I want to experience the PS1. What are the must-play games?

[Leynos]

firebush03 said:

SvennoJ said:

If you want to experience the PS1, you really need to get the original hardware and an old CRT. Emulation doesn't recreate the experience. But yeah you do have the risk now of faulty disks and memory cards.

Dunno if emulation on CRT is available, but the games were made for interlaced CRT. Just not the same on modern displays :/ Same with PS2, looks horrible on modern 4K tv :/

I would need to hook up noise cancelling headphones to any TV I’m playing (I’ve got a funny little neurological disorder that makes it very uncomfortable to play games otherwise, at least for the short term). So, as much as I would love to play CRT, I’ll have to stomach visuals plastered on a 4k TV.

That said, I think the plan is this: I purchase an OG PS1 (to get that real authentic experience), purchase a game that looks very enticing (Ape Escape is top of the list), and if the disc/console doesn’t work, either (i) research disc/console repair OR (ii) emulate if all else fails.

I don't know if they are easily available to buy yet but a Polymega is a solid choice. It plays the original discs but also burns a copy to the console so you don't need the disc and has save states and other accessibility options. I enjoyed my Polymega quite a bit. I do have the original hardware to play all this. Another option is buy a PS2 refurb off Ebay. Since PS2 plays both PS2 and PS1 games. PS2's I believe, are easier to repair.