Nintendo wasn't the first company to wake up to the idea of repackaging its games in tiny versions of classic consoles – Sega and Atari (from a licencing perspective, at least) were there a long, long time ago – but its entry into this previously niche sector certainly made an impact. The NES Classic Edition and SNES Classic Edition have now sold over 10 million units worldwide between them, indicating all too clearly that there is a tremendous appetite for this kind of thing; little wonder then that SNK released a Neo Geo Mini earlier this year and Sega – after over a decade of allowing hardware partner AtGames to sully its good name with some seriously shocking clone consoles – finally seems to be taking the whole concept a little more seriously.
2018 is also the year in which Nintendo's rival Sony decided that its legacy was worth taking advantage of. The PlayStation Classic launched today and in many respects should be the kind of product that appeals to gamers of all walks of life, including Nintendo players. The original 32-bit system – borne out of Sony's failed agreement with Nintendo to produce a CD-ROM-based SNES console – was the very definition of a game-changer; when it arrived in 1994 it arguably heralded the beginning of the 3D revolution and established a brand which has remained at the forefront of console gaming ever since. To many players, the PlayStation supplanted the SNES as their go-to console thanks to its impressive third-party support, an amazing catalogue of RPGs and a slew of hits from the likes of Capcom, Konami, Eidos and – of course – erstwhile Nintendo devotee Square.
The first home console to ship over 100 million units worldwide, the status of the original PlayStation cannot be denied, making it the perfect candidate for the 'classic' treatment. But does the final product live up to expectation, and, if you have money to burn this festive season, is it a better buy than the SNES Classic Edition? Let's find out…
Hardware
There's no getting around it, both the SNES Classic Edition and PlayStation Classic are utterly adorable. They're perfectly-recreated versions of the original systems but much, much smaller; they obviously lack the ability to play the original games but that doesn't make them any less appealing from a purely cosmetic perspective. In terms of looks, the one that appeals most to you personally will no doubt be based on your nostalgic connection to each machine, but we're sure there are a great many players out there who have fond recollections of both consoles, given that millions of us transitioned from the SNES to the PlayStation back in the mid-'90s.
One thing we do like better about the PlayStation Classic when compared to the SNES Classic Edition is the fact that the controllers plug directly into the front of the unit, whereas on Nintendo's machine there's a flap at the front which hides the controller ports. This makes the unit look a little odd when it's in use; we much prefer how the controller port is right on the front of the PlayStation Classic, and how Sony has shaped the plugs so they actually look like the real thing once connected.
Both systems are powered by an industry-standard Micro USB connection and neither comes with a power supply in the box – you'll have to use one of the USB sockets on your TV or the USB power block that you use with your smartphone or tablet. Both also use HDMI to connect to your television and both output at 720p.
Rather than try to recreate the internals on a physical level, Nintendo and Sony have opted for the emulation route when it comes to replicating the performance of these machines. Inside the SNES Classic Edition you'll find an Allwinner R16 system-on-a-chip with four ARM Cortex-A7 central processing units and an ARM Mali 400 MP2 graphics processing unit. The PlayStation Classic also takes the system-on-a-chip approach, boasting a MediaTek MT8167A with a quad-core ARM Cortex A35 running at 1.5GHz paired with a PowerVR GE8300 GPU. Both of these setups are pretty standard; this is off-the-shelf componentry rather than custom hardware, as was the norm back when the original consoles were released.
Controller
The SNES pad is iconic in that it has influenced practically every single controller released since. It was the first pad to use shoulder buttons, the inclusion of which gave players more input options without crowding out the face of the pad. Speaking of which, the decision to arrange the buttons in a diamond formation was a masterstroke and has since become the standard for the industry. The pad bundled with the SNES Classic Edition is practically indistinguishable from the real thing; it looks and feels fantastic.
The same can be said of the pad that ships alongside the PlayStation Classic; it's an utterly faithful facsimile of the original controller, which can also lay claim to being something of a design trendsetter. Sure, Sony copied many elements of the SNES pad (hardly surprising when you consider the origins of the whole PlayStation project) including the diamond button cluster and the shoulder buttons (now doubled from two to four), but it also gave players a more ergonomic design, with those two prongs offering the perfect grip. Like the pad made for the SNES Classic Edition, this controller feels like a quality product and when we picked it up for the first time we were hit with some serious nostalgia feels.
Software
You can tell Nintendo invested a significant amount of time and effort in picking the games it included on the SNES Classic Edition; while there are a lot of 2D platformers included, pretty much every game is a highly-rated slice of gaming goodness which has stood the test of time better than you might expect.
Here's the full list:
- Contra III: The Alien Wars
- Donkey Kong Country
- EarthBound
- Final Fantasy III / VI
- F-Zero
- Kirby Super Star
- Kirby's Dream Course
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Mega Man X
- Secret of Mana
- Star Fox
- Star Fox 2
- Super Castlevania IV
- Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
- Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts
- Super Mario Kart
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
- Super Mario World
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
- Super Metroid
- Super Punch-Out!!
Given the talent that resided at Nintendo back then – and continues to reside to this very day – it's no shock to see that the majority of the games are first-party releases. Super Mario World remains one of the best 2D platformers of all time, while Zelda: A Link to the Past is effortlessly one of the finest action adventures ever made. Super Mario Kart and F-Zero use the console's Mode-7 visual effect superbly, while Star Fox – developed alongside UK studio Argonaut, who also created the Super FX accelerator chip – gave many gamers their first taste of 3D gaming.
Nintendo did include some third-party efforts, such as the sublime Contra III and Castlevania IV from Konami and the likes of Final Fantasy III, Secret of Mana and Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars from Square. Capcom's Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting, Mega Man X and Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts showcase how well the company adapted to the 16-bit system. With the possible exception of Kirby's Dream Course, every single game included on the SNES Classic Edition is worthy of being considered a must-play experience; sure, there are many amazing games that didn't make the cut but ultimately, this is as good a selection as you could reasonably hope for – and the fact that Nintendo went the extra mile and included the previously unreleased Star Fox 2 is simply the icing on the cake.
Given that the SNES and PlayStation are from two different hardware generations, it might seem like a foregone conclusion that Sony's machine wins out in this particular category – especially when you consider that the leap from 2D to 3D is perhaps the most revolutionary the industry has ever seen. The 32-bit era allowed for increased immersion and realism thanks to the introduction of powerful hardware which was designed with real-time, three-dimensional graphics in mind; the resultant titles offered a visual boost that left 16-bit machines like the SNES and Mega Drive in the dust – although, as many critics commented at the time, it was often the case that fancy 3D was used to mask the fact that a great many 32-bit games were no more playable than their 2D forerunners.
Even so, the PlayStation library is packed with truly amazing pieces of software – and narrowing down the selection of 20 games included with the PlayStation Classic would be a thankless task in anyone's book. Much has already been on the games Sony has picked for this machine, suffice to say it's a varied – if perhaps not definitive – snapshot of the console's legacy.
