Square Enix has been around so long, many gamers reaching adulthood might not even realize that it used to be two different companies; SquareSoft and Enix. The two merged in 2003, bringing their forces together to create one of the strongest gaming publishers. One should not forget the history both of them forged prior to the merger, however.
The games below were all done by SquareSoft and are worth remembering. To make things more interesting, none of them are RPGs, an especially unique feat, considering the company is most well known for creating the legendary Final Fantasy franchise in 1987.
10 The Bouncer
This 2001 fighter is a unique blend of brawlers and traditional one on one fights. Most battles in story mode generally only take place on one area, but you fight alongside two computer controlled companions against several enemies. The story mode is short, but offers new perspectives on replays depending on who you play as during particular fights. Unfortunately, the involved use of the PS2's pressure sensitive face buttons makes porting this game to modern hardware a particular challenge, something which has never happened.
9 Bushido Blade
While looking like a traditional fighting game on the surface, Bushido Blade trades in lavish combos for tense standoffs where combatants die after just a quick two or three hits. Heck, you could even take out an opponent with one well-placed slash. The levels are huge, making maneuvering a major part of the gameplay. A non fatal hit will often disable the opponent in some way, whether it be slowing them down or losing the use of one of their arms.
8 Ehrgeiz
This unique fighting game goes one step further than other fighters of the time by including several gameplay modes to constantly mix things up. Playing alone does not mean you are restricted to simply going through the arcade ladder. A Quest Mode allows you to explore a randomly generated dungeon, continually finding new items and returning to town with dungeon crawler-inspired mechanics. The inclusion of several guest characters from Final Fantasy 7 makes this game particularly noteworthy.
7 Parasite Eve 2
The first Parasite Eve was a more traditional RPG taking place in a modern urban environment, albeit one on the verge of collapse from a science experiment gone awry. Parasite Eve 2 retains some RPG elements, but the combat moves in real time.
The game received solid reviews, but it apparently was not good enough to earn a sequel on the PS2. Only in 2010 did a continuation come out on the PSP called The 3rd Birthday.
6 Bomberman 64: The Second Attack
Co-developed by Hudson Soft, Bomberman 64: The Second Attack is the fourth game in the franchise released on the N64. With a 2000 release date late in the console's life and lukewarm reception, the game quickly faded into obscurity and is now seen as a collector's item. It is also curious to see the company's name anywhere near the N64, since it and Nintendo famously had a falling out over the console maker's continued use of cartridges over the CD format.
5 Tobal No. 1
DreamFactory, developer of Tobal No. 1, also made The Bouncer and Ehrgeiz, which probably already tells you something about what kind of game it is. Tobal No. 1 resembles more traditional fighters, with the two opponents constantly locked onto each other like in Virtua Fighter. However, there is still a Quest Mode like Ehrgeiz, where players explore a dungeon with no saves or continues, similar to a roguelike. While games like this only ever achieved a cult status, we wish they would come back.
4 Brave Fencer Musashi
Brave Fencer Musashi is an action adventure game for the original PlayStation. It is notable for featuring extensive voice over work, a rarity for the time, and surprisingly snappy, witty dialogue. Several unique mechanics, such as a day and night cycle and the necessity for Musashi to rest, make it feel ahead of its time. A sequel came out on the PS2 in 2005, but it failed to leave behind a similar legacy.
3 Einhander
This game stands out as an outlier even among the list, which are all outliers in SquareSoft's catalog to some degree. Einhander is a traditional side-scrolling shooter. There is certainly more attention paid to the story, but if you know Gradius then you will most likely have no problem adjusting to Einhander. Despite the major departure for the company, the game was met with great reviews, praising the intense gameplay and visuals.
2 Bushido Blade 2
Bushido Blade 2 is an interesting sequel. It makes vast improvements to the visuals and smoothness of gameplay, but also strips out features. Most notably. some weapons are gone.
Still, it is a great fighting game in its own right, retaining the unique, tense gameplay of the original title. Where most fighting games are based around memorizing long combos and having lightning fast reflexes, Bushido Blade is all about slow tension and tactfully knowing when to strike.
1 3D WorldRunner
This game has no indication of even being somewhat related to SquareSoft, perhaps because it came out before the original Final Fantasy. The aesthetic of the 1987 title does not resemble what one expects from Square. The company was in dire financial straights during this game's release, and WorldRunners critical success did little to help it out of the hole. Only a few months later when Final Fantasy came out did the company find itself in a safe space once again. The ersatz 3D graphics were impressive back in the day, though now they look quaint.