5 Games That Came With Better Demos

Key Takeaways

• Game demos were once packed with other titles, offering players a taste of what awaited.
• Demos allowed players to experience upcoming games or underappreciated gems before release.
• Demo discs were significant sources of excitement during the rise of digital distribution.

Video game demo discs came in many forms, with some of them being packed in with magazines like PlayStation Underground or the Official Xbox Magazine. Others came in unique, in-store offers, as kids who went to Pizza Hut in the 1990s were treated to demos of Metal Gear Solid or Crash Team Racing. One avenue of game demo distribution that was just as exciting was when it was packed with another title.

Whether it was a studio packaging an anticipated game demo with another by the same creator, or a demo for a game in a similar genre, developers in the 1990s and 2000s were keen to give players an in-depth look at what they had coming. Demo discs of any kind are a non-factor anymore, as the rise of digital distribution means that developers can instantly release a slice of the game on a storefront and call it a day. But these were sources of untold riches back during the fifth and sixth generations of consoles, as they introduced the gaming world to some of the industry’s greatest games.

5 Brave Fencer Musashi (PlayStation 1998 Collector’s CD Vol. 2)

Stylish Action RPG Showcased Impressive Final Fantasy 8 Demo

Set in Sengoku-era Japan and based loosely on the stories of a swordsman named Miyamoto Musashi, this fantastic action RPG is one of the PS1’s most intriguing hidden gems. Brave Fencer Musashi was a highly entertaining action RPG, but packaged inside was the Squaresoft on PlayStation 1998 Collector’s CD Vol. 2, the main highlight of which was a demo for Final Fantasy 8.

Final Fantasy 8 was still roughly one year away from release, so having a fresh look at what was next for the ravenously popular JRPG series was a treat. It focused on the escape from Dollet sequence in the final game, featuring some different music and raising hype to a fever pitch.

4 God Of War: Ascension (The Last Of Us)

The Debut Of The Last Of Us

God of War: Ascension launched when Kratos’ story was in a bit of a strange place, as the trilogy had ended and his future seemed uncertain. With Ascension, Sony Santa Monica opted to go into Kratos’ past and chart his origin story. Ultimately, Ascension was a fairly fun experience that explored the theatrical beginning of Kratos and his path toward vengeance in the first God of War.

It was fitting, as owners of Ascension were able to witness the beginning of another great Sony franchise in the process, as they could use a voucher included to download a demo for The Last of Us. Showcasing Joel, Ellie, and Tess as they make their way through a crumbling building, the demo of The Last of Us was just a glimpse at what this phenomenal game would become. It showcased the depth of game design, characters, and storytelling that the final game would become known for.

3 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (Dino Crisis)

Jill Valentine’s Escape From Raccoon City Came With Dino Crisis Demo

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis was developed in order to fill in an open production slot for 1999, and was initially developed as a side story, but eventually morphed into the story of Jill Valentine’s desperate escape from a crumbling Raccoon City. But even more thrilling, packed inside the case of Resident Evil 3, was a demo for Capcom’s other survival horror franchise, Dino Crisis.

Featuring a small section of the game, it was enough to showcase just how thrilling this bold survival horror game was. On an island facility loaded with fierce dinosaurs and danger around every corner, Dino Crisis and Resident Evil 3 shared a fairly close relationship in 1999, as both games included demos for the other and Nemesis even featured an alternate costume for Jill based on the one Regina wears.

2 Tobal No. 1 (Final Fantasy 7)

Classic PS1 Fighting Game Came With Demo For Iconic JRPG

• Platform: PS1
• Developer: DreamFactory
• Release Date: October 31, 1996

Tobal No. 1 was one of the PS1’s most overlooked fighting games, as it was one of the pioneering efforts in 3D fighters alongside Virtua Fighter and Tekken. The smooth, flowing action was a delight to watch, and it even spawned a sequel in 1997 that unfortunately never made it out of Japan. But packed inside Tobal No. 1 was a demo for another game that would launch in 1997, as it included one of the PS1’s most highly sought-after trial discs in Final Fantasy 7.

Featuring the opening section, where Avalanche targets a Shinra mako reactor in Sector 1, the demo for Final Fantasy 7 also includes a unique text intro that explains the context. It also features a playable party of Cloud, Aeris, and Barret, which is vastly different from the final game. The finished version of Final Fantasy 7 was still a year away in 1996, and this demo did its fair share to contribute to the worldwide hype that this iconic game would become known for.

The Next Chapter Of Metal Gear Was Packed With Kojima-Produced Mech Game

Initially beginning development with the Dreamcast in mind, Zone of the Enders was produced by Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, who brought his trademark flair for cinematic storytelling and rich characters to the table. This brilliant hack-and-slash action game focused on mech combat and a dark, complex story, but the long-lasting impression of Zone of the Enders has always been that it was coupled with a demo for the hotly anticipated Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

In what is easily the greatest video game demo of all time, the trial version of Sons of Liberty features the opening section of the Tank Hangar, all the way up until the boss fight with Olga Gurlukovich. Showcasing the game’s remarkable focus on physics, tight storytelling, and stealth gameplay, this outstanding demo was one of the key reasons to buy a PS2 back in 2001. It was a glimpse at the mastery of the craft that Kojima had cultivated and led to one of the console’s most legendary games.