When the PS4 first came out, it introduced PSNow, a streaming service that had games across the PlayStation family you can stream. It doesn't have the PS1 game catalog and they aren't adding any more classic games. Nine and a half years later, PSNow is folded into the PS Plus Premium tier to offer a catalog of classic games released on the PS3, PSP, PS2 and PS1. In fact, it is an obvious solution to make up for the lack of full PlayStation backwards compatibility. Who needs it when you have the Premium tier? I'll go into detail on each platform, starting with the general section.
General:
All of the four classic systems across the PlayStation family have been invited to the PlayStation Plus Premium tier, which granted access to playing PS3, PSP, PS2 and PS1 games. They have games that were released by the defunct video game companies, such as Midway, Acclaim, THQ, Neversoft, 3DO, Universal Interactive, Inc., Hudson Soft, etc. Each of them get defunct by liquidation, dissolution, consolidation, bankruptcy, merging and other fates, as well as games that were released by the still existing companies that had defunct logos.
When the PS4 first came out, PS3, PS2 and PS1 game discs couldn't work. That's how the PS3 became a hurdle. But thanks to the Premium tier that PSNow is folded into, they can be played. Physically, the classic game discs won't work, but they can be played digitally while on the Premium tier. They can also be bought because if you buy them, you can play them 24/7 without your PS Plus Premium membership. Even the PSP games. PS3 games, however, are only available to stream. I'll tell you what made the PS3 a hurdle later on.
PS1:
Sony's very first generation console and also the 5th generation console is the very first console that uses 3D models. All of its games use polygon models, including the first three Tekken games, which have arcade versions ported into home versions. At the start, PS1 games were released by the defunct companies and have third-party games that behave differently than the N64 version, like Tarzan as an example, whereas the PS1 version has game over cutscenes while the N64 version doesn't. So far, the PS1 version is better than the N64 version. It's because that the N64 didn't get enough third-party support due to memory limits on the system.
There are compilations on the PS1, but they won't be added into the catalog. First party games like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon consist of a charming take like Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog in terms of their gameplay and they were released by Universal Interactive, Inc. They have remasters released by Activision, but I'm not sure if they are gonna add the original releases by Universal Interactive to the catalog. I think they probably should because remasters killed a lot of charm original releases have and it's to support the film adaptations I want for Crash and Spyro.
I'll go into detail here. For the Crash Bandicoot movie, it must be CGI animated to reflect on their designs used on the remasters released on the 8th-generation consoles and they'll get to see the Wumpa Islands on the big screen and it can be likely be rated PG for action, rude humor, and mild violence. Crash never talks in games, but he will because he's gonna be voiced by James Arnold Taylor. Best of all, it'll have an original story that have not been experienced in Crash Bandicoot games. Let's not forget about his sister, Coco Bandicoot, to be voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy. I really thought it would be great if Universal and Illumination made this.
But not to mention that your community can get weird at times. When Crash Bandicoot 4 came out, you guys had to just lust over Tawna's butt. And that's not right. We don't want to have a community of gamers here that lust over fictional women's butts in video games. It's weird, it's strange. In fact, it is weird as what Street Fighter V saying is true on that EVO 2022 skit that they just wanted to lust over Pyra and Mythra's big breasts when they came out on Smash Ultimate.
The Spyro the Dragon movie, however, will be live action and be a different story because it'll have that part where Spyro leaves his world to travel to Earth in light of the situation. To make it interesting, it'll have two blonde-haired twins of the same age that have a close resemblance to Handel and Greta voiced by Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins, who are spending their summer break at their grandparents' house. That's one automatic easter egg. Chris Pratt would be a perfect voice actor for Spyro and that would be cool. I feel like that the post credits scene is gonna show Elora the Faun, to be voiced by Brie Larson, entering the forest in Earth to create a cliffhanger that the sequel will resolve. Get Paramount to make this.
What I'm trying to say is film adaptations for Crash and Spyro are gonna be awesome. If Activision ever makes a Crash and Spyro crossover game, I'll be ready for that.
