Gaming's last stands

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What happens when games machines die

The last stand of: Sony PlayStation
Last official UK release: FIFA Soccer 2005 (Oct 2004)
Last official US release:FIFA Soccer 2005
Paul Hossack, Lead Producer on PS2's FIFA 08 is proud of FIFA Soccer 2005 for being the last game officially released for the console. Sadly, as with most sports games, it's since been forgotten, especially when its next-gen counterparts are so much more detailed, not to mention more up-to-date in terms of squads. Still, nine years after FIFAfirst appeared on the machine, it's amazing how long PSone actually lasted.

Final hurrahs: Metal Slug X, WRC Arcade
With PS2 finding mass-market success years before PSone ceased production, there were several titles that slipped completely under the radar for many gamers as they switched generations from old to new. Metal Slug X, although lacking some of the animation frames of the Neo Geo original, is still a great blast on the old machine and we still love seeing how far we can get through the game on one life. The sprites are still massive and there's very little slowdown - technically impressive and timeless in its appeal.

There was also WRC Arcade - an all-action take on the rallying genre that was becoming dominated by realistic racers. While nowhere near the standards of today's Colin McRae DiRT or the new Sega Rally, it was nonetheless an exhilarating blast. A journalist at the time said that if it had been released a year earlier, it would be on the front cover of their mag. As it was, it disappeared without trace. Pity.

Above: PlayStation kept going for ages, although the release of quality titles slowed dramatically near the end of its lifespan

There was also WRC Arcade - an all-action take on the rallying genre that was becoming dominated by realistic racers. While nowhere near the standards of today's Colin McRae DiRT or the new Sega Rally, it was nonetheless an exhilarating blast. A journalist at the time said that if it had been released a year earlier, it would be on the front cover of their mag. As it was, it disappeared without trace. Pity.

Justin Towell
Justin Towell

Justin was a GamesRadar staffer for 10 years but is now a freelancer, musician and videographer. He's big on retro, Sega and racing games (especially retro Sega racing games) and currently also writes for Play Magazine, Traxion.gg, PC Gamer and TopTenReviews, as well as running his own YouTube channel. Having learned to love all platforms equally after Sega left the hardware industry (sniff), his favourite games include Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, Zelda BotW, Sea of Thieves, Sega Rally Championship and Treasure Island Dizzy.