20 PlayStation Games You CAN'T Play Without Retro Hardware

“.hack” Series (2002-03)

The PS2 had no shortage of anime game adaptations, but the .hack series was an incredibly ambitious undertaking for the time. Spanning four games, Infection, Mutation, Outbreak, and Quarantine, players are dropped into “The World” an MMORPG to discover why people are becoming comatose but end up uncovering an even darker and deeper mystery. The games continued the narrative began with the anime .hack//sign and even allowed players to transfer their save data between games and was necessary not only to understand the overarching narrative, but each game came with its own level cap, making it extremely difficult for players to just drop into the middle of the series. While the gameplay was fairly standard, the narrative and the ideas kept players engaged and the ideas were years ahead of their time. Sadly, only the sequel trilogy is playable on modern consoles, so this is another epic series that has been all but forgotten.

“ModNation Racers” (2010)

In today’s age of user created content, it’s surprising that not only did PlayStation not continue with the ModNation Racers series, but that you can’t even play the game without a PS3. Allowing players to customize everything from their racer, their cart, and even design their own tracks, ModNation Racers was the innovation the kart racing genre needed. The mechanics of creation were incredibly deep for those who wanted to create anything they could imagine, and intuitive enough for newcomers to design the wildest tracks possible. Not only were the creation tools incredibly fun, but so were the races themselves, with a quirky and oftentimes hilarious script full of memorable characters. Naturally the online servers are now offline, but players could still share their creations on YouTube or other sites for other players to inspire their own creations.

“Champions of Norrath” (2004)

In an age where almost half the new video game releases seem to be an isometric action RPG, it’s amazing that even two decades later, most of these titles still can’t recapture the magic of Champions of Norrath. The combat is standard Diablo-esque, but with a variety of classes, each with their own abilities and weapon sets, there’s plenty of variety for players to experiment with. However, what truly made the game special and essential for weekend sleepovers back in the day is the multiplayer. Not only could you and up to 3 of your friends explore and pillage the realms of Norrath for better gear by slaying beasts and conquering dungeons, you could play online with friends back on the PS2. Even without the online component, Champions of Norrath is an exceptional time and deserves a modern way to play and school all these countless imitators on how a proper dungeon raid is done.

“Rygar: The Legendary Adventure” (2002)

Years before the days of Kratos and his Blades of Chaos, we had Rygar and his Diskarmor. Rygar: The Legendary Adventure, itself a reimagining of the 1987 NES game Rygar, was a graphical showcase in the early days of the PS2, with its level of interactivity in the environments with the Diskarmor being especially impressive. The Diskarmor, much like Kratos’ Blades, had numerous upgrades to increase its power as well as to traverse the environment. Nearly everything Rygar did, Kratos would do only a few years later, just with additional violence and nudity, but there’s something inherently charming about Rygar. The simple setup of saving the Princess naturally evolves into so much more, but Rygar as a steadfast hero makes you root for his success. Fans of the God of War series are truly missing out on something special with Rygar, and it’s unfortunate it has yet to receive a port or remaster of any kind.

“Omega Boost” (1999)

Shortly after the breakout success of Gran Turismo and before that franchise became the studio’s only creative output, Polyphony Digital released arguably one of the best mech games on the PS1, Omega Boost. With mech designs by Macross creator Shoji Kawamori, Omega Boost boosted out into space to combat increasingly outlandish mechanized monstrosities and despite the seemingly on-rails nature of the game’s combat, players control their mech more like a combat fighter and can boost freely around the combat area to attack their enemies from different angles. The story is beyond nonsensical but between the bumping soundtrack and the intense space and aerial combat, you won’t really be questioning why you’re fighting all these strange mechs, only that they need to be destroyed. Given the fact that even Sony ignores Polyphony’s previous Gran Turismo games, it’s not surprising but it is disappointing their only non-racing effort is all but forgotten.

