Console makers understand that gamers can get nostalgic, and sometimes excessively so. That’s why we’ve seen the release of the SNES Classic Mini, the NES Classic, and the Sega Megadrive Mini. Now Sony has jumped on the train to Nostalgiatown (which is right next to Flavourtown, we believe) and will release the PlayStation Classic mini console based on their first bit of gaming hardware. But we knew that already.
What we didn’t know was the full roster of games that will be launching with it. Sony only announced a handful at the initial reveal but now we have a complete lineup of 20 pre-loaded games that will come with the PlayStation Mini. It’s safe to say some fans are slightly underwhelmed by the recent announcement. Some expected titles didn’t wind up making the grade.
Users have taken to Twitter to voice their concerns, and it mostly comes down to the fact that the list doesn’t include all-time favourites like Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, Gran Turismo, and Madden’98. What’s the point of rebooting the PS1 console if we’re not going to get to play the classics?
Polygon has compiled a few reasons why Sony couldn’t include some of the old titles, and the list includes licensing issues with music and content in first-party games, current remakes and remasters of many older titles (like Crash Bandicoot and the Spyro series), and the fact that many of those games were published by a third party. Overcoming every one of those obstacles would have made the PlayStation Classic a losing proposition for Sony.
Many hardcore fans may be bummed out by this list — but there are reboots and remasters available for most of the classics on PS3 and PS4. As for the rest, the list just isn’t that bad. We’d pick up the console on the strength of Grand Theft Auto (Gouranga!), Syphon Filter, Tekken 3 (still the best Tekken), Metal Gear Solid and Ridge Racer Type 4 alone.
The PlayStation Classic goes on sale on 3 December, but we don’t know where you’ll be able to find it locally yet. Check out the full list of games below.
- 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
Source: Sony Blog