Why a 1995 PlayStation Game Still Looks Like It Came From The Future

Kotaku: You know why the PlayStation took off in the mid-90s? Because it was cool. And nothing on the PlayStation was cooler than WipeOut.

[mayberry]

Not only were the graphics and artistically done text and pitures in this game ahead of its time, but the music was too! First mass produced game with actual tracks from very good music artists! At the time this was realeased most people thought of home based games were very muched geared toward the younger crowd, I.e. Mario etc.. Sony saw the gamers were aging and would appreciate more mature games. I for one, jumped right aboard with sonys more mature take on gaming! PS1/2/3. Its common knowlege the ps3 is geared from the start for a more mature gamer, starting with the launch ps3's price,(still rockin my launch 60G!). Paid the $600+ launch price and have enjoied it immensely! Btw I'm 45, started in 77' with the "magnavox oddysey"! ...good times! Love my 360 too, but its obviously geared to a younger gaming crowd. Nothing wrong with that btw.
Props to "kotaku" for 1. Posting positive Sony news.
2. Acknowledging a great classic.

[LettingGo]

45 and on N4G? What a trooper. :)

[Morgue]

I'm 41....

[damnyouretall]

32 and love the hell out of games and always have. ill be an old man with a xbox plugged directly into my skull 20-30 years from now

[deadpoole]

Im 38 ... :D ... but been gamin bit less as of lately ... maybe age is havin an impact...not sure.

My fav game of all time SoulReaver and NFS3

[pc_masterrace]

77'...a true core gamer right here. respect to you sir! :)

[NukaCola]

I still to this day think that Oddworld Abe's Oddysee and Abe's Exoddus are the best looking games I have ever played. The environments, gameplay and story just never gets old for me. One of the few games that age's better after all these years than many titles do after a few months. Just my thoughts.

Also, I would love to see N2O: Nitrous Oxide redone in HD. I love the Tempest-like gameplay with the crazy ships, colors, bugs and the wickedly awesome Crystal Method tunes.

[Hardbladestone]

Faaaaaaarrrrrrrrrtttttttt.....

[delicia]

Wow, I also played N20: Nitrous Oxide on PS1. Loved that game and Assault as well. If only I wasn't so young and a complete noob back then :/

[banner]

I agree I loved those 2 games medievil has a spot in one of the greatest games too.

[n4f]

its a veteran he better have your respect.at 44 not many people fought fanboy war and survive. some came back with physically wound other are scars emotionally.

[Marquis_de_Sade]

Shut up.

[cyguration]

He speaks truth, Marquis.

You my friend are the kind of fanboy that will come back maimed for life....and what is it that you will lose? Probably your soul...

That is all.

[Marquis_de_Sade]

I don't care, he just sounds ridiculously lame.

[morkendo]

im 53 wish some of old school ps1/ps2 games would hit ps3 not on PSN but as physical disc. .... mature games is cool as well. i'd rather have back in the day games.

[dericb11]

How many could they fit on a Blu-Ray? Would be 25 at minimum.

[GraveLord]

Wish Americans could see how amazing the PS3 is.
You want Call of Duty? PS3 has it.
You want Mass Effect? PS3 has it.
You want Grand Theft Auto? PS3 has it.
You want amazing exclusives you won't find anywhere else? PS3 has it.

[NukaCola]

I am American and I have gamed on Sony systems since the PS3 back in 1996. I got an original Xbox for Oddworld and loved all the games on it from Halo to KOTOR. And I own a 360 now, but I don't understand why America is so addicted to Xbox this generation. 360 is a good console, but they do not do what Sony is doing, and all the innovation and all the technology that is Sony seems to be unimportant. I think it's mostly marketing. American or not, if you call yourself a gamer, you should own a PS3 by now. 90% of the exclusive between Xbox and PS3 favor to Sony. I hope the PS Vita can gateway Americans back onto Sony's side a bit. Sony deserves more than how the States treat them. Sony is the top dog in every country but US and UK. I also think its COD and Kinect. They own America even more than the console itself does.