Here are the games included on the western version of the machine (the Japanese variant has some slight differences):
- Battle Arena Toshinden
- Cool Boarders 2
- Destruction Derby
- Final Fantasy VII
- Grand Theft Auto
- Intelligent Qube
- Jumping Flash!
- Metal Gear Solid
- Mr. Driller
- Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
- Rayman
- Resident Evil Director’s Cut
- Revelations: Persona
- Ridge Racer Type 4
- Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
- Syphon Filter
- Tekken 3
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six
- Twisted Metal
- Wild Arms
Before we stick the boot in as so many others have already done, it's worth noting that there are some solid-gold gems on offer here. Final Fantasy VII is widely-regarded as one of the best video games of all time, while the original Metal Gear Solid remains playable and atmospheric, even if its subsequent sequels have drastically enhanced the core premise of 'tactical espionage action'. Ridge Racer Type 4 presents some blissfully enjoyable arcade racing, and Revelations: Persona – a proper cult classic which is made even more interesting when you consider how popular the series has become in the west of late – will keep you glued to the console for weeks. Tekken 3 is also a solid choice and shows that the core gameplay of Namco's famous fighting series is almost timeless.
Furthermore, while titles like Jumping Flash, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Mr. Driller and Intelligent Qube might not be everyone's idea of must-have AAA PlayStation releases, they're incredibly fun and could well rank as some of your most-played games if you do decide to invest in this machine. We have a soft spot for Jumping Flash in particular, thanks largely to the fact that it was the game we got with our PlayStation back in 1995 and is one of the first 'true' 3D platformers, pre-dating even the mighty Super Mario 64.
However, when you start to dig a little deeper into the PlayStation Classic's line-up, the cracks really start to show. We can't imagine there were many people who considered Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six to be an 'essential' purchase back at the time of release, so we're at a loss as to explain why it's included here. Likewise, Battle Arena Toshinden was attacked at the time of launch for putting showy visuals above actual gameplay, and the passage of time has only served to lessen the impact of its graphics and expose its terribly clunky mechanics even more clearly. Destruction Derby is fun in short bursts but feels like a relic, while Cool Boarders 2 pales in comparison to Nintendo's 1080 Snowboarding, its contemporary rival.
Meanwhile, Syphon Filter, Twisted Metal and even the legendary Resident Evil have all aged surprisingly badly, a consequence of the fact that this evolutionary period in gaming is packed with crude 3D graphics that were simply accepted back then because we didn't know any better. While the 2D games seen on the SNES Classic Edition lack that sense of immersion, they've aged a little better thanks to their clean presentation; the same unfortunately cannot be said for the warped textures and boxy, low-polygon models seen in many PlayStation games.
While Nintendo's selection of games for the SNES Classic Edition arguably cannot be faulted, Sony's picks are, in many respects, head-scratchingly bizarre. Why wasn't at least one Wipeout entry included, for example? This racing series defined the PlayStation brand for many players, combining amazing visuals with an intense techno soundtrack. The same could be said of Gran Turismo and its sequel, two technically groundbreaking racers which are conspicuous by their absence – the original Gran Turismo is officially the biggest-selling 32-bit PlayStation game of all time, so why omit it? Likewise, there's no Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy Tactics, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Spyro, PaRappa the Rapper, Silent Hill, Everybody's Golf or Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. And what about all those fringe classics? Personal picks such as Tomba, Rival Schools, Einhander, R-Type Delta, Raystorm, Lunar: The Silver Star Story Complete, Vagrant Story, Alundra, Xenogears, Ape Escape, Suikoden, Klonoa, Bushido Blade, G-Police or Colony Wars? There's an embarrassment of amazing games on the PlayStation – a fact that pained many a Nintendo stalwart back in the '90s – but you wouldn't necessarily know that from the PlayStation Classic's awkward software selection.
Now, we're fully aware that licencing issues will have prevented many of these titles from appearing, even those owned by Sony itself – Wipeout and Gran Turismo, for example, are packed with music from real artists that would presumably require licencing agreements to be renegotiated – but surely some kind of deal could have been struck? While the list of 20 games included isn't a total loss, it does rather feel like Sony simply picked them at random without considering which titles were seen by fans as the most iconic PlayStation releases.
Performance
Given that both of these machines use software emulation to replicate the original hardware, it is by no means a given that they'll be 100 percent faithful to the real thing – the accuracy of pure software emulation varies massively, even with the power of modern hardware. The off-the-shelf nature of the components used naturally means the software side of things has to be fine-tuned to extract as much performance as possible, and that's precisely what Nintendo did with the SNES Classic Edition; Nintendo's European Research & Development (NERD) created a bespoke set of emulators which run not only standard SNES games, but also titles which used the aforementioned Super FX chip, as well as other enhancement hardware. By adopting this approach, Nintendo has been able to create an incredibly accurate level of emulation.
Sony, in comparison, has taken a slightly different strategy. Rather than create its own emulation software for the PlayStation Classic, it has licenced the pre-existing PCSX ReARMed, which is an ARM port of the popular PCSX emulator. Sony therefore avoids the cost of developing its own emulator from scratch – a task that should never be taken lightly, especially when working to a tight production deadline – and gets a tested and proven piece of software.
The issue, as discussed at length by our friends over at Digital Foundry, is that PCSX ReARMed isn't the most accurate emulator available. Sure, it offers decent performance on relatively humble ARM-based devices, but if you look (and listen) close enough, you'll spot plenty of visual and audio inconsistencies that weren't present on the original console. To make matters worse, Sony has used the 50Hz PAL versions of some games, which – when you consider that the console outputs at 60Hz – creates an ugly 'judder' effect. Digital Foundry does a much better job than we could ever hope to do when it comes to explaining this sorry situation, but the ultimate conclusion is that the PlayStation Classic presents these games in a manner which leaves much to be desired.
It's reasonable to expect some slight variances between the PlayStation Classic and the original hardware; emulation, as we've said, is rarely infallible – and you could argue that most players won't even notice anything is amiss unless both are set side-by-side. However, the performance does feel slightly off, and initially, we were tempted to put this down simply to the fact that nostalgia had perhaps softened our view on these titles, making them seem worse in the cold light of day than they did back in the '90s. However, when you play a game like Tekken 3 – which was silky-smooth on the original hardware – and find that irksome frame drops get in the way of you putting together those finely-honed combos, you realise that something is rotten at the heart of Sony's execution here, rather than your memory sugar-coating reality.
Of course, it's worth pointing out that emulating the SNES and emulating the PlayStation are two very different challenges and even the talented individuals at NERD may have baulked at the prospect of getting an off-the-shelf SoC to reproduce the performance of Sony's 32-bit system to the high standard they usually expect to hit. We guess a true test of Nintendo's approach will come when it inevitably releases the Nintendo 64 Classic Edition, but our gut instinct tells us that with a little more effort, Sony could have made a much better job of this. Will the average person notice, however? That's another question entirely.
