My brother and I had a PlayStation growing up in the 90’s, though it served as a JRPG machine more so than anything else. All the Final Fantasy games, Legend of Dragoon, Breath of Fire III and IV; heck, I even played Chrono Trigger for the first time on the console as part of Final Fantasy Chronicles with its ridiculously bad load times. As a result, I didn’t really expand my horizons beyond my favorite genre at the time. It turns out that I missed out on a lot of great games.

Now there are certainly some heavy hitters on the PlayStation that I’ve never touched - Silent Hill and Tomb Raider are two that immediately come to mind. But there are also a lot of hidden gems, obscure releases, and games that only came out in Japan. I’ve been watching a lot of Sean Seanson videos lately, a wonderful YouTuber who often highlights lesser-known PS1 games. So now I’m dipping back into the PS1 catalog in a big way.

What better way to do this than to start a blog series! It’s time to discover what I missed out on in my youth. In this first post, I cover a lot of obscure or Japan-only games, but I plan to bounce around and also try some more popular titles as well. Let’s jump right in with game #1…

Gamera 2000

Year: 1997 (JPN only)

Developer: Surveyor Corp.

Publisher: Daiei Digital Entertainment

PlayStation’s Panzer Dragoon featuring the kaiju Gamera is an undeniably great elevator pitch. It also proves fruitful in execution as evidenced by Gamera 2000, a Japan-only release from 1997. The Panzer Dragoon comparison truly encapsulates the mechanics of the game - it’s a 3D rail shooter in which you take control of an aircraft with a manual rapid-fire weapon and homing missiles that lock on to enemies. You can also charge up Gamera to trigger a strong spinning attack in which he seeks out enemies, which can be bolstered by shooting him (??). Don’t worry, he’s always fine.

The mechanics are familiar and simple, but where Gamera 2000 really shines is in its presentation. It looks incredible for a 1997 game, with striking animations and scene transitions that ooze so much style. It also features a standout soundtrack courtesy of Zuntata, the house band of Japanese developer/publisher Taito. Seriously, the soundtrack is worth the price of admission alone. Perhaps my favorite aspect though is the regular appearance of FMV cutscenes that are so bad they’re good. You know the ones - stilted dialogue, melodramatic performances, and hamfisted plot threads. And it’s all in English!

Gungage

Year: 1999 (JPN and PAL only)

Developer: Konami

Publisher: Konami

Konami had a prolific output on the PlayStation, and yet Gungage goes mostly unrecognized. That’s probably because it only came out in Japan and PAL territories in 1999. It’s a shame, because there’s a lot to like about this game. It’s a third-person shooter set in a sci-fi world in which you mow down dangerous beasts for… some reason. There’s not much of a plot but it makes up for that in its ambition. You unlock characters along the way that play quite differently, each with new weapons and abilities. Characters also mix up the order of levels which provides a nice change of pace. The boss battles also stand out as a highlight - they’re not super difficult, but they offer variety in how they require the player to recognize unique attack patterns and offer noteworthy visual spectacles.

I also enjoyed the hidden flowers you can collect across playthroughs. They encourage players to explore each level fully, and even require more involved navigation and platforming. Unfortunately the platforming doesn’t feel great; in fact, the controls in general are the weakest part of Gungage. They’re very sluggish, the lock-on system isn’t particularly reliable, and manipulating the camera is a chore. It’s a shame, because with more refined controls, I think Gungage would be remembered as one of the better Konami games on the PlayStation.

But on a positive note, the first protagonist’s name is Wakle Skade. WAKLE SKADE. It’s so incredibly stupid and I love it.

iS: internal section

Year: 1999 (JPN only)

Developer: Positron

Publisher: Square

iS: internal section is another Japan-only release that was actually published by Square. It falls into the so-called “tube shooter” genre - think Tempest and you get the idea. On both a presentation and gameplay level, this holds up about as well as any other PlayStation game I can think of. I know that’s very high praise, but it’s genuine. It feels like the kind of arcade-esque experience that could come out today, with its slick, vibrant visuals that rely on minimalist textures and pulsating electronic soundtrack. It reminds me a lot of Rez, a game that I still think looks and sounds fantastic in 2024.

The mechanics are simple like most other games in the genre, but the weapon wheel features 12 different weapons based on the Chinese Zodiac. Cycling through all of them can feel cumbersome, though the game does allow the option to customize the wheel by rearranging or even removing certain weapons. There are definitely a few that are far more powerful than others - I used the Monkey a lot - but the variety is much appreciated. I also enjoy that the boss fights mix up the gameplay a bit, changing from the traditional tube structure to a far more open, spherical view.

I don’t really have anything negative to say about iS: internal section - it’s cool as hell and PlayStation fans should definitely check it out.

Panzer Bandit

Year: 1997 (JPN only)

Developer: Fill-in-Cafe

Publisher: Banpresto

Panzer Bandit is yet another Japan-only release that deserves way more recognition. Released in 1997, this side-scrolling beat ‘em up takes inspiration from Treasure’s Guardian Heroes, though it can be argued that Guardian Heroes was inspired by Fill-in-Cafe’s 1994 release Mad Stalker: Full Metal Forth. In any event, Panzer Bandit certainly holds that DNA with its flashy combat and suite of unique playable characters. The combat is straightforward enough with the option for special attacks and powerful throws that prove very helpful. It feels a bit too “button mashy" at times, but there’s still plenty of challenge. I tend to be pretty bad at beat ‘em up games though, so don’t take my word for it. The lack of enemy variety also stands out as a big weakness - you’ll be fighting the same robot enemies in just about every level. At least the boss fights are memorable.

Panzer Bandit has a strong soundtrack, but the bright and vibrant art style is what I enjoyed most about the game. It all really pops on the screen and is far more palatable to my tastes compared to something like Guardian Heroes. The character and enemy designs are charming and it emphasizes a lot of personality in its look. I’m surprised this game isn’t talked about more. It’s a simpler combat system compared to some of its contemporaries, but the presentation and consistency of the experience throughout make it an easy recommendation.

Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman

Year: 1999

Developer: UEP Systems

Publisher: Agetec

First, please watch the opening movie for Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman. The theme song - “Johnny No More” - truly captures the spirit of this obscure 1999 release. It’s bold, silly, and surprisingly catchy. Actually playing Rising Zan mirrors that experience. It’s a third-person action game in which you take control of a wild west gunman who has turned to the life of a samurai. Thus, you wield a katana and a revolver as you return to your hometown and take down an evil organization. The combat is more focused on the melee portion, and it’s decent overall. You have some simple combos with the use of the d-pad and X button, and there’s even an option to lock-on and strafe around enemies for more defensive maneuvers.

Unfortunately the controls and game feel in Rising Zan hamper the experience. The lock-on system is strange and you have to hold the L1 button for a brief second to recenter the camera which never feels quite right. I appreciate the floating jump that uses your katana as a propeller, but even that is a bit too loose and unwieldy. I wouldn’t say I disliked playing the game, but it wasn’t my favorite thing about Rising Zan. That distinction belongs to the game’s charm and personality.

Rising Zan is a wild and daring game in that there are so many silly and crazy moments throughout. There are quick time events in which you do things like fly at a flamethrower cannon. You play baseball against a maneki-neko (“beckoning cat”). Every time you defeat a boss you mash a bunch of buttons as the theme song plays. These moments always put a big, stupid grin on my face, and they’re what make Rising Zan a singular game within the PlayStation catalog.