Reading this thread reminded me. I bought Resident Evil and Tomb Raider before I could even find a PS1 (there was a shortage, I guess). But those weren't the first PlayStation games I'd ever experienced.
Before that, my step brother used to rent a PS1 and NFL Game day every weekend. I hated it. I don't think I ever played it. I just watched.
The thing that convinced me to get a PS1 was when I had Killer Instinct Gold for the N64. My friend showed me Tekken 2. It was so amazing! After playing his console for a day, KI Gold looked like shit. I knew what my next gaming purchase would be!