Sega Saturn

The Last Bandit · 12-02-2012 10:53PM #1

Worth buying one these days ?

Tried emulation but its not quiet up to scratch yet so thinking on investing in a console. Top 10 games to be looking at for one ?

Pyongyang · 12-02-2012 10:58PM

Depends what you want to play. I've not tried a Saturn emulator so can't comment. I'm very happy with the console though, it's brilliant. My joint favourite with the PC Engine. Definetly worth purchasing one I think.

Retr0gamer · 13-02-2012 12:31AM

Definitely worth getting one but make sure you chip it and get an Action Replay 4 in 1. Either get a JAP/US console or if you do get a European one make sure you fit it with a 50/60 Hz switch, most of the games you will be playing are arcade games and will be absolutely ruined if played in slow motion PAL 50Hz.

The action replay 4 in 1 allows you to play games from any region and is a must because the catalogue of games in the EU and US is pitiful while the japanese catalogue is brim full of absolutely amazing games. Getting the machine chipped is also a must because most of the saturns best games will cost you a fortune so it will save you a lot of money until you are filthy rich.

It might be a big enough initial investment but buying my saturn is at the top of all the retro purchases I've made, such an amazing machine with so many great games to discover on it.

Top 10 games:

1. Panzer Dragoon Saga
2. Radiant Silvergun
3. Soukyugurentai
4. Shining Force 3
5. Dragon Force
6. Die Hard Arcade
7. Hyperduel
8. Nights
9. Panzer Dragoon Zwei
10. Gaurdian Heroes

Plenty more as well like Sega Rally, Virtua Cop 1 and 2, Virtua Fighter 2, Wachenrodder (fan translation on gamefaqs), Clockwork Knight 1 and 2, Shinobi, Psychic Assassin Taromaru, House of the Dead, Shining the Holy Ark, Astal, Bulk Slash, Gun Griffon, Exhumed, Assault Suit Leynos 2, Elevator Action Returns, Darius Gaiden, Salamander/Parodius/Twinbee deluxe packs, Sexy Parodius, Parodius forever with me, Batsugun, Layer Section, Game Paradise, Cotton 100%, Cotton 2, Magic Knight Rayearth, Princess Crown, Legend of Oasis, Saturn Bomberman, and plenty more!

CiDeRmAn · 13-02-2012 01:34AM

The Last Bandit wrote: »

Worth buying one these days ?

Tried emulation but its not quiet up to scratch yet so thinking on investing in a console. Top 10 games to be looking at for one ?

So, yes I think is the answer to that one.
You should really know better than to ask that question in here!

The Last Bandit · 13-02-2012 09:39AM

Got one on ebay last night for the price of a PS3 game so happy with that. Its a model 1 PAL unit so already digging out the modding schematics for it

Dr Bob · 13-02-2012 09:53AM

Its well worth nabbing a copy of Exhumed/Powerslave(us one) as its a great and interesting little FPS.Both the PSX and PC versions are all quite different too..

CiDeRmAn · 13-02-2012 11:10AM

Pick up Quake and/or Duke 3D too, all made by Lobotomy, all brilliant conversion and they allow access to
DEATH TANK!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNGEH2PqRjg

RedXIV · 13-02-2012 12:35PM

Don't mean to hijack the thread OP but anyone know who might be able to mod my saturn? Got it at Xmas and pretty sure it's a PAL 1.

I'm in South Dublin, Cheers!

Myrddin · 13-02-2012 04:00PM

The Last Bandit wrote: »

Got one on ebay last night for the price of a PS3 game so happy with that. Its a model 1 PAL unit so already digging out the modding schematics for it

Model 1's sometimes had a 20pin ribbon connector for the cd-rom drive. If yours has that, best of luck to you finding a chip for it, they're all but gone. Most Saturns are 21pin connectors, & that chip is commonly available.

o1s1n · 13-02-2012 04:18PM

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Top 10 games:

1. Panzer Dragoon Saga
2. Radiant Silvergun
3. Soukyugurentai
4. Shining Force 3
5. Dragon Force
6. Die Hard Arcade
7. Hyperduel
8. Nights
9. Panzer Dragoon Zwei
10. Gaurdian Heroes

No Battle Garegga? I are disappoint!

The Last Bandit · 13-02-2012 04:20PM

EnterNow wrote: »

Model 1's sometimes had a 20pin ribbon connector for the cd-rom drive. If yours has that, best of luck to you finding a chip for it, they're all but gone. Most Saturns are 21pin connectors, & that chip is commonly available.

Ya I've been reading that alright, if the disc swap turns out to be total pain I'll have to take the awkward route and mod the modchip to work - handy enough with a soldering iron so hoping for the best

Retr0gamer · 13-02-2012 04:27PM

o1s1n wrote: »

No Battle Garegga? I are disappoint!

Only if you can turn your TV on its side. The bullets are too hard to see when not in tate mode!

Retr0gamer · 13-02-2012 04:36PM

The Last Bandit wrote: »

Ya I've been reading that alright, if the disc swap turns out to be total pain I'll have to take the awkward route and mod the modchip to work - handy enough with a soldering iron so hoping for the best

Do not under any circumstances use the swap disc trick. You'll absolutely destroy the CD drive motor and you'll have a useless lump of silicon and plastic in no time. Just get a modchip from racketboy and mod it. Consolegoods.co.uk do amuch cheaper modchip but I've heard one bad report of a dodgy chip from him and bad customer service although from personal experience I've never had a problem with that site.

