PlayStation Games Collection

The original PlayStation (PS1 or PSX), released by Sony in 1994 (Japan) and 1995 (North America), revolutionized the gaming industry as the first successful CD-based console. Its 32-bit architecture enabled true 3D graphics and full-motion video, with landmark titles like Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, and Gran Turismo pushing gaming into mature storytelling and cinematic presentation. The PlayStation's controller introduced shoulder buttons and later the DualShock analog sticks with force feedback. The console's success (over 102 million units sold) came from Sony's aggressive courting of third-party developers, excellent CD audio capabilities, and appeal to older audiences. It effectively ended Nintendo's dominance of the console market and established Sony as a major player. The PS1's library was incredibly diverse, ranging from innovative 3D platformers (Crash Bandicoot) to survival horror (Resident Evil) to rhythm games (PaRappa the Rapper). Its use of CDs rather than cartridges allowed for greater storage capacity and lower production costs, though loading times became a new consideration. The PlayStation brand's legacy began with this groundbreaking system that brought gaming into the mainstream for the 1990s generation.