[ilovemyps3]

gravelord,
there are people like that..
just look at french: if you watch a french movie, if there is someone driving a car, the car is always a citroen/peugeot/renault. never you will see a bmw or opel or skoda or other. always french cars, even if those cars are awful and shitty.
but it's a way to say " don't buy things from other countries,they're not good. just buy national products, they are the best"

if people in usa stopped buying x360's after their 3rd rrod, and RECOGNIZE ps3 is a great system, with great exclusive games, there would be more 10-15 millions ps3 happy users there. what do you get, beeing patriot, and saying "i won't buy a ps3, i will only buy xbox360, 4, 5, maybe 6, as they keep dying, because it's made in usa, i will only be able to play forza gears halo cod during 6-7 years, but a ps3,NEVER". what do you get ?
you lose hundreads and hundreads of hours playing excellent games like god of war, infamous, uncharted, little big planet, and the list goes on and on...
smart, aren't they ?
people will click on disagree 50 times, but you know this is the truth.

[Big_Dom]

All of the above:

It's got absolutely fuck all to do with the fact that the 360 is almost twice as cheap and has a more dedicated online service. No. Absolutely not. It's patriotism. Has to be.

[Oner]

It's not patriotism...it's stupidity. I'm American and the majority of my friends & family buy/game on PS3's. Why? They are educated and respect the money they work hard for. Most people I know that ONLY (<--KEY WORD) game on a 360 are young, immature & ignorant.

[cyguration]

yes but what about Forza 4?

I'm sorry, I'll get 100 disagrees for saying this but LOVE the livery and car customization features. I tuned my R-34 Skyline to smoke the competition off the starting line, (0-70 in less than 3 seconds, but the top-end speed was a little low).

The Skyline had a custom black, blue and white scheme and looked as sexy as it did fast and furious. If I only had a PS3 I wouldn't be able to recreate that car on GT5 because of the lack of livery and visual custom car mods.

While the PS3 has great games, no doubt, there are some things that are only available on the 360. If there was a decent 360 emulator then I would probably just buy 360 games and play them on PC.

[SSultan]

Almost everything except for a couple things on each console is LACKLUSTER. The reason why I originally had a PS3 was cause of people like you. "OHHH MY GOD EXCLUSIVES!!!" LACKLUSTER.

[Oner]

@ cyguration ~ Sorry but I have to disagree. There is nothing that is in Forza that tops what I am able to do in GT. Any number of my R32's through R34's (and GTR's) have both, first and foremost performance, with style secondary...but that is not to say styling is not important.

The difference with me is I don't need (nor want) a "Fast and Furious" style. "My" style is more understated, mellow & clean ~ which is it's own "style" that is more timeless IMHO. It's all about preference though, and I say all the time...to each his own.

Anyway here is my example of what I mean ~

http://img194.imageshack.us...

It's my own personal "go to/daily driver" vehicle in my garage in GT5. It's tuned to my likes/performance with a touch of style that I like/want/feel is needed to achieve what I am going for.

It has the looks that I like. But more importantly, the feel that is realistic and actually required for my standards. Physics over Graphics I say ~ any day of the week. But with GT I get both, just not the Fast & Furious type which is really not needed.

[rexbolt]

those games u name i dont like them hahaha

[Ryudo]

Man users on this site are so far up Sony's ass it makes me wont to hurl....

[moparful99]

America is the land of networking.. If not for the fact that someone could throw a rock in any direction and hit someone with a 360 then it wouldnt be as popular.. Microsoft won the media battle and its the only thing keeping them relevant.. I know that 360 owners would say that live is just that good but honestly if everyone was on the ps3 then thats exactly where they'd be. All of that fluff that live has is just bullet points for PR goons to boast about.. When it comes down to it you will game where your friends are, heck I've been tempted to pay for live because of my 15 or so close friends 12 play on xbox.. But the ps3 is a solid system with my favorite games so thats where I play...

