you’ve looked for information around the net, then like me, you must have asked “can we download other PS1 games into the console?” I mean, $100 for a console that let’s us play games from about two decades ago? We better damn well have more than just twenty.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find such information around the net. But it does seem like there’s no way to download new games as it doesn’t seem to have any connection to the net. So you better be satisfied with those twenty games already preloaded.
You have to ask yourself it it’s worth giving a hundred bucks just to buy the console. If you’re not a hardcore gamer, then chances are you probably only really like a few games on that list. Are you really sure about paying for the other games you may not want to play?
What About PlayStation Classic Performance?
I did hear that the PlayStation Classic, although smaller, is much more powerful than the PlayStation 1. So running old games on it shouldn’t be a problem. If it does have problems, then it practically fails its one purpose for existing.
The games you’re receiving are not remakes. They don’t have improved graphics or different gameplay. No real new content (unless they’re trying to surprise us with something). They play as they were before. If that floats with you, then the PlayStation Classic may just be your thing.
Personally I can’t wait to play Metal Gear Solid again without switching up discs. I really hate having to get up to do something as inconvenient as swapping discs. Someone should kill the guy who invented exercise.
Why Should We Get It?
Honestly, this doesn’t seem like a console worth investing money in unless you’re doing it for the pure nostalgia. Buying a PlayStation Classic would seem like for those who are really invested in supporting Sony.
I think it would be more worth the price if it had more games. I know this is going to be controversial, but it’d be easier to just use an emulator we can download online for our older generation games. Why get this one if that’s the case?
Would I get it myself if I had the chance? Probably not. For a $100, I can think of a few things worth buying more. But that’s how I spend my money. If you think that the PlayStation Classic is worth the asking price, then Sony is going to be pretty happy with you.
Hey, I love a blast from the past as much as the next guy but I also love not being broke.