The original PlayStation was revolutionary for console gaming, featuring advanced graphics and sounds for its time that added much to player immersion. This generation introduced new technology and mechanics that have since become industry mainstays, particularly 3D graphics. The increased power of the PlayStation compared to its 16-bit predecessors led to many franchises getting their 3D debut on the PlayStation, or otherwise breaking through the limits of what 2D gaming could do.
Naturally, these advancements meant that the PlayStation was a popular choice for arcade ports of fighting games. The increasing popularity of home consoles against the decline of arcades meant that many established fighting game franchises were popularized by the PlayStation. This incentivized many developers to develop new fighting games for the then-new little grey box, with some of the most famous franchises of the modern era leaving their mark on Sony's first console.
Bushido Blade
One of Square's few published fighting games, Bushido Blade was ahead of its time in terms of realism. Utilizing real-world weapons for each character and a unique Body Damage system, characters could be permanently injured by their opponent in the middle of a round and have their movement severely hindered. Depending on where a character is hit, one strike could instantly kill them and end the match. Battles are brutally efficient and often end in a matter of seconds, making for one of the most realistic fighting games ever made.
Guilty Gear
Currently one of the most popular anime-style fighting games, Arc System Works' premier fighting game was originally an overlooked cult classic making its humble debut on the PlayStation. In a time when 3D fighting games became the norm and 2D was hitting a decline, Guilty Gear sparked a new genre of fast-paced fighters stylized after popular shonen manga and anime tropes, coupled with an unusual focus on worldbuilding and storytelling. Guilty Gear's honing of features popularized by games like King of Fighters and Street Fighter made it a cult classic, hailed for its complex combo system and beautiful art style.
Street Fighter Alpha 3
The final entry in the interquel Street Fighter Alpha sub-series, this game closed a long story arc welding the first and second Street Fighter games together -- and it was all done in a snappy anime style modeled after the Street Fighter II movie. The PlayStation version of Alpha 3 was one of the best arcade-to-console ports of its time, featuring almost all the graphical capabilities and modes of the original, bolstered by the PlayStation's two-player capabilities. Additionally, the PlayStation version added the remaining missing characters from Super Street Fighter II Turbo, sans Guile, who would eventually be added to the PSP version years later.
Darkstalkers 3
One of Capcom's most influential yet overlooked fighting games, Darkstalkers is essentially a horror-themed Street Fighter with various supernatural characters fighting for supremacy. What really sets the series apart from its more popular sibling is its extremely fluid and imaginative sprite animations. It also implemented various fighting game staples before they became commonplace, such as EX-moves, chain combos and air-dashes. Another perfect arcade port for PlayStation, Darkstalkers 3 is easily the best in the series for its expansive roster and cool visuals.
Tekken 3
While Virtua Fighter was the first 3D fighter, it was arguably the Tekken series that made gamers realize that the 3D plane brought a whole new dimension to fighting games. Every Tekken game has made improvements upon the previous entry, and this final PS1 entry was the one to introduce side-stepping into the background and foreground. Tekken 3 marked a massive turning point by taking advantage of the 3D space, adding many layers of complexity alongside a large roster of returning and new characters.