Weekend Wondering: Which PlayStation Generation was Your Favorite?

Retro game opinion piece.

[Snookies12]

Has to be the PS1 for me. It had FF7, 8, and 9... It had Tenchu 2, Chrono Cross, Soul Reaver, Bushido Blade 1 & 2, Metal Gear Solid, Wild Arms, etc.

However, the PS2 came very close with FFX, Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2, MGS 2 & 3, San Andreas, Ace Combat 4 & 5.... Argh, I could keep going here for both of these systems, but they're almost neck and neck.

Either way, both of those systems were beyond amazing, and were a good portion of my younger years. Here's hoping the PS4 will be looked back upon with similar fondness.

The PS3 is a wonderful system, don't get me wrong. For me personally though, it's just not on the same level as PS1 and PS2.

[fluffydelusions]

PS1 for me too. For me it was sort of a revolution in gaming. It felt like more adult orientated gaming. So many fond memories with that system. Crash Bandicoot, Resident Evil games, Dino Crisis, Jet Moto etc etc

[Shadow Flare]

PS1 for me too. All of the games mentioned above defined the console, and they were such big steps up from the previous generation. Going from 2D to 3D gaming had such a massive impact on gaming, it changed the way I viewed games forever. And on top of 3D, it had games like final fantasy 7, metal gear solid and gran turismo which completely changed the way I imagined games could be. I saw a whole new depth that gaming could reach that I never saw before.

And Sony switched gaming into a platform for adults as well. Titles like WipeOut 2097 with its pulsating soundtrack was just so cool. It was also the first time I saw FMV cut-scenes in games. Which though taken for granted today was just jaw dropping at the time. Games actually had these amazing intros to them now, and each one was an absolute joy to watch. Watching the intro of Gran Turismo 1 and Final Fantasy 7 for the first times were just unforgettable.

And let's not forget, it had what is still the best console startup of any PlayStation device

http://youtu.be/lXaCGVOqGrQ

[MikeMyers]

Same, PSOne. It came at the perfect time when Nintendo needed a kick in the ass. At the time the system was revolutionary. You could play audio CD's and it had system link which was such a cool concept back then on consoles.

[Sarcasm]

PS2>PS1>PS3

But not by too far. I enjoyed all of them for different reasons. Although I would say the PS1 had the most hits. But I still enjoyed MGS4, Uncharted, Killzone, etc. Uncharted is still by far my most favorite franchise this entire generation.

[irepbtown]

I cannot pick one unfortunately... all three were amazing.

However I think PS4 might top all three. I have a slight feeling they might just call it 'Playstation'... back to its roots.

Feb 20th it is.

[BattleAxe]

PS3 was my favorite generation overall. The reason for this is because of games like:

- Rainbow Six Vegas 1
- Rainbow Six Vegas 2
- Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
- Call of Duty 4
- Call of Duty: World at War
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Battlefield: Bad Company
- Battlefield: Bad Company 2
- Battlefield: 1943
- Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
- Killzone 2
- Killzone 3
- God of War 3
- The Darkness
- Grand Theft Auto 4
- Metal Gear Solid 4
- Resistance: Fall of Man
- Resistance 2

These were the games that felt new, refreshing and in some cases magical to me this generation.

For me, the PS2 generation was all about:

- SOCOM: US Navy Seals
- SOCOM: US Navy Seals 2
- SOCOM: US Navy Seals 3
- SOCOM: US Navy Seals: Combined Assault
- Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm
- Medal of Honor: Frontline
- Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006
- God of War
- God of War 2
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
- Metal gear Solid 3: Snake eater
- Gran Theft Auto 3
- Gran Theft Auto: Vice City

The PS1 days were alot of fun too:

- Medal of Honor
- Medal of Honor: Underground
- Tony Hawk Pro Skater
- Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2
- WWF Smackdown
- Driver
- Gran Turismo
- Need for Speed

[Thefreeman012]

PS1, games like spyro, Crash, Twisted Metal, soul caliber are the games that got me into gaming

[yess]

My favorit gen was the one running from 1994 to 2013/14

[Ares84HU]

My personal favorite is PS1. I LOVE that system till this day. I still play Tomb Raider, Crash Bandicoot, Abe's Oddworld, Tenchu, Jurassic Park the Lost World, Deathtrap Dungeon. Soul Blade, Gex often.

