Help me build a Sega Saturn library!
March 23, 2011 3:43 PM Subscribe
Somebody gave me a Sega Saturn. What games do I get?
I'm particularly interested in awesome fighting games and shooters, but I'd rather not go through the trouble of modding the system to play imports. SO: what are the very best games released for the Saturn in North America? Bonus points for games that are eBayable for <$400 :D
I'm particularly interested in awesome fighting games and shooters, but I'd rather not go through the trouble of modding the system to play imports. SO: what are the very best games released for the Saturn in North America? Bonus points for games that are eBayable for <$400 :D
The Clockwork Knight games were thoroughly charming, a weird pastiche of Toy Story, Don Quixote, mildly creepy 90s CGI, and... Japanese salsa dancing? Like I said, very weird, but I loved it.
Also, Astal was just really beautiful to look at, lots of ornate graphics and lush painterly backgrounds.
posted by Rhaomi at 4:37 PM on March 23, 2011
Also, Astal was just really beautiful to look at, lots of ornate graphics and lush painterly backgrounds.
posted by Rhaomi at 4:37 PM on March 23, 2011
Beaten by the list on preview, but definitely yes to NiGHTS. And a HELL YES to Guardian Heroes! Don't let the scary, 2 cent Boris Vallejo clone American box art fool you. It's a fun little Japanese side scrolling beat 'em up with multiple endings, hours of fun. Great alone and even better with team play. It also comes with a vs. mode. Some of the more vivid standout memories from my "younger days" involved playing this thing for hours with friends and my kid brother.
posted by kkokkodalk at 4:49 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by kkokkodalk at 4:49 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You can easily play imports in your US system using a 4in1 cart, no modding required. If by shooters you mean shoot'em ups, the Saturn is apparently one of the best systems for the genre (Batsugun, Battle Garegga, Soukyugurentai, Layer Section and many more) but some can be very expensive.
It is also great for 2D fighting games, and the 4in1 cart will let you play games that need the RAM expansion, such as Xmen vs Street Fighter and Vampire Saviour.
NiGHTS (analogue controller is a must for this one) and Panzer Dragoon Zwei are essential.
posted by Bangaioh at 4:55 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
It is also great for 2D fighting games, and the 4in1 cart will let you play games that need the RAM expansion, such as Xmen vs Street Fighter and Vampire Saviour.
NiGHTS (analogue controller is a must for this one) and Panzer Dragoon Zwei are essential.
posted by Bangaioh at 4:55 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Fighters Megamix!
It's fighting Vipers meets Virtua Fighter, plus a bunch of other characters from other games.
posted by elroyel1327 at 5:15 PM on March 23, 2011
It's fighting Vipers meets Virtua Fighter, plus a bunch of other characters from other games.
posted by elroyel1327 at 5:15 PM on March 23, 2011
I should add a warning regarding the 4in1 cart: Saturns have an unfortunate tendency to have malfuntioning cartridge slots, which could mean no import gaming for you. Sometimes it just plain doesn't work, but most of the time you just need to be patient and power off the system, pull out the cart, carefully re-insert it and try again. Once you do get it working reliably, don't ever remove it again if possible, to avoid wearing out the slot further. So, make sure your Saturn + cart do work properly before getting a lot of imports you'll have no way of playing.
However, even if your cartridge slot is unoperational, you'll still be able to keep save files for US games in the system's internal memory as long as the CR2032 battery on the back of the system isn't dead yet (if it is, getting another one is cheap).
posted by Bangaioh at 6:13 PM on March 23, 2011
However, even if your cartridge slot is unoperational, you'll still be able to keep save files for US games in the system's internal memory as long as the CR2032 battery on the back of the system isn't dead yet (if it is, getting another one is cheap).
posted by Bangaioh at 6:13 PM on March 23, 2011
Saturn Bomberman (or the Japanese version) can turn into some serious party game crack, with the right people & peripherals. I've played it projected on a wall, drunk, against 9 other folks. Good times.
posted by deludingmyself at 6:49 PM on March 23, 2011
posted by deludingmyself at 6:49 PM on March 23, 2011
Fervently seconding Fighters Megamix and Saturn Bomberman, especially with multitaps.
posted by box at 7:25 PM on March 23, 2011
posted by box at 7:25 PM on March 23, 2011
Panzer Dragoon Saga is very beautiful and weird, if you can find an affordable copy. The music still makes me shiver.
posted by byanyothername at 7:29 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by byanyothername at 7:29 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Emphatically seconding Guardian Heroes! One of the funnest, most-worth-it games I have every played on any platform. I _still_ love playing that game.
posted by Polgara at 10:36 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Polgara at 10:36 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Bangaioh: "You can easily play imports in your US system using a 4in1 cart, no modding required. If by shooters you mean shoot'em ups, the Saturn is apparently one of the best systems for the genre (Batsugun, Battle Garegga, Soukyugurentai, Layer Section and many more) but some can be very expensive.
It is also great for 2D fighting games, and the 4in1 cart will let you play games that need the RAM expansion, such as Xmen vs Street Fighter and Vampