Final Fantasy 7 was released for the PS1 in 1997 and quickly rose to power as a dominating force on the console. It’s easy to see why it became a favorite among fans of the franchise, leading Square Enix to greenlight various other Final Fantasy 7 projects, including sequels, prequels, movies, books, and more.
10 PS1 Games That Got Remakes (& What They Were Released For)
The PS1 was a treasure-trove of classic games that are still enjoyable to this day. These titles all got remakes years later, much to fans' delight.
Perhaps the biggest project within this sub-franchise has been the remake trilogy, starting with Final Fantasy 7 Remake in 2020. Serving as both part one of a remake trilogy along with being a secret sequel to the original game, the scope of the story has been greatly expanded in the two entries released so far. Are there any PS1 games that would benefit from this same remake treatment with the same absurd scope and budget?
Final Fantasy 9
More Than Rumors
Final Fantasy 9
- Released
- July 7, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Violence, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
There have been rumors about Final Fantasy 9 being the next game to get a remake for a while, and it seems like it would only be a one-and-done situation, not a trilogy. While it would be cool to get a remake of FF9 in any capacity, an expanded adventure would be great for the series, too.
After all, this game was intended to be a send-off to classic Final Fantasy games in 2000. Between Alexandria and Lindblum, these two kingdoms could be so much bigger in a remake. Also, the original Final Fantasy 9 came packaged on four discs, so it was a large adventure already. There's plenty to draw on when planning out a remake.
Metal Gear Solid
Shadow Moses As A Bigger Island
Metal Gear Solid
- Released
- October 20, 1998
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
- Genre(s)
- Stealth
Metal Gear Solid was already remade once on the GameCube, a version that has never been re-released. Beyond having snazzier cutscenes, the game itself wasn’t any bigger or better, and it has now been over 20 years since its release. Another modernization is definitely overdue.
The game takes place on an island, Shadow Moses, and Solid Snake sneaks right onto the base during the introduction. That base could be bigger in the remake if the opening remains the same, but letting players explore an open-world island with multiple facilities would be even cooler. The absence of Hideo Kojima at the helm of this project would be sad, but Konami has plenty of talented people still working at the studio who could pull this off.
Mega Man Legends
Island Hopping
Mega Man Legends
- Released
- August 31, 1998
- ESRB
- e // Animated Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom Production Studio 2
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Maybe, instead of a sequel, fans could at least play a remake of the first Mega Man Legends game. After the first initial dungeon, Mega Man and crew crash-land on Kattlelox Island, and that’s where the entire game takes place.
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A remake could expand the size of the island on top, as well as what they find down below. The remake could also have the island not appear until later into the adventure, instead beginning with the crew investigating other, smaller islands like they did in the sequel. Airship controls would also be an amazing new addition to Mega Man Legends.
Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
Remaking THE Metroidvania
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
- Released
- October 2, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Animated Blood and Gore, Animated Violence
- Developer(s)
- Konami
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania, Action RPG
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one of the main games behind the popularization of the Metroidvania genre, taking what Super Metroid did and adding RPG elements. It’s one of the most beloved entries in the series, as is with Alucard as a playable character.
While there have been attempts at 3D Castlevania games, none of them have hit as hard as the 2D games. A remake of this classic could bridge the gap and incorporate new elements, like going outside the castle walls, or even having more gameplay as Trevor Belmont in the prologue section. It's been a while since the last Castlevania game, so why not start the comeback with the return of the best game in the series?
Dino Crisis
Moving Past Evil
Dino Crisis
- Released
- August 31, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
A Dino Crisis remake is a game Capcom fans have been asking for ever since the developer started remaking Resident Evil games. A sequel would also be nice, but there’s potential in a remake of the first game to get the ball rolling.
Essentially, the premise is Jurassic Park, but one that leans into the horror elements more. Specialists are sent in to investigate why the island goes quiet, only to find that dinosaurs are running amok. The game is set within a secluded research facility, while a remake could expand the scope and feature more outdoor locations and a wider variety of dinosaurs.
Parasite Eve
The Streets Of NYC
Parasite Eve
- Released
- September 9, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Violence, Mature Sexual Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- Horror, Action RPG
Parasite Eve is one of the greatest horror games to ever hit the PS1, because it was also an RPG and very unique in the genre. In many ways, it still is. Taking place in NYC, players could fast travel between locations as they investigate a paranormal case involving people becoming goo and animals mutating.
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With every 10/10 game released, there were a few oddities that helped stabilize the PS1 platform.
These areas, including an opera house, a hospital, the police precinct, a zoo, and more, were not that big, and they could definitely have more substance added to them in a remake. Also, allowing players to physically drive their car from place to place would be a big addition, too, helping the city feel more cohesive.
Xenogears
A Second Chance
Xenogears
- Released
- October 20, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Xenogears is a project that got out of hand on the PS1, and it was originally planned to be much larger. The second disc was cut down significantly and featured more dialogue instead of gameplay. If there was ever a game in need of a remake, this game would be it.
A group of developers who worked on Xenogears at Squaresoft at the time went off to form Monolith Soft, which then led to Xenosaga and then Xenoblade Chronicles. It would be amazing if Square Enix collaborated with Monolith Soft and Nintendo to get an exclusive remake on Switch 2.
The Legend Of Dragoon
Adding A Real World
The Legend of Dragoon
- Released
- June 14, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- JapanStudio
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
The Legend of Dragoon had a similar issue to Parasite Eve, as players could only use the world map to travel to set destinations, rather than traveling there organically. This went against world map designs of most turn-based RPGs at the time, including Final Fantasy 9, as it decreased the opportunity for exploration. A remake could add more exploration in-between town and dungeon locations.
Also, dragons played a big role in the story, but they weren't as present in the actual gameplay as fans would have liked. A remake could increase their presence throughout, from combat assistance to riding them around the world.
Memories Only PS1 Kids Have
For anyone who grew up with the PS1 as their home console, they more than likely share these formative gaming memories with others from that era.