41. Hugo 2 – Melty
2 Hu, 2 Go
Hugo was a TV gameshow where callers would take part in the virtual game playing on their TV sets, all whilst screaming directions down the phone. This game was incredibly popular around Europe in the 90s, and so, as with all things popular back then, it was made into a PS1 game.
You might’ve noticed that I’ve chosen to put Hugo 2 here and not the first game. This is because the first game had little to no music, and the gameplay was pretty jank. Hugo 2, however, has some iconic music, comedic voice lines, and the minigames are great. Yes, those of you who have read our previous articles should know by now that I am a minigame connoisseur. I love ‘em.
Hugo is a troll, and his wife, Hugolina, has been captured by the evil witch, Scylla… No, not that Scylla. Your mission is to rescue your three troll-babies from around the world, then work alongside them to bring your beloved troll-wife home. Look, it’s a minigame compilation, that’s all you need to know.
42. Bugs Bunny & Taz: Time Busters – Riley
“This is strictly for Bugs! Because Taz is a little, well, primitive.“
The Looney Tunes are no strangers to video games; there are quite a large number in their arsenal. But this one is special, and an absolute childhood treat for me and many other kids. Featuring who else but Bugs Bunny and Taz (almost like the game was named after them) in a completely co-op platforming adventure. Using time travel as its plot device, a personal favourite, the unlikely duo must use their unique strengths to save the day.
Bugs has his own set of skills, sneaking, jumping high, and Taz can push heavy objects and deal with stronger foes. If you’ve played Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time, gameplay will be familiar to you as it takes much from that, but expands it with the co-op possibilities. Plus, remember idle animations in games? Well, if you stand Bugs next to Taz for too long, Taz will take a bite out of Bugs, actually harming him in the process. We never see stuff like this anymore, and that’s yet another reason to revisit this lost classic.
43. Gex: Enter the Gecko – Kane
Tempt me, darling – Gex like five times a level
If there was any game that would be the PlayStation’s Mario 64, this is it for me. The controls are tight, you have a lot of options for traversal, and the stage themes are varied and strong.
Gex is a smart-mouthed Gecko tasked for the second time with taking down Rez in the TV dimension. Armed with his tail, tongue and years of tv references, the game takes you through various maze-like stages based of tv and movie tropes.
A standout aspect of the game is Gex’s huge repertoire of one-liners, written by Rob Cohen, a former Simpsons writer. Referential, humorous and sometimes a little cringey, they lend Gex a memorable personality that will certainly make an impression.
44. Final Doom – Azza
They lied, there’s like 4 more games after this
Final Doom is effectively an expansion pack that is built on the structure of Doom II. It was initially produced to be a free fan-made expansion. However, the team that made it were then hired by ID, and this is how it was made into a commercial product instead. It’s a very challenging game overall and will test your reflexes. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re a Doom fan like me, you need to try it.
45. Policenauts – James
Lethal Weapon in space? Count me in.
Policenauts, like Snatcher, is a visual novel masterminded by Hideo Kojima. If you’ve played his Strand-type games, you’ll know what he’s about. Unlike Snatcher, Policenauts wasn’t released in English officially at all. It was released on both the Sega Saturn and PlayStation. Which version is better is debated, but this isn’t a Saturn list, so you’ll have to make do with the PlayStation version.
The gameplay isn’t much to write home about. It’s just point-and-click, pick dialogue options and investigate items. What makes the game shine is its fully voiced cast of characters, full-motion video and incredible story. You’ve got conspiracy, buddy cop story beats and high stakes mini-games, including a quite difficult bomb diffusal section.
One of Hideo Kojima’s masterpieces, it’s wholeheartedly recommended if you’re a fan of his work or visual novels in general.
46. Spyro the Dragon – Riley
“Thank you for releasing me!“
Spyro is the absolute must-play of the platformer genre on the PlayStation. Alongside Crash Bandicoot, this purple dragon was a pioneer in opening up the console user base to an even bigger audience. Starring the titular dragon, it takes a sandbox approach to 3D platforming, with the goal being to collect everything in the levels and free the dragons. The original game has a very simplified and streamlined approach to collection and exploration. The sequels muddied the water with mini games, alternative objectives, extended segments and backtracking.
The sequels are fantastic, and you could argue that they needed the extended complexity to maintain the longevity of the franchise. But the original title, its simplicity and the wonderful worlds you get to explore are special. The soundtrack boasts a wonderful, bombastic fantasy feel which matches the pastel colours and floating island aesthetic perfectly. Although Spyro has received a remake with the Reignited trilogy, it doesn’t quite have that same feel as the original. The over-detailed world loses some of the essence of the original, so in my opinion, returning to the original is a worthy journey.
47. Assault: Retribution – Kane
Sodium’s revenge
Fast-paced alien horde shooting with a friend in co-op.
That might sound like this is Halo before Halo, but it’s a little more arcadey and varied than that. After dropping you in pretty much without warning, the game quickly has you running through a futuristic cityscape, jungle areas, underground and more. All while defending yourself against the endless horde of aliens and creatures that want you dead.
Okay, that’s still sounding like that game with the Spartan, so here’s the real difference. Assault is also a fixed camera platformer, almost like Crash Bandicoot with Space Marines and Xenomorphs. Speaking of which, the alien forces you’re fighting feel like they’re pulled out of every low-budget monster or sci-fi movie of the last few decades, which adds a whole extra layer of charm to the experience. If you’re looking for a fun couch co-op game for your PS1, you can’t go wrong here.
48. Kula World – Melty
Balls to the wall
Kula World is a 3D puzzle game. It’s fairly simple to begin with: roll your ball across the platform to collect the coins and get to the exit. It’s the later levels that get increasingly more difficult. In these levels, your ball can roll across the edge of these platforms without falling off, causing the centre of gravity to shift as you do. You then need to jump off of ledges onto platforms below in order to collect fruit for unlocking bonus levels, and keys to unlock the exit.
The game can get quite confusing to navigate, but what makes things worse is that your playtime is timed. Yes, there is a sand timer at the top of the screen, counting down with every grain of sand. Luckily, you can find sand timers within the levels to flip your timer; however, if you collect them at the wrong times, you might end up causing your own failure.
49. Rayman – Kane
“YEEEEEAAHH!” *loud trumpets* “hehe hehehehe” *ding*
The first Rayman game has a sense of style that honestly seems to have faded somewhat since. Rayman, in his initial outing, is exceedingly cool and walks with a swagger that contrasts intensely with the whimsical, cutesy world around him.
Rayman seems so unbothered as you guide him through perilous platforming challenges and fast-paced scrolling shooter segments, all with a soundtrack that’s since become absolutely iconic in the years since. The platforming levels are filled with odd little guys as enemies, there’s plenty of collectables to find, and there’s a heavy focus on using your surroundings and abilities to help you find everything.
Speaking of abilities, Rayman’s are pretty iconic too. If you want to control a guy that can use their hair as a helicopter and punch a guy from a hole screen away because his hands aren’t attatched then this is the game for you.
50. Pandemonium! – Melty
Sensational sidescrolling
I’ll be the first to admit I don’t like clowns. Never have. Jesters, however, I love. In this game, you play as either Jovial Jester Fargus or Sassy Sorceress Nikki. After the two and Fargus’s sidekick puppet, Sid, summon a town-devouring demon, they discover that the only way to get rid of him is to travel across the land and wish him away.
This is where the game begins; you make your way through the levels, platforming and defeating baddies with your pyrotechnics and spell-casting. The thing that makes this game stand out amongst the rest is its 2D platforming gameplay in a 3D-designed world. It’s a bit trippy to play at first; however, once you get the hang of the visuals, it’s a blast. The soundtrack is great, to boot, which made it a perfect entry for my Magic Mix of the 90s article.
Pandemonium! also uses a password system instead of saving data on a memory card, meaning you can play this game without using up space. Fantastical, artistically great, and practical! What else could you ask for?
What did you think? Would you have picked a different game from any of the series mentioned? Or would you want to see Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Parodius get the love they deserve (Jesus Christ, Konami was on one back in the day, what happened… :/) Let us know what you think, and if you have any obscure gems we should consider, please let us know!
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Just a dude that plays games and rambles on our twitch channel. Ill write stuff on here once in a blue moon.
He/Him
A flamboyant ultra nerd, Dave participates in the Underlevelled Tournament both for the thrill of the fight, and to avenge the orphans lost in the climax of the previous tournament.
Born: London
Height: ???
Weight: ???
Nen Type: Manipulator
Classes: Editor, Dancer,
Hobbies: street dance, collecting manga volumes, reading, editing
Likes: short-to-medium walks on the beach, pointing out how things can and will be misconstrued as racism, fighting games, RPGs, anime, Hades, alternative hip hop, conscious hip hop, Mara Wilson, overly long bios, ice-cream
Dislikes: insincere media, his own uncanny resemblance to Richard Ayoade, mayonnaise
You'll see me everywhere here. Mostly I stream and fix things when they break. You might find me writing an odd article or two too. Hope you enjoy the site!
Melltith, or Melty, enjoys cosier or slower paced games and likes to take her time with things.
She's a very crafty person who will throw her all into a multitude of new projects and skills.
Video game completionist and 3D platformer connoisseur, Riley is a fan of the whimsical frenzy of bright and colourful characters that blessed us in the late 90's. Their favourite game's are Spyro, Persona 5 and Super Mario Sunshine.
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