With almost 8,000 games and countless classics, the PlayStation 1 was not lacking in great games. And a great game needs a great villain, which the PS1 had in abundance. But for all the praise that villains like Sephiroth and Albert Wesker get, some PS1 villains that were just as compelling or nasty got lost in the sea of acclaim.
An underrated villain is one that did not receive the praise it should have. These villains may have appeared in famous games but were overshadowed by more successful titles in the same genre, or they may have been in fabulous games that didn't become household names. Despite the PS1's runaway success, many of its most intriguing characters got left in the shadows of others but deserve recognition for their villainy.
7 Dahlia Gillespie (Silent Hill)
This Charismatic Cult Leader Shines In The Role Of Lead Villain
As Silent Hill and Resident Evil clashed in the horror genre battleground throughout the 90s, it's fair to say that RE managed to gain the upper hand in many ways, including with its villains. Perhaps the most often forgotten villain from not only Silent Hill but the entirety of the 90s was Dahlia Gillespie, the leader of the cult known as The Order, deeply tied to the sinister town.
This charismatic commander of The Order is one of the genre's most underrated villains, as her darkly alluring voice pulls listeners into her deeply unsettling intentions towards Harry's daughter, Cheryl. This wicked woman is a haunting reminder of what Silent Hill used to be and stands out as one of the PS1's most underappreciated villains.
6 Doctor Neo Cortex (Crash Bandicoot)
This Mad Scientist Is One Of PS1's Best Antagonists
While the PS1 is home to many antagonists that err on the side of serious and moral complexity, it's Doctor Neo Cortex from Crash Bandicoot that often gets forgotten in the annals of PS1 villainy. The maniacal evil scientist is introduced as the creator of Crash himself, born out of the Evolvo-Ray to lead his army.
Unfortunately, Cortex hasn't been recognized as much among his PS1 peers. Others have gone on to be megastars, with villains like Sephiroth even appearing in spin-offs from other companies, but Cortex has been relegated to C-level status. It's unfortunate because his unflinching villainy and delightful cheesy dialogue are some of the best of the era.
5 Jacqueline Natla (Tomb Raider)
The Original Archnemesis Of Lara Croft
It's hard to say that Lara Croft has a nemesis these days. The Survivor Trilogy focused on her struggles against Trinity, but that group wasn't as compelling as it could have been. One thing that may be missing was a singular entity for Lara to fight, which is exactly what she had during the PS1 era with Jacqueline Natla.
While Tomb Raider itself broke new ground by having a female protagonist, it also did just as much by having a well-written and competent female villain. Natla has a charming sense of intrigue about her, which makes her primary plan to perform a twisted natural selection event on humanity all the more devious.
4 Mitochondria Eve (Parasite Eve)
Lead Villain Of A Survival Horror RPG
Despite being one of the PS1's best games, Parasite Eve didn't quite reach the level of success that Square wanted. As a result, the series has been long forgotten with seemingly no signs of a return, leaving the lead antagonist, Eve, sadly unappreciated.
Influenced by the Mitochondrial Eve theory, where all humans descend from a singular woman, she terrorizes hero, Aya Brea, throughout the game. Her haunting transformations over the course of Parasite Eve are frightening and beautiful all at the same time. Eve is one of the PS1's most unique and intriguing villains.
3 Sydney Losstarot (Vagrant Story)
Leader Of The Mullenkamp Cult And Antagonist To Ashley Riot
Vagrant Story was one of the PS1's most fascinating titles, but it sadly did not survive the still ongoing wave of hype that Final Fantasy 7 created. The flood of JRPGs meant that many, including Vagrant Story, weren't played or even seen by most PS1 owners, which is a shame, as they missed out on one of the console's best villains in Sydney Losstarot.
Sydney is the leader of a cult known as Mullenkamp, which he has complete control and dominance over. His followers are devoted to him completely, as evidenced by just how charming he can be, even just speaking in text boxes, as opposed to having a voice actor. Sydney doesn't get nearly the amount of praise he deserves as one of the PS1's most fascinating villains.
2 Kuja (Final Fantasy 9)
A Powerful Mage Who Is One Of Final Fantasy's Greatest Forgotten Villains
In a Final Fantasy game with as many amazing characters as FF9 has (especially the main party and supporting cast), it's not hard to imagine how a character like Kuja would be forgotten. Indeed, other Final Fantasy games on the PS1 would have villains like Sephiroth and Sorceress Edea that would become mainstays in the franchise, but Kuja was destined to be pushed out of the spotlight.
This all-powerful mage is initially presented as a shadowy figure behind the scenes but emerges in one of Final Fantasy 9's most chilling moments as he begins to stoke the fires of war. Kuja's dialogue is some of the best of any villain in the franchise, as his elegant words hide a true monster underneath.