Recently, reports started circulating that Sony is going toshut down the PlayStation Storesfor the PSP, PS3, and PS Vita, making hundreds of digital games completely inaccessible. These reports have yet to be confirmed by Sony, but it has made some fans worried about losing access to certain games, especially older, rare games that would otherwise cost a significant amount of money to access legally.
In particular, there are someclassic PS1 gamesthat were only ever released for the console and are otherwise incredibly expensive if players have to purchase the physical versions. Some may want to purchase the much cheaper PlayStation Store versions while they still can, as they tend to cost around $6 a pop, as opposed to spending hundreds of dollars to get the same experience for the game.
RELATED:PlayStation Fan Creates Incredible PS1 Themed DualSense
Here is a full rundown of rare PS1 games that are available on the PlayStation Store and why fans may want to consider prioritizing them. More in-depth descriptions for the games can be found below, but for those that just want a quick guide describing what they should be looking for, here are the PS1 games that will be much more expensive to play if fans have to get the physical versions instead of buying them through the PlayStation Store.
Rare PS1 Games on the PlayStation Store
Alundra
The popularity of Nintendo’sThe Legend of Zeldafranchise has inspired countless other games to follow in its footsteps. But out of all theZelda-like gamesout there, one that stands above most of them isAlundra. InAlundra, the title character has the ability to enter peoples' dreams, withZelda-like exploration built entirely around this mechanic. The game’s story is still regarded highly to this day, with plenty of praise heaped on it for its challenging puzzles as well.Alundrawas only ever released on the original PlayStation, and just getting the disc will likely set players back nearly $100, so it’s definitely one that fans will want to consider downloading.
Purchasing each individual game in theArc the Ladseries won’t set players back all that much, but getting the collection together is when things start getting pricey. With that in mind, it seems like it would be much simpler to purchase the games through the PlayStation Store while they’re still available. TheArc the Ladgames are highly regarded as some of the bettertactical RPGsavailable on the PS1, and they’re still worth a look today. Those interested can pick up the first threeArc the Ladgames on the PlayStation Store, in addition toArc Arena: Monster Tournament.
Bloody Roar
Buying the complete set ofBloody Roaron PS1 will likely cost well over $100, but those looking for just the disc can get it for a comparatively lower asking price. Even so, the disc alone will likely cost around $30-$50, so this is another game that fans may want to consider picking up from the PlayStation Store. For those unfamiliar withBloody Roar, it’s a fighting game where the gimmick is that each character can transform into a beast mid-battle. The original game earned relatively positive reviews, and it’s definitely worth checking out for fighting game enthusiasts.
Breath of Fire 4
Capcom’sBreath of Firefranchise may be defunct now, but it managed to get six entries before it was shuttered. One of the more popularBreath of Firegames is the PS1’sBreath of Fire 4, which typically sells for around $80 for just the PS1 disc.Breath of Fire 4earned some acclaim at the time of its release, though people were split on its art style. Regardless, it’s generally considered one of the better JRPGs available on the PS1, which is saying something when one looks at thePS1’s library of JRPGs, and so genre enthusiasts should consider picking it up before it’s too expensive.
Castlevania Chronicles
TheoriginalCastlevaniais available on numerous platforms, and so this particular game isn’t necessarily as must-have as some of the other games listed here. However, this specific version of the originalCastlevaniais going to cost hundreds of dollars if players want to play it after the PlayStation Store is shut down.Castlevania Chroniclesmay not be the best take onCastlevania, but it’s still something that diehard fans may want to try while they can.
Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, Darkstalkers 3
Capcom’sDarkstalkersfighting gamesare pretty niche, but they still have plenty of fans.Darkstalkers 3is especially expensive online, so fighting game fans should keep these titles in mind if the PlayStation Store shutdown is confirmed.
Dino Crisis, Dino Crisis 2
Fans have been asking for aDino Crisisremakefor years, and it’s not hard to see why. EssentiallyResident Evilwith dinosaurs, both of theDino Crisisgames on PlayStation 1 earned high scores from critics and are some of the better survival-horror games available on the platform. Anyone looking to buy the disc versions will likely have to spend around $50, or more, per game, so the chance to get them digitally isn’t something that should be passed up.
RELATED:Dino Crisis Reboot Was Shot Down by Capcom Japan, Says Report
Echo Night
FromSoftware is best known nowadays for itsDark Soulsfranchise, but it got its start developing games for the original PlayStation. One of the early FromSoftware games is the oddityEcho Night, and it also happens to be one of the rarest physical PS1 games in existence, going for hundreds of dollars on eBay and other online sites. It’s a creepy game where players have to avoid ghosts.
Front Mission 3
The first twoFront Missiongames were exclusive to Japan, soFront Mission 3is arguably the most well-known game in the series. It’s also considered one of the bestFront Missiongames there is, and it goes for $50+ if players are looking to get just the disc. Therecent gameLeft Alivewas an attempt to revisit theFront Missionuniverse, but it fell way short of the high bar set by games likeFront Mission 3.
