A Blast from the Playstation Past

Now I don’t know how many more twenty-something year olds we have here in the crowd, but regardless of how old you are this list is going to take you back to yesteryear like you’ve never experienced before.

Smashing their way in to the first spot on our list is:

Rayman

Release Year:  1995

Available today on PS4 Platform: Yes

Who said having no limbs would make you any less of a warrior?

Rayman shows off his skills by journeying his way to the great villain, Mr. Dark in order to recover the Great Protoon, the peacekeeper of his world. Mr. Dark has captured the guardians of the Great Protoon, the Electoons, meaning Rayman must free them on the way. No feeling was ever more satisfying than breaking open an Electoon’s cage, freeing them and feeling heroic while progressing further towards your goal.

And nothing could ever compare to Rayman’s crazy moves: the Hair Propeller and the Super Punch. If you were anything like me, that roundup for his punch made you mistake him for Hercules. But then again that innocent mind is what makes it perfect to be here on our list of Playstation Past.

Hercules

Release Year:  1997

Available today on PS4 Platform: No

Did you really think I’d mention Hercules and not talk about him too?

Punching down a pillar? No problem. Battling Greek Gods? Just another normal day. How could you not relish in the power of Hercules? Here being a God was just a few tasks and some evil villains away.  

You thrashed the lightning sword basking in your almighty power. However being Hercules wasn’t just about great weapons, but sometimes very fragile vases. Since when you had all four, you held the secret password to saving the game where you stand.

If you saw the movie then you knew the game would have to have the Hydra. For every head cut off, two more grow back. Wait, what? How can this be? That’s the Hydra, Hercules’ greatest challenge on this quest to return to a life of immortality as a true God.  

Earthworm Jim

Release Year:  1994

Available today on PS4 Platform: No

Here we have every worm’s appendage dream come true. A super suit falls in to the lap of your average everyday worm, Jim. Jim’s mission is to save Princess What’s-Her-Name while taking down the evil villains who are trying to steal his suit. Luckily for him, he used his worm body to his advantage by swinging from place to place and whipping the evil villains with his head to defeat them.

If you’ve forgotten any of these evil villains please allow me to jog your memory. We’ve got: Queen Slug-for-a-Butt , Psy-Crow, Evil the Cat, Bob the Killer Goldfish, Major Mucus and Professor Monkey-for-a-Head. They put up a good fight but then again, I would too if I had an unfortunate name like that.

Whatever the name, whoever the villain, these were the things that made us smile then and thinking back, are still making us smile now.

Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee

Release Year:  1997

Available today on PS4 Platform: A new renamed and revamped version: Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee New ‘n’ Tasty

“Hello.” “Follow me.” *Shrugs shoulders* “Okay.”

If you didn’t just narrate that with the original squeak that the Mudokon’s called a voice, then it’s time for you to pick up your controllers and let your thumbs take a walk down memory lane.

This was a game of wit, knowing when to make your move and how. Whether it be jumping from floor to floor while watching the people behind you fall, or tricking someone in your way just to turn off an electric blockade, you always had to read the scene and use your mind to succeed.

Our childhood selves loved a good challenge and to be honest, what child wouldn’t love pretending to be an alien named ‘Abe’ for a day?

Maximo: Ghosts to Glory

Release Year:  2001

Available today on PS4 Platform: No 

There’s a little bit of bad guy in all of us, or so Maximo made us think. Even if that means working for the Grimm Reaper himself, what’s the harm in having a little bit of fun?

An army of the undead felt like the kind of war only Thor could beat, but here we had that power and could hold the star-carved mallet high. And who doesn’t remember always cringing at the idea of kicking a chest open because you didn’t know if you would get money or maybe just a box so hungry that it would eat your clothes.

No matter the battle, the lesson here is the true value of money because just a few coins and buy yourself back to life!

Crash Bandicoot

Release Year:  1996

Available today on PS4 Platform: Planned release: June 30^th, 2017

This game may have been my first imaginary vacation ever because the best thing I can remember about it was always hearing the music and thinking I was on some sort of tribal island with a Bandicoot screaming, “Boogala.”

From smashing TNT to running away from rocks Indiana Jones style, there was never a dull moment here. And let’s not forget that little hint of denial every time you ran out of jumps or never quite perfecting the art of smashing the box you wanted or else 3, 2, 1…….BOOM.

Crash and Aku Aku (and Aku Aku’s invisibility masks) led a thrilling journey to save Tawna from the mad scientist Dr. Neo Cortex. So that is why our hearts and our TNT, will be forever with them on the Wumpa Islands.

Max Payne

Release Year:  2001

Available today on PS4 Platform:  Yes

Here we learned the definition of the word ‘revenge.’ After the murder of his wife and child, Max sets out for a justice of his own belief.

One of the best parts about this game was the bullet time. Being able to Matrix-style slow motion and see a moving bullet as it flies right by you. You could rule the scene and be the master shooter you always wished to be.

Every kid remembers what it felt like to be Max Payne, seeing the world through his eyes and exposing the dark side of mankind. You truly did enter in to his intriguing world of pain.

Now if I tried to list every game from our childhood you would be reading a short novel as opposed to an article. So blow the dust off of that PlayStation sitting in the back of your closet and start reminiscing on the good times you once had. Be sure to leave your favorites in the comments below.