3 of the Most Underrated PS1 Games Are Coming to Modern Systems

by

The PlayStation 1 marked a turning point, blending the feel of older games with the possibilities of modern technology. As the first widely popular console to use CDs, it allowed developers to create much larger and more detailed games. Titles like Final Fantasy VII and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night really showcased what the PS1 was capable of.

While games like Resident Evil 2 are well-remembered, many other great PlayStation 1 titles haven’t gotten the recognition they deserve. A prime example is the Battle Arena Toshinden fighting game series. The original game was even released when the PS1 first launched in the US, but the series as a whole didn’t receive much attention at the time. Now, Battle Arena Toshinden is being updated for modern consoles, giving players a chance to experience these PS1 classics.

Battle Arena Toshiden Is a Forgotten PS1 Franchise That Deserves a Comback

Fighting games were incredibly popular in the 1990s, with series like Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Street Fighter becoming massive hits. However, many other worthy fighting games didn’t achieve the same level of recognition, and the Battle Arena Toshiden series is a prime example of a hidden gem.

Though the series wasn’t a massive success and isn’t widely remembered now, it still had a dedicated fanbase. The first game spawned three sequels, and at its peak, Battle Arena Toshiden even inspired an anime series that expanded on the game’s storyline.

Edia, a Japanese company known for bringing classic games back to life, is planning to release the original Battle Arena Toshiden trilogy on today’s consoles. While they haven’t announced exactly which consoles will get the games, Edia is targeting a release sometime in 2026 or 2027. This is great news for fans of retro gaming, giving them a chance to revisit or discover this classic series.

The Original Battle Arena Toshinden Was Ahead of Its Time

The original PlayStation launched with several memorable titles, and Battle Arena Toshinden was a standout alongside games like Rayman. It was an early attempt at a 3D fighting game with weapons, and surprisingly, it came out in 1995 – a full year before the first Soul Calibur game, Soul Edge.

Similar to other popular fighting games, Battle Arena Toshinden lets players choose from a large roster of characters. The story centers around Eiji Shinjo, who is searching for his missing brother, Sho. His search leads him to a risky, hidden fighting competition viewed by a select audience.

The fighting tournament attracts competitors from all corners of the globe, like Sofia, a Russian detective who wields a whip, and Run-go Iron, an American miner entering the competition to find his lost wife and son. While these kinds of characters are common in fighting games, each one is compelling and has a believable reason for fighting.

The heart of any fighting game is how it plays, and Battle Arena Toshinden excels in this area. Designed for the original PlayStation controller – which didn’t have analog sticks – it still feels smooth and responsive. Once players learn each character’s special moves, they’ll be ready to tackle anything the game throws at them.

A really cool part of the game is its desperation attacks – these are strong moves you can only pull off when your character is almost defeated, with less than 10% health. This allows for exciting comebacks and makes the fights much more engaging. When the PlayStation 1 first came out, there weren’t many games available – only 11! Because of this, a lot of people tried the fighting game, and it sold well overall.

Battle Arena Toshinden 2 Improves On the Original in Every Way

Battle Arena Toshinden 2 first appeared in arcades and quickly improved on the original game, despite being released only a year later. It kept the core fighting elements – like powerful desperation attacks – but added new features. These included faster combos and an overdrive gauge, letting players unleash even stronger attacks by building up a combo streak.

This game continues the story from the previous one, bringing back all the original fighters. It also introduces a host of new characters, like Chaos, a wild fighter wielding a scythe and shield, and Tracy, an American police officer who enters the competition while looking into an unsolved mystery.

Despite receiving good reviews, the game faced much tougher competition than its predecessor. It sold reasonably well in Japan, but sales in the United States were lower, reaching only 133,491 copies on the PlayStation. Fortunately, even though it didn’t perform as expected, it was successful enough to warrant a sequel.

Battle Arena Toshiden 3 Is the Best Game in the Entire Series

Released for the PlayStation in 1997, Battle Arena Toshiden 3 built upon the success of the original game. It featured twice as many playable characters and a much more detailed story. Unlike the first game, where fighters simply competed against each other, this installment introduced a plot where they also worked together to defeat the organization behind the Battle Arena Toshiden tournament.

As a fan, I was really excited to see how Battle Arena Toshiden 3 built on what came before! Not only did they expand the story, but they seriously polished the combat. The combos felt even smoother, and they added a cool option to pick how the game ran – you could choose a solid 30 frames per second, or a faster 60, though that one wasn’t quite as stable. Plus, they completely redesigned the arenas! Now they’re fully enclosed, which meant you could really punish opponents by slamming them into the walls or ceiling – it added a whole new level of strategy!

Even though Battle Arena Toshiden 3 was improved, it only sold 95,019 copies in Japan and 50,952 in the US – significantly fewer than earlier games in the series. A final installment, Toshiden 4, was released with a new set of characters, but it wasn’t released outside of Japan, and the Battle Arena Toshiden series isn’t widely remembered now.

With these games now available on today’s consoles, players can rediscover some truly hidden gems. It’s a shame that Toshiden 4 isn’t included with the first three games, but hopefully it will be added later if these releases are successful. Regardless, Edia’s new collection is bringing well-deserved attention to these underappreciated titles.

Read More

2025-11-05 05:10