Hey, did you hear, original PlayStation games are available for the first time on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation5? Well, it's true, and all you need to access them is to have a subscription to the brand-new PS+ Premium. That will give you full access to a whole bunch of games not only released on Sony's 32-bit system, but also PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable titles.

There are currently a total of 13 PlayStation 1 games available for members, with a whole lot more on the way. Earlier this week, we looked at the first half of the library, and now we're back to go through the rest. In order to find out if any of these PlayStation classics are worth downloading, I'm going to flip through the pages of classic magazines like Electronic Gaming Monthly, Die Hard Game Fan, Ultra GamePlayers and more to see what critics said about these games when they first came out. Join me for the exciting conclusion to the two-part premiere of PlayStation Plus Review Crew!


Few games have better timing than Syphon Filter. Released only four months after Metal Gear Solid became an international sensation, Syphon Filter was right there waiting with open arms for bored gamers to come looking for another spy thriller. While more of an action game than a sneaking mission, this misspelled classic introduced us to Agent Gabe Logan, who would go on to headline five exciting sequels, including two incredible PSP games that don't get enough love these days.

No matter what magazine you read, it was clear that Syphon Filter was no Metal Gear Solid. But maybe that's okay, because critics still enjoyed this third-person shooter enough to recommend it. Over at Electronic Gaming Monthly, Dean summed it up this way: “It's not as polished as GoldenEye and it's not as mysterious as Metal Gear, but Syphon Filter is definitely worth your time. It's easy to dismiss it on some merits – one-speed running, no jumping, some goofy looking animation, etc. But for edge-of-your-seat, sniper-fueled action, Syphon Filter outshines both Metal Gear Solid and GoldenEye.”

What you're going to find is that Syphon Filter ended up scoring the same score at just about every magazine. Computers and Video Games gave it a 4 out of 5, which is also the same thing it got over at PSM. They liked the involving storyline and gunplay, but found the obscure objectives to be frustrating and wished that you could listen to the mid-level calls multiple times for clues. They ultimately concluded that it is a “stylish action thriller with a lot going for it. In a large crowd of average third-person games, Syphon Filter stands out as something different and, for a change, well done.”

Now, before you ask, yes, Next Generation also gave the game a 4 out of 5. Like I said, the scores are consistent. “What keeps Syphon Filter ahead of the pack is that it actually manages to keep the player involved all of the way through the game. Although moving Gabe around still feels fairly slippery, the mechanism that Eidetic created for targeting enemies is excellent. With unique gameplay, a tight story and some genuinely exciting moments, Syphon Filter is one of the first quality action games of the year and well worth a good look.” And with nothing else like it on PS+, I also recommend you give this spy-thriller a download. It's still a lot of fun.

Born out of the rotoscope boom that gave us Prince of Persia, Out of this World and Flashback, Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee is a deliberately paced side-scrolling adventure game with stunning animation and some incredible world build. It also bucked the trend of PlayStation games prioritizing 3D games, etching out a unique place amongst the diverse library. And all the hard work paid off, because Lorne Lanning has been able to keep the series going through multiple sequels, including one I'm currently playing for review.

Speaking of which, the critics were quick to recommend Oddworld. Over at Electronic Gaming Monthly, Dan called it “a sick, twisted game that deserves exposure. I didn't expect Abe's Oddysee to be this much fun. I also didn't expect it to be this hard. Some of the puzzles are too difficult – you may spend a half hour on one sequence.” Crispin also noted the tough puzzles: “Luckily, you get unlimited lives, and after each death, you usually reappear pretty close to where you died, so the game never gets too frustrating.”

Across the pond, Computer + Video Games also liked the game, giving it a 4 out of 5: “Pictures can't convey the brilliance of Abe's Oddysee. A quick game of the game will convince you that it could be excellent, and a few hours in you'll realize just how amazing it is. As you play through the game, the plot gets more and more interesting, and Abe learns new powers on the way, keeping everything fresh. Abe is the best platform adventure game for a very long time. Abe's Oddysee is an epic, challenging cinematic experience.”

