In this era of remakes, ports, and remasters, it is no surprise that the vast majority of the PlayStation 1’s catalog is seeing a revival of sorts. It helps, too, that the PS1 aesthetic has risen in popularity rather significantly within the indie scene, empowered by a deep sense of nostalgia and longing for the vibrant and far simpler era of gaming. Fortunately, this means that many of the genuinely excellent PS1 games that still hold up today are being wrenched from the woodwork and given a new lease on life.

One of the greatest PS1 games is among these titles being revived, as after nearly three decades, it is finally getting a brand-new release. Fans will almost certainly rejoice, but even those who’ve never heard of the game should check out the project it is a part of, as it looks set to be one of the best products to come from PlayStation in quite a while. At the very least, it should prove an entertaining way to re-experience the glory days of the console and send a little appreciation towards this aforementioned PS1 masterpiece.

One of the best PlayStation 1 platformers and a game that simply does not get the attention it deserves these days is Ape Escape. It was once a flagship PlayStation series, an IP that felt like it would stick around for the long haul, but has since been abandoned, in large part due to the company’s shift away from mascot platformers. Fortunately, this 1999 classic is being somewhat revived in a brand-new, upcoming PlayStation 1 project.

In collaboration with LEGO, Sony is releasing a replica PlayStation 1. It functions, in many ways, like a real PS1, with an openable lid, a controller that connects to the console, and even games in the form of dioramas that you can place inside the body of the console. It is built out of a whopping 1,911 pieces, an impressive figure that is somehow beaten by the 1:1 original Xbox console brick set being produced for its 25th anniversary (not that it’s a competition, of course).

However, what is of particular importance with this PS1 LEGO set is the included dioramas. One is of Gran Turismo, which is, unsurprisingly, a racetrack. The other, however, is of Ape Escape and features the iconic ape in a beanie surrounded by a jungle setting. It is great to see the game, which played such a pivotal role in the PS1’s life, be represented in this recreation of the legendary console. Even just getting a little recognition after having largely been forgotten by Sony for decades is great.

The LEGO set can be purchased for $160, and those who pick up their copy quickly will also get a LEGO Astro Bot set as well for free. It is nice to see the PS1 be so faithfully and lovingly recreated, and for a relatively affordable price (at least by LEGO standards). One can hope we get similar sets for the other PlayStation consoles down the line, and that Ape Escape makes its well-deserved return in video game form at some point, as the classic PS1 series has been truly missed.

Released

June 18, 1999

ESRB

E: Mild Violence

Developer(s)

Japan Studio

Publisher(s)

Sony Computer Entertainment