Since the announcement of the new PS Plus, the PS1 games finally get their spotlight and they are both available to download and streaming and some of them are purchasable so you won't require the Premium tier. The PS1 holds up to two controllers, uses memory cards and its controls have start and select buttons. But if you're playing a PS1 game on the PS5 or PS4, memory cards aren't required and pressing the left side of the touch pad is the select button while the right side is the start button. I have a lot of PS1 games in my wish list that I hope Sony adds. They have a new feature, which is the rewind feature that is useful for when you made a mistake.
PS2:
One of my most favorite Sony consoles of all time. Most of its games were released by the defunct video game companies like the PS1 games. I have a couple of PS2 games and I felt reunited with them after years. I even forgot that I press the triangle button to go back when playing a PS2 game. PlayStation backwards compatibility has been a success when the PS2 first came out as it plays PS1 games.
The PS2 has been a great console. Its logo looks futuristic and I don't even know what it made me think of. But we do know one thing's for sure. There isn't that much PS2 games right now, but more of them will eventually be added (Preferably the third-party ones and the ones released by the defunct companies). My wish list has a ton of games under the PS2 section. I seem to have a few sports games on there, but the ones with cool special effects because I always loved seing special effects you seen on planetariums. And its startup screen is what I like the best. It shows towers when game data is saved on your memory card.
My most favorite Sony console is easy to emulate. Like the PS1 games, the PS2 games are available for both downloading and streaming. They have a lot of charming assets as the original Xbox and GameCube games. Charming assets include (but not limited to) two men going on an adventure, charming music, the way copyright screens and video game logos flow, racing/driving games with a charming gameplay, games with charming fluidity (e.g. Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex) and nighttime goodness (e.g. RPG games by NIS America). And these are the assets you'd see in browser games on various websites (e.g. Nabisco World, Candystand, Primary Games, etc.).
Speaking of fluidity, I have several Sonic games on my wish list under the PS2 section I hope they add. There is some flaws on them. You fall down unexpectedly, but they have great music. You just got to play them carefully to avoid falling down. In fact, they aren't that bad if you carefully play them. But with Sonic Frontiers coming out soon, it is only a matter of time.
The PS2 holds up to two controllers and uses memory cards like the PS1, but you even don't need a memory card. The PS4 and PS5 use an internal storage and they are totally capable of storing your PS2 games' save data. When playing a PS2 game on the modern day consoles, your touch pad is your start and select buttons like on the PS1 games. I forgot to mention that some of them had online features that required a network adaptor on original models, but not on slim models because they already come with it. Games like Jak X: Combat Racing use online features, and since PS2 games with online features are being played on the PS4 and PS5, PSN features should be added to them.
Since the PS2 games are being played on the PS4 and PS5, I plan to record clips of copyright screens and logos.
PSP:
Sony's first handheld console. The PSP is known for its games being played on the go and uses memory sticks. But since the Premium tier gives access to playing PSP games on the PS4 and PS5, they will be played on the big screen and memory sticks won't be required. PSP games also have charming assets like the PS1 and PS2 games and we are likely to experience them on the big screen. Like the PS1 games, they are only available for download since the PSP is easy to emulate like the PS1 and PS2.
Since PSP games are being played on the big screen through the modern consoles, as with the PS1 and PS2 games, your touch pad is used as start and select buttons. While a portable console, some PSP games are streamable while all of them are downloadable.
PS3:
This 7th generation system that is the first of Sony's home console that marks the launch of an online initiative called PlayStation Network, defines a generation of gaming and uses wireless controllers and an internal storage device rather than memory cards. Some of the PS3 games were released under the defunct video game company umbrellas until later in the cycle when latter games get released by the existing game companies that defunct game companies were brought out by, including Midway Games, which was liquidated and bought out by WB Games and the studio in Chicago was rebranded into NetherRealm Studios.
