Battle Arena Toshinden

Battle Arena Toshinden was among the PlayStation's launch titles in Europe and North America, and for many players it was the first demonstration of what a 3D fighting game could do on a home console. Developed by Tamsoft, the game featured eight fighters with different weapons, fighting styles, and distinctive, often eccentric appearances, with the key innovation being a sideways dodge into the screen's depth — a mechanic that other 3D fighters later adopted too, adding an extra spatial dimension to duels beyond traditional movement left and right along a single axis.

The graphics, with textured polygonal models, were very impressive for their time in 1995, and combined with effective lighting and smooth animations, they helped PlayStation showcase the power of its 3D hardware against the competition, including the then-dominant Sega Saturn. Gameplay was fast and accessible, the arenas were enclosed and allowed knocking an opponent out of the ring, adding a tactical layer on top of the usual combos and special attacks of each character, each of whom had their own repertoire of moves. The controls were designed so that even complete newcomers could quickly pick up the basic combinations, while more experienced players discovered deeper tactical possibilities over time.

Although later, more sophisticated fighters have since surpassed it, at the time of release it was a landmark title that, together with Tekken, defined early 3D fighting games on PlayStation and helped convince players that Sony's new console was a serious competitor to Sega and Nintendo alike. The distinctive roster of characters with striking, often eccentric looks and their brief, simple backstories helped the game build its own identity beyond the duels themselves. Toshinden kicked off a short but notable series of sequels and remains an important, fondly remembered chapter from the console's early years.

Why play it: Although later, more sophisticated fighters have since surpassed it technically, Battle Arena Toshinden remains a fondly remembered chapter from PlayStation's early years, when it helped define early 3D fighting games alongside Tekken.