Close second is PS3....PS2 I really don't care for that much to be honest.

[Deputydon]

PS1 for sure. FF7-9, Chrono Cross, Xenogears, MGS1, Star Ocean: The Second Story, Legend of Dragoon, Castlevania: SOTN (I'm aware it wasn't originally on PS, but it was by far the best version), and so much more. That was the last console with a ton of JRPGs. PS2 had a good amount, but there weren't quite as many high quality ones. So for me, it goes PS1 > PS2 > PS3. I do expect Sony to top it all this time around.

[miyamoto]

PSOne

Gran Turismo
Ace Combat
Omega Boost
Ridge Racer

Tenchu
Bushido Blade
Soul Edge
Tekken
Toshinden
Tobal No.1
Bloody Roar 2
Dead or Alive

Resident Evil
Silent Hill

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Legend of Dragoon
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy Tactics
Super Robot Wars Alpha
Dragon's Quest VII
Chrono Cross
Xenogears

Metal Gear Solid
Tomb Raider

Armored Core
Twisted Metal
Dino Crisis

Medal of Honor
Quake
Doom

Crash Bandicoot
Crash Team Racing

Parapa the Rapper
Bust A Move
Dance Dance Revolution
and many many more

All excellent games!

[NBT91]

DoA started on PS1? Huh I never knew that, interesting.

the thing I liked about the PS1 is it forced creativity and originality. No developers really had many established IP at that point.
Since then it has been roughly the same but looking better visually. I mean some of those franchises are still going strong after all that time, madness.

Not to say PS2 wasn't fantastic. The leap in hardware pretty much revolutionized some games like GTA. New IPs like God of War, Bully and more all started on PS2.

I think I had the most fun with the PS1 though, it was simple plug and play goodness.

As for PS3, I think it was the weakest generation of the lot. Not bad by any means but not up to standard.

[Shadow Flare]

I think need for speed started on ps1 too

[miyamoto]

I forgot to mention the awesome

Guilty Gear
Front Mission III
Klonoa
Syphon Filter
Mega Man Legends
Tomba
Strider 2
Saga Frontier
Secret of Mana
Samurai Showdown RPG
SD Gundam G Generation
Macross VFX Mission
Advanced VG
Assault Suit Leynos 2
Vagrant Story
Monster Rancher
Digimon
Thunder Force V
Einhander

[Jaces]

PS1 and PS2 for me are neck and neck but PS1 comes out by a sliver of a hair.

Those were the golden days for sure. PS3 gen was no failure by any means but nothing beats playing during the innovative/originality stage in a systems lifetime. I expect PS4 to blow us out of the water, Sony has learned their lessons this gen now it's time to deliver.

[solidt12]

PS3. Current gen.

[user3915800]

I have to said PS1 was the best, so many new games and favorites came to the PS1, but also the first time I felt the console was a let down with the laser upside down to read. I hold up to PS2 and lrd and behold laser read error/ blue screen. PS3 was no diferent, YLOD, ps2 chip faulty and over heating. Sony has the most game of any other consoles, but they bring faulty products to market, all 3 generations had them. I will wait on PS4 until they fix the broken console, cause no doubt in my mind it will be faulty at launch. Only nintendo has introduced great reliable consoles, but as we can see the wiiu suck. For my money sony had the best games, while their consoles has always been poor reliably.

[wishingW3L]

the first one.

[deno]

Definitely the PlayStation one for me. I loved Resident Evil 1-3, Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and Crash Bandicoot. Xenogears and Legend of Lagaia also.

[mcstorm]

It was mine to. I could not get into the ps2 for some reason and the ps3 lost its way with the 3rd party but looking forward to seeing what Sony give us next gen.

[Lvl_up_gamer]

Yup Playstation 1 was the best playstation era for me as well. Resident Evil, Loaded, Jet Moto, Ace combat, Tekken, A-Train, Doom, Twisted Metal, Crash Bandicoot Need for Speed, GT, Legacy of Kain etc oh man those were the days.

Favorite gaming moments of my life.

