Next Boom: Early PlayStation's Experimental Masterpieces
Next Boom: Early PlayStation's Experimental Masterpieces
Recent blockbuster games offer wonderful experiences with photorealistic graphics and refined systems, providing stable enjoyment for everyone. However, isn't it true that many feel a certain dissatisfaction with this "stability"? The surprise, discovery, and unknown sensations that games once offered. A frontier that can satisfy this longing is actually dormant right beside us. These are the "experimental" titles that emerged particularly in the early days of the original PlayStation, which appeared in 1994.
1. Strange and Edgy Ideas Born from the Dawn of Polygonal Graphics
The mid-1990s, when the original PlayStation appeared, was truly a revolutionary era, as video game expression dramatically transitioned from 2D sprites to 3D polygons. The high-performance hardware provided a foundation for boldly challenging 3D expression, which had previously been a pipe dream, but at the time, no one knew the "correct way to make 3D games." Developers groped for new expressions, and as a result, even technical constraints and immaturity crystallized into strange, edgy, and unique creative works. Even major manufacturers released works that were incredibly experimental—and in a sense, "mad"—by today's standards. It can be said that this was the fervor born from a chaotic era before the established conventions of game design.
2. The Innovative Game Experience of Walking Through a Dream Diary, as Presented by 'LSD'
As a title symbolizing the experimental spirit of early PlayStation, 'LSD' must be mentioned first. Released in 1998, this work was dubbed a "dream emulator," and it has no clear objective, story, or even a goal. Players simply wander through a psychedelic and absurd dream world, based on a dream diary that the development staff allegedly kept for 10 years. While repeatedly encountering a phenomenon called "LINK," which teleports them to another place when they touch an object, they drift through landscapes that change day by day. This experience can sometimes be one of comfortable floating, while at other times it can be assailed by unfathomable anxiety, posing the fundamental question of "what is a game?" to the player. This exceedingly avant-garde concept continues to attract many creators and players, enjoying a cult following even today.
3. Is the Sordid World of 'Kowloon's Gate' the Original Landscape of the Metaverse?
Another unforgettable title is 'Kowloon's Gate -Kowloon Feng Shui Chronicle-' from 1997. Based on the real-life colossal slum of "Kowloon Walled City" in Hong Kong, this work depicts a gloomy and sordid cyberpunk world, filled with a unique aesthetic that overwhelms the viewer. Eerie characters incorporated from live-action footage, intricate alleys that disorient one's sense of direction, and suspicious place names like "Lung Shing Road" and "Twin Towers." The high-density spatial experience woven by these elements drags the player into another world. In recent years, projects like 'Kowloon's Gate VR suzaku' have emerged to experience this unique world in VR, further elevating its reputation over time. That space, chaotic yet breathing with a tangible sense of life, might be called the original landscape of the metaverse or digital twin in the modern era.
あわせて読みたい：MOTHER2 isn't just a retro game: Why it continues to captivate creators worldwide today4. Reflecting on the Era Where Unfriendliness, Paradoxically, Stimulated Imagination
When experiencing 'LSD' or 'Kowloon's Gate,' players accustomed to modern games might be perplexed by their "unfriendliness." There are no helpful tutorials, and it doesn't clearly indicate where to go next or what to do. However, this very unfriendliness was actually the source of the charm that games of that era possessed. Because information was scarce, players actively explored every corner of the game world, searching for hints hidden by developers. In an era where walkthroughs were undeveloped, exchanging information with friends and repeatedly experimenting based on small magazine articles provided an irreplaceable sense of accomplishment. Unlike today, where everything is manualized, the parts left to the player's imagination expanded the game world many times over.
However, it might be difficult for modern players to reach the core of these games through trial and error alone. With background knowledge of what the developers of that time were thinking and what intentions they embedded in their works, these unfriendly labyrinths transform into an exquisite intellectual athletic experience. For those who wish to avoid detours and deeply savor the true value of these works, we highly recommend touching upon the wellspring of creativity with this book, which comprehensively covers the ideas and historical context of creators from that era.
5. The Source of Creativity Modern Indie Developers Should Learn from Early PS Titles
The unusual fervor emanating from early PlayStation experimental works is once again attracting attention in modern times. Particularly in the indie game scene, where small teams develop original games, many works seem to inherit the spirit of early PS. Their methods of expression vary, from deliberately adopting low-polygon graphics to constructing absurd worldviews that make players uneasy. These are not merely nostalgic tastes but a counter to overly polished modern games, garnering support from players seeking new stimuli. The essence of indie games, "making what you want to make," is precisely the creative atmosphere of early PlayStation, where even major manufacturers were not afraid to experiment. The next big boom might emerge from a re-evaluation of this chaotic wellspring of creativity.
