PS Vita: Five PlayStation classics you must download tomorrow

Tuesday 28 August

The PS Vita’s major software update that rolls out tomorrow brings an ace new feature to Sony’s powerful gaming handheld: support for scores of legendary PlayStation One games from back in the day. Over 120 titles will available to download in the UK from day one with more to follow, so to sort the wheat from the chaff, we’ve picked the five best you’ll be able to relive on the go in just a few hours’ time.

You can check out the whole list of upcoming titles here, but these are the five PS One classics we think you need first.

Final Fantasy 9

We know, we know, Final Fantasy 7 is the one everyone remembers, but you can play that on PC now too. 2001’s Final Fantasy 9 is still a PlayStation exclusive, and it’s arguably the best in the long running replaying game series too. The graphics and full motion video pushed the PlayStation One to its limit, and should still look great on the Vita’s 5-inch display. The epic storyline and fantasy setting are gripping; a beautiful soundtrack and a massive world to explore round off this must-play on the PS Vita.

Metal Gear Solid

When Hideo Kojima’s stealth’em up burst onto the scene in 1998 it changed story-telling in video games for ever. The plot’s as dense as the script for Inception, with so many richly created characters, setting the stage for many sequels. Admittedly, it’s looking a bit long in the tooth these days: you can’t see characters’ faces very well, for instance, but it’s still frighteningly addictive. “Snake? Snake?! Snaaaaaake!”

Check out our video review of the PS Vita now

Rayman 2: The Great Escape

The one thing the PlayStation One sorely lacked was a 3D platformer to rival Nintendo’s stunning Super Mario 64 for the N64. But Ubisoft’s 1999 classic came close. The man with the missing limbs has to swing his way through countless massive worlds, fending off monsters and whizzing down slides, getting the adrenaline going in a way few games have managed since.

Tekken 2

Tekken 2 breathed new life into the beat’em up for the first time since Street Fighter 2 when it launched in 1996. The stunning 3D graphics and inventive characters, as well as new fighting modes including Team Battle, made for a supremely addictive challenge. Bonus points if you can still pull off Yoshimitsu’s kamikaze sword-through-the-chest move.

Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee

The PlayStation One’s silliest game is also one of its smartest. This daft puzzle game, which sees you leading a Abe’s people (Mudokons) out of an evil meat-packing factory, where the labour often ends up in the grinders along with the meat, is also fiendishly taxing. Think Lemmings with chainsaws and farts, and you’re not far off.

Anything else we’re missing from our PS Vita: Must play PlayStation classics list? Let’s hear what you’ll be playing in the comments below.

Check out best video games for summer 2012 here