There are some websites that allow you to play old games directly from your computer's browser, without having to install anything. We are not only talking about minigames, but about complete games like the first version of Minecraft or old games. What did seem impossible until now was that we could enjoy old games on an online emulator. This is what PS1 Fun does, an emulator for Sony's first console that allows us to once again immerse ourselves in its entire catalog without having to install anything on our computer.
The PlayStation online emulator
Although there are countless options available when it comes to emulating platforms, you always have to use equipment with a certain performance so that the emulation works without problems. Today solutions like the Raspberry Pi are more than enough to play many retro platforms. The rom most used for these purposes is Retropie, which uses the RetroArch libraries to create an environment in which we can emulate a multitude of classic consoles.
However, setting up the RetroArch software isn't the easiest process in the world, and you're probably looking for something simpler and more straightforward so you don't waste too much time configuring controls, searching websites to download ROMs, and other hassles that do nothing but delay your departure
Well, PS1 Fun has arrived , the solution you've been looking for. The reason for this is simply the speed and ease with which the service works; all you have to do is choose the game on the website and it will start playing after a quick download.
How does PS1 Fun Online work?
You only need a web browser and access the PS1 Fun page to have the entire original PlayStation catalog in a single click. We are talking about the first Sony console, a platform that marked several generations with the incorporation of the CD as physical support and three-dimensional graphics accompanied by CD-quality sounds.
To start playing, the process is very simple, since we will only have to browse the list of games ordered by initial letter (we can also use the search engine), choose the desired game and start playing after completing the download that will take place at run it. If you click outside of the window in which the game is playing, the game will be paused immediately.
In addition, the website includes a social component that will let you know which games are being played the most, and which are the best rated by the community. This will help you discover some games that you did not play at the time and that are causing a stir among the community. The list of the most played games at the time of writing this article is as follows:
- Tekken 3
- Crash Bandicoot
- Crash Team Racing
- Crash Bandicoot Warped
- Disney's Hercules
- pepsi-man
- Twisted metal 2
- Winning Eleven 3
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories
- Crash Bandicoot 2
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2
- Megaman X4
- crash bash
- Spyro the Dragon
However, the PS1 Fun catalog has several hundred games, so it will be rare if you don't find exactly the title you want to play.
Is it legal?
Taking into account that practically the entire PlayStation catalog is being offered, it is very possible that the web ends up being knocked down due to some complaint, however, because the web performs a download, it is possible that the ROMS are not stored in your server, so it would have to be the server that stores the ROMS that is forced to remove the contents. This could be the legal trick PS1 Fun uses to stay on top.
So far, the website is working perfectly, and we only had to wait about 6 seconds to start playing a match of Tekken 3. The wait time is practically nonexistent, so we can say that the service is working flawlessly. Currently, the service has been running for a little over two years. Some games stop working—as users have mentioned in the comments section—but overall, the gaming experience is positive and very similar to what we would get with direct emulation on our desktop computer.
Play PSX games onlineIn any case, it will be Sony that has to take action regarding this website. Platforms like PS1 Fun may not pursue profit, but only postulate themselves as an alternative for the preservation of the video game. In recent years there has been a lot of talk that video game developers and distributors are not doing enough work to preserve some classic titles, whether we like it or not, they are part of our culture. For this reason, many people already justify piracy in itself, although this topic is quite controversial and can generate a lot of debate.
In any case, you will only be making proper use of PS1 Fun if you own the titles you play, i.e., if you use the website as a means to use your backups.
Control mapping, saving the game...
The emulator offers a large number of functions on the screen, since we will be able to map the buttons to our liking with the idea of ​​being able to play with a gamepad. To configure the controls we will only have to click on the keyboard icon, and a pop-up window will help us to define the buttons on the control device that we want.
Also, if you start a game in a long game, you can save the game at any time by pressing the import game button. The system will create a file that you will store on your computer, to later load it with the save game button, which will ask you for the file that you saved at the time.
Continuing with the order of controls that appear on the screen, these are the functions that we have available:
- Play full screen
- Silence
- apply visual effect
- Configure controls
- Load game
- Save game
- Play in multiplayer (coming soon)
- Game information