Regardless of whether it's an accurate reflection of a property's quality or not, a scarce supply tends to spike up a game's value. A second-hand PlayStation One title may easily demand a heftier investment than a brand new PlayStation 4 game. In an attempt to preserve an air of exclusivity, Disney's classic animated films are only made available to purchase for a short period of time. This is the main reason Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs cannot be obtained throughout the entire year.
Developers have thoroughly embraced remakes and remasters during this generation, consequently, one may assume publishers are artificially creating an illusion of a shortage to inflate the value of their properties. Why give away something for cents on the dollar? However, this does not appear to be always the case. Emulation guarantees access to nearly every project released prior to the turn of the century, but attempting to acquire a hard copy of certain games can promptly start to feel like an exercise in futility. While technology continues to advance in every industry, films never truly lose their value. Even with the addition of 4K, Blu-Ray continues to be a highly desirable format. Comparatively, the latter's arrival did not coincide with the demise of DVDs. The latest blockbusters are typically released on all three platforms.
Gaming is not comparable. Once a console has been replaced, publishers will eventually stop reissuing games for that hardware. Financially, it is simply not a viable option. Sooner or later, several titles are destined to fade away. Occasionally, a copy may land on Amazon or eBay, but be prepared to pay through the roof!
Here are 20 crazy rare PlayStation games worth a fortune (and 10 extra rare accessories)!
30 Video Game: Ys I & II Chronicles: Premium Edition ($61)
Estimated Cost: $61
Ys I & II Chronicles is a PlayStation Portable remake of a 1989 compilation released for the TurboGrafx-CD. Along with containing two iconic action RPG titles, the Premium Edition sweetens the pot by including the soundtrack on a CD. The PlayStation Portable version's soundtrack is probably the package's highlight, as the original's music was revamped by an in-house rock band.
Ys deserves to be mentioned alongside the likes of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. Nihon Falcom's franchise favors real-time combat, but everything else carries the spirit of the genre's defining series.
29 Video Game: Haunting Ground ($67)
Estimated Cost: $67
Hailed as a spiritual successor to Clock Tower 3, Haunting Ground replicated many of the strengths and weaknesses carried by Capcom's previous horror title. Released in 2005, Haunting Ground gives players limited control of Fiona, an 18-year-old girl who mysteriously awakens in a castle's dungeon.
The dog's name is Hewie. Approved.
Along with hiding, Fiona can command Hewie to perform certain actions. Depending on the canine's affinity toward the girl, Hewie may or may not obey Fiona's orders. If the protagonist happens to panic, Haunting Ground seizes control from the player, creating an interesting dynamic between the user and character. Haunting Ground has been the subject of studies.
28 Accessory: Pocketstation ($49.99)
Estimated Cost: $49.99
Exclusively released in Japan, Sony's Tamagotchi wannabe peripheral primarily acted as a memory card, although certain titles shipped with built-in software permitting mini-games to be unlocked for the PocketStation. Selling approximately five million units before being discontinued in 2002, this adorable little accessory holds the privilege of ranking among Sony's more beneficial accessories.
While a neat item to own, the PocketStation's uses are quite limited. Nowadays, the only feature likely to be employed is the peripheral's real-time clock. After all, time stops for nobody.
27 Video Game: Clock Tower 3 ($93)
Estimated Cost: $93
Founded as a series of atmospheric point and click horror games, Clock Tower 3 attempted to update the license to replicate the success of Silent Hill and Resident Evil. For the first time in the franchise's history, players were handed direct control over the protagonist, Alyssa, who spends the bulk of the campaign running away from deranged madmen.
Clock Tower 3 shines the brightest in its visual design, but the gameplay gets old very quickly. While far from a perfect game, horror fans should consider giving this a whirl. Clock Tower 3 might not be a classic, but its a fascinating trip nonetheless.
26 Video Game: Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style ($96)
Estimated Cost: $96
Marketed as Wu-Tang: Taste the Pain in PAL regions, Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style transformed the popular musical group into martial artists destined to clash with an evil organization seeking to harness the power of the Wu-Tang Clan.
Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style is (occasionally) amazing.
Permitting up to four combatants to share the same screen, Paradox Development's licensed game holds a special place in the genre's history. Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style makes good use of this innovative mechanic, which helps paper over some of the title's technical shortcomings. Second-hand copies are relatively affordable.