Conclusion
It might not be tremendously surprising to find that a site devoted to celebrating Nintendo thinks you should pick the SNES Classic Edition over the PlayStation Classic, but we should point out that like a great many gamers who grew up in the '90s, we owned Sony's machine and have many, many happy memories of playing it. The conclusion we've come to here isn't borne out of brand loyalty, but the simple fact that Sony has badly fumbled this particular release in what we can only assume was an attempt to keep costs down; by avoiding the expense of developing a custom emulator and licencing specific titles, it has ended up releasing a product which, while capable of offering plenty of enjoyment, nevertheless feels compromised in a great many ways. And we take no joy in stating this; as we said, the PlayStation is a legendary piece of gaming hardware which is home to some of the finest pieces of software ever made – it's just a shame that Sony chose not to include more of them, and that it cut corners on emulation to present its 20 games in such a lacklustre fashion.
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Comments 156
I want one, but not until it’s confirmed to be able to be hacked
No bias at all. It's what they all say
Expecting this comment section to be... Lively lol.
Anyways I have the SNES, canceled my preorder on the Ps Classic. Games from that era for the most part have aged horribly imo. I'm no graphics stickler but many of those early polygon games look downright ugly to me now. Some of my favorite franchises got their start on the ps1 and will always have fond memories of it but don't plan on getting it.
The NES and SNES classics allowed me to finally retire my Wii. The PS1 classic gave me plenty of reasons to skip it and keep my PS3 plugged in.
SNES games are easier to emulate compared with PlayStation and I'm surprised Sony used a public emulator over their own emulator route. So I can run both on one raspberry pi (provided you have the carts + disks) and seemingly neither offer anything over the hardware price of a pi plus the controllers. So for me the option is easy - got for a pi. However if I had to choose between both of these, I would choose the SNES with the better emulation and game choice. That said, the PS has a chance to update and fix itself and add some better games - with that, the PS would be more tempting!
The game selection on the PS Classic would had been good if Sony actually knew how to pick. Why they include 9 PAL versions of the 20 games for the NA model is anyone's guess.
Nothing at all against the Ps1 but I believe the 16 bit games have aged alot better than some of the early 3d Ps1 games
I'd even say the same regarding N64 games
im a playstation fan but this is a no brainer. not even a competion. one should have pride place the other a plastic door stop sponsered by sony
From everything I have read, the PS Classic seems to be a big disappointment, not just the game selection but how it runs.
I'm a big fan of both PS and Nintendo systems, but SNES mini obviously had the care and handling to make it great. However the Ps Classic just seems like an attempt at a quick cash grab with all the problems, the biggest being their selection of games is so poor. Some of the other problems probably would have been ignored if their selection was better.
The PlayStation classic is not good. Cancelled my pre-order once I saw the reviews
In shock of the century, a Nintendo-themed fansite recommends a Nintendo product over a Playstation one.
I probably won't buy any of the retro consoles, but the PS1 Classic sounds like a ripoff. Although the system itself is one of my all-time favorites, with its enormous and varied library of classic games.
It's sad, really, and not something you'd expect from Sony, in my opinion. The absence of any decent screen filters, to allow for a slight softening or scan-lining of the graphics is also a considerably weird decision on Sony's part.
And it's strange that the ARM fork of the PCSX emulator works so badly, apparently. I have the original version on PC, and that works just fine, and games can be upscaled to whatever resolution you like and look great, even for their age, and then there's other emulators, such as the one found on the Wii, which is called WiiSX.
Don't know exactly anymore on which original emulator that was based, but it works like a charm, and it too improves graphics quite a bit for modern TV's. No "heat wave effect", to name but one advantage over actual hardware.
I really would have loved the PS Classic if they could have bothered to put Symphony of the Night, Legend of Dragoon or Final Fantasy Tactics in there. The game selection is abysmal and I have nothing against Sony.
Great article until you said Resident Evil has aged badly, not having that 😉
That said the emulation is pretty ropey on the PlayStation classic so I'll wait until it's hacked to get a proper emulator on there and play some PlayStation games such as Die Hard, Tomb Raider and the other Resident Evil games
@Ralizah
Everyone is recommending the SNES Classic over the PS one, not just this site.
The PS1 Classic is being trashed (rightfully so) for its poor emulation and weak game catalog. Comparing the two seems almost unfair.
I'm particularly disappointed because the PS1 is home to some of my favorite games, and none are included in this release. There are, of course, mods, and they may eventually become this little device's saving grace.
My PS 1 classic hasn't even arrived yet, auspost at Christmas, pretty sure they're using possums to run it down from Queensland at this rate. However the emulation quality is so bad I'm not so sure I want it, I might return it and use the money to buy super robot taisen og saga instead.
@subpopz
You're right that they aren't drawing from the same types of games, but that isn't the problem here. The SNES Classic has superior emulation quality and a better library. There are too many great PlayStation games missing in the PS Classic.
It truly does stink that Sony couldn't be bothered to make a higher quality product. I would've been more than happy to drop $100 on a PS Classic that had quality emulations of many high profile games. Also, what was the deal with not including DualShock controllers? Games like MGS and RR4 would've gotten much use from them.
If (IF!) Sony releases a second PS Classic with DualShock controllers, a better emulator and more games that people actually want (Rainbow Six? Really, guys?), I would consider buying that. This one? Hard pass.
I still have my old PSOne and a few DualShocks, so no thank you Sony.
The reviews and feedback on the PS Classic has been really disappointing. Glad I cancelled my preorder in time. Digital foundry was especially damning.
“...the likes of EarthBound, Final Fantasy III, Secret of Mana and Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars from Square.”
Woah! I didn’t know Square made Earthbound?! I guess they’ve ALWAYS been open to Square characters in Smash. I wonder why Final Fantasy only has 2 songs while EB has several in Smash Ultimate, though...
/s
@subpopz
They’re comparing one platform holders Mini Retro’s console with another. It’s a completely viable nd direct comparison. There’s no excuse for them not to be of comparable quality regardless of whether they play games from 20 years ago or 25.
I'm sorta of becoming a collector of these mini classic consoles. Already got the NES, SNES and Neo Geo.
Most likely will also be getting the PS.
And the MD once it releases.
Got room to spare for even more if they decide to make a classic GB, N64, Saturn, Dreamcast... So on and so forth.
The SNES was the epitome of 2D gaming. Playstation, Saturn and N64 were the first gen 3d consoles and have not aged too well naturally.
However there are still some classics that have aged well, though I would argue more N64 games have fared better than PS One games, so it was worth doing the PS Classic.
However Sony completely botched their mini console. Here's hoping Nintendo get it right with the N64 classic.