“LittleBigPlanet” 1-3 (2008-2014)

This one makes even less sense than PlayStation ignoring ModNation Racers, especially considering Sony owns the LittleBigPlanet creators Media Molecule. With the core concept of player creation, the LittleBigPlanet series was a big deal back on the PS3, allowing players to create and share their worlds and creations with other players and in turn be inspired by other players as well. With near limitless options for player creativity, there really wasn’t anything else like the LittleBigPlanet games. Sadly and despite the mascot-ability of the series’ Sackboy, Sony not only locked the first two LittleBigPlanet games on the PS3, but recently delisted the PS4 entry LittleBigPlanet 3 and all its DLC, while also completely shutting down all the game’s servers. Media Molecule’s Dreams doesn’t have the same charm as Sackboy, and now no one will get to create new worlds for the little guy without the base disc and retro hardware ever again.

“Legend of Legaia” (1999)

The PS1 era was a renaissance period for JRPGs. However, because of the sheer number of titles, not all of them got the recognition they deserved upon release and even two decades later are still being overlooked like Legend of Legaia. Although the traditional fantasy story was nothing new, it was the combat system the game used that made it entirely unique. The game’s “Tactical Arts System” allowed players to customize their attacks by chaining specific attacks together through button prompts, giving far more strategic depth than a traditional turn-based RPG. New attacks can be discovered throughout the game and even be upgraded, opening even more possibilities for devastating attack combinations as well as summons. The combat system alone makes this game and its sequel worth playing, but with both titles locked to the PS1 and PS2 respectively, you’ll be fighting just to find a way to replay these classics.

“Onimusha 3: Demon Siege” (2004)

Although we’ve received remasters of both Onimusha 1 and Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny, and even a brand-new title Way of the Sword, Capcom is still ignoring the series’ best entry Onimusha 3: Demon Siege. After taking a brief detour with Onimusha 2, Samanosuke returned for Onimusha 3 and brought legendary actor Jean Reno along with him. Splitting the two into separate campaigns, one in modern day and the other in feudal Japan, both characters had unique powers and abilities and were forced to adjust to unfamiliar surroundings. The gameplay was much more refined than the previous entries and the game’s visuals, particularly the CGI cutscenes, are still stunning two decades later. Hopefully along with Way of the Sword, we’ll receive a full Onimusha Remastered Collection, but until then, the only way to siege these demons is on the PS2.

“Killzone” 1-3 (2004-2011)

How, out of all the Sony first party franchises, is Killzone not available to play on modern consoles? Described to be Sony’s “Halo Killer”, Killzone had a rocky start with their first entry but found their niche with the stellar second and tied everything up with the equally impressive third game. And yet, despite the franchise’s newest entry Shadowfall being available to play multiple ways on PSN, the rest of the franchise has been left to the Helghan forces. We know Guerilla has moved onto the Horizon franchise, but the Killzone titles remain some of the most solid FPS experiences on PlayStation and the titles still hold up incredibly well and Killzone 2 and 3 had some of the most inventive and fun multiplayer modes of the entire PS3 generation. With even the PS Vita entry Mercenaries being available on PSN, it’s even more baffling that the core trilogy is nowhere to be found on modern hardware.

“SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs” Series (2002-2011)

Sony’s push for live service games the entire PS5 generation has been nothing short of catastrophic for them, and what’s crazy is that they’ve had a series with a loyal fanbase waiting for its return all along that they decided to completely ignore. The SOCOM series was a huge hit for Sony back in the early days of online gaming. The tactical nature of the series naturally led to a lot of communication and long weekends of friends battling against other squads of players online. However, with no new entries since 2011, Sony is almost purposely ignoring their best chance at a breakout online multiplayer experience. The potential of the franchise is still there, but entire generations of players will never get to experience these classics now that all the servers are offline and even trying to play the single player modes are relegated to retro hardware.