25 Accessory: Logitech USB Vantage Headset ($59.99)
Estimated Cost: $59.99
First-party headsets are frequently overshadowed by cheaper or superior third-party alternatives. Sony and Microsoft's fingers are firmly embedded in a myriad of industries, with the former earning a refutable reputation as an electronics manufacturer.
Occasionally, Sony teams up with a different company to produce an approved accessory. Logitech's Vantage Headset is compatible with a number of PlayStation 2 and 3 games. During the seventh generation, Sony launched its own wireless headsets designed specifically for the company's consoles. Crucially, the PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset does not bear a striking resemblance to accessories one might find in a call center.
24 Video Game: Suikoden II ($104)
Estimated Cost: $104
Konami published some gems during the '90s! Guys, what happened? Now, in all fairness, the Japanese company did recently bless the world with Metal Gear Survive; so, that's something! Inaugurated in 1995 and spawning five mainline entries, Suikoden ranks among the most influential and consistently brilliant JRPG franchises in gaming history. Everyone has their favorite, but 1998's first sequel tends to be considered the defining entry in the series.
Valued at over a $100, Suikoden II is nonetheless worth the price of admission! Konami, how about a remake? Honestly, a port would be more than enough!
23 Video Game: .hack//QUARANTINE ($106)
Estimated Cost: $106
CyberConnect2's final entry in the studio's .hack// tetralogy, Quarantine concluded Kite's journey as an MMORPG gamer dragged into a conspiracy concerning the popular The World multiplayer JRPG. Released over the span of fifteen months, each entry came packed with dozens of hours worth of content. Viewed as a singular story divided into separate chapters, .hack// and .hack//G.U. tower over any other PlayStation 2 JRPG series.
New copies of any one of these games will set someone back about a $100. Luckily, .hack//G.U. has been remastered and packaged for the PlayStation 4.
22 Accessory: Ninja Gaiden 3 Dragon Sword Bundle ($64.99)
Estimated Cost: $64.99
Ninja Gaiden 3 is not very good. That might actually be an understatement, as the sequel squandered all of the good faith amassed by its two fantastic predecessors. Team Ninja tried to steady the ship with Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, before Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z showed up to stick the final nail in the franchise's coffin.
Ryu is gone but not forgotten.
The game may be terrible, but a ninja sword is always cool. Permitting Ninja Gaiden 3 can be used as a coaster, this is a bundle worth the price.
21 Video Game: Revelations: Persona ($115)
Estimated Cost: $115
Overshadowed by the franchise's later sequels, Revelations: Persona was nevertheless an impressive and unique JRPG for its time. Persona's defining element has always been the social links players can nourish with the NPCs. Comparatively, the combat seldom raises above the level of competence.
Persona 5's stylish aesthetic injects a touch of flair into an otherwise conventional turn-based system, but the first game's mechanics feel quite archaic even when contrasted to other JRPGs released during the same period. Perhaps, the PlayStation Portable's enhanced remake is a better option than the original.
20 Video Game: Marvel Vs. Capcom: Clash Of Super Heroes ($115)
Estimated Cost: $299
Joining forces with Marvel to produce one of gaming's most unexpected but welcome crossovers, Marvel Vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes is actually the third entry in the fighting game series; however, Capcom only included Street Fighter characters in the previous games.
Despite coming out more than two decades ago, new copies of Marvel Vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes continue to be sold on Amazon. Are these the last three unopened packages in the world? That explains why they cost as much as a new PlayStation 4.
19 Accessory: PlayStation Mouse ($85)
Estimated Cost: $85
Originally conceived to facilitate for point and click adventures, the PlayStation Mouse eventually began to be supported by various first-person shooters published during the PlayStation One's golden years. Finding a seller who stacks Sony's accessory is a tiring task all on its own, but the reward is barely worth the effort.
USB adapters for PlayStation controllers are simple enough to purchase, but few are compatible with the fifth generation's hardware. If a suitable adapter is located, the PlayStation Mouse could function as a normal mouse.
18 Video Game: The Misadventures Of Tron Bonne ($144)
Estimated Cost: $144
Mega Man Legends traded the franchise's trademark 2D platforming levels for a greater focus on story and 3D action-adventure gameplay. Eventually ported to the Nintendo 64 and Windows, the PlayStation version is generally regarded as the definitive model.
In a baffling move, Capcom opted to succeed Mega Man Legends with The Misadventures of Tron Bonne, a spin-off centering around the eponymous pirate. While the game sold somewhat poorly, Tron Bonne might actually be the best entry in the series. Mega Man fans, try this one out! Please note, no game is worth $144.