Although PSM gave Oddworld a higher score than both EGM and CVG, they definitely hold back on the gushing when compared to the other magazines. “Oddworld takes the best elements of 2D platformers and combines it with an interesting storyline, beautiful graphics and puzzles that really make you think. The visuals are top-notch and the secrets will certainly keep you coming back for more.” I mean, yeah, it's definitely all that, but c'mon PSM, sell me. CVG called it an epic, challenging cinematic experience. Don't give me this weak sauce.

While the Saturn had a good thing going with the Virtua Fighter franchise, Namco was keeping Sony's fledgling PlayStation in the fight thanks to Tekken. While I might have preferred Tekken 3, there's no question that the second game in the long-running franchise was a huge step up from the 1995 original. This sequel introduced fan-favorite characters like Jun Kazama, Roger and, of course, Angel, solidifying itself as the fighting game franchise with the craziest storyline.

The critics were understandably impressed with this follow-up, with some giving it near-perfect scores. Die Hard Game Fan is probably the guiltiest of this, with two of their critics giving it a 98%. Cap'N Snappy summed up his opinion this way: “Mmm ... fighting games. Where you beat people up. I was never a huge fan of fighting games before 3D stepped in ... I mean, who can really toss flaming spheres or survive a two-handed sword swipe? Virtua Fighter and especially Tekken, however, have that realism ... and I love ‘em. Namco's incredible arcade conversion of Tekken 2 leaves nothing to be desired. If you are a PlayStation owner without Tekken 2, you should be Kuru Kuru Animal punched to death.”

Electronic Gaming Monthly wasn't ready to go that high, but still loved Tekken 2. Crispin argued that “it's about darn time this game was released in the U.S. Tekken 2 is the best 3D fighting game you can find for any system, and the PlayStation version is even better than arcade game. Unlike in the arcade game, each fighting has his or her own beautifully rendered ending. The polygon drop-out problems of the original are virtually non-existent in Tekken 2, and the fighters now swivel their heads to follow opponents.” Fake ninja Sushi-X also liked the game, giving it an 8 and calling it one of the top three fighting games of the year. “Although not a lot has changed on the surface besides a few more fighters, there are many new features that are hidden beneath the surface that include one of the best features any fighting game can have – a practice mode.”

Most of these opinions were echoed in the pages of Computers + Video Games, who gave it a solid 4 out of 5. You saw the exact same score over at Next Generation, who raved about the extras. “In addition to a ridiculous number of playable characters, the game adds tournament modes, survival modes and possibly best of all, a practice mode. Tekken 2 isn't perfect, but it's damn close and chock full of interesting characters, humor and way-cool moves. It's the best 3D fighting game yet available for PlayStation.” And that goes for the PS1 games on PS+, too. Sure, it's also the only one, but Tekken 2 is still pretty great.

More than twenty years before Pixar decided to make a Buzz Lightyear movie, Traveller's Tales made their own Buzz Lightyear adventure ... and it even featured the voice of Tim Allen. Take that, Chris Evans. In some ways, Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue feels like an oddity amongst the PS1 games released on PS+, what with it being the only title based on a movie series. That's not to say it's bad, but when the PlayStation has so many classic games to choose from, it seems odd to pick this one.

What's even more frustrating is the fact that I could only find two classic magazines willing to even give this game a chance. For their part, Electronic Gaming Monthly liked Buzz, for the most part. Shoe gave it a 7.5 and called it impressive: “In a day where it's easy to poop out a generic 3D platform game, Traveler's Tales gives us something that not only looks sharp, but plays great as well.” John D liked it even more than Shoe, giving it a 9 and concluding that “this is one of the best kid's games I've seen in a very, very long time. Sure, it may be easy for a lot of gamers, but the whole thing is pieced together in a package that just oozes quality.”

The other magazine to review Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue was Entertainment Weekly, which gave the game an A, despite the editor admitting that he nearly stopped playing the game in frustration. “Even without those obstacles, navigating the 3D maze is hard enough, as I learned in Andy's backyard (level 2) after repeatedly jumping from the swing set to the swinging tire, climbing into the big tree and falling out of the branches. Such tools as the Rocket Jet Boots and Grappling Hooks help, but the game's follow-along camera style often legs too far behind Buzz's enthusiastic leaps. I all but gave up in frustration by level 5, and it's hard to believe an 8-year-old would get any further. Then again, a kid raised on Nintendo 64 may have evolved beyond my own two-dimensional Space Invaders upbringing.” Man, that's such a negative review, and remember, he gave the game an A. That's almost a perfect score. I guess you'll just have to download the game and see if your reflexes are better than his Space Invaders upbringing.