Not even in the same league. The mini consoles that is. The real deal, that's a harder question to answer. I really want to say PS One if I had to choose between original hardware with a select few games. Actually, the more I think about it, the PS One is my pick between the two.
@IHateTombs The reception for it hasn't been too good on the PlayStation side either, trust me.
Playstation Classic is garbage, bad emulation, using PAL/50 Hz games, tepid selection. The Snes Classic emulator, Canoe, runs all games at 60 Hz and has a higher degree of accuracy. Why the deuce would I choose subpar emulation over a polished product?
Just for comparison, look how botched the PSX Classic screwed up FF7.
Source: Digital Foundry
https://i.imgur.com/JHR4Kod.jpg
This is pathetic.
I loved the ps1 but no scanlines and filters put me off.
@Mgene15 I hope it is never hacked as you say so you learn to enjoy things legally in your life and have people who worked about things you own getting paid for their efforts.
@Cosats Yeah, learn to enjoy garbage emulation and a myriad of slowdown and glitches, yeah, that's a good way to enjoy it.
Kept my pre-order up to today, even after learning the vastly superior Japanese line-up. However the proverbial last straw came about with the DF analysis: Ridge Racer 4 skipping frames is unacceptable for 100€. So 16-bit for me and (yet again) another disappointed costumer with Sony's very odd, very rushed decisions. Plus my PSX might not be outputting in HDMI but it is still work perfectly well and the games on my shelf put these 20 to shame.
@redd214 Totally, there's a reason companies are developing games that look like they're from the 16Bit era like Octopath and not ropey 3D ones from the 32 Bit era. Not aged well at all.
@Shiryu You'd think they'd use their own emulator, but that'd require them to actually gasp put forth a measure of effort on their part. The final straw for me is how bad PAL games run on it, most of the games that use PAL on here don't even need more than one language. I'm pretty sure one can navigate Tekken 3.
@Samwise7 Doesn't help that the PSX GTE (graphics processor) had no means of perspective correction or subpixel precision, making 3D models look like wobbly gelatin figures.
@Cosats
Their getting paid one way or another. The library sucks, quit crying
SNES Classic Edition--and it's not even close.
Now, I think the actual PlayStation Classic console and controller are great, arguably even more so than the SNES Classic, but the whole point is the actual games you're going to be playing, and in this regard the SNES Classic utterly wipes the floor with the PlayStation Classic. And it's not just the games bust even the menu interface/design too, which is just superior on the SNES Classic.
I'm a stickler for well designed and aesthetically pleasing hardware, which both these systems manage easily, but in the ways that ultimately matter, the SNES Classic is the clear winner.
@Mgene15 So does the emulation, can't even run NTSC games at full speed lol.
@Borshi same here I love the mini consoles. Retro gaming is best in my opinion
On Nintendo Life most people who want an SNES Classic will already have an SNES Classic so which one to buy now has to be the Playstation Classic.
If you don't have an SNES Classic because you can't find them in stock, then I guess you can't choose the SNES Classic anyway.
Let blood be shed...
Seriously, the problem with the PS Classic is that the emulation is bad, the games selection is bad, the 3D games have aged badly and it doesn't include the revised controller. So yeah, SNES Classic all the way.
I don't need PlayStation Classic since i already have PS2 SLIM that play both my specific PS2 & PS1 games (Japan version)
The SNES classic by a long shot. Sadly, the PS Classic turned out to be a royal disappointment. The weird game lineup was one thing, but it turns out the emulation is bad.
@Anti-Matter Even better, a PS3 will play all your PS1 games and with a wireless controller.
I hope to see one in the discount bins or garage sales in the future. That will be a good time to grab one.
@MH4 made me do a double take, almost didn’t notice the sarcasm! Must’ve been an error in the article, Earthbound was most definitely first party!
Some of the problems that plague this PS classic, like licensing hell and just how badly old 3D games have aged, is what probably will prevent a N64 classic from being released anytime soon.
I am disappointed that Sony cut corners with this Mini, I love all things retro, but will not pay for poor quality.
It’s the same issue with the ATgames Megadrive Mini. You would have thought with the bad press that got, Sony would have made an effort.
I guess the success of the PS4, its back to the arrogant Sony we saw at the end of the PS2 era.
This goes without saying and given PlayStations game list and weak reviews not surprised at all. Had they put in more effort and added the right games this could have been great but I will pass on the ps1 classic canceled my preorder the day the full game list came out and keep hoping for Nintendo to annnounce the n64 classic
@maruse I think that's actually why we haven't seen a N64 classic yet. And I actually don't think it will happen. We might get a GameBoy classic at some point (with hopefully a working cartridge slot as well as internal memory; but that is just wishful thinking)
Honestly, would’ve been interested in getting a PS Classic if the game list was better. There are definitely a LOT of games that could’ve sold me on it. I care about maybe 3 games on here, and one was FFVII which I have on a couple platforms already.
I get games like Crash and Spyro has remastered but I doubt it would’ve affected their sales. Crash Team Racing would’ve been great. Final Fantasy Tactics is another. Honestly there’s so many goodies - a good lineup for the PS Classic would caught my interest even more than a hypothetical N64 Classic; most N64 games that would be on such a device I already have on my Wii U, which isn’t that far into my storage...
Funny that you can support NintendoLife buying a PS Classic.
The only PS1 game I wish would be released worldwide again to many platforms would be Parasite Eve (maybe 2, but 1 for sure)! That was my childhood! Loved the bosses, the music, the settings were cool, the cutscenes are still pretty cool! ...but Square Enid lost the rights to the story so I doubt they would pursue it again
@subpopz You do realise that both the PS1 and SNES were on sale at the same time right? The last SNES games didn't come until the late '90s, and in 1995 (when it launched in the west) we were still getting SNES releases.
@Cosats they get paid if it sells. It being hacked doesn’t lessen sales in this case, it raises them. The lineup currently is lackluster and isn’t worth a purchase for most people.
SNES all the way. I literally love all of my 73 games on the SNES.
Almost all games never disappoint me.
Had the PS1 had WipEout 2097, Symphony of the Night, Tenchu 2 and Alundra this wouldn’t even be a competition.
But Sony just raided the bottom drawer for roms, didn’t bother to optimise them or offer any modern features like save states and rewinding. To make matters worse the Japanese version gets games like Armoured Core, G-Darius and Parasite Eve.
What the heck?!
The PS classic doesn't even have most of the great games I associated with that system. And don't even get me started on the thing using the PAL versions of games(seriously, why do that?)
The SNES classic on the other hand has such a great library and presentation that it's a no brainer.
Not interested at all.
I would like to play MGS again, but I have better ways available than this.
@Mgene15
As a dumb teen in the early 00's i sold all my old consoles and games for cheap to trade them in for the new stuff.
This classic console line of late is a good way for me to correct the mistakes of my youth.
