And That's Final

I said I was going to discuss this a few days ago, and I suppose I should make good on that promise before it slips my mind. A member of the Talking Time forum named Peklo wrote a lengthy examination of the R-Type series, which is deeper and more contemplative than you ever thought a discussion about a shoot 'em up from the 1980s could be. Peklo looks at everything from the evolving storyline to the color schemes used throughout the series, starting with the meaty organic reds of the original and ending with the subdued oranges and browns of R-Type Final, evocative of sundown or the months of autumn. The developers at Irem wanted to drive home the point that R-Type Final really was the end of the line for the series. In an industry where stale franchises get dragged from one decade to the next, it's refreshing to find a series of games that knew when to make a dignified exit.

Okay, promise kept. Now let's turn our attention to the Playstation Classic. The full list of games was recently posted online... let's give it a look.

image from Cheap Ass Gamer

Well, that sure is... something. It's hard to represent the eleven year lifespan of the Playstation with just twenty games, but picking these games makes me wonder if Sony was even trying. I'm totally down with Intelligent Qube and Jumping Flash, and Twisted Metal, Resident Evil, and Metal Gear Solid just about had to be there. At the same time, Grand Theft Auto feels like revisionist history on Sony's part... sure, it's a big series NOW, but it would be hard to find anyone who gave a damn about it back in its early days, when the action was seen from an overhead view and the control could be charitably described as wonky. Similarly, there's too much presence from Ubisoft, which is a major game publisher in the 21st century but didn't get much love from Americans in the 1990s. Sure Ubisoft, Rayman is famous all over the world, not just France. Whatever helps you sleep at night. (pats beret condescendingly)

The Japanese get a better selection of games in their version of the Playstation Classic, with G-Darius, Armored Core, and the inscrutable yet strangely compelling Devil Dice taking the place of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six and Destruction Derby. All the same, there are better ways to get your early Playstation fix. Might I recommend the Vita instead? Sure, I'll give you a minute to dig yours out of the drawer and wipe the dust off the front.