[MadMen]

PS1 by a mile, it set the mile stone, it showed Nintendo they were not the only kid around, it brought cool to gaming

I still have most of my games in brand new condition.

Playstation 1 4Life

[ApolloTheBoss]

PSone will always be the king of them all.

[parkerpeters]

PS2 hands down. In my opinion, and I wont play favorites, but it is an EQUAL with the SNES for greatest console of all time.

Thousands of games, solid, dependable hardware, and the best controller on earth, Dual Shock 2. Can't ask for much more.

[Walker]

Playstation 2 was incredible . Greatest home console ever made .

PS2>PS1>PS3

[Karpetburnz]

PS2 was the best for me.

I hope PS4 is the best Playstation yet.

[BillySpandex]

I loved the PSOne generation, but if I have to rank them, PS2 > PS3 > PSOne.

[pr0t0typeknuckles]

ps2 hands down

[Cajun Chicken]

PS2, the platformers and action adventure games.

[Gamesgbkiller]

PS1

[MightyMatt101]

So hard to pick but if someone had a gun to my head demanding an answer I'd go with PS1. So many good memories of playing with friends, and my brothers. Here's my top 10 PS1 games.
1.metal gear solid
2. Resident evil 2
3. Castlevania symphony of the night.
4. FF7
5. Silent Hill
6. Twisted Metal 2
7. Crash bandicoot
8. Legacy of Cain soul reaver
9. Spyro the dragon
10. Tenchu 2

[Cam977]

It has to be the PS2 for me. Both the Ps1 and Ps3 were great but the Ps2 was amazing.
EG:
Every Silent Hill
Every GRAND THEFT AUTO
RATCHET AND CLANK
JAK AND DAXTER
SLY
METAL GEAR SOLID
MEDAL OF HONOR
CALL OF DUTY
TRUE CRIME NY
GRAN TURISMO 4
RESIDENT EVIL
HITMAN GAMES
THE SIMPSONS HIT AND RUN
ICO

I could go on and on...

[Hicken]

PS2 for me. It might have been PS1, but I really didn't get into that generation until late; by the time I was getting into it, the PS2 was just around the corner.

That said, this generation isn't over yet.

[kikizoo]

PS3>ps2>ps1

i don't compare games from different generations obviously better (more complex, etc) now, and HD, but :

online, psn, wireless pad, earsets, etc made a big difference..

[Bordel_1900]

PS1 > PS2 > PS3

[Silly gameAr]

For me, it's the PS1. I loved my Super NES and owned over 30 games for it, but I didn't really start to appreciate gaming until I got my PS1. When I was younger, I just wanted to play fun games and skipped the ones that might take a little effort to beat. Then, came games like Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy 7, Tomb Raider, Battle Arena Toshindin,Frontier Saga, Tekken, Busido Blade, Wild Arms, Resident Evil and so on and on and on lol.

Those are the games that made me want to go back and tackle the games that imo, might have taken effort like Chrono Trigger, Legend of Mana, Link To the Past,Castlevania, well, you know where I'm going with this. So, the way I see it, the Super NES and the Genesis were the beginning of my love for gaming, but the Playstation nurtured that love and helped me to branch out play things that I never thought I would have the patience to play, and love every minute of it.

[Jek_Porkins]

I have to admit that it was the PS1, after only playing 16 bit games on the SNES and Genesis I was totally blown away by the PS1. I mean Tomb Raider, Crash, Medievil, Final Fantasy VII, Spyro, Twisted Metal, Metal Gear Solid, Odd World, Resident Evil and does anyone remember the 989 Gameday football series? That game was just epic and I remember being blown away by it.

I am probably older then a lot of people here, but that was really a great memory in gaming for me. PS2 was good too, because that console appealed to so many diverse groups of people, and the price point was just too damn sweet to pass up on. I'd still go with the PS1, I still have around 100 PS1 games.

[MightyMatt101]

I played the crap out of game day 98' I'm 27 don't feel like you're the only old dude here xD

[Jek_Porkins]

I'm 27 as well, I loved Game Day 98! I still have my copy. I even had a PS1 slim in my car in the early 2000's.

