Old School, High Skill: Retro Fighting PS Games Still Played in Tournaments

Some games age better than others, and some find a completely new fan base years or decades after they’ve been released.  Retro fighting has found such an audience and is now widely played in tournaments.  Crypto blackjack sites that also offer esports betting provide odds on these tournaments, and new teams are founded all the time.

In this article, we’ll go over some of the best PS1 fighting games that are still widely played and loved by players born long after they were first released.

Tekken 3 (1998)

Tekken 3, produced by Namco, set a standard for 3D fighters when it first came out for the original PlayStation.  It introduced a new level of technical depth, compared to all other fighting games, with its more responsive sidestep mechanic and smoother animation.

What made Tekken special was that it created a balance between accessibility and mastery.  Ordinary players could play at home and improve gradually while having fun, while expert players could master the game on a whole different level.  Players have been revisiting it for decades now, and it still hasn’t lost its appeal.

Street Fighter Alpha 3 (1998)

Street Fighter Alpha 3 by Capcom came out in the same year.  It introduced three different gameplay modes that drastically changed how players approached the game.  This allowed for versatility and experimentation.  Custom combo mode became especially popular with expert players who spent months learning and perfecting combos.

However, Street Fighter Alpha’s legacy is in the tournament mode.  With a huge roster of over 30 characters, players with deep matchup knowledge excel when playing against real-life opponents.  Community-run events are still very popular, and online retro fight nights have a large base of players.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (1999)

Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes set the tone for all other 2v2 fighter games.  The PlayStation version, which came out in 1999, was somewhat less complicated than the original version, but it still had a similar style and speed.

Character swapping was limited on PS1 due to memory issues, but it still had a high skill ceiling.  The gameplay was mostly driven by momentum, meaning that the player got better at it and unlocked new techniques as they kept playing.

 Guilty Gear (1998)

 Guilty Gear, developed by Arc System Works, was like no other game made for PS1 because of its style.  The game combined a heavy metal aesthetic with fast gameplay.  Every character had a unique style, and players chose them based on their preference.  However, the “instant kill” system was the fan favorite.

Compared to modern fighting games, Guilty Gear has aged somewhat worse than other games on our list, but it still has a large fan base that is drawn to its aesthetic and the fact that it’s so much ahead of its time.

King of Fighters ’98 (PS1 version released in 1999)

King of Fighters, made by SNK, wasn’t originally a PS1 game; it was an arcade game, but the PS1 version was released just a year later, and that’s where it found its fan base.  The gameplay was team-based with three vs. three fights.  It features precise movement and a roll/dodge system.

The game was somewhat different from most others in the genre because it wasn’t about explosive action, but about strong fundamentals: footsies, anti-airs, and tight confirms.  There are 30 different players to choose from, and for many players, this game was the gateway into the world of combat games.

Bushido Blade (1997)

Bushido Blade from Lightweight/Square became very popular in the late 90s due to its unique gameplay.  The game didn’t feature health bars, complicated combos, or super meters.  Instead, it offered a much more realistic approach to combat.  Blocking, parrying, and spacing became the most important parts of the game.

The game even had a penalty for those who attacked an opponent while they were down.  Therefore, every match became like a duel.  It remains one of the technically most difficult games out there, and players keep coming back to it.

Rival Schools: United by Fate (1998)

Rival Schools was the first Capcom game that ventured into 3D fighting.  What set it apart was the gameplay dynamic – the players would pick two characters, and one of them would jump in with special assists.  Each character represented a Japanese private school.  The setting was playful, but the gameplay was intense.  It included smart meter management, air juggles, counter hits, and knowing when to burn resources for big damage.

The game never got the following that some of the others on our list did, but it did have a small and dedicated group of fans, and it still has a cult following today.  Online tournaments are held on a regular basis, and there’s even a betting market on their outcome.