Quake II
I have to admit that for years, even I just assumed that the N64 version of Quake II was the superior version of the game, so I overlooked the PS1 version. Boy, do I feel dumb.
QII PS1 is a technical marvel considering how graphically intense the PC version was at the time requiring a top of the line 3D accelerator to run. How could they possible make a decent port to the PS1? They didn't even port the original Quake to the system because because they said it couldn't handle it, but yet they made Quake II, and It's a damn impressive port.
I'm not sure what Hammerhead did to get these kind of results out of Sony's old gray box, but the PS1 version of Quake II is the most impressive console port of the game (not counting the 360 port). It runs at a smooth 30 FPS with a little slowdown in a few areas. It also has better lighting effects than the N64 version, and fully polygonal gun models (QII N64's guns are so poorly animated that it looks like it uses 2D sprites).
The PS1 version more closely follows the PC version than the N64 version. Instead of being a completely new experience, Hammerhead opted to try an include as many of the originals levels as possible (though there are some that are MIA), and it even retains the original music. This game just feels more like Quake II than the N64 version.
QII's design has expanded more from the get the key to open the door to a more objective's based gameplay. The level design feels like a precursor to Half-Life in some ways. There are what you could call levels, but they're huge and are divided into multiple areas that the game loads in. You can even, and actually will have to back-track to previous areas at points in the game giving it a more Half-Life than Doom feel.
QII is not big on story, something about the Strogg (Borg-like creatures) invade earth, and your company is dispatched in a covert mission to the Strogg homeworld to try and kill the leader. That mission goes horribly wrong during the invasion, and you're separated from the rest of your company who is decimated by the Strogg defenses leaving you as the lone "Doomed Space Marine." It's a pretty typical story, and QII is more focused on action, so the only progression of that story comes in getting new objective sent your way from your command ship.
Quake II's gameplay is simple. You fight your way through hordes of Strogg baddies along your way to fulfill your objectives. The adrenaline pumping gameplay really makes you feel like the lone badass. No hiding like a sissy for your little shield to recover, just run and gun, and kick some ass, and pick a heath pack here and there if you're low on life. It's pure run and gun gamplay, and that what I love about it. It keeps it simple, and sometimes less is more. The shooters of today try too much to be these big cinematic experiences, but, sometimes, you don't care why you're doing it, you just want to shove you super shotgun up a Strogg Enforcer's ass and let the shrapnel fly. QII may be primitive in nature, but it's still a blast.
While, you won't find a control scheme that completely mirrors the dual stick control of today (though the "Right Stick" is the closest with movement w/ the d-pad, aiming with the R-stick, and firing with the L1 button), most of them work smoothly, and the game even supports play with the PS1 mouse.
Another great feature of the PS1 version is four player split screen multiplayer. I can't vouch for how smooth it is with four players, but I've played it two player, and have seen vids of three player matches, and the game still ran buttery smooth. There aren't many games on the PS1 that even support up to four players let alone many (if any other) FPS games. This is the PS1's best answer to Goldeneye for four player deathmatches, and it's a blast.
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