Metal Gear Solid
Before the release of the PlayStation 2 in 2002, IGN decided to place Metal Gear Solid at the top of their list as the best all-time PlayStation 1 game. When the game was released in October of 1998, there was a lot of anticipation in the gaming community and the game did not disappoint. Featuring cutting-edge graphics (for the time), this was one of the first action-adventure games that featured stealth combat missions. This style of game play has been mimicked ever since and can be found in many modern games.
Tekken 3
In April of 1998, Tekken 3 was released on PlayStation, and it has been touted as one of the best 3D fighting games ever since. A breathtaking opening video sequence is followed by a complex combat mode that takes many hours of gameplay to master. The game has many different bonus modes that can be unlocked, and this was one of the few games to have improved gameplay from the arcade version.
Gran Turismo 2
In December of 1999, Gran Turismo 2 became the top-selling game of the year--in just two weeks. The game was a huge leap over every racing game at the time, including the original Gran Turismo. GT2 has nearly limitless playability with over 500 vehicles to race, over 20 tracks and countless championships that you can win. The game is packed with different kinds of races and the physics of the game are surprisingly lifelike.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
A surprise hit in September of 1999, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater created a skateboard game craze that continued on for the next decade. The game allows you to do skateboarding tricks in various locations throughout the country. The music was ideal for the 1999 skateboarder and the game possesses hundreds of secret combinations.
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy games had a following on the Nintendo systems (more so in Japan than the United States) but never truly caught on in America until this game. The game includes over 40 hours of gameplay, which can be extended greatly by the secret quests and mini games that you can find. If you are looking for a game to be immersed in story-wise, character-wise and enjoyment-wise, Final Fantasy VII may be the one for you.