Bundled with Final Fantasy I & II Dawn of Souls as a birthday gift, these were my official first entries to the Final Fantasy franchise (unless I count Chocobo Racing too which played a little earlier).
Be warned however, this isn't the Final Fantasy Tactics on the go people wanted, that would be War of the Lions released years later for the PSP, with some minor (or major, depends on who you ask) changes.

The story plays that Hero's Journey archetype with a flavour of "Isekai", and a dash of escapism philosophy.
The gameplay is great and quite addictif with the missions, and the race/job systems, much like Tactics, without however the Zodiac stats, and much more forgiving in general, it was meant to be play in short sections after all.

I recommended it wholeheartedly.

If we're talking about vanilla Street Fighter II : The World Warrior, it's ok at best compared to later editions and way, way better than the super janky, Street Fighter 1 (1987).

With only the iconic 8 fighters to select, and very limited moves for most of the cast, you'll begin to realise why there were multiple updates/editions of Street Fighter II. It not only fixed some bugs and glitches, such as the infamous Guile freeze glitch, but it also added actual mirror matches (Ryu vs. Ken is the only technical mirror match in WW), updated fighter's movesets (by Hyper Edition), balanced them and added more new fighters (the Shadoloo Fighters for Champion Edition, the 4 New Super Fighters for Super SF2, and the hidden Akuma in SSFX/Super Turbo).

But for historical context, it's a total game changer and genre defining moment in game history as a whole. It revitalised the arcade scene, it brought back the social/competitive element of arcade games. It isn't just getting highscores in the arcade, it's about showcasing your fighting skills against actual player opponents, with diverse level of player skill.

I guess it's a try, but I recommend Hyper Edition if you want a better vanilla SF2 experience, or SSFX/Super Turbo, if you want the complete SF2 experience.

Ah yes Ace Combat (or Air Combat in the US).

The first Ace Combat for consoles, technically the third of the well respected arcade flight-sim, with Ace Combat (1993) and Ace Combat 22 (1995) both only available in Arcades.

For a first (console) entry, it really pulls no punches. It showcases the gameplay staples of the franchise, such as:
- a large collection of fighter/attacker/multi-role planes to purchase and sell.
- mission variety, from intercepting a bombing raid, to escorts missions, to search and destroy targets, to a ravine run, and an assault on a super weapon.
- and a Top Gun - style rocking soundtrack!

A gameplay mechanic that I think should be in more Ace Combat entries is the permanent loss of your fighters after getting them destroyed in a mission. They, of course, can be re-purchasable in the hangar after completing missions. Lorewise, it would (kinda) make sense, since you play as a mercenary to help combat an insurrection of an un-named terrorist organisation against some un-named allied nations.
But then again Ace Combat Zero and 3: Electrosphere, has you play as mercs for allied nations, NGOs, and/or Corporations, respectively.

While many would dismay this game's very primitive 3D low poly graphics, in reality, Namco merely ported Ace Combat 22 and sproused it up for the PS1, much like many of their titles in the early years of the PS1 (except for Tekken, since they used an arcade system that's literally a PS1 in arcade form). I think it adds to the charm of early PS1 games that it's underappreciated. It's like a showcase on how the game developers' thought process were back in 1994-1995 when making games for the then very advanced PS1 console.

Namco really done an excellent job in porting a more complete experience of Ace Combat 22!

Much like Tactics Advance, Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls are my real first entries to the FF franchise, and what a way to begin the franchise!

The Dawn of Souls collection port builds off the overlooked Wonderswan color version of both games. For example, it changes FF I's Advance Dungeon & Dragons style of spell charges in the original NES/Famicom port, to having a more traditional FF MP pool system, and also fixes the known auto fight failure after attacking an already perished enemy. But in turn, enhances it with brand new optional dungeons FF I, and a new "inter-quel" scenario for FF II.

Final Fantasy I is (very appropriately) an excellent starting point for the Franchise, as many main-stay elements are present in this very first game: the job systems with the ability to level them up with a side-quest item, four elemental crystals as plot points, and the use of an airship as the ultimate form of transportation, to count a few.
FF I's replayability is immense as you can choose your starting job/class of your four party members which ever you please, an OP party of 4 Warriors? Sure! A class of 2 white mages and 2 black mages, if you have an appetite for destruction and manage to buff and debuff enemies (with the funds for ethers), go for it! The choice is yours to make.
While it's story albeit simple, with a prophecy of 4 warriors of light destined to restore the dying the elemental crystals, it's the journey that counts, with an interesting ending, that I won't spoil it for you.
FF I is made even better with the introduction of the optional Elemental Shrine Dungeons, opened after restoring each four elemental crystal. If you think FF I is on the easier side, try completing these Dungeons after restoring their respected crystals. What's great it that you can visit them anytime you want even after completing them, all treasures will be reseted after teleporting/exiting/finishing these dungeons, a very good way to farm many uncommon or even rare items!