[Oner]

STFU DK286K...REALLY. You don't what the F#@! you are talking about ~

My Old Apartment with just SOME of my consoles (what do you see?)
http://imageshack.us/photo/...

My 360 with it's 3rd RROD
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

My 360 at my new Condo with it's 6th RROD
http://imageshack.us/photo/...

I have a perfectly rational gripe with MS pertaining to the BS I had to deal with my 360. Not from people, not from friends, not from posts that I have read online...MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

So again I say STFU as you don't $#@! about $#@!.

[Oner]

Not at all. I made an observation about my experience in the matter about the 360's sales in the US. Someone guessed it was patriotism when it certainly is not. I attempted to add to the conversation, while YOU attempted to take it to a personal level of disrespect directed at me.

But that is just like you. The writings are there in black and white for anyone who wants to confirm it for themselves (either right here or via your past comments) to see for themselves what YOU are about.

I find it quite odd (but mainly sad) that your additional replies when you are proven wrong never actually admit your original defective point. Basically - you aren't mature enough to say "oops I'm sorry, I was proven wrong. My Bad" but more on the order of continuing personal insults (of which is not on topic) and just digging yourself into a deeper hole in some weak attempt to make yourself "seem" right...which just goes to support even more what I have noticed about you.

I could go on but I'll just end it on this ~ you are actually trying to make a point specifically based on COD?

Wow...I guess what you believe about PS3 users being smarter (when I never actually specifically said that, though I guess that is all you can grasp from it) has some validity within it by your post alone. Well I'll just say Thanx for helping me prove my point (or the one that you believe that is)!

lol...COD!?!? LMFAO!!!

[bambam1901]

I just had to sign and comment. I'm a 35 year old gamer who got his start at the age of five on the Oddysey 2, became a serious gamer during the NES & SNES years, and then graduated to Playstation in 1995. So many good memories. My launch 60 GB PS3 finally bit the dust a few weeks ago, but his slimmer brother lives on to satisfy my gaming needs. Cheers to another lifelong gamer.

[moparful99]

27 years old here.. First started on the nes, fell in love with the super nintendo, moved onto the 64 and ps1, achieved hardcore status with the ps2, and a proud launch model 60 gig ps3 and 160g slim ps3 owner... I will be a gamer until the day I die..

[SilverSlug]

Sorry, but I disagree. SEGA had arcade games that looked better 2-3 years before 1995.

[pc_masterrace]

man do I remember all the hours I spent playing this game back in the day...good times.

[wicko]

I played it again not too long ago - I remember struggling to beat the last track and I finally placed first on it. Only took me 16 years :p

[Unlimax]

IT IS the Future !

[TheLegendsKiller]

back when originalty was the name of the game...i dont think they try as hard as they were anymore.......BTW SkullMonkeys WAS AWESOME why its not on the PSN store yet is beyond me.

[ForROME]

1995 and my PS1 was the best year and best system of my life

far better than PS2, PS3 or Xbox

I miss you PS1 tear*

Merry Christmas Everyone!

[hellvaguy]

Theres no way your Ps1 was better for the simple fact you couldnt go online. More likely, you were at a different place in your life (younger, more spare time), because theres no doubt ps3 (graphics obviously, wireless controllers) is better than the ps1.

[slaton24]

wow....dude i think he is talking about games...legend of dragoon, ff7 1st 3d env game, megaman legends, no xbox was around, ps1 was a great system with a great library. Graphics and online oh and wireless controllers dont make the game, its the story that draws you in. im a gamer since 1st nintendo and online has ruined gamers with things such as global hackers who hurt everyone. with the way u replied it seems as if you are age 10-16 and ps3 being your 1st system gaming now is awesome but not like it use to be

[MadMen]

@hellvaguy

your way off and way wrong

[_Aarix_]

I miss the legend of dragoon

[hellvaguy]

"wow....dude i think he is talking about games"
Um, dude, hate to your burst your bubble, but he never once mentioned anything about any game (not even hinted at that). If you personally like the ps1 game better, than so be it, but that was definintely taken way out of context. You sound like your about 15 and just skip to an opinion you have yourself and imprinted it up someone's thread, that didnt exist. Nice!

