A Look Back at 20 Years of PlayStation

Image courtesy of Sony

On September 5th, 1995 the original PlayStation made its way onto U.S. store shelves and into the hands of hungry gamers all across the country. Sony's original machine was considered a huge underdog, especially considering how much the gaming industry was dominated by Nintendo and Sega at the time. But here we are, twenty years later, and the PlayStation brand stands tall as a pillar of the industry. I can't imagine this industry without PlayStation, and shiver to think how I could have ever developed such a deep love and respect for gaming without all the countless hours I spent way too close to my television, late at night, powering through games like Shadow of the Colossus and the Uncharted games. I love all things video games, but PlayStation remains closest to my heart.

While I have a rather long personal history with PlayStation, I actually didn't own the original system. I was a Nintendo kid growing up but had a lot of friends who owned PlayStations, so I got my fix going over to their houses whenever I could. I drooled over games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Crash Bandicoot, Final Fantasy VII, and Metal Gear Solid, all experiences that I could never get on my N64. Regardless, my allegiance to Nintendo was so strong that when the next generation of consoles arrived, I chose a GameCube over the PlayStation 2, a mistake that I would finally rectify a few years later.

The summer after I finished 8th grade, I saved up enough money and finally bought myself a PS2. I was now fully caught up in the phenomenon that was PlayStation. My first two games were Enter the Matrix and Burnout 2: Point of Impact, two games that admittedly weren't the best way to introduce myself to a PS2. I later picked up classics like Metal Gear Solid 2, Grand Theft Auto 3, Ico, Jak and Daxter, and Ratchet and Clank. The PS2's library of games was absolutely massive, and even though I had my GameCube and (eventually) an original Xbox, the bulk of the games I played during the 6th generation of gaming consoles were on PS2. I kept my PS2 powered up long after its life cycle had ended, and still go back to it occasionally to this day. In my eyes, the PlayStation is the greatest video game console to ever exist.

When I started college, I bought myself a PS3, along with Resistance: Fall of Man and Motorstorm. Like most people, I was somewhat letdown with the PS3 after the amazing experience I had with the PS2. I had the original "fat" model of the system, and it was bulky, loud, and constantly overheated. Though I spent a fair amount of time with it, my PS3 eventually fell by the waist side as my gaming attention turned to the Xbox 360 full-time. It wasn't until my junior year of college that I decided to give the ol' PS3 another try. My original model was dead by that point (I could never figure out why) so I picked up the smaller, remodeled version that was released in 2009. Consider this point in time the "PlayStation" renaissance for me. Games like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, God of War 3, Heavy Rain, Infamous, and the phenomenal The Last of Us relit the fire in my heart for all things PlayStation. As the 7th generation of gaming console was winding down, the PS3 seemed to be finally finding its footing, a kind of resurgence that would carry over to the PS4. Even though my experience with the system was uneven, I'm glad I owned one.

I was also an early adopter of both a PSP and PS Vita, two machines that deserved much more than they got. The PSP has a remarkable library, and the PS Vita is perhaps the best way to play indie games, but it was clear that Sony didn't know what to do with them. I still have a strong admiration for the PSP and spent a lot of quality time with in on long car rides and sleepless nights. My PS Vita still gets some love from time to time but is still second to my 3DS. It's a powerful and impressive machine that doesn't deserve the cards it is being dealt.

I currently own both a Xbox One and a PlayStation 4, but it is clear which I prefer more. Sony's latest console corrects all of the mistakes that the PS3 made and improves on all of its successes. Not since the PS2 have I been this excited about gaming, as the PS4 has once again recaptured my love for Sony's trademark gaming brand. Its UI, online functionality, game streaming, social interactivity, and exclusives (Bloodborne, Until Dawn, The Last of Us: Remastered, Infamous: Second Son, and Resogun come to mind) make the PS4 the clear frontrunner in the race for the 8th generation crown.

So what does PlayStation mean to me? Simple: video games. I've spent a good amount of time during my life playing them, and though I share many great memories across all systems, some of the best I've ever had occurred on a PlayStation system. It's insane to think its been over 20 years since Sony first staked its claim in the gaming world, and even crazier to think about how far they've come since then. Sony's trademark gaming platform has had numerous stumbles, but there's no denying that the gaming industry would have not grown as popular if that little square box wasn't dreamed up by Sony over 20 years ago. The best part about all of this? It seems as if PlayStation is just getting started. So here's to 20 more fantastic years of gaming bliss and unforgettable memories!

Thank you, PlayStation. I owe you a lot.