I think that console was inventive and changed gaming forever. I mean duel shock rocked my world, and the first Gran Turismo was earth shattering... so many great memories...Metal Gear Solid was my first "All nighter" where I stayed up all night to beat a game.

[MightyMatt101]

Nice! My first all nighter was metal gear solid too!! After I finished that I slept woke up and did another all nighter with Castlevania symphony of the night!

[Jek_Porkins]

I still play Symphony Of The Night on my PSP! I love that game, aside from the voice acting. So you definitely know where I'm coming from. The PS1 was when sh1t got real as far as I'm concerned.

Still have my PS1 slim and original PS1 as well.

[Kratoscar2008]

For RPGs the PS2 for sure, the SMT series is there thats why.

Both PS1 and PS2 were really awesome, the PS3 while good it lacked in the JRPG department.

[parkerpeters]

The PS2 was an RPG heaven for sure! The best RPGs of all time call it home, and I am hoping this new controller for the PS4 is going to invite the same amount of RPGs and technical sims to PS4.

Here's to hoping!

[belac09]

SMT FTW!!!!

[DomceM]

PS1

[Gamer-40]

My favorite PlayStation generation: Ps1 and Ps2.

Ps1: FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX, Chrono Cross, Parasite Eve, Final Fantasy Tactics, Gran Turismo, Tomb Raider, Crash Bandicoot, Soul Raver, MGS, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Dragon Quest VII, Dino Crisis etc.

Ps2: Gran Turismo 3-4, Final Fantasy X-XII, Dragon Quest VIII, MGS 2-3, Jak and Daxter, God of War, Shadow of the Colossus, ICO, Soul Calibur 3, Onimusha, Tourist Trophy, Soul Raver 2, Dark Cloud 1-2 etc.

[black911]

PS1=PS2>PS3

[MasterCornholio]

I had a fantastic experience with all 3 but my favorite has to be the PS2.

But i do agree with everyone that the Final Fantasy games on the PSone were fantastic and in my opinion they are much better than most JRPGs on the PS3.

[StrongMan]

That's a tough call. All three PlayStation consoles were EPIC!

[belac09]

PS 2 for me, its a close call though with the ps 1. that being said i love all of them for their own reasons.

[jakmckratos]

PS1 introduced me to games. PS2 got me into them. PS3 cemented my love. I can't pick. They're all special.

[SOULJER]

PS2. Because a lot of my friends had the system. Just now some of my friends are buying a PS3. Serious. No lie.

[RevXM]

This far Id say the ps3.
All gens obviosly had their games worthy of a memory but ps3 is the one console that have had most effort put in its exclusives.
Sony first party devs are getting better and bolder.

Ps3 is also their most ambitious sytem yet. All the money put in to the hardware and features not only resulted in the most powerful system yet but also the most flexible one. Ps3 truly is a multipurpose device and stands as a truly futureproof machine capable of fulfilling all my entertainment needs and then some.

Ps3 is far from finnished. I suspect it can even hold out longer than ps2 if sony can provide clever system updates and refreshing its software features, especially the web browser.

[Rampaged Death]

PS2 by a mile. So many great games.

[andreborges73]

my favorite generation was ps1, because it was something new for the gaming industry and a the appearence of great games such as grand turismo, grand thef auto, etc

[andreborges73]

ps2 and ps3 was just a inprovement of the first one

[2pacalypsenow]

Ps2 gen

[Nick_515]

I'd have to say PS1>PS3>PS2. PS1 is my favorite, for sure, but PS3 is pretty close. I wanted a PS2, but I got a Gamecube. I'm kind of glad because I effing loved the Gamecube. It was Nintendo's last good console. I've had every Sony and Nintendo console except the PS2, but I played it a lot at friends' houses.

Sorry, just reminiscing.

[Master of Unlocking]

If we're talking the systems specifically, then of course the PS3 as it can do everything the PS1 & PS2 did, and a hell of a lot more: Blu-Ray playback, web browser, mp3 playback, slideshot with your photos, etc.

When it comes to games however, the PS3 has had its share of high-quality exclusives like God of War III, Heavy Rain, LittleBigPlanet 1&2, Heavenly Sword, Killzone 2 & 3, Super Rub a Dub, Uncharted 1, 2 & 3, WipeOut HD, Demon's Souls and so on, and the PS2 with Ico, FF XII, Shadow of the Colossus, God of War I & II, GTA SA, Okami, and so on.

