Play Music: Music Creation for the PlayStation Online

Summary

Music: Music Creation for the PlayStation feels like a hidden gem from the late‑90s, offering a surprisingly deep studio on a console most of us used for platformers. The program hands you 50 pre‑recorded riffs and a library of 300 sampled instruments, all arranged on a 16‑track sequencer that lets you layer basslines, drum beats, vocals, sound effects and more.

Developed by Jester Interactive in Flintshire, Wales, the tiny team led by former Psygnosis designer Tim Wright crammed the whole experience into just nine months – a sprint that reportedly involved serious crunch. When Codemasters saw a working demo, they scrapped their own similar project and pushed Music to market, releasing it exclusively in Europe in 1998.

Critics praised its accessibility; Consoles + gave it a 92 % rating, calling it "a very, very interesting product," while Computer and Video Games noted how easy it was to craft impressive tracks despite some weak vocal samples. MeriStation liked the riff selection but wished for more genre variety, and Video Games lamented the inability to import personal samples. Together with its 1999 sequel, Music and Music 2000 have sold over a million copies, cementing their niche legacy among retro music‑making fans.