Perfect PS1 RPGs Nobody Remembers Today

Hard to believe, but the PSX basically ended its main run more than 25 years ago. Over its fairly short run, Sony’s debut console instantly became a direct competitor to Nintendo and Sega, and the PS1’s RPG lineup helped cement its place. With well over 150 games released on the platform, the genre was absolutely booming, but its legacy tends to boil down to Final Fantasy, Chrono Cross, Suikoden, and maybe Parasite Eve​​​​.

Although maybe not as celebrated as the SNES and PS2’s catalogs, the original PlayStation has so many fantastic RPGs that deserve more recognition and, in some cases, replays. Let’s take a look at a few genuine masterpieces from this era that aren’t really talked about anymore.

Brave Fencer Musashi Is Square’s Forgotten PS1 Masterpiece

An Action RPG Franchise That Disappeared Too Quickly

• Really fun action RPG by Square
• Never received a proper follow-up, as the PS2 sequel ditched everything that made the original great.
• Not available on modern systems.

Of every RPG featured in this article, I would say Brave Fencer Musashi is the most remembered today; it is also the most perfect, so I figured it deserved a mention. Released in 1998, this glorious action-RPG platformer oozes charm, style, and quality, and it kind of feels like a precursor to PS2-era games like Kingdom Hearts. Although it performed well enough to receive a 2005 sequel, Musashi exists in the shadow of Square’s bigger PS1 RPGs, and it released fairly close to FF7, FF Tactics, and Parasite Eve.

Compared to those turn-based masterpieces, Brave Fencer Musashi‘s gameplay has not aged quite as gracefully, especially the awkward platforming. It has also never been re-released on modern systems, not even receiving a PS5/PS4 digital version to make it accessible on modern consoles. Square kind of forgot the IP after the try-hard sequel was an unmitigated disaster, which is a shame as this series could have really become something.

Brave Fencer Musashi was really fun and innovative, as you could copy enemies to unlock wild tools that you can then use in combat and puzzles (by wasting a finite pool of Bincho Points, so you couldn’t just spam everything). Although its visuals are unapologetically vibrant and anime-esque, the game actually incorporates some survival mechanics, like a fatigue system that forces you to find a bed to avoid exhaustion.

Azure Dreams Is Every RPG All At Once

A PS1 RPG That Fused So Many Genres Together

• Konami wasn’t really known for JRPGs, and the marketing was fairly modest.
• It never received a re-release, modern port, or remaster. While a GBC version came out around the same time, Azure Dreams never got a real sequel, although Tao’s Adventure: Curse of the Demon Seal on the Nintendo DS was kind of similar (albeit much worse).

Although not devoid of rough edges or frustrating mechanics, Azure Dreams stands as one of the PS1’s most unusual RPGs, and it comes from Konami of all publishers. The developers decided to smash dungeon-crawling à la Mystery Dungeon, roguelike elements, dating sim elements, and town development. Oh, right, it is also a monster raiser, as you find eggs that hatch into monsters that can then be fused together to either pass on traits or unlock a new evolution.

You head into the massive 4-floor Monster Tower that is randomly generated, where you pick up gold pieces that can then be used to develop the main hub town. Depending on the upgrades you pick, you can gradually develop a relationship with one of the women living in town, leading to mechanics like gift-giving.

Honestly, Azure Dreams tries a lot of stuff but doesn’t master much of it. It isn’t one of the greatest roguelikes, dungeon crawlers, dating sims, or monster collectors of all time; however, it does them decently, and it is part of a tiny selection of games that combine all these aspects.

​​​​​​​Jade Cocoon Blends Studio Ghibli With Pokemon (Kind Of)

A PS1 Monster Collector Worth Remembering

• The Pokemon tsunami drowned out most monster-taming games released around the same time.
• It is not playable on modern systems or through a service like PS Plus.

Jade Cocoon sits alongside Brave Fencer Musashi as a cult classic fondly remembered by those who grew up with a PS1, but it also didn’t transcend its era. Released very close to Pokemon, Jade Cocoon was the PS1’s most aesthetically impressive creature collector, even if Monster Rancher and Digimon World were the console’s defining entries in the genre. There is a lot to love about this masterpiece, but its most notable features are its character designs and art, both handled by Studio Ghibli’s Katsuya Kondo.

Playing it nowadays, the Ghibli influence is hard to miss, as Jade Cocoon has that blend of fairy-tale and earthiness associated with the anime studio. Gameplay-wise, the game featured solid turn-based combat, a flute-based catching mechanic, and a pretty darn interesting take on fusion. As great as everything is, Genki’s RPG didn’t have the widespread appeal of something like Pokemon, and it didn’t capitalize on its relative success with an improved sequel (although Jade Cocoon 2 isn’t terrible by any means).

Legend of Legaia Lets You Actively Chain Attacks

A PS1 Turn-Based RPG With Hints Of Real-Time Goodness

• A late PS1 release that was sandwiched between two massive cultural juggernauts.

Brave Fencer Musashi is my favorite game in this article, but that’s because I played it a lot as a kid. Mechanically, Legend of Legaia is the crown jewel of forgotten PS1 JRPGs. Rather than repeat Square or Enix’s formula, Prokion decided to take inspiration from the fighting genre, crafting a combat system where you use the D-pad to input commands linked to martial arts strikes. You use AP to chain combos together, and doing so randomly almost guarantees a weak strike.

Although I generally enjoy zoning out while playing certain turn-based JRPGs, Legend of Legaia forces you to remain engaged, and it makes for a more memorable overall experience. Beyond its Tactical Arts System, the game incorporated things like evolving sprites that change to reflect your equipped armor, which was far from the standard in PS1 RPGs. Even the spell/summoning system is unique, as it involves absorbing spirits called Seru.

In North America, Legend of Legaia didn’t come out until 1999, right when the console was nearing the end of its life. At the time, most people were playing Metal Gear Solid or biding their time until Final Fantasy 8‘s release, making everything in between an afterthought.

​​​​​​​Arc the Lad 2 Is The Best In A Forgotten Trilogy

Sony Didn’t Give Arc The Lad A True Shot At Success

• Sony waited forever to bring this over to Western nations.

Let’s end with a franchise that’s largely forgotten nowadays, especially its PS1 trilogy, which Sony only released in North America as a collection in 2002. By that point, the console was ancient, and any new releases were basically sent out to die. At the time, Arc the Lad was unknown in Western nations, so it didn’t really get much attention. Tactical RPGs, in general, already occupied a niche, which further doomed this series.

A structurally ambitious RPG, Arc the Lad 2 had several novel story ideas, including a protagonist who mostly just tries to survive in a harsh world (for the first few hours). You can also import data from the first game, unlocking special items and quests. This wasn’t really common at the time. While the grid-based combat is fairly typical for the era (and done well), Arc the Lad 2 stood out because it incorporated exploration more typical of traditional JRPGs.