Best Licensed Games For PlayStation 1

The first PlayStation console featured plenty of classic games that live in the hearts and minds of gamers around the world. Nostalgia plays a big part in how fondly we remember older games. However, some games are just as amazing now as they were then.

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Although licensed games tend to have a negative reputation, plenty of licensed PlayStation 1 games fit the bill of beloved PS1 titles that are just as good now as they were back in the 90s and early 00s. This list will celebrate eight licensed classics for the PlayStation 1 that were fantastic in terms of gameplay, graphics (for the time), and their enjoyment factor.

8 Bugs Bunny: Lost In Time

A Hopping Platformer With Looney Mechanics

• Released 1999
• Developed by Behaviour Interactive
• Published by Infogrames
• Platform game

The first of two Looney Tunes games on this list, Bugs Bunny: Lost In Time is a solid platformer where players take on the role of the titular prankster himself. After getting stuck in a time slip, players must collect a certain number of golden carrots and clocks to travel through five different eras to get Bugs home.

Each stage has a certain number of carrots or clocks that players must collect. When they are collected, new areas become available. Each era is represented by a hub that can be accessed via a time machine. The game features basic combat and platforming, but also fun Looney Tunes-style wackiness that adds some uniqueness, such as Bugs being able to burrow underground to avoid enemies or descend from high platforms by using his ears as propellers.

7 Looney Tunes: Sheep Raider

Stealthy Sheep Theft Delivers Enjoyable, Classic Antics

Another Looney Tunes game, Looney Tunes: Sheep Raider is a surprisingly engaging stealth and puzzle game that puts players in the crafty paws of the red-nosed Ralph Wolf. The goal of the game is to steal sheep, but it’s easier said than done, as the flock is under the watchful eye of Sam the Sheepdog.

Players need to steal sheep without alerting Sam, and they can do so by ordering various gadgets from ACME to help him do so. There are all sorts of ways to capture sheep, such as by luring them with lettuce or using sheep-attracting perfume. Ralph can also hide in bushes and quietly tiptoe around so as not to alert Sam. Sam gets quicker each level, so sheep-stealing gets more and more difficult as the game progresses.

Looney Tunes: Sheep Raider is a highly enjoyable PS1 classic that manages to do what a lot of contemporary games can’t: make stealth mechanics incredibly fun.

6 Ghost In The Shell

Written and Designed By The Original Manga Author

The Ghost in the Shell franchise has had its ups and downs over the years, but the 1997 PlayStation 1 game was one of its high points. Original manga author Masamune Shirow wrote the story for the PlayStation game and also illustrated the art, so the game, in many ways, is as close to the source material as it is possible to be.

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In the game, players control a robotic tank fighting vehicle known as the Fuchikoma. The vehicle is spider-like in terms of mechanics and design, as it can hang from ceilings and climb on walls. The tank has guided missiles and two machine guns that are used in the combat of the game. Controlling the Fuchikoma is very fun and was a unique feature for the time.

Despite criticism being aimed at the somewhat repetitive nature of the game levels, the Fuchikoma design and controllability were so impressive that it made Ghost In The Shell one of the best licensed PS1 games.

5 Alien Trilogy

The First Three Alien Movies In One Game

There have been some great Alien games over the years, and some not-so-great ones. However, Alien Trilogy for the PS1 was one of the best — and is still one of the best today.

The plot of the game is loosely based on the plot from the first three movies, as players take on the role of Ellen Ripley. During the game's 30 levels, various features from the Alien franchise come into play, such as the titular aliens and the iconic chestbursters and face huggers. Weapons and equipment from the movies are also present, including the classic pulse rifle.

In addition to being praised for its faithful recreation of the creepy atmosphere from the films and the depth of the shooting gameplay, Alien Trilogy also utilized motion capture technology. This was a huge new technological advancement for the time, making it a game that is not only one of the best licensed PlayStation 1 games, but also an influential one in the history of motion capture in gaming.

