PlayStation Turns 19

19 years ago today, Sony released their PlayStation console to American audiences. If you remember walking away from the store with your brand new console, Rayman or Battle Arena Toshinden in hand, you’re allowed to feel a terrifying mix of nostalgia and ancientness. Since then, there have been nearly 8000 releases for the console worldwide, with some classics getting re-released on their original format well into this century. 

Made available in the US on September 9th 1995, the PlayStation blew away audiences with its surprising graphical power and quickly became popular. Released alongside the likes of Ridge Racer, Rayman, Battle Arena Toshinden and Street Fighter: The Movie, there were some decent titles on offer that would keep gamers happy until massive hits like Abe’s Odyssey and Final Fantasy VII came along later. More popular games would continue being re-released for the format quite frequently well after the lifespan of the console, with a Metal Gear Solid collection being released in 2007, a Resident Evil set in 2011 and a box filled with Final Fantasy titles in 2012.

Although few of us are still playing PlayStation 1 games on a daily basis, it’s impossible to deny the effect that that console had on many of us, and the classics that are still well worth checking out.