17 Video Game: Mana Khemia 2: Fall Of Alchemy: Alchemic Art Collection ($148)
Estimated Cost: $148
Disregard the number in the title; Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy is the Atelier franchise's 10th entry. Those familiar with Gust Co. Ltd.'s JRPG license are unlikely to be caught off-guard by Mana Khemia's gameplay loop, as the focus remains squarely on employing alchemy to produce goods. Unlike the mainline Atelier games, Mana Khemia introduces a campus sim system reminiscent of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel.
On its own, Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy ships for approximately $70, but this price more than doubles when it comes to the JRPG's limited edition.
16 Accessory: Sony PlayStation DualShock 4: 20th Anniversary Edition ($90)
Estimated Cost: $90
The power of nostalgia compels you to purchase Sony's limited edition DualShock 4 controller! Standard first-party controllers tend to already fetch a pretty penny, therefore, it comes as no surprise that a throwback to the PlayStation One era justifies costing almost $100.
Slapped with such a steep price, we nearly refused to buy one!
Even if the 20th Anniversary controller amounts to little more than a reskinned DualShock 4, the accessory's value is determined by a customer's emotional connection to Sony's debut console. One person's waste of money is another person's holy grail!
15 Video Game: Chocobo Racing ($149.98)
Estimated Cost: $149.98
Prior to every studio slapping on a multiplayer mode in a desperate bid to score a few extra sales, cash grabs often assumed the form of haphazardly gobbled together spin-offs seeking to latch onto whatever trend happened to be popular at the time.
Chocobo Racing is a kart racer featuring a roster of Final Fantasy mascots, with only a handful of human characters available to unlock. Chocobo Racing is not broken or unplayable, but Square evidently seemed happy to chiefly copy elements from the far superior Mario Kart and Crash Team Racing.
14 Video Game: Growlanser Generations Deluxe ($179)
Estimated Cost: $179
Collector's editions run the gamut in terms of quality. Certain publishers use these premium products to reward dedicated followers seeking to complement their purchases with unique but desirable items. A game's soundtrack is normally a fan favorite, but statues and art books tend to also be popular.
Then, there are collector's editions stuffed with useless trinkets like keychains and pens. Is a fridge magnet really the best you can muster? Growlanser Generations compiles the franchise's second and third games, which had yet to be released in North America. As far as Tactical RPGs go, customers can do much worse than Growlanser, but the Limited Edition simultaneously embodies the best and cheapest elements associated with this practice.
13 Accessory: Logitech NetPlay Keyboard ($116)
Estimated Cost: $116
Moving past the accessory's admittedly strange appearance, Logitech's NetPlay Keyboard is a solid albeit limited peripheral for the PlayStation 2. Similar to ASCII's keyboard controller for the GameCube, Logitech's hybrid is only truly beneficial when paired with a small handful of online RPGs, with Everquest and Final Fantasy XI being the obvious examples.
Connecting through a USB port, the NetPlay Keyboard is compatible with modern PCs. Now, in all fairness, the market is hardly lacking in cheaper and superior models; however, how many keyboards are also controllers? Precisely!
12 Video Game: Kuon ($180)
Estimated Cost: $180
Prior to creating Demon's Souls, FromSoftware dedicated the vast majority of the 2000s to producing Armored Core sequels. Quietly released between Armored Core: Nexus and Nine Breaker, the studio published a disturbing survival horror project called Kuon.
Released during the same year as Resident Evil 4, Kuon's mechanics and stiff movement immediately came across as antiquated, but horror fans might enjoy exploring the game's Japanese mansion. If nothing else, Kuon's historical setting helps distinguish FromSoftware's project from other similar horror games.
11 Video Game: The Legend Of Dragoon ($191)
Estimated Cost: $191
Hailed as a defining JRPG of its generation, The Legend of Dragoon's cinematic presentation and complex combo system have aged quite gracefully. Currently sitting with a shockingly low 74 on Metacritic, SCE Japan Studio's ambitious project amassed a mixed reaction upon release; however, the user score lies well in the 90s.
The Legend of Dragoon is a grower, not a shower.
The JRPG sold reasonably well in the United States, enough to recoup its $16 million budget. Second-hand versions sell for an inexpensive price, but a mint copy of The Legend of Dragoon demands a hefty investment. Is that really a surprise? When was the last time a fresh batch was produced?