Reasons why you should have owned: The Sega Saturn

Aw the Sega Saturn, a marvelous machine to own.

First thing is if you are getting a saturn make sure you can play japanese games. The releases in the US and europe were very poor with very few good games released on it. The japanese library is chock full of amazing games. An action replay 4 in 1 is the best way. Also get either a japanese or US console or if you have to get a PAL console get it modified for NTSC. There's no point playing the fast paced action games of the saturn when they are slowed down by the PAL console.

Another good idea is to get the console chipped. Most of the games on the saturn worth playing are very expensive so unless you are rich this is the only way to experience them.

The saturn was a pretty dreadful 3D machine. There's still some good 3D games on it but the playstation was way ahead of it. As a 2D machine however the saturn was an absolute beast.

For the games there's Sega's excellent output from it's arcade ports of Sega Rally, Virtua Fighter 2, Die Hard Arcade and Virtua Cop to original games like Nights, Shining Force 3, Panzer Dragoon Zwei and Saga and Burning Rangers, Sega really was on top of its game with the saturn.

The Saturn is also full of other original games and arcade ports that can't be played anywhere else. Radiant Silvergun, Psychic Killer Taromaru, Princess Crown, Saturn Bomberman, Soukyugurentai, Gaurdian Heroes etc. The thing about the saturn is that it's the only way to play these games and there's so many weird games on the saturn that it's great fun hunting through the catalogue and coming across a gem.

The saturn was also the best way to play Capcom and Neo Geo fighters but now it's best to stick with emulation to avoid the load times.

And yes, Panzer Dragoon Saga and Radiant Silvergun are worth owning the console for on their own.

gouche wrote: »

Never had one or even played it unfortunately.
I do however have a copy of Saturn Bomberman and I have no recollection of how it came into my possession:o

Will be the first game I play should I ever get around to buying a Saturn!
Think it can support up to 10 players simultaneously with the Saturn's 5-port multitaps:eek:

Yep it can which makes it the best version of bomberman. Only ever got to play 5 player though but someday I will.

The footage of the Shenmue prototype looks spectacular. Also Virtua Fighter 2 running in it's high res mode and at a constant 60 FPS looks spectacular and really put Tekken 2 to shame.

landsleaving wrote: »

I had the Championship something or other version - it was a big improvement

Yeah it was although the pop in was still quite bad but not as bad as the original.

So people know what they are missing out on:












(youtube footage doesn't do VF2 justice)

Is1ldur wrote: »

Don't know if it is allowed to talk about emulation, but has anyone found a decent Saturn emulator. I remember looking around a few years ago and there was nothing that was actually playable.

SSF and Yabause are meant to be good. I think SSF is meant to be the best.

Thunderforce V is a bit crap. With Radiant Silvergun, Souky and the rest of the shooters it's not worth it.