The Last Bandit · 13-02-2012 04:57PM

Right chip it is then. I've a few cheapo ebay games on the way to get me started.

Myrddin · 13-02-2012 05:08PM

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Do not under any circumstances use the swap disc trick. You'll absolutely destroy the CD drive motor and you'll have a useless lump of silicon and plastic in no time. Just get a modchip from racketboy and mod it. Consolegoods.co.uk do amuch cheaper modchip but I've heard one bad report of a dodgy chip from him and bad customer service although from personal experience I've never had a problem with that site.

Thats basically it, it's a pricey chip, but its a far better quality product & will save serious headaches - especially if you have to mod the mod chip!

Retr0gamer · 13-02-2012 05:18PM

It will also save you 350+ euros if you want to play Taromaru so it's a wise investment

OwaynOTT · 14-02-2012 09:44AM

Well it's great to see its going to a nice home.

I'm pretty sure its my Saturn you got off eBay.

Pyongyang · 14-02-2012 10:05AM

If anyone's buying an NTSC-J Saturn and wants to put a chip in it, make sure you buy a Model 2 as the Model 1 chip is very hard to come by.

My NTSC-J Saturn is a Model 1, however I have the Action Replay cart and that should sort me out just fine, plus it has the built in memory pack. That said, I don't have any PAL or NTSC-U games to test it on.

If you want to play 'stuff' then a chip is the way forward, but again, be careful what model console you buy.

The Last Bandit · 14-02-2012 10:05AM

OwaynOTT wrote: »

Well it's great to see its going to a nice home.

I'm pretty sure its my Saturn you got off eBay.

Yep sure is

CathalDublin · 14-02-2012 11:42AM

My Saturn is gettingthis mod when the pic chips arrive

Myrddin · 14-02-2012 11:47AM

CathalDublin wrote: »

My Saturn is gettingthis mod when the pic chips arrive

Nah, here's the new ultimate mod - http://mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/saturn-regionfree.htm

The Last Bandit · 14-02-2012 12:55PM

What's wrong with just region patching the images to suit your console ? 50/60Hz would still be a separate mod if needed.

Retr0gamer · 14-02-2012 03:10PM

The Last Bandit wrote: »

What's wrong with just region patching the images to suit your console ? 50/60Hz would still be a separate mod if needed.

It's easy to do but still an extra step that you have to do each time that becomes a pain and won't help you if you start collecting genuine games. Just get a 4 in 1. It's the best investment you will make for a saturn. It allows you to play games region free. It has action replay functionality which is handy for getting picky games like panzer dragoon saga working. It can act as a 1 MB and 4 MB RAM cartridge for NEO GEO and Capcom games. It also has 4 MB of flash memory so you can back up all your save data since the save data on the saturn is lost when the battery that is powering up the memory is wasted.

The Last Bandit · 14-02-2012 03:18PM

Somehow I doubt I'll be collecting too many original imports, prices are well somewhat high !!

Was planning on getting that 4-in-1 cart alright but will still need to add a 50/60Hz mod at some stage.

The Last Bandit · 19-02-2012 11:24AM

So Saturn arrived but no games from ebay yet so have to amuse myself with the cd player pitch change

Mod chip and 4-in-1 on route as well, but its a 20 pin console I have with is a slight pain.

What the expansion port at the rear for ?

Myrddin · 19-02-2012 11:26AM

The Last Bandit wrote: »

So Saturn arrived but no games from ebay yet so have to amuse myself with the cd player pitch change
Mod chip and 4-in-1 on route as well, but its a 20 pin console I have with is a slight pain.

What the expansion port at the rear for ?

It's for the VCD card

Shame it's a 20 pin, I remember there was a thread over on SegaXtreme about hacking the 21 pin modchip to work with 20 pin consoles.

The Last Bandit · 19-02-2012 11:40AM

EnterNow wrote: »

It's for the VCD card

Shame it's a 20 pin, I remember there was a thread over on SegaXtreme about hacking the 21 pin modchip to work with 20 pin consoles.

Ya I've a few threads bookmarked on modding the mod chip to fit, probably should have done a bit more research and got a model 2..

The Last Bandit · 24-02-2012 10:06PM

Got the 4-in-1 card and modded modchip installed. Not too difficult really, but very happy with the results

SCART cable on order to that'll clean up the image a bit as well.

Not bothered with the 50/60 switch yet, job for another time although I don't think my TV can handle 60Hz..

Retr0gamer · 24-02-2012 10:13PM

The Last Bandit wrote: »

Not bothered with the 50/60 switch yet, job for another time although I don't think my TV can handle 60Hz..

But that's the most important mod!!!

What TV have you got? If the TV can do PS2 games in 60Hz (and only PS2 PAL games since they display in NTSC) then you're sorted.

The Last Bandit · 24-02-2012 10:20PM

Ah I'll get to it tomorrow

I've an ancient Panasonic 21" CRT for now, don't want to add any more consoles to the LCD downstairs cus I never get to use them !!

Retr0gamer · 24-02-2012 10:32PM

Panasonic is a great brand. I'd be very surprised if it didn't handle 60Hz. It's cheap rubbish like Black Diamonds that you have to worry about.

Sega Saturn

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