“Rumble Racing” (2001)

I will never miss a chance to talk about my love of Rumble Racing. Thankfully racing games these days have started to figure there’s more to racing than just tuning and realism, but until someone recreates the sheer entertainment of Rumble Racing, nothing will compare. Combining traditional arcade racing with Tony Hawk style tricks for additional boost, along with ridiculous power-ups, unlockable vehicles, and an even more ridiculous announcer mocking you throughout the race, Rumble Racing was the perfect mix of adrenaline-fueled racing and the absurd experimentation of the PS2 era. Perhaps it's the title’s over-the-top nature that has kept it from mainstream appeal, but with all the new arcade racers full of gimmicks, Rumble Racing should at the very least be available on PSN for new arcade racing fans to experience.

“God Hand” (2006)

Even during its initial release, God Hand didn’t get the appreciation it deserved and twenty years later, that disrespect continues. You would think being crafted by the creative mastermind behind Resident Evil and the mega success of Resident Evil 4 would have been enough to draw in an audience, but apparently God Hand was such a drastic departure from what fans expected, God Hand was lambasted by both players and critics at the time. However, God Hand is one of the most retrospectively appreciated games of all time, with players loving the absurd nature of the game and its bizarre over-the-top combat style has endeared it to fans who gave it a chance. Sadly, unlike Okami, God Hand has mostly been forgotten by all but its defenders and just like Clover Studio’s other frenetic beat ‘em up Viewtiful Joe, God Hand remains trapped on hardware that most modern gamers have never even played.

“The Simpsons Skateboarding” (2002)

The Simpsons Game and Hit & Run aren’t the only Simpsons games we wish we could still replay these days. While those two and even Road Rage are still a good time and arguably some of the best Simpsons games the family has to offer, we still want access to the ENTIRE Simpsons catalog of games. Yes, even the crap ones. While The Simpsons Wrestling might be remembered today for how abysmal it was, and honestly still is, The Simpsons Skateboarding isn’t as bad as we remember and offered a decent skateboarding sim with a Simpsons family branding. Just because the games are bad doesn’t mean they should be completely forgotten. And honestly, we haven’t had a true and proper Simpsons game in almost two decades, so at this point we’ll take what we can get and these time capsules of Simpson-Mania are the perfect encapsulation of “so bad they’re good”.

“Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII” (2006)

Final Fantasy VII is hot on the comeback trail with a trilogy of remakes and even a remaster of Crisis Core, but where’s the love for our favorite vampire Vincent’s solo outing? Dirge of Cerberus released as part of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII that expanded on the world of Final Fantasy 7. However, Dirge of Cerberus was by far the most drastic shift for the series, leaving the turn based and even action heavy real time combat and instead making the most out of Vincent’s firearms in a third person shooter. The shift in perspective likely turned off many fans, but for those who want more Final Fantasy 7, and who doesn’t, Dirge of Cerberus is worth overlooking its flaws for more time in its world. Sadly, and likely due to the poor reception, Dirge of Cerberus has long been forgotten in its retro crypt and isn’t likely to see the light of day again.

“Resident Evil Outbreak” (2004)

Given these spin-off games’ direct connection to Resident Evil Requiem, it's even more curious why Capcom hasn’t ported these games onto PSN. Taking the classic old school RE formula and allowing friends to team up and survive the collapse of Raccoon City is such a novel concept, it doesn’t make any sense why Capcom hasn’t revisited this series in the modern era. Even as a single player experience, both Outbreak and File #2 are a great time and a throwback to the tank controls and fixed camera angles that hid dangers around every corner. With each survivor equipped with their own specialties and perks, for those playing alone, these options offered replayability and with multiple scenarios and difficulty options, there was plenty of room for experimentation. Just a shame modern RE fans will have no connection to Alyssa Ashcroft heading into Requiem since these games are still only available on the PS2.

“Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec” (2001)

The Gran Turismo series is a benchmark series for PlayStation and yet, Sony doesn’t treat this beloved racing series with the respect it deserves. Not only are the original PS1 titles Gran Turismo 1 and 2 unplayable on PSN, arguably the series best entry Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec isn’t either. Still highly regarded today by longtime fans of the racing sim as the pinnacle of the franchise, Gran Turismo 3 pushed the PS2 to its limits only a year into its lifecycle. With nearly 200 impeccably detailed cars and over 30 tracks to race them on, Gran Turismo 3 was a true fully equipped experience. Not even any of the subsequent Gran Turismo games are playable on modern hardware either from Gran Turismo 4-6 being trapped on the old decaying tracks of the PS2 and PS3. Gran Turismo is a staple of PlayStation and rightfully the entire series should be playable regardless of the generation.

“Silent Hill” (1999)

This one is so egregious I had to double check it was correct. With the recent resurgence of popularity in the Silent Hill franchise, it’s remarkable that Konami has never ported the original game that launched the entire series to anything beyond the PS1. A landmark title for its clever use of fog to hide technical limitations and its approach to psychological horror rather than jump scares, the game that started it all has been completely overshadowed by its admittedly stellar sequel and the series subsequent follow-ups. Silent Hill was a genre defining title, and one that reshaped how developers approached survival horror, but these days, fans of the series have no way to replay the original game. Thankfully Silent Hill will be receiving a remake, but for anyone who wants to visit Silent Hill for the first time, you’re going to be just as lost as the town itself.

“3D Dot Game Heroes” (2009)

Voxel indie game devs are frothing at the mouth over this one. A throwback in more than just presentation, 3D Dot Game Heroes gave players a Zelda-like adventure in which the entire game world felt like an unreleased NES game. Game Heroes didn’t take itself too seriously either which only added to its charm. Players could even upgrade their sword until the sword covered nearly the entire screen with every attack. Game Heroes wasn’t trying to tell a deep or compelling narrative, it simply wanted players to have fun exploring its world and interacting with its caricature NPCs. 3D Dot Game Heroes managed to modernize the old school RPG while maintaining all the elements that made those games such classics in the first place. However, the game has since fallen into relative obscurity and with no modern port, only those with a PS3 are going to experience this truly hidden gem.

“Resistance: Fall of Man” (2006) & “Resistance 2” (2008)

Killzone wasn’t Sony’s only first-person shooter series to compete with Xbox’s Halo franchise. Throughout the PS3’s lifecycle, Insomniac Games crafted a trilogy of shooters about an alien invasion during WWII that utilized the studio’s strengths, primarily solid gameplay mechanics and inventive weaponry. The series was a moderate success and developed a loyal fanbase who appreciated the series' approach to the genre when every other franchise was attempting to recreate Call of Duty’s success. Strangely the first two Resistance games originally WERE on PSN through Sony’s PS3 streaming service, but today only Resistance 3 remains playable. There’s really no discernible reason why only the third game remains playable while the rest of the series is trapped in the past on the PS3. In the meantime, fans continue to hope for a trilogy collection or remaster that will likely never see the light of day.

“Xenogears” (1998)

Another title unappreciated in its time by all but its most dedicated fans, and even more forgotten today. Xenogears and its successor Xenosaga, also unplayable, were the precursors to the Xenoblade saga beloved by millions of fans today. Xenogears was truly ahead of its time in terms of its mature narrative that explored religious themes other titles at the time were too afraid to tackle. Everything from the game’s world, characters, music, mech designs and especially the game’s deep and compelling narrative full of interesting twists and turns were all highly praised by fans and critics. The game was also a commercial success and is regarded as one of the best JRPGs on the PS1, but while other titles from Square’s back catalog of RPGs receive either ports, remasters or full-on remakes, Xenogears has been all but forgotten and one of the classics of the PS1 era will likely be lost to time forever.

What’s your favorite PlayStation game Sony is gatekeeping on retro hardware? Share your pick in the comments.