Hi! How’s it hanging? Welcome back to the Last Official Release – the consecutive article series that delves into the last official game release for whatever console I happen to choose. An evolving list of previously covered consoles can be found at the end of this piece.
Today, the honour goes to the PlayStation One. Launched towards the end of 1994, Sony’s very successful and dramatic entry into the console market amassed over 102 million units sold up until it’s discontinuation in 2006. It should be noted that the console wasn’t found on shelves after winter, 2004 (which was by then its slimline variant, the PSone) – however, games were still available for up to two years afterwards, and that gives us a clue as to when the final title was actually released.
As is the case with all consoles I’ve covered so far, though, the final release varies by region. The PS1 has always been my favourite console, and because of that, I always thought (and was sure) that the last game ever was FIFA Football 2005. It turns out I’ve always been wrong – but that’s okay, I’m only human after all. While the 2005 version of the long-running football series was the last game in North America (October 12th, 2004 to be exact) and beat out Japan’s last game by nearly half a year (which was a tactical RPG called Black/Matrix 00), in the PS1’s case, Europe is the clear winner.
Incorrect
Schnappi: 3 Fun-Games was released on the 1st of March, 2005 – over ten years after the console entered gamers living rooms. Only released in Germany, it is based on that song. Yes, the somewhat bothersome tune sung by Joy Gruttmann named Schnappi – The Little Crocodile. While not as offensive as something like Crazy Frog (and without the unwanted gratuitous nudity), small Schnappi likely annoyed many parents throughout the mid-2000’s – and this is the game based on it.
As you can imagine for a game based on a viral song, the gameplay is quite basic and budget in nature. Just like the title promises, there are three games to play – although the promise of them being fun is questionable at best. They were developed in Macromedia Flash after all, just like the games you used to play on Mini Clip for free back in the day.
Schnappi Snap! has you jumping around, eating wasps (what all crocodiles crave, of course), Schnappi Think! Is a memorisation game of sorts, while Schnappi Dance! incorporated Dance Dance Revolution-like gameplay. Throughout all this simplistic gameplay, the song its self doesn’t even play unless you choose Schnappi Dance! – although you may not consider that such a terrible thing.
As of writing, I only found one copy on eBay. It was only 5 Euros, but came as the disk only in PAL format. While this is probably the cheapest instance I’ve found of a Last Official Release, it being just the disk was a deal-breaker because I probably would have bought it otherwise.
Why? Well, the heinous melody is now stuck in my head. “Schni Schna Schnappi… Schnappi Schnappi Schnapp”… ugh.
Previously, on The Last Official Release:
N64 – Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3
Game Gear – The Lost World: Jurassic Park
NES – The Lion King
Atari 2600 – Klax
Game Boy – Shikakei Atama o Kore Kusuru: Kanji/Keisan no Tatsujin
Dreamcast – Karous
