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Memory Cards
Before hard drives and cloud saves existed, your game progress relied on these external memory cards – all 8MB of them.
Multitap
The PlayStation console featured two controller ports, but thanks to this official multiplayer adaptor, four controllers could share a single port. Add a second Multitap, and up to eight players could join the game.
Pocket Station
Only available in Japan, the Pocket Station doubled as a memory card and a ‘Personal Digital Assistant’, letting users share game saves via infrared technology, as well as play minigames from select titles on its LCD screen.
PlayStation Mouse
Intended for point-and-click adventure games, this official mouse peripheral gave PC-style controls to games like Lemmings and SimCity 2000.
PlayStation Analog Joystick
Released in 1996, the introduction of analogue sticks to a PlayStation controller allowed a greater range of movement for flying games including the Ace Combat series, and was a precursor to the Dual Analog Sticks that still feature on modern PlayStation controllers.
Ridge Racer (1994)
This PlayStation launch title brought high-speed arcade racing to home consoles like never before, boasting accessible gameplay, crisp 3D visuals and a propulsive soundtrack.
Tekken (1994)
Another arcade hit that found a home on PlayStation, the 3D brawling of Tekken was an instant hit with beat ‘em up fans and casual gamers alike, spawning a series that continues to innovate.
wipEout (1995)
This PlayStation launch title brought high-speed arcade racing to home consoles like never before, boasting accessible gameplay, crisp 3D visuals and a propulsive soundtrack.
Tomb Raider (1996)
The game that made Lara Croft an icon, this 3D adventure had it all: a compelling plot full of mystery, demanding platforming, immersive environments, tense shootouts... and a T.rex to backflip away from, obviously.
PaRappa the Rapper (1996)
Rhythm-action gameplay meets oddball humour in this hip-hopping rush of colourful visuals and summery beats. Keep PaRappa’s lyrics flowing to impress Chop Chop Master Onion, Prince Fleaswallow and other curious characters.
Resident Evil (1996)
A survival-horror essential that spawned a hugely successful series, the original Resident Evil is a blood-pumping playground of fiendish puzzles and groaning, moaning creatures which can still deliver a jump scare to this day.
Crash Bandicoot (1996)
A pioneer of 3D gaming, Crash Bandicoot was a challenging and colourful adventure with a jumping, spinning, Wumpa fruit-eating central character who became a PlayStation icon of the ‘90s.
Final Fantasy VII (1997)
The grandest, boldest, biggest and perhaps greatest of the Final Fantasy games at the time of release, this PlayStation epic was the first in its series to be presented in full 3D and introduced gamers to Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, Sephiroth and others. The rest is history.
Gran Turismo (1997)
The Real Driving Simulator was celebrated for its astounding realism and huge number of drivable cars. The first Gran Turismo sold over a million copies in its first month just in Japan, leading to a series that continues to inspire racing game pros and casuals alike.
OddWorld: Abe’s Oddysee (1997)
A puzzle-platformer with a lot of heart, this was the first game to star the titular Abe and his fellow Mudokons as they realise, to their horror, that they’re the main ingredient in a new food line. Cue: a desperate escape, fiendish obstacles, and the occasional fart.
Metal Gear Solid (1998)
Modern action-stealth elements owe a debt to Metal Gear Solid, where the player must quietly and carefully infiltrate a nuclear base as the iconic Solid Snake. Keep an eye on your Codec and be ready to hide in a cardboard box at a moment’s notice.
Ape Escape (1999)
In this hilarious action-platformer, players must round up an army of time-travelling apes. The first PlayStation game to need the DualShock controller, its twin analogue sticks make ape-ensnaring gadgets incredibly easy to handle.