Final Fantasy II is a recommended try. The story is a more poignant here than in FF I, with a more focused story of Orphaned Rebels against an ever so powerful Empire.
The game mechanics draws inspiration to the Wizardy series of games where all the party's stat are determined from gameplay, ie: max HP is boosted when the party member in question tanks a lot of hits, same goes for MP when casting spells, or the proficiency of weapons increases with every successful hits it has been made. This stats levelling mechanic can however be easily exploited by just attacking/healing the party itself. Never the less, FF II express player liberty by not subjugating the party members into their archetypes, much like later FF games or any other JRPGs that has a near limitless party customisation.
The game also has a lexicon game mechanic, where highlighted words can learned and asked to a majority of NPCs, it's intended so that you can get info into progressing the story or learn some tidbits, a clear inspiration from text-based/point-and-click adventure games.
Upon completing the main games of FF II, you'll be rewarded with a second scenario, Soul of Rebirth, the hardest optional content in Dawn of Souls, if you didn't do any proper stat levelling with those specific party members at the very least...

Dawn of Souls' music is a port of the PS1 Origins version, an excellent remix of the 8-bit original to a CD-based midi soundtrack with some new additions to make it more a Final Fantasy experience, such as a proper final boss music for FF I. There weren't any major compromises when converting it to the GBA, no ear-grating and awful mixes that GBA's soundchip is known to do.

Dawn of Souls contains also bestiaries for both games, which can help players in knowing the monsters' immunities, weaknesses, item/exp/gil drops.

In essence Dawn of Souls is build from the ground up as a better port version of FF I & II Orgins, sans opening FMVs or difficulty settings.

Really recommend it!

Note: I haven't played the recent console ports of the Pixel Remaster Collection of I - VI, I most likley may not test those out, safe for FF III, V, & VI.

Why the heck does the Donkey Kong Country trilogy has such traumatising Game Over screens for a young inpressionable 5 year old kid like I was lmao.
Either way, I guess in a sense, it's very weird way for me to get good at playing/finishing the DKC games lol.

On that little side note of a tangent, this game still looks gorgeous to this day, I'm surprised that I haven't seen Nintendo ( and who ever made the DKC tropical duology) done a proper sequel to the DK franchise besides cameos or NSO classic ports.
Gameplay is fantastic as every level plays out differently and their level design is top notch with the example of the use of the collectable bananas as clues to secrets and bonus stages, to name a few.
Music is absolute god-tier, there's nothing I could add to the conversation really.

It shouldn't be skipped for DKC2, it's a must play!

"Communication mode: Level 5
Operation code : TC2012
Communication description :

A coup d'état broke out in the military corps' general area code 'NA-P2700'.

They saw an opportunity during a time when their leaders were away from the country on a diplomatic mission.
After the forces occupied the centre of administration, they seized control of important facilities in each district. They are expanding their influence while strengthening their fighting power.
Their military capabilities include air and sea forces. It has also been confirmed that they are in possession of extra powerful cruise missiles.
To respond to the rebel's forces, the military corps' headquarters made a decision to use the special tactical fighter squadron, "Scarface" which consist of you, my fellow pilots.

We want you to go on this mission and suppress the coup d'état immediately. you will receive all-out support from our military corps. Full information regarding the rebels, full co-operation through our intelligence division, and military supplies.
The situation is tense, and there is no time to waste, take on this mission immediately.

That is all."

Ace Combat 2.

The amount of times that intro monologue has been stuck inside my head is astounding, along with the fantastic 'Dystopia' soundtrack, which brings a dire, gloomy situation the fictional nation is at the moment, with it's only hope in establishing a special air force unit in order to change the tide of war in their favour.

So Ace Combat 2 is in all sense superior to Ace Combat 1, better controls, better graphics, fantastic soundtrack and improved gameplay.

So a perfect sequel.

A childhood classic/favourite.

>inb4 Konami screws SH2R

Play this game first.

Download it in abandonware.com
Buy it second hand.
Softmod your PS2/XBOX.
Download the ISO.
Burn it on a DVD-WR.
Whatever means necessary, PLAY THIS MAGNUS OPUS.