4 Hercules

2D Side-Scrolling Mythological Adventure

Disney released various licensed video games based on their classic movies for the PlayStation 1, and many of them were surprisingly great. One of the best Disney-licensed games is Hercules, which combines action platforming and side-scrolling with two-dimensional graphics.

Although the game is mostly 2D, similar to the Disney NES games, it takes things to the next level with a 32-bit style. This style acts as a bridge of sorts between the previous generation of Disney gaming and the current one (for the time), giving it a unique nature.

The game's graphics are also incredibly well done, using hand-drawn animation to create sprites that integrate perfectly with the surroundings. The game doesn't limit itself either; while most levels are side-scrolling, boss battles and certain events change things up to a third-person perspective.

Although some critics thought the gameplay was somewhat superficial, the impact that the Hercules PS1 game had on the next generation of Disney games is undeniable.

3 Die Hard Trilogy

Three Game Genres In One

Much like the Alien Trilogy, the Die Hard Trilogy condensed the three main movies from the series into one game. The difference is that each movie in the Die Hard trilogy game was represented by a different genre, making for a versatile and engaging action PS1 title.

In the trilogy game, Die Hard is a third-person shooter, Die Hard 2 is an on-rail shooter, and Die Hard with a Vengeance is a driving simulator. Each section follows the events of the corresponding film. For example, the Die Hard section requires players to navigate their way around Nakatomi Plaza, rescuing hostages and killing terrorists as they go. Die Hard 2 focuses on shooting terrorists in Dulles Airport, while Die Hard with a Vengeance allows players to drive around New York City to find and defuse explosives.

Not only was the Die Hard Trilogy a critical and commercial success, but all three sections were incredibly fun and well-designed. The Die Hard Trilogy is undoubtedly a gold-level licensed game that still holds up when played today.

2 Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear To The Rescue!

3D Platforming With Fun Combat

While Hercules had a 2D graphics style that integrated some 3D elements, Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue was a fully 3D title that gave players much more free rein than most Disney games that came before it.

Players take on the role of Buzz as they loosely follow the plot of Toy Story 2. Woody has been kidnapped, and it’s up to Buzz and the rest of Andy’s toys to save him. Players navigate around different areas, including Andy’s house, the local neighborhood, and Al’s Toy Barn. Platforming using Buzz’s wings to double jump is a major element of the game, as is attacking enemies with his wrist laser and spin attack. His laser can also be aimed, which changes the camera to a first-person perspective.

With fun and innovative gameplay, Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue was not only a great Disney game, but also one of the best licensed PlayStation 1 games.

1 Spider-Man

A Swinging Adventure With Familiar Mechanics

There is no denying that the first Spider-Man game for PlayStation One was iconic. Without it, we might have never gotten the critically acclaimed 2018 Marvel’s Spider-Man from Insomniac Games.

The PlayStation 1 Spider-Man puts players in the red and blue spandex of Peter Parker/Spider-Man as he tries to clear his name after he is framed by a doppelganger. Players traverse the game world by web-slinging short distances, crawling on ceilings and walls, and zipping to certain points. In combat, Spidey uses limited web cartridges that can web up enemies. He can also fight in simple-but-fun hand-to-hand combat.

Various iconic Spidey villains appear in the game, such as Venom, Doctor Octopus, and Rhino, to name a few. Stan Lee also narrates as players progress, which is a nice touch. Players can also unlock different costumes for Spider-Man as they play — some grant different buffs, but others are purely cosmetic.

So many of the mechanics seen in recent Spider-Man games are implemented in this PlayStation 1 classic. From the web-slinging to the costume variations and combat, the modern Spider-Man games just wouldn’t have been possible without the blueprints from games such as this one.

As well as being tons of fun, with well-developed mechanics and surprisingly clear graphics for the PS1, Spider-Man for the PlayStation 1 is one of the classic superhero video games that paved the way for the genre to become what it is today. Not only is it a legendary game in its own right, but it also takes the crown for the best licensed PlayStation 1 game.

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