Wild 9
Wild 9 is a 1998 action-platformer developed by Shiny Entertainment and published by Interplay for the PlayStation. You play as Wex Major, a wisecracking space pirate who wields 'The Rig' — a powerful energy beam that lets you grab, smash, and throw enemies across twisted alien environments. With its dark humor, heavy industrial art style by a former Metallica cover artist, and a soundtrack by Tommy Tallarico, the game channels the spirit of mid-90s alternative comics into a punishing but creative 2.5D gauntlet.
Game Controls
About This Retro Game
The Rig is the undisputed star of Wild 9. It functions as a grappling hook, a weapon, and a physics playground tool. You can pluck enemies off ledges, grind them into sparking scrap against moving gears, or hurl them into lava pits. Mastering the beam's range and timing turns each screen into a puzzle of destruction, rewarding creative cruelty over button-mashing.
Narratively, the game follows Wex as he crashes on an alien world and leads a misfit resistance against the tyrannical Karn. The tone is sarcastic and macabre, reinforced by fully digitized voice acting and cutscenes. While the platforming controls can be unforgiving — with stiff jumps and no mid-air correction — the game's personality and sheer inventiveness carry it through.
Wild 9 was originally conceived as a next-gen follow-up to Earthworm Jim in terms of attitude, but it ultimately carved its own cult following. Its punishing difficulty, relentless industrial soundtrack, and unique torture-test approach to platforming made it a standout oddity in the PS1 library. While it never received a sequel, it remains a benchmark of Shiny's ambition during the 32-bit era.
Recommended Based on Your History
Related Retro Games
Pepsiman is an action game developed and published by KID for PlayStation. Featuring PepsiCo's superhero mascot, the game is an endless runner where players control Pepsiman as he dashes through urban environments, avoiding obstacles while collecting Pepsi cans to quench thirsty civilians. Known for its bizarre premise and Japanese commercials.
This 2000 PlayStation action game adapts the Lightspeed Rescue TV season, featuring all five Rangers and their Titanium Ranger ally. Players battle demonic villains across 3D environments using martial arts, zord vehicles, and the innovative Rescue Morpher mechanic.
The groundbreaking vehicular combat game that launched a franchise. Players choose from eccentric drivers in weaponized vehicles battling in destructible urban environments to win a mysterious tournament.
1996 vehicular combat classic expanding the original's mayhem across global battlegrounds. Features 12 deranged drivers with unique special weapons, destructible environments, and Calypso's twisted tournament with new story endings.
The controversial third entry in the vehicular combat series, introducing new characters, exaggerated physics, and over-the-top special weapons. Features a darker storyline and interactive environments.
The fourth installment in the explosive vehicular combat series featuring new drivers, devastating weapons, and arena-style destruction. Introduces the controversial 'Nuke' weapon and interactive environments.