Tobal No. 1 is a Dream Factory and Square PS1 fighting game. Innovative combat system with grabs and ground actions, characters by Akira Toriyama and Tetsuya Nomura. A Final Fantasy VII demo disc included. An original niche fighting title deserving more recognition on PS1.
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Category
Fighting2 players12+
Description
Dream Factory and Square 3D versus fighter, where intergalactic fighters clash in the Tobal tournament on planet Frozen Cube. Created by Dream Factory and Square, released in 1996 in Japan, the United States and Europe under the Tobal No 1 title. Over eight 3D Tobal tournament fighters, signature free 3D system with circular sidestepping, new dungeon Quest RPG mode, Akira Toriyama character design and electronic rock soundtrack. Multi-regional edition under the Tobal No 1 title.
A 3D fighting game by DreamFactory and Square, noted for its fluidity and dungeon mode, but above all famous in the West for shipping with a playable Final Fantasy VII demo. Still common, its interest lies in this historical bonus and its Square cachet rather than scarcity. An affordable prime piece for anyone interested in the ecosystem around the FF VII phenomenon.
Better with friends
An atypical 3D fighter with 360-degree movement, where you circle the opponent to find the perfect angle and chain grabs and strikes. The competition bets on positioning and reads over combo memorization, which pleasantly shifts the pace. Singular and accessible, it offers duels with a unique feel and feeds a rivalry where everyone tames their freedom of movement.
Is Tobal No. 1 still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 1996 on PS1 in Japan and in 1997 in the West, DreamFactory's project published by Square offers one of the first serious 3D versus titles on Sony's console. The circular 360 degree arena system and the Quest mode with dungeon exploration install a real originality. The Akira Toriyama art direction and the electronic music still hold. The 3D modelling and the reduced cast have aged. Recommended today for 3D versus devotees, for Square fans curious about an atypical experiment and for PS1 collectors fond of experimentation on Sony's first home console hardware globally.
