Few games capture the sheer insanity of 90s gaming quite like Die Hard Trilogy on the PlayStation 1. Released in 1996, this game wasn’t just a single experience—it was three completely different games in one, each based on a film from the Die Hard series. It was like an action-packed, explosion-filled Mario Party, switching genres at the drop of a hat while never letting up on the chaos.
Three Games, One Disc, Unlimited Carnage
The genius of Die Hard Trilogy is that it’s essentially three separate games, each offering a wildly different experience:
- Die Hard – A third-person shooter where you blast your way through floors of Nakatomi Plaza, taking out terrorists and rescuing hostages. It’s clunky, over-the-top, and an absolute riot.
- Die Harder – A light-gun style rail shooter set in an airport, turning the game into an arcade-style shooting gallery. If you had a light gun, this was pure gaming bliss, but even with a controller, it was frantic and satisfying.
- Die Hard With a Vengeance – A chaotic, time-attack driving game where you race through the streets of New York in various vehicles, defusing bombs before they explode. It was Crazy Taxi before Crazy Taxi existed, but with more explosions and reckless destruction.
Each game was simple, loud, and completely unapologetic in its approach to fun. One minute you were gunning down enemies in a shopping mall, the next you were speeding through traffic while Samuel L. Jackson yelled at you (well, a knock-off voice actor, but still).
Why It Still Holds Up
Despite its rough edges, Die Hard Trilogy remains one of the most ambitious movie-based games ever made. The fact that it juggled three different playstyles and managed to make all of them entertaining is a miracle in itself. Sure, the graphics are blocky, and the controls can feel a little loose, but that just adds to the charm. This game is pure 90s gaming energy—loud, chaotic, and completely off the rails.
Final Verdict
Die Hard Trilogy is a glorious mess in all the best ways. It’s the kind of game that feels like a fever dream of arcade shooters, reckless driving, and non-stop explosions. If you were a kid in the late 90s, chances are this game blew your mind. And honestly? It still holds up as a ridiculously fun, dumb-as-hell action game that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
5 stars out of 5. Yippee-Ki-Yay indeed.
BCB Collects 