[spacedelete]

lol I know everyone has their opinions but you think PS1 is better than PS2 and PS3 even though both consoles can play PS1 games ? Yeah right..................

[Der_Kommandant]

My first playstation games back in 96 were...

Philosoma, Loaded, Wipeout and Twisted Metal

[yna]

Here's something most of you will appreciate

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Great Memories :D

[Picnic]

'You know why the PlayStation took off in the mid-90s? Because it was cool.'

No, the Dreamcast was cool too but that didn't take off anywhere near as well. It's a feeling of inclusiveness that makes a console take off with the mass market.
The Playstation made people think of playing an easy to play game after going to a nightclub - they could relate to that. The Dreamcast, on the other hand, despite having some easy to play games like Crazy Taxi, made people think of Sonic, who hadn't been in some people's minds at that time for over 5 years, and made them think of then obscure (to a European audience) Japanese culture as shown in Jet Set Radio and Shenmue. The Dreamcast was TOO cool for most people- or too polarised between having loads of instant gratification arcade games and long winded games like Shenmue.

[cyguration]

Well said.

To this day there still isn't a lot of respect for what Sega accomplished with the Jet Set series.

I think the Dreamcast and Saturn both suffered from the "too cool" factor...most people didn't understand the Saturn's technology and most people just pirated games for the Dreamcast.

[DigitalRaptor]

The Dreamcast was freakin cool man! Its games were sexy!

It's the instant gratification culture of today which is what I think is the problem. Most people who want that would have no time for games with true emotional payoff like Shenmue, Heavy Rain, Ico, Journey and The Last Guardian. It's like guns, cars or nothing. Long will be the wait for Shenmue III. I hope they release that - I don't care which console either.

Instant gratification breeds a culture of terrible impatience and an immature attitude.

[LegendarySins]

I know the Dreamcast is a favourite amongst real gamers but I prefered the Saturn way more. Sega Rally, (SR2 didnt compare), Nights, Panzer Dragoon Zwei, Shining Force 3, Exhumed all just brilliant. I was late at getting the PS1 by a year or so I think I got it just before FFVII came out, just wow, that game was incredible. The quality of games on the PS1 and Saturn even the N64 for their time was mind blowing. My favourite gaming era and I'm glad I was part of it.

[TheDivine]

Yep same reason the 360 took off. Lots of games, easy to use, and playing with friends. The ps3 seemed more expensive, harder to use, with less games. Now with the price drops and lots of games its finally getting the exposure and adoption it needed. People saw the 360 and thought online, friends, halo, cod, gears. The ps3 didnt have anything for mass market only stuff like mgs and gow for hardcore ps fans not to mention people saw a bluray player for the longest time. Perception and mass market appeal are important for consoles, its why the snes and wii sold a shi*ton, why the ps2 killed other consoles, and why the psx was amazing. It doesnt mean whatever console was better but it helped it get sales and thus insure more games were released.

I still think the ps2 prob had the best library but the psx was close. This gen its more even with great games on both systems and neither one dominating sales and games.

[LoLZoRz]

currently playing WipEout HD and omg it's so addicting.

fucking sexy graphics and effects combined with the awesome soundtrack, I can't believe how I missed that game.

[LegendarySins]

Good luck with the platinum trophy!

[LoLZoRz]

yeah, I looked at the trophies and there's no way i'm gonna get Plat.

i'm currently going through Fury campaign on skilled difficulty.

[STIKUP ARTIST]

I still have my ps1 and all the games I bought for it but in 96 I was still a teenager so I was a big time sega fanboy. guardian heroes, sega rally and virtua fighter had gaming hard, But the ps 1 had the best RPG's . Chrono cross,FF7,FF tatctics and xenogears ECT....

[Rowland]

PS1 was great for RPG's too !

http://forums.ffshrine.org/...

