Third parties, CD format, third parties, third parties, and third parties.  The PS1 was the console where third parties really cut loose.  Sony provided Eidos, Capcom, Konami, Square, etc. a console that they could go crazy with.  And go crazy, they did.  Boundaries were pushed, new ideas were realized, and Sony (and gamers) reaped the benefits.  Final Fantasy 7, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, etc. these were games that Nintendo's 64 bit console was just incapable of producing without some serious technical limitations (I know about RE2 for the N64.  Shut up.).

Sony didn't really do anything special.  Nintendo cut their own balls off by sticking with the cartridge format and Sega screwed up by creating a console with the word "Sega" on it (gamers were pissed with Sega by the time the Saturn launched.).  With no place else to turn, the fairly solid PS1 was the heir to the throne.  If you were a gamer without a PS1 from 1996-2000, I really pitied you.

For me it was Crash Bandicoot and Spyro. As a small child, I also found the N64 controller awkward.

Third parties, CD format, third parties, third parties, and third parties.  The PS1 was the console where third parties really cut loose.  Sony provided Eidos, Capcom, Konami, Square, etc. a console that they could go crazy with.  And go crazy, they did.  Boundaries were pushed, new ideas were realized, and Sony (and gamers) reaped the benefits.  Final Fantasy 7, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, etc. these were games that Nintendo's 64 bit console was just incapable of producing without some serious technical limitations (I know about RE2 for the N64.  Shut up.).

Sony didn't really do anything special.  Nintendo cut their own balls off by sticking with the cartridge format and Sega screwed up by creating a console with the word "Sega" on it (gamers were pissed with Sega by the time the Saturn launched.).  With no place else to turn, the fairly solid PS1 was the heir to the throne.  If you were a gamer without a PS1 from 1996-2000, I really pitied you.

Another thing was, I think later on in the lifespan of the 2 consoles..newly released games on the PS1 were $40.00, where as on the N64, it was most of the time $50.00.  I don't know if this true though, just something my parents noticed because I was a child at the time..and yes, $10 does make a difference to Americans.

For me personally it definitely was the games.

Crash Bandicoot alone is the reason why I think the PS1 was so great.

I've owned all 5 Crash games for the PS1 and for each one my family and I sunk in over 100's or hours into each game MINIMUM! Trying to get all the crystals and completing the game, then trying to get all the gems and time relics, completing each secret level, racing to get the best times, beating every mini game, etc. Seriously one of the best memories of my childhood!

Then on top of that I had Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo 1-2 and Final Fantasy VII - VIII Blam! Mega hits for me and that's how I was able to transit into the PS2 gen so easily with these types of games that were guaranteed to make an appearance on the PS2.

Oh, thought this thread was about Phantasy Star 1.....well....guess I don't have much to say in that case.