The App Store already has a PlayStation 1 emulator: this is how Gamma works

The PlayStation 1 was one of the best consoles in history and this is information not an opinion, no one can talk me out of this nonsense. All jokes aside, the PlayStation 1 is a historic console with games that marked many people’s childhoods, such as Spyro, Medievil, Resident Evil, Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid. Almost 30 years have passed since its launch, and today we can finally enjoy PSX games on iPhone again thanks to the Gamma emulator.

ZodTTD. This name probably doesn’t sound like much, but it is the nickname of one of the most famous developers of the time when jailbreaking was popular in iOS. Fans of this world may be familiar with Cydia’s Apple Bio repository, which contains themes for the iPhone. Well, ZodTTD was one of those who supported it. He’s been working on PS1 emulation since Tapwave Zodiac, and now he’s back with Gamma, his iOS emulator.

Gamma. This is the name of the PSX emulator, and if it looks familiar, that’s okay. Gamma is based on Delta, the GameBoy and Nintendo DS emulator that has caused such a stir. The software allows you to run PlayStation 1 games (not included, needless to say) without using the BIOS, although the app itself tells us that its presence improves their performance. The application is free and monetized through advertising (full screen every time we launch the game, which can cause some difficulties).

Features to Consider. The emulator allows us to add games from the iPhone storage and sync the games to the cloud so that they can be stored safely. It also displays game art, plays audio, and offers a touch interface that’s less user-friendly than it might seem at first glance. It’s best to play with a controller connected, but there is a bug that can cause games to crash or not work properly. The developer is aware of this and claims to be working on an update.

There is also an issue with audio, as games that use CDDA tracks are supported, but CDDA tracks themselves are not. Work is also underway to provide support. When it comes to data collection, this is a controversial issue because the app asks you to accept a privacy policy. According to the developer, this occurs when using the Google SDK and is a requirement that has only recently been implemented.

How about a performance? Not bad, of course. We were able to play some games at a stable and correct frame rate, and the sound was also satisfactory. The problem is that the touch controls are a bit mediocre. On a Game Boy emulator this might make more sense, but on a PlayStation it’s much more awkward.

In addition, the emulator does not have the ability to improve resolution or scan filters, which is quite noticeable. The graphics are, to be honest, a little rough. According to the developer, “this fix is ​​a high priority,” so we’ll definitely see news soon.

Images | Hataka

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