What makes it the worst thing about the PS3 is that unlike its rival, the Xbox 360, it beared a architecture that makes it hard to emulate. It created a hurdle that prevents the PS4 and PS5 from achieving full backwards compatibility. It means that they are only available to stream and it requires internet connection. Without internet, you can't stream games. Now, if they added Sonic 06 and imagine while you're streaming it, you'll have trouble S-ranking levels and it's not just because of the glitches. It's also because of the lag spikes that sometimes happen. That game was a mess since SEGA rushed it, but the music is S-tier. Maybe SEGA could remake Sonic 06 and fix boo-boos on it?
If the PS3 was easy to emulate and it beared a better and easier architecture, all of its games would've been also available to download and the PS5 and PS4 would've achieved full PlayStation backwards compatibility like the Xbox Series X and the Xbox One, which achieved full Xbox backwards compatibility since the Xbox 360's architecture is so easy so they can play Banjo-Kazooie, Fusion Frenzy, Whacked! or whatever. Even the Xbox 360 version of Sonic 06. The PS3's backwards compatibility system is horrible because some of them can play PS1 games while some of them can play PS2 games. But none of them can play both PS1 and PS2 games. It's due to the fact that its architecture is hard to emulate.
Since the new PS Plus launched, the PS3 library has a lot of games and we are getting more of them this month. That's why I have a few of them in my wish list. Several Sly Cooper games are getting added this month. One is a compilation of his games originally released on the PS2, a spin-off and the one that is in my wish list. Sucker Punch confirmed that they have no plans to develop a new Sly Cooper game, yet they are adding their games to the Premium catalog, which is cool and all, but I think they should also add his games originally released on the PS2 to the catalog.
When I was browsing through the PS3 library, the original Skullgirls Encore is on there at launch. But the PS3 version won't get the Season 1 Pass and be updated to match with other platforms and will likely remain left in the dust forever with the Xbox 360 and Vita versions. I can give listening to BBTAG music while playing the PS3 version a go, but Justice Sword, Active Angel, Walpurgisnacht and Purity & Strictly, the themes the Season 1 Pass characters are assigned to are gonna be disabled.
My Skullgirls X BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle Palette Pack idea is intended to have both current and future characters that are eligible for their BBTAG palettes and tickets to my special online casual and can be available not just on Steam and PlayStation, but also on Switch and Xbox because Skullgirls 2nd Encore and the Season 1 Pass are sunrising as an update for the Nintendo Switch and as a new release on Xbox. Development on them is continuing along nicely and smoothly without hitting a single hurdle. What makes it so is the codebase upgrades that make console development easier and produces more flexibility on how they deliver updates.
Once they are released, the launch party can truly begin, the Season 1 Pass and my Skullgirls X BBTAG Palette Pack idea are gonna be available on all four digital storefronts and the blue, red and green certificates are gonna be processed for all three major console companies to greenlight. I am so proud that Switch and Xbox players are finally joining the Season 1 Pass period and onwards so that the launch party wouldn't be restricted to Steam and PS4 players any longer.
The Verdict:
PS Plus Premium is the way if you want to play your favorite classics you missed playing or the ones you never played before. So far, in my opinion, the PS2 is the best console, thanks to its games' charming assets. I have a lot of them in my wish list. Practically speaking, like other 6th gen consoles, PS2 games have a lot of charm that browser games on various websites have. You go golfing, shooting bottles and stuff, driving dune buggies, snowboarding, etc. Since Flash Player has discontinued, they are now unplayable.
Forgot to mention that the PS2 has two fighting games with charm. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and Capcom vs. SNK 2 -- these are the two vs. Capcom fighting games that have a lot of charm. What makes those two charming is simple. The music, stages, the 2D sprites 3v3 format and the dynamic flow. You traipse around the swamp and the volcano. Stuff like that.
I'll just mention some of the stuff here. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 was a great game. The 3v3 battles and the characters were designed well. Even the stages and their music. You have fun in the carnival, cross the bridge in the swamp, explore the cave. The game was removed from the PlayStation Store and Xbox Marketplace and we need to do something about this. We must start a petition to bring it back.