Id only get this for re directors cut. And it's probabaly not even worth it at that point since there are remasters already out and there's a resident evil 1 coming to switch. Now if Tony hawk was on it, then maybe. My favorite ps1 game ever
@Zeraki "To get more language support" I'm sure they'd claim. Keep the PAL games in the PAL regions. NTSC in NTSC regions, we don't want games that run 18% slower over here.
Ps classic emulates like it's 1999 all over again. I take it back, the emulation then was better.
@Borshi literllay same thing for me. GameStop got me good in my teens
@nesrocks The junky Gateway 2000 I had in 1999 emulated the games better on a free version of Bleem! than this PS Classic does.
That was how I played my copy Mega Man X4 before I got my PS2(that or take it to a friend's house who had a PSX).
this pile of excrement is an insult to the console, the games, and us gamers. It should have been a celebration of the consoles legacy instead all it does is leave a bitter taste in my mouth
@ShadJV Yeah, there was an error. 😆 I couldn’t resist.
I’m pretty sure EB is second party like Kirby, Fire Emblem, and Pokémon, but whatever, it’s still Nintendo’s.
I went back and the error was fixed. Thanks @Damo!
Neither... Both are a waste of money.
There is literally a PlayStation One Classics section on the PSN store.
Parasite EVE 1, 2.
Breath Of Fire 3, 4.
Suikoden 1, 2.
Wild Arms 1, 2.
Final Fantasy Tactics.
Legends of mana
All available for my VITA for PS1 on the GO (never cared to get any)
And I can get every game ever made for the NES/SNES with 1 download for my PC (never cared to do that either)
Here is the thing, I know I am somewhat biased, but Nintendo put a real effort and a certain degree of love into creating the NES and SNES classics. Sony on the other hand hopped on the bandwagon. Like has been said, Nintendo wasn't the first company to do this, but Nintendo's refined and high quality examples set a standard that Sony did not match in either performance or game selection. It is more of a let down when you consider just how nice Sony really could have made their offering.
I however will continue to favor retro games on modern hardware, rather than having several micro consoles hogging HDMI ports under my TV.
For me, I would choose SNES over PS classic, purely from the perspective of the games on offer. One of my favorite systems of all time is the original PlayStation and my fav franchise of all time is Suikoden. But from that list I would only play 6 games on the PS classic compared to 14 on the SNES classic. It's a no brainer for me.
@subpopz
One is more worth your money than the other, I think it's fine to compare them.
Surprised as the first post getting those thumbs down on that comment. Others also noted you really probably don't expect to get an honest breakdown on a VS of those 2 at a Nintendo site.
The sad thing is, they didn't play hard, no softball, that really is just how is it, and they even passed the buck off to that Digital Foundry video to make the case on a third party unbiased level.
Sony screwed up with PAL, inaccurate enough emulation to show/hear, and like 70% of the games on there most wont' care about nor think deserve to be called classic over others. Yes some are license blocked, but a lot are not and you ask why? Look at the developers, Capcom no SF franchise? Konami no SOTN? Square-Enix(owns Eidos) no Tomb Raider or Soul Reaver? Namco no Air/Ace Combat? The list of what the hell is this goes on that wouldn't be blocked.
I wanted it, wasn't going to preorder, but now, unless someone breaks it open I can't make myself pay $50 let alone $100 for that.
I keep a PSOne+LCD combo on my home/work desk and have just over a dozen games. Good stuff even some it has like R4, but also SOTN, Tomba, Diablo and Warcraft 2, Quake II, both Doom releases, Air Combat, Omega Burst and a few others. Some of those could have easily been used.
Well in the review it clearly tells sony had no real intentions to bring back the old days. It was to make money only without doing real research to bring back the old days. Even NL said they were at a lost of games in the included wasn't the one that would bring it back. And putting Pal games on NTSC that show lack Stupidity. It's not worth it would be far better investment to get NES Classic and or SNES Classic or Both. The price they are asking for a dump of product isn't going to sale.
Hmm.... One has an outdated Emulator and runs the games pretty bad, And the other has great Emulation and a Cancelled Game included with it. I wonder which one, I rather have....
PS classic is a big dissapointment. From looking on Ebay it's already being sold below the RRP new with delivery. Reviews have been poor. It seems Sony wanted to jump aboard the Retro Console band waggon but forgot to make something that consumers actually want to buy......
The PS Classic is a train wreck. Even I cancelled my preorder, and I buy practically everything.
1 Right out of the box, cheap packaging with seal stickers that tear the image right off the box when you pull it off
2 No charger included (Nintendo did this too, which they also caught flack for)
3 PAL versions of nearly half the games
4 open source emulator
5 Lame interface, no music playing, no settings or adjustments available, just basic as all heck
6 mediocre game selection
7 downright poor quality of emulation, with games running in slow motion, image glitching, artifacts, etc, all of which can be seen in Digital Foundry’s review
8 Reports of systems frying already, as seen in Dreamcast’s videos.
And lastly, on a personal note, I don’t really like PS1 games. They’ve aged horribly and didn’t look good in the first place, even when they were released. N64 games look horrible, but PS1 is downright atrocious. Games were not ready for full 3D with just 32-bit processing. Aside from the RPG’s, I don’t think I give a crap about a single game on the PSone. I would have liked it just for the nostalgia, but given I’m not really a fan of PSone games in general, and even less of a fan of the games they chose to put on the system, in light of all these other issues there was just no way I was going to part with $100 for that. Only game I really care about on the system is FFVII, and it has problems with music running slower and the swirl image into battles glitching out, Plus I already own the game on PS4, Vita, PC, GPD Win 2 and soon Switch. So yeah.
Solely based on the two products: SNES Classic vs PS Classic it is really not a contest. The Playstation Classic is lacking in features and games that defined the console. The choice on the PS Classic seems to be guided more by "It runs on this" than "It's a fondly remembered game".
The Playstation was an amazing system, and brought in a golden era of gaming because you could find good games for $20. No one really think about the fact that you were mostly looking at older Gameboy games for that price point. The leap from 2D to 3D was also something impressive (even if it doesn't look so good now).
I still not fully understand why they didn't just repurpose the PStv Units that had the ability to run PS1 games and put enough memory in them to keep them.
@WaveBoy if you can even find the original Persona pretty cheap for PlayStation. that's why I've decided to get a PSP to play Persona and Persona 2 for it. (not at this time. but, later.)
Edit: the Original Persona is $20 on PSP. didn't expect a digital version on Playstation Network, less to have worried about with $20+ price for psychical version.
The Japanese version has a slightly better selection, anyway. I still need to play Arc the Lad 2.
I choose 16 bit over 32 any day. 16 Bit games weren't awkward. Camera angles, and polygons were really trying to breakthrough at that point. The learning curve was painful until we hit Dreamcast era...32 bit systems to me were sloppy....SNES and Genesis before PlayStation and Saturn....