[Relientk77]

I love RPGs and I just calculated it, I have about 52% of that list lol

PlayStation 1 and 2 = the Kings of RPGs

38/73 PS1 RPGs --> 52%

[Relientk77]

PlayStation is my fav system ever, PS2 is 2nd. Together they are the best video game systems ever created

[newflesh]

PS1 was awesome. But Dreamcast is legendary.

[smashcrashbash]

It was nice when people cared more about gameplay then sales and graphics. In this modern times I am playing Medevil, Crash and Spyro, games I never got to play in the PS1 age. And I am having more fun then I am having now with most modern games. The SNES, PS1 and PS2 were the systems of a Golden Age.

Now we have entered the the Bronze Age of gaming full of ignorance, greed, laziness, repetitiveness and lack of creativity where a game that is different in any way to the mainstream is treated like dirt unless it is an indie game that cost peanuts. If games like Rayman Origins are continued to be purposefully ignored by gamers, I am thinking of giving up gaming all together.

If the future of gaming includes nothing but MP based shooters, long drawn out MMOs, creativity that only comes from indy developers, shovelware and phone games with everyone thinking that graphics and sales are all that counts, then you can count me out.

[Picnic]

I hope that you bought Rage then. It's single player focussed rather than multiplayer focussed. Even though it might look like a war game in part, it's actually a throwback to old school horror/ shooter games with carefully created atmosphere.

As for graphics, great games have often tried to push forward graphics as well. But developers mistake technology for artistic direction and style (Rage has all of those by the way).

[mrmancs]

what was that overhead shooter called where the special weapon made the screen warp like a wave hit it? that was fkin awesome for its time.. what was it called!

[LegendarySins]

Sounds like geometry wars on 360?

[mrmancs]

no it had characters akin to twisted metal and was a playstation title.. there was a fat character and it was over head shooter.. real good lighting for its time.

[LegendarySins]

Sounds like loaded or reloaded maybe?

[kraze07]

Funny that this article pops up just days after bought 3 games that needed to be re-added to my PS1 Library: Streak, Dead Ball Zone, and Blast Chamber. The PS1 legacy is forever strong.

[rizzo-rizzo]

GTA1 music > GTA4 music
Tekken 1,2,3 music > Tekken ps2,ps3 music (love the music regardless)

PS1s were an introduction to the 3d world for many gamers yet many seem to forget that..

Creativity reigned back then with more chances/risks taken. Unlike today where most were once great are waterlogged from head to toe.

[DW74]

I have said in many online forums and comment sections that I regard the PS1 era as my personal favorite era for gaming. In 1995, I was 21, and got the PS1 for Xmas that year from my gf at that time.

The Final Fantasies, Colony Wars, Twisted Metal, Warhawk, Resident Evil, Xenogears, Jade Cocoon, Legend of Legaia, King's Field, Parasite Eve, Dino Crisis, FF Tactics, Suikoden, Gran Turismo, Tenchu, Medal of Honor, Ridge Racer, Tekken, Silent Hill, Tecmo's Deception, Lunar, Grandia, and I could go on, and on, and on. (and of course sequels to said games)

My greatest and MOST VARIED library was on PS1, BY FAR. When games didn't cost 50 million to make, and gamers were still the geek in the closet that no one paid any attention to......THOSE are the times that I miss.

When gaming was more about gaming, and less about breaking Hollywood records.

[Coach_McGuirk]

i don't understand why this article has so many comments

[mastershredder]

Especially all the off topic comments. It's like A.D.D.-fest 2011 in here lol!

[Tsar4ever01]

Yeah, Wipeout was a hot item, but if you want to mention a PSOne game that looked like something of future gen than they should have mentioned another Psygnosis classic. A "SLEEPER HIT" space shooter that looked "ahead of it's time"

COLONY WARS!!! See http://www.colonywars-redsu...

Colony wars, Colony wars: Vengeance & Colony wars: Red Sun. And why the hell hasn't sony HD ported the colony wars series to the psn yet?

[videoxgamexfanboy]

36 here and there gunna have to pry my controller outta my cold dead hand...err unless im playing kinect then...never mind lol