Then there is something called Capcom vs. SNK 2, which is charming as Marvel vs. Capcom 2 with the 2D sprites, stages and music. Great vs. Capcom game. If Capcom ever develops Capcom vs. SNK 3 to have 3D models for characters across the fighting games with 3D models, I'll be down for that.
I am planning to buy the 1 year PS Plus Premium membership with my backup debit card so I can enjoy playing classics for a while. I don't care about the graphics. I only care about the nostalgia and how charming they are. Why be one thing when you can be anything? That's the tagline for the new PS Plus.
I even had an idea for a new Mightykeef skit where PS Plus welcomes PS5, PS4, PS3, PSP, PS2 and PS1 to the club in honor of its Extra tier's catalog of modern games and Premium tier's catalog of classic games. PSVita, however, isn't welcome. I think it's called "How PLAYSTATION FANS Reacted to the All New PS Plus!" and I think it probably goes like this.
PS Plus Club
PS Plus: Alright, that's everybody. Hey, welcome to my club, everybody. We're gonna celebrate the legacy of PlayStation.
PS1: Hey, man, congrats getting an upgrade to your service.
PS2: We're honored for our fans to play our classic games again because you got a third tier.
PS Plus: And PSP, it's good to have you in here, even though you no longer have PSN.
PSP: It's been an honor. Fans are happy to play my games on the big screen.
PS Plus: That's right, and we're gonna make this the best it can be. PS3? Are you feeling alright?
PS3: Yes, I am. It's just that all of my games in a huge library are only available for streaming. It's because I am the only console hard to emulate.
PS4: He does have a point, though. That's explains why PS5 and I can't play a single PS3 game.
PS5: And that's why I can only play my modern brother's games and they have to stick with playing remasters.
PS2: Hey, PS1. Why you don't have a boot up screen when fans launched one of your games like I do?
PS1: Well, because all of my games have a rewind feature.
PSP: I have a rewind feature too. It came in handy when people makes mistakes.
PS2: But me and PS1 use memory cards.
PSP: It sucks being the only portable console being in this because my portable brother PSVita won't make it. He even have my games on his store
PS Plus: Instead of holding on to your portable brother not being in it, how about you focus on what's really important like people playing your games on the big screen?
PS2: It's tough being the only portable console and I know you're disappointed that your brother won't make it, but don't be.
PS1: Not to mention that he no longer has PSN. But it's fair. Nobody plays him that much anyway. I remember when he has my games on his store.
PS2: Me and PS1 have games playable on the PS3. Besides, what can possibly go wrong among the fanbase?
PS1: Ya'll should be praising my Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon games, because I am the only console that started it all.
PS4: True, but all of your games got fully remastered to have better visuals to work on me and PS5. People do adore them that everything looks insane.
PS Plus: And who knows? Maybe I can add your original releases that got remastered to your library eventually. Besides, I intend to add more classics every month.
PS2: Not to mention that me and PS1 have trophy support on our games. That's a first for us in the community.
PS3: Don't forget that one of your Crash Bandicoot games turned out to be a fail. You were the first to have it before other systems do. Your cadence sucks!
PS2: How dare you mock me! I am the best system in the world!
PS3: Some of your games have cops and you have an adaptor required to play certain games that use online! You suck!
PS2: Someone is jealous because while our classic games are available to download and stream, all of his games are gonna be only available to stream in his own fantastic library of his games. It's because he is hard to emulate.
PS4: It's true that some of PS2's games were sort of slacking in content.
PS2: Content? You and PS5 can't even play my games, PS3's and PS1's through backwards compatibility and fans had to stick with playing remasters of our games!
PS Plus: Can you guys stop arguing? We are here to celebrate the PlayStation community we all know love for years, okay? All of this bickering is getting out of hand! We are doing really well today. We got PS1, PS2, PS3 and PSP together. All in this club. What makes it exciting is that PS1 and PSP have a rewind feature. Let's all get along.
PS3: Yeah, he has a point. Arguing is not the way to celebrate our community.
PS2: It'll be a waste arguing against each other over what we have.
PS Plus: Thank you.