@JaxonH "Even I cancelled my pre-order"
If anybody at Sony reads that they should consider recalling it and putting out a new one b/c it does not get much worse than that.
Not too surprising. Nostalgia for old games was never really Sony's specialty. There aren't a lot of people that go back to play GTA 1 or CoD 1 or whatever professional sports game everyone was playing 15 years ago. For the most part they're about having the newest graphics and most powerful specifications, not making classics that actually hold up over time. Which is a fine business strategy (hard to argue with their impressive sales figures!), but classic replica consoles aren't really their lane.
This really reminds me of Sony's 2006 E3 presentation and, more recently, the 2016 Democratic National Convention. In both cases the presenters became arrogant and assumed that, because they won the last two console cycles/presidential elections, they were the natural governing party/industry leader and therefore weren't capable of losing. Thus there was no need to nominate a likeable candidate, present a good lineup of software, campaign in all of the swing states, market the console at an affordable price, avoid giving extremist special interest groups the microphone or pandering to them in the platform, or actually rehearse the speeches (or use better focus groups to eliminate the really awkward parts). Sony seems to be in the same mode now, planning to skip E3 2018 entirely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH2w2l1JTs4
Such a shame that the N64 won't get the chance to avenge itself...
@Mgene15 Exactly the reason I picked up the mini snes and mini nes. Between the two consoles, I can emulate my entire library from including Gameboy and GBA. I also threw some of the more rare and hard to find titles, such as Metal Storm, Little Samson, or Dracula X. If The system has enough room for some good PSX ISO files, I’ll grab one in a heartbeat.
@Joe-b I agree on the count of 3D games. Most of them feel real janky today. Some retain a good amount of jank, such as Mario 64 or Ocarina of Time, but you have to admit that some of those 32-bit pixel art games are stellar.
@rjejr
It's a shame man. I really wanted the PSone to sit next to the SNES. All they had to do was not mess it up. Didnt have to go above and beyond... just don't mess it up. Should have been an easy slam.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me it’s not even a question or a debate. The SNES Classic wins in pretty much every category. Easy decision here.
@goggles789 Yah, it wasn't all bad. But I guess I also like the simplicity of putting a cartridge into the system and getting right to a fun game. I did enjoy some of those games, they weren't all bad. Skies of Arcadia on the Saturn stands out as a classic.
I've been looking into getting a PS2 now coz of games I want and you can play PS1 games in it as well, it be cheaper than this thing lol
@ThanosReXXX While I'm not sure exactly what Sony did to make the PS classic run as poorly as it does, I do know that most PS1 games on a raspberry pi 3 with Retropie run pretty much flawlessly. And the Pi3's A53 Broadcom processor is considerably weaker than the mediatek processor in the PS classic. (That's using the "lr-pcsx-rearmed" emulator, which iirc, the PS classic uses straight "pcsx-rearmed" (which the pi supports too)).
It's a real shame, considering the PS classic would have been a great device for those who don't want to mess with the configuration of a raspberry pi, and just want to relive their some memories from the past.
@marccarran why ? Because i want the official Nintendo or Sony classic consoles. That is why.
I'd choose the SNES because I'd choose the SNES over everything.
I would choose the SNES Classic because it emulates PS1 games better if hacked (saw that when compared on youtube) and it's cheaper, AND I won't support Sony's lazy cash grab that is the PS1 Classic. I was genuinely interested in it until all the info on it broke.
@Link506 So, it would seem that it's not even running poorly due to the emulator itself then?
I do have to make a slight correction on my previous comment, though:
On my PC, I'm actually using ePSXe, not PCSX. But still weird that it runs so poorly. The hardware seems more than reasonable enough, so it should be up to the task.
I have both because I forgot to cancel my PS Classic preorder when the games list was announced. It’s not terrible (and definitely doesn’t warrant the hate it’s getting) but only a few of these games are Nintendo levels of excellent. SNES is the better buy.
I'll pick the one with a kart racer, multiple savestates, iconic franchises and platformers.
I feel Nintendo looks back to the past more often than Sony does and maybe that's why the NES and SNES are arguably better.
Well, truth to be told, i've come to the Point where PSX Graphics are as charming as 8bit and 16bit Games are... i even picked up this Vaccine Game or how it was called for the Nintendo Switch.
Also i can't agree with the People if they say PSX doesn't have good Games or Games which are Iconic as Nintendo, because there are more than enough, also which aged pretty well, the only difference Sony and Nintendo for me is that Nintendo stick to their Games, while Sony focus on new IP's. Even their older IP's are so overhauled, that they hardly feel like their previous Games anymore (look at God of War), so you could say Nintendo is more the traditional experience, while Sony throws at you new things...
But if i look back at the PSX they had really great Games and i'm Happy the even put into some less popular Games than you might expected.
However if it comes down to the Mini-Consoles itself, i'm not the biggest Fan of either of them. For me they are Gimmick-Plattforms which are nice to have, but it's nothing which i would play on. I'm someone who trully can enjoy Games from each era, but the only thing which i can't are things like get back to old Gamepads and such... and for either NES, SNES, nor PSX Controller, even if it might feel more nostalgic, aren't any good Gamepads anymore ... and that's my Issue. I want to have all of this Libraries but i would prefer if they also deliever them for Switch and PS4 where you can buy this Titles, even as "Mini-bundle" ... and i can play this on my modern Consoles (or in Switch Case on the Go) while i enjoy this Great Games. Then again, that might be also the Reason, why you never will see me play SSBU with GC Controllers, because for that example it's the same...
I’ll get a PS1 Classic if when it drops in price.
Well we're in a Nintendo fan page so opinions are biased. True is that 3d aged worse than 2d. Thats why some GBA 2d games looks better than some DS pseudo 3d. Low res 3d sprites look dated. Its the same reason i want a Gamecube mini and not a 64 one. I mean 3DS with Zelda remakes and DS covered that for me.
Well given that this is a Nintendo site it shouldn't come as a surprise at which one you guys would choose
Poor game selection and less than ideal emulation.
PS classic could have blown the competition out of the water if they played the right cards, but that's not the case here.
The japanese version of the PSX mini is more exciting. There is a better selection of games... :/
Arc the Lad
Arc the Lad II
Armored Core
G-Darius
Gradius Gaiden
Parasite Eve
SaGa Frontier
o_O
@WaveBoy
I did say 3D gaming, as that is what I was predominately talking about. Sprite based games look fine.
Haha, Sony, who picked these games. I see 5 games I'd play. Meanwhile they go on to list like 30 games I'd rather play in the article.
I see people talking about the graphics of the Playstation/N64 generation aging bad and while I agree, it's not the problem with the Playstation classic. You could say the same about the graphics and gameplay of many NES games and yet it sold well, hence why SNES classic is a thing. The real problem was that choice of games, it's like they didn't want it to be successful.
