The PlayStation was home to some of the most memorable Japanese RPGs of all time. Thanks to the popularity of Final Fantasy VII gamers at the time were craving more games in the genre to play. As a result, the floodgates opened for more developers willing to take a chance by translating and releasing their own JRPGs in the west.
This was great news for fans of the genre as they got try other games that took them on grand adventures in other imaginative games that weren’t a numbered Final Fantasy. Unfortunately, many of these Japanese RPGs died out because they didn’t achieve the same success as many of the bigger and mainstream games. Let’s take a look at ten games on the PS1 that disappeared but deserve a comeback.
10 Final Fantasy Tactics
The Final Fantasy series is very much alive and well, and the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Remake is set to be the biggest release of a remake ever developed. However, despite getting a fantastic remaster for the PlayStation Portable in 2008, Final Fantasy Tactics has never received a modern remake or a true sequel.
Since its original release in 1998, strategy RPG Final Fantasy Tactics has often been considered as having one of the best narratives in the series history. Unfortunately, other than several spin-off titles on the Nintendo DS and the 3DS, it’s never received the true sequel it deserves.
9 Alundra
Released for the PlayStation in 1997 Alundra, also known as The Adventures of Alundra is an action RPG series that is very reminiscent of the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. However, it’s actually a spiritual successor to the Sega Genesis/Megadrive title Landstalker.
However, it’s a much darker game than any title The Legend of Zelda series and it was also one of the most punishing games on the PlayStation with rewarding puzzles and tough boss fights. Additionally, Alundra has some of the best-looking sprites on the system and an excellent soundtrack.
8 The Wild Arms Series
First released worldwide in 1998, Wild Arms is an American wild western themed RPG series that began on the PlayStation. The series never quite reached the massive heights of the Final Fantasy franchise but it still gained a large enough following to receive four sequels, a spin-off, and a remake for the first game called Wild Arms Alter Code F.
The final game in the series Wild Arms XF was released in 2008 for the PlayStation Portable. Unfortunately, like the other games in the series, it was never a big a seller for Sony and the series hasn’t received another entry since.
7 The Vandal Hearts Series
Vandal Hearts and Vandal Hearts II was released worldwide in 1997 and 2000 respectively. A prequel names Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgement was released for the Xbox Live Arcade and PSN stores but it wasn’t as well-received as the original two games.
The Vandal Hearts series is a tactical RPG series in the same vein as the Final Fantasy Tactics series. Yet, despite having dark and complex stories the games were far more accessible for gamers new to the tactical RPG genre than its rivals.
6 Chrono Cross
Released in 1999 as a sequel to the iconic SNES classic Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross remains one of the most beautiful Japanese RPGs released on the PlayStation. Initially, hardcore fans of Chrono Trigger were disappointed in the sequel’s change of direction and approach but it has become more appreciated as the years passed.
Chrono Cross’ story is far more complex than its predecessor and the story’s focus on parallel universes was well written and had a surprising amount of depth for a game released over twenty years ago.
5 The Breath Of Fire Series
The Breath of Fire series began on the Super Nintendo with its first two titles in 1993 and 1994 respectively. However, the series arguably peaked with its best titles on the original PlayStation with Breath of Fire III and Breath of Fire IV.
The PlayStation titles also sold better than the SNES versions and the divisive fifth entry in the series Breath of Fire: Dragon’s Quarter on the PlayStation 2. Fans would love nothing more than to see the classic JRPG series return on modern systems implementing its old-school mechanics with the emotional storytelling and great characters.
4 The Parasite Eve Series
The first Parasite Eve game released in 1998 for the PlayStation and its sequel Parasite Eve II followed in 1999. A spin-off called The Third Birthday also released in 2010 for the PlayStation Portable which also meant to work as a series reboot but it wasn’t as well-received as its predecessors.
The first two games on the PS1 are still among the best JRPGs on the system. Aesthetically they looked and played similarly to the Resident Evil games on the PS1. Just like the Resident Evil games, Parasite Eve takes place in modern-day but it also works with many traditional RPG mechanics. The second game, however, moves away from turn-based combat and opts for a real-time system in line with the RE series.
3 The Jade Cocoon Series
Jade Cocoon: Story of the Tamamayu released on the PlayStation worldwide by 2000 and its sequel Jade Cocoon II was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2002. The game developed by Genki, a studio best known for its Kengo: Master of the Bushido series. Genki teamed up with Studio Ghibli artist Katsuya Kondo to create the game’s unique look.
The Jade Cocoon series shares a lot of similarities with the Pokémon series where the player’s character has to capture and collect minions. These creatures will fight for the player in battle and can be fused together to create something new. The PS2 sequel was quite the departure from the original but was still a solid RPG in its own right.
2 Arc The Lad Series
The Arc the Lad trilogy along with Arc Arena: Monster Tournament was released on the PlayStation in 2002 in an incredible compilation boxset that was translated and published by Working Designs. The final two games Arc the Lad: Twilight of Spirits and Arc the Lad: Eternal Darkness in the series made it to the PlayStation 2 in 2002 and 2003 respectively.
All of the games play and function as a traditional Japanese RPG when it comes to exploration and conversing with party members and NPCs. However, the combat system uses a tactical turn-based system that plays like a simpler version of Final Fantasy Tactics.
1 The Suikoden Series
The Suikoden series began on the original PlayStation with its first two games releasing worldwide in 1998 and 2000 respectively. Suikoden II – followed closely by Suikoden V – is widely regarded as the best in the series but all the games in the series are worth playing because of the world-building and the connections between the games.
The beauty of the Suikoden series is that despite its depth, each entry is welcoming to newcomers but the lore is there for gamers that want to explore its world and characters in depth. This is why a soft reboot and sequel for series that has been left dormant since the spin-off entry Suikoden Tiekris released in 2008 would still work today.