But when it comes to games alone, I simply can't forget the amazement when seeing and playing Battle Arena Toshinden, Tekken, Gex, Return Fire, Rayman, Jumping Flash 1 & 2, Ridge Racer, Lomax, Theme Park, Warhawk, Arc the Lad, Popolocrois, Die Hard Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot, Motor Toon GP 2, Destruction Derby 1 & 2, Loaded, WipeOut, Doom, Final Doom, Time Crisis, Resident Evil 1, 2 & 3, Silent Hill, Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Final Fantasy VII, VIII, IX, Parasite Eve, Suikoden, Tomba 1 & 2, Goemon Uchû Kaizoku Akogingu, Adventure of Little Ralph, Vandal Hearts, Darkstalkers, Marvel vs Capcom, Capcom vs SNK, Rival Schools 1 & 2, Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo 1 & 2, V-Rally 2, Discworld 1 & 2, Fear Effect 1 & 2, Dino Crisis 1 & 2, Driver 1 & 2, Mortal Kombat Trilogy, etc. etc. etc. WAY too many to count them all!

But that may also just be nostalgia. Maybe I just long to go back in time during those years, and maybe it's just the period of my life right now when, incidentally, I'm playing the PS3, that I don't like as much as back in the days when I was younger. Yeah I do think it plays a role, nostalgia of your youth I mean, in evaluating how much you liked a product, be it a game, a movie, a music album, a girl.. Sometimes you'll watch a movie you think was dear to your heart that you hadn't watched in a long time, or play a game you hadn't played in a long time, and think "oh, I used to like that before?" Well yeah you did, cause you were young, healthy, in love, with your best friends, and because of that you had a blast doing so (playing that game, watching that movie...)

Ah cr@p, ageing isn't all what it's cracked up to be, I'm tellin' ya young fellas, he he.

Good thing I still have a few PS1 games to throw me back in time once in a while, I just wished I had more in physical form...

[Old fart minute] Don't spend all your time on videogames folks, life is short. [/Old fart minute]

[FlyShootRaceSims]

PS1 for me. I can never forget Tomb Raider, FF VII, Colony Wars series, Ace Combat, Soul Calibur, and hundreds more.

[the worst]

Ps3 for me
but a close 2nd is the ps2 Socom1,2,3 1000+ hours

[andrewer]

PS1 was awesome, my first console, but PS2 is my favorite console of all time, as it introduced to me several awesome games like Sly Cooper and Shadow of the Colossus.

[Relientk77]

My favorite is PS1 because I'm a RPG fan, and the amount of amazing RPGs on the PS1 is pretty much illegal, and PS2 is my 2nd fav. They are the 2 best consoles and generations of consoles if you ask me.

[tweet75]

its a tie of all 3 , I got about equal amounts of gaming enjoyment from all 3 in their time.

[VR-4nic]

I started with a Wii this gen but after a friend brought his PS3 and the game F.E.A.R. 2 over I was blown away more then any other gen before by the graphical capabilities of PS3 and hooked forever!

So for me the PS3 era has been the one that I've been completely addicted to. As of last night I bought my 123 PS3 Blu-ray disc based game in Dead Space 3 and Crysis 3 will be 124 on Tuesday and with well over 200+ PSN games the 500GB HDD in my PS3 is just about full.

It's kind of funny thinking back to just before original PlayStation was released, when I was just a kid and laughed at the then rumor that SONY would or even could make a game console let alone compete with Nintendo or Sega.

Can't wait to finally see Orbis/PS4 come this Wednesday, February 20th!!!!

[Klonoa_Dream_Travel]

"~PS1~"

[jc48573]

while I still game, ps3 is my least favorite generation. Even the gaming community of this generation is amongst the worst.

[NaiNaiNai]

Playstation 2 would be the best.

Outside of course the horrific Disk read error, the greatest Problem for any console in history.

Plaging all 17 models of Ps2, and causing them to have a high failure rate of 80%.

Beats the crap out of the RROD of the early 360s.