If you're looking for a 32-bit role-playing game on PS+, you're pretty much limited to Wild Arms. The good news is that you could do a whole lot worse. Released only five months before Final Fantasy VII, this critically-acclaimed role-playing game was doomed from the start to be overshadowed by one of the biggest sequels of all time. Thankfully, Wild Arms would go on to sell enough units to warrant a bunch of sequels, but there was genuine concern that this no-name RPG would get lost in the shuffle, doomed to being the also-ran to Final Fantasy VII.

You saw some of these concerns in the Die Hard Game Fan reviews. Calling it a spectacular RPG, E. Storm admits that “if not for Final Fantasy VII, Wild Arms would definitely be RPG of the year so far. Never mind, though, Sony's got ‘em both. And if you're smart, you'll buy ‘em both.” Takuhi sold the game as a primer to Square's big sequel: “Sure, it can't compete with Final Fantasy VII, but there's no better game to play while you wait for that masterpiece. This'll probably be the second-best RPG you play this game, and definitely the brownest.”

Electronic Gaming Monthly also loved Wild Arms, giving it their Game of the Month prize. Dan loved the game, arguing that it “sure makes up for Beyond the Beyond. I love the sheer number of offensive attacks that you'll eventually get. The little things make the game, too. For example, the shadows in combat change when a bright spell is cast about a room. Awesome!” Shawn gave it an 8.5 and called it a solid RPG: “With all the hustle and bustle surrounding Final Fantasy VII, it's nice to sit back and play an RPG now – that's really good, by the way – and not worry about what's to come. It's an all-around solid buy for RPG fans.”

Believe it or not, the lowest score came from Computer and Video Games, who ended up giving it a very middle-of-the-road 3 out of 5. On the flip side, the highest-scoring review came from Ultra Game Players, who gave Wild Arms a 9.3 and raved about the graphics, music, gameplay and story. Sadly, they were not blind to the game's inevitable fate, nearly begging readers to seek it out: “Unfortunately, with all the praise and hype that's being heaped on Final Fantasy VII, there's a chance a high-quality game like Wild Arms may just slip past us and into the shadows. If you know what's good for you, you won't let that happen.” Heed those words, because Wild Arms is definitely worth playing. It's a little outdated here and there, but it's a great representative for RPGs on the PlayStation.

While major franchises like Tekken and Syphon Filter only managed to get one original PlayStation game on the PS+ service, Worms somehow had the right magic to get two – both Worms Armageddon and Worms World Party. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any magazine reviews for Worms World Party, so we're going to have to focus on Armageddon, which many fans consider to be franchises peak. In fact, this PlayStation version of the game ranked as EGM's best-reviewed strategy game. Coincidentally, EGM's worst-reviewed strategy game is also Worms Armageddon, as they gave the Game Boy Color version a 2 out of 10. Weird.

Speaking of EGM, I guess we might as well look at their reviews. Naming it the Game of the Month, Shawn argued that it came down to this: “If you have at least one friend, you should own Armageddon. And since most PlayStation owners have at least one friend, all of them should have this game. It's that good.” Crispin especially liked how polished the game was: “Everything about Worms Armageddon, from its extensive options to its many play modes, is fine-tuned for multiplayer play. Even nongamers – like, say, you're significant other – will love this game.”

You also saw strong numbers from critics in the UK, where Worms hailed from. Computers and Video Games ended up giving it a 4 out of 5 and calling it a must-play. PSM went even higher, giving it a 4.5 out of 5 and calling it “the best turn-based strategy game so far.” They liked the easy customization, the accessible gameplay, the many hilarious sound effects and the surprising amount of depth, but disliked that some of the text on screen is a bit blurry. The result is a game they couldn't help but recommend, and it's easy to see why. Armageddon is a great addition to PS+. And who knows, maybe you'll like it enough to check out Worms W.M.D., which is my personal favorite Worms game.