While there are a couple notable exceptions (Mario 64, Ocarina, Spyro), most early 3D games have aged like homemade bread. 16 bit games on the other hand have aged like a fine wine or whiskey. There's a reason one style is a continuing hit with indie developers and the other was left behind never to be seen again.
If you're trying to suggest PlayStation is even in the same ballpark as the SNES, you're doing so due to rose-coloured glasses exclusively.
I remember when Sony was industry leader in consumer electronics. It was in the '90s when also the PlayStation was born.
In 2018, Sony is mediocre in consumer electronics. That's when the disappointing PlayStation Classic was born.
@ThanosReXXX I'm not sure. In the world of open-source software , there's such things as "forks". You take a piece of open-source software and you tweak it to your design. The default emulator used in RetroPie(lr-PCXS-rearmed) is a forked version of PCXS-rearmed. (and PCXS-rearmed is a forked version of PCXS).
This is what I think might be the case: lr-PCXS-rearmed might be better optimized as it's completely open-source compared to PCXS-rearmed and better maintained (lr stands for Libre-retro). That and I don't think Sony forked their own version of PCXS-REARMED to try and optimize it for their own hardware.
All-in all, I just hate how this makes open-source software like PCXS-rearmed and its forks look bad. It's not that they're bad, they 've just been set up improperly. I honestly can't wait until the hacking scene gets a good crack at this one - - I really think they can push this to play even more demanding titles than even PS1 games. I mean, heck, this thing is even used in low-end tablets.
I will always choose Nintendo above sony
@JaxonH I watched the entirety of that 30 minute DF vid. Seems like they just cheaped out and put in zero effort. Which really I think would be fine if it was $29.99 or less, like those Atari and SEga boxes which always get panned, but for $99.99 for 20 games, maybe 5 or 7 which were worth it, it seems like a cash grab. I'd rather Square make a 7 for $70 ps4 disc of all their great PS 1 JRPG.
It seems like Sony either rushed out the PS Classic or got an outside company to do it (or both!). It seems as if a fair few of these games were just chosen due to brand recognition of the franchises, instead of the quality of the one that is actually on the system COUGH**COUGH Rainbow Siege. And using an outside emulator that can’t even run properly screams rushed to me.
Next time on Nintendo Life: "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, or getting hit by a car - which should you choose?"
I've got both of Nintendo's classics and adore them. My sister and I were so excited to get the tiny NES (we didn't have the SNES). I would definitely want the N64 Classic.
I seriously considered getting the PlayStation Classic...till I found out what games it had. Really? They could've at least picked "Crash Team Racing", which I've got on my PS3.
None of them. Just buy the originals!
Rayman aside, I don't think any of those games have aged well at all (and others have been remade or have vastly superior sequels that completely render previous instalments obsolete), especially GTA. There is no denying its tremendous influence and impact that it would have, but the first two games are no longer worth playing considering what has followed.
Resident Evil had me ever so slightly tempted, but I would rather wait for a standalone port/remake or retail collection seeing as I have the DS version.
No one likes a bully talk about picking on the easy target.
You should do the Switch vs PS4 based on exclusives, I dare you.
Here's all you need to know. They took a free to use emulator made by someone else and made that emulator worse by physically removing the filters that would of made it much much better. They had to employ somebody to do that.
@Old-Red Sony made a complete mess of this and that canbnot be denied. When the formula for mini consoles is laready laid out bare for you to copy there is absolutely no excuse for this garbage.
Which one should we choose? None.
@YANDMAN Ermmmm... Switch online says hello haha.
Just saying, jumping in to kick someone when they're down is not a great characteristic to have. Everyone and his dog knows the ps classic is a mess. A PS4 vs switch exclusive would be much more balanced and interesting to read. Let's face it though, whoever had Bloodborne was going to win.
I have one and I'm a going to hack it.
@Cosats
It’s impossible to funnel money to the game creators for many of these old games even when buying from the PS store etc. It doesn’t happen at all if you’re buying second hand off eBay etc. And, if you already own the games your gonna struggle to ram the disc or cartridge into your mini console.
Emulation preserves the games we love. Imagine if no one had made roms of ZX Spectrum games. Literally hundreds of games would be lost to time.
I've kept both my orders for the PS One Classic (PAL and Japanese) if for anything but to add to the collection. They can sit next to my collection of SNES/SFC Classics and NES/FC Classics.
Like the SNES classic the hardware is amazing so well recreated love the look but the games are simply odd none of what’s associated with the ps1 is there the SNES mini sort of covered all bases but this is bad no wipeout tomb raider (although I played the original on a friends ps1 a few weeks ago and it’s awful) driver which is still class . I can only assume sotn is not here cos of the collection on PS4
I never liked any Playstation. I only play in Nintendo and Sega consoles.
No interest in the Playstation brand to be honest.
Going with 21 games...
Ape Escape
Castlevania: SotN
Chrono Cross
Colony Wars
Final Fantasy VII
Gran Turismo 2
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Metal Gear Solid
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
Parappa the Rapper
Rayman
Resident Evil 2
Ridge Racer Type 4
Silent Hill
Suikoden 2
Syphon Filter
Tekken 3
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Twisted Metal 3
Vagrant Story
WipeOut XL
Honourable mentions: Bushido Blade, Parasite Eve 1&2, Klonoa,Tobal 2, Tenchu 2, Tomba!, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Silhouette Mirage, Persona 2, Rapid Reload, Einhander, Omega Boost, R-Type Delta, Die Hard Trilogy, Grand Theft Auto, Super Puzzle Fighter, Um Jammer Lammy, In the Hunt, One, Jumping Flash 1&2, Tomb Raider 2, Syphon Filter 2, Suikoden, Wild Arms, Xenogears, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX, Colony Wars 2&3 and Future Cop LAPD.
Meh, why didnt they just make one of these again, but with the built in games?
It's about the same size
It will still make little difference to the overall Playstation classics sales,the masses will just buy it because it's a retro Playstation with lots of games on it.
That wood could use a new paint job...
The PSOne Classic list of games just feel weaker, that's all to it for me. There is about 4 or 5 games I'd throughtly enjoy to replay
@Old-Red If anything the PS4 v.s Switch would be more imbalanced due to the obviously extra raw power the PS4 has. The fact of the matter is this wasn't and isn't about any competiton, Sony just needed to make a good product and actually make it themselves to ensure that. They didn't and they are reaping those benefits. I like many had one pre-ordered. I wanted it to be great.
@YANDMAN I dunno, having recently gone through a lot of the PS4 exclusives, I think the switch still provides a better gameplay experience overall. But my love for Hidetaka Miyazaki games puts Bloodborne at the top. It's obviously a subjective point of view and clearly my own opinion.
I still think the PS One Classic is a good product overall, but the price is too high for what's on offer. If they got it out the door at £50 then I think a lot of people would have forgiven some of the shortcomings on the software.
