Summary
- PS1 had its own great local multiplayer games like Mortal Kombat Trilogy and Syphon Filter 2.
- These classics offer hours of competitive fun; bonds created over these games last.
- Games like Worms: Armageddon and Crash Team Racing offer timeless entertainment for friends.
The Nintendo 64 is home to some of the most celebrated local multiplayer titles with hits like GoldenEye 007 and Super Smash Bros.. This should not lead people to believe that the PS1 was completely lacking in this department, however. Sony’s debut gaming machine had plenty of games to give friends hours of competitive fun.
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The games below span a wide variety of genres. They all have one thing in common, though; when buddies jump in to play together, only one can reign victorious. While graphics and gameplay age, the memories and bonds created over these games remain just as fresh as they were more than 20 years ago.
8
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
Get The Highest Score Or Tag The Most Objects
- Released
-
September 20, 2000
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is not about simulating what it is like to be on a skateboard. It is about recreating the feeling of freedom one gets when on one. This feeling also comes without the bruises and broken bones that often accompany the sport. In a game that revolves around high scores, the simple competition to see who can get the most points in two minutes is a blast.
Horse is a turn-based mode where one player sets a score the other must beat or else receive a letter. Graffiti tasks players with tricking on as many objects as possible in a map and getting a higher score on the object steals an already tagged object. The implementation is simple but it just goes to show how strong the core gameplay is.
7
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
The Ultimate 2D Mortal Kombat Game
- Released
-
September 1, 1996
- Publisher(s)
-
Williams Entertainment
, Midway Home Entertainment
, GT Interactive
While there are a ton of fighting games for the PS1 that could also go on this list like Tekken and Battle Arena Toshinden, Mortal Kombat Trilogy earns a spot because of its easy-to-understand gameplay. It is also one of the most complete packages of a fighting game for the generation.
It includes every character and every stage from the first three Mortal Kombat games along with most fatalities and other finishers. Mortal Kombat’s Trilogy’s combat is easy to get a grasp of, so even newcomers can start punching kicking, and uppercutting in the first match.
The only missing features from other games are due to the fact that animations didn’t exist for some of the moves, such as the top-down perspective of the Pit 2 stage fatality from Mortal Kombat 2.
6
Worms: Armageddon
Turn-Based Wacky Strategy Goodness
Worms is a side-scrolling turn-based strategy game. Each player controls a team of worms who wiggle their way within attacking distance of an enemy and give their best shot. Part of the game’s charm comes from the wacky arsenal players use to destroy each other.
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It is not always clear how each weapon works, so experimentation is encouraged. Though there have been many Worms games since this 1995 title, the gameplay still holds up. Because of the turn-based gameplay, players pass around one controller.
5
Syphon Filter 2
Third-Person Shooter Deathmatch
- Released: March 14, 2000
- Developer: Eidetic
- Platforms: PlayStation
The debut game in this series was a purely single-player experience. Syphon Filter 2 goes bigger in every way. The game is so big that it came on two discs. Thankfully, the game also included a competitive multiplayer mode for friends to face off against each other.
As far as action games go, Syphon Filter’s gameplay is one of the smoother third-person shooters for the original PlayStation. Though the shooting revolved around an auto-aim mechanic, headshots were instant kills with any weapon, so players had to weigh if they should shoot maniacally at their opponent or take the time to aim for a one-hit kill.
4
Bomberman Party Edition
A Timeless Classic
Bomberman: Party Edition
- Released
-
December 10, 1998
Some games do not need to change a lot to retain their charm throughout the decades. Bomberman was already almost perfect by the time the PS1 came around. The single-player from Bomberman Party Edition closely mirrors the single-player of the debut entry from 1985.
Its mixture of real-time puzzle solving mixed with the competitive nature of blowing up opponents makes it an engaging game from start to finish. Local multiplayer works for friends of all skill levels. The game’s mechanics are intuitive enough for newcomers to quickly get a grasp of how to maneuver around the playing field through some quick trial and error.
Bomberman is still going strong, and there are versions of the game available for modern platforms.
Hectic Vehicle Combat
Twisted Metal 2
- Released
-
November 8, 1996
- Developer(s)
-
Sony Interactive Studios America
, SingleTrac - Publisher(s)
-
Sony Computer Entertainment
Twisted Metal was one of the first iconic PlayStation series, with Sweet Tooth being one of the first unofficial mascots. When car combat is done right it makes for perfect multiplayer mayhem.
Twisted Metal 2 refines the gameplay of the debut entry and it features maps from all over the world. Competitive mode is a duel between just two players, so there is no hiding behind other computer-controlled cars. Battles are a combination of head-on confrontation and strategic driving.
2
Bushido Blade 2
Intense One-On-One Combat
Bushido Blade 2
- Released
-
October 29, 1998
- Developer(s)
-
Light Weight
- Publisher(s)
-
Square Electronic Arts
, Square
Where many fighting games are about fast combos and lightning-fast reflexes, Bushido Blade is about waiting for the right moment to strike and knowing how to perfectly counter the enemy’s attacks. There is no health bar and just one slash can spell failure.
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Even if a hit does not end the round, it might cost the character the use of one of their limbs. This intensity carries over into the multiplayer. Friends might circle around each other for a minute waiting for the other to strike or let their guard down.
1
Crash Team Racing
A Kart Racing Game With A Focus On Skillful Driving
- Released
-
October 19, 1999
- ESRB
-
E For Everyone //
Crash Team Racing draws obvious Mario Kart comparisons, but it distinguishes itself from Nintendo’s racing game by having a bigger focus on tight driving over getting the best power-ups. Players have to manage the drift mechanic to earn regular momentary boosts and beat the other players.
This might make the game less friendly to newcomers, but it also makes competition between experienced players all the more intense. Weapons still play a role in races and can be just the extra push someone needs to pull ahead into first place.
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