Legacy games you've played recently for the first time ever that blew your mind.

[Strelok]

Sorry for the weird title, I'm not sure how else to describe it

What PS1/2/PSP games have you played for the first time ever recently that you've really enjoyed?

Anyway, for years now I've been meaning to start playing the Silent Hill series. I can't believe it's taken me this long but for some reason I just never got round to doing it.

I bought Silent Hill 1, which was very expensive I have to say, and honestly it is one of the most amazing games I have ever played.

I loaded it up when it was dark outside, no one was home, I turned the lights off, put some headphones on and prepared myself. This is how I decided to play the game every time (and this is how I play all my horror games).

The setting, story and whole design of it is just sublime. It was a little hard to get used to at first, but once I got the hang of it, I actually started to like the clunky and slow controls, it even adds more to the game. Every level blew my mind and I was constantly scared. It's a good kind of scary, not stupid cheap jump scares, but instead it's the great atmosphere and constant fear of not knowing what to expect. Every door I opened at the school and hospital literally made me panic every time I opened it, every corner was really scary, the first time I saw a nurse made me yelp quickly, and there have been so many moments where I've had to pause the game, but man do I love it.

The characters and twisted story and setting are great, so add the amazing soundtrack, atmosphere and overall design, and you've got a perfect game. My only complaint is that doing puzzles constantly can get a little boring and predictable, like I'll arrive at a new level and immediately know that I'm looking for a puzzle to complete, and more than once I've had to look up a guide because I really didn't know what to do, but these are just minor issues.

Seriously, this is one of the best games I have ever played and has become an instant favourite. I'll be playing the rest of the SH games now and I hope they are just as good.

 

[sidd230]

I played SOCOM US Navy Seals. The detail blew me away. I just sat there staring at the screen with my eyes coming out. It was beautiful.

 

[DrRipley]

I only ever got to play Castlevania SOTN recently, and I found it amazing. Although I didn't get to play it before, I have to assume that it aged quite well, since I think it still provides for a very rich experience today even with all the other games we have as options. I'd probably even go as far as to say that even some of the modern games don't offer as full as an experience as this game does, and this was made a decade ago.

 

[Strelok]

I'd probably even go as far as to say that even some of the modern games don't offer as full as an experience as this game does, and this was made a decade ago.

This can be said about a lot of games. The quality and content of nowaday video games has seriously declined. Making DLC and promotions are more important it seems.

MGS1 is a good example. It's a really complete game with so many details and so much content that most PS3/4 games can't even compete with.

It just feels like older games (up to PS2, some early PS3 titles too) were made with so much passion wheras nowaday games are all rushed and aimed at making the most profit possible instead of making a good game.

 

[CpmPanda]

I was able to play Blood Will Tell for PS2. That was the first game my wife got into and when I noticed I was turning her into a gamer. That game is epic, it's about 'long story short', a dude who has to fight fiends in order to gain back his limbs, eyes, and such. They stole them for some reason I kinda forgot already, it's complicated, but the story is awesome and honorable. Oh did I mention his arms are swords?

 

[BBGold]

Dude, I played Legends of Dragoon and then Shadow of the Collossus, holy crap these games just blew me away. Why can't we have next gen games like these? What happened to gaming!

 

[SpaceTiger]

The first Yakuza on PS2. I wouldn't say it blew my mind, but it gave me that warm feeling I got when I played Shenmue for the first time. It's basically a more badass version of Shenmue with more action to it.

As for a game that actually blew my mind:

It had one other game in its series, but this one really caught my attention because it was my exposure to that rare disaster subgenre of survival games. I was expecting something like Survival Kids/Lost in Blue, but this was just more action oriented and kept the story moving from one character to the next (all stories were linked).

 

[raygamer]

Hmm, a couple of obscure PS1 games I played recently are "Sorcerer's Maze", "Battle Hunter", and "Top Shop". These games didn't blow me away too much, but I was really impressed by how original they are and that they were actually pretty fun. They are bargain games, and I think they never cost more than $10 new. Sorcerer's Maze is an Arkanoid variant with a large variety of powerups, Battle Hunter is a multiplayer tactical board game type of game (similar to Disgaea or Final Fantasy Tactics) and Top Shop is a Monopoly type game where you buy stores in a mall and make money by other players shopping at your stores. I actually recommend all three of the games, but only if you can get them for $5 or less.