The original PlayStation arrived in Japan on December 3, 1994, then North America on September 9, 1995, and Europe later that month. This was a huge period of change for console…

The original PlayStation arrived in Japan on December 3, 1994, then North America on September 9, 1995, and Europe later that month. This was a huge period of change for console games. Developers were figuring out what they could do with 3D environments, how a camera should move through them, and how to make those spaces feel good to play in. PlayStation brought games like Ridge Racer and Tekken home, while Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, and Resident Evil approached movement, exploration, and atmosphere in very different ways. The CD format gave developers room for larger games, recorded audio, and cinematic sequences. Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid are two obvious examples of how ambitious storytelling became during that generation. There was still plenty of experimentation outside those big releases, too. Something like PaRappa the Rapper had its own completely different identity. Even the controller changed during the system’s life. The original pad had no analog sticks; the Dual Analog and then DualShock introduced the layout that became so familiar. By the time the smaller PS one arrived in 2000, that gray console had established an enormous library and a whole new name in gaming.