@KingdomHeartsFan unless you want either of the Star Foxes, or the original Yoshi’s Island...
Not saying those 3 are worth the price of admission, but they’re not available to download legitimately.
As a Nintendo product it will be the same price for an eternity, but the Playstation will be reduced to clear in less than a year!
I have the NES and SNES classics but haven’t opened them. Even if the PS classic wasn’t botched, I wouldn’t get it. I had a blast with the PS at the time, but the 3D graphics didn’t age well. I would have trouble playing N64 classic too.
What I find particularly curious about this is that they picked an ARM processor system on a chip, when they could've instead opted for a MIPS processor. Ingenic still manufacture MIPS system on a chip solutions.
Processor architecture is a big factor in emulation performance, a MIPS device will have a much easier time of emulating another MIPS device, than an ARM device or vice versa.
This is actually what the PSP and PS Vita did such a good job of PS1 emulation, processor architecture match up.
Sony could've used the existing in-house emulation software as the groundwork for a MIPS system on a chip solution, but instead went for an ARM solution with an open-source emulator, I don't understand this.
@Link506 Thanks for the detailed explanation. I do know what forks are, though. I used to be in IT myself: sales & marketing. Mind you, I'm by no means a tech head, but I did at the very least needed to have some basic understanding of what it was, that I was talking about...
SNES.
Need I say more?
Both legendary tech, luckily I have both in there original form. Games like Axelay and Einhander are worth owning these amazing systems for. And that’s just for starters.
I plan on grabbing one for Christmas, I'm a huge Nintendo fan who's never really cared for PS products but this little device looks pretty cool imo, plus most of the games will be new to me since I rode with the N64 during that era
It's cute, but my Dreamcast emulates PS games better than that classic. I'll take the SNES Classic.
What I would really like is a Saturn Classic, with all of the RPGs by Working Designs, the 2D fighters, and Daytona USA for sure (the original with the better music, not CCE).
@subpopz They're being compared as plug n plays.
@JaxonH
Systems frying?!
I was interested in this, but two things bothered me even before the full list was revealed.
The price. $100
The lack of an ac adaptor.
Like, why would I pay $100 for a plug n play, when I can't play it until I spend more money just to plug the bloody thing in?
Having never owned a PlayStation system, I decided to rely on the PS community's reaction to the revealed list. They were at best, lukewarm and at worst very annoyed with the selection and the emulation. So I decided to skip this one.
Oh, well...
@Mgene15 It’s been hacked, but still not worth it. I tried every setting in the built in emulator and could not get the performance that I get with a ps1 emulator on a $30 raspberry pi 3 b+, even on the non-pal games. This is the most disappointed product I’ve ever purchased from Sony, and that includes the ps2 non-backwards compatible version of the PS3.
Really, the PS Classic's lineup should have been entirely of Japanese-developed games.
And been loaded with shoot-em-ups from top to bottom.
Philosoma, Raiden Project, Gradius Gaiden, Night Raid, G. Darius, Gunbird, Two-Tenkaku, Geki-Oh Shienryu, R-Type Delta, Xevious 3D/G+, RayStorm, Einhander, Gaia Seed, Sonic Wings Special, even the dodgy, blurry port of DoDonPachi.
This is a joke review and I'm not sure why I even read it. SNES always would win because of the games. Even the hardware itself (excluding emulation) is superior thanks to the SNES controller being the SNES controller. The PS one is trash and too stiff, and I don't care it's a 100% reproduction, because that's simply a reproduction of all its flaws. The d-pad - the primary control mechanism - must be one of the worst in history. Sorry Sony, you stuffed it up, and should be sued for even using the "Classic" name. More like the Sony Trashy. I only wish I made a pre-order so I could cancel it with glee! So whenever I see it in the store I'll lift a leg in a mock urination pose and give it the metaphoric spray it deserves.
The comparison is not fair, well the #SNES is more flexible and open!!
As great a console as the PS1 is/was, the SNES classic beats the PS Classic hands down, due to better emulation software and a game library that feels like a better representation of the best of its era.
Ironically it's the great software library of the original PlayStation that makes the PS Classic so disappointing, to me at least: where are Final Fantasy 8/9/Tactics/Chronicles/Origins? Suikoden 2? Persona 2? Silent Hill? What about the other great Square RPGs (Xenosaga/Chrono Cross/Vagrant Story/etc.?) What about Ape Escape? Parappa? Castlevania:SOTN? Tony Hawk? Tomb Raider? etc.
If you want a great mini-console that runs all of the above as well as any PS1 game on PSN, I recommend... the PlayStation TV!! If Sony had simply repackaged the PS TV in the PS Classic shell you would have a PS1 emulation system that plays any game on PSN, and also happens to play PSVita and PSP games, and PS4 Remote Play, and Netflix – though sadly it is 720p only. It sips power, so you can run it off your TV's USB port, and it works with DualShock3/4 wireless controllers. The worst thing about the PS TV is that it (and the Vita) rely on Sony's proprietary Memory Sticks, which are embarrassingly expensive and max out at 64GB.
An upgraded PSTV with 1080p, improved emulation software (including CRT emulation), SD card support, and a nice PS1 retro case would be the real PS Classic that we actually want. Add a PS1-style DualShock wireless controller and I would probably be throwing my money at Sony.
edit: the PS TV hit a low price of something like $26 new on Amazon/eBay. Now it seems to be jumping up in price, perhaps as people are realizing that besides the boring case it's a better PS Classic than the PS Classic.
@Neopolss Sony lost its lawsuit against Connectix/Virtual Game Station on appeal, but then managed to settle out of court with the bankrupt Connectix, acquiring the company and killing the product. Nonetheless it is an important ruling for emulation.
Following up on other comments, why didn't NintendoLife and PushSquare team up for this comparison? That would be a bit more interesting I think!!!
@HikaruKitsune Wow, that is a nice list of games. I think that's the problem - too many great games and no way to pick the ones you actually want; unlike the PSP/PSVita/PSTV/PS3 which all support PSN, and the PS2/3 which play actual PS1 discs!
@RupeeClock Sony really phoned it in with the PS Classic, but what is puzzling is that the PSVita/PSTV (ARM based) has a perfectly decent PS1 (and PSP!) emulator built into it!! Why they didn't go with a variant of the PSVita/TV OS is baffling.
Love me some PlayStation but what they did with the PS Classic is an embarrassment and catastrophe to its brand name imo.
Instead of making a mini console it can be proud of and doing things in house like Ninty, it opted to use a poor open source emulator as a base, then opted to put a half ass list of games together which not only run poorly as it is but approve half of them to be PAL versions which run even worse.
Combine that with it’s no frills ugly UI based on the memory card management system from back in the day with absolutely no charm, flare or music to go along with it and Christ to me the PS classic is nothing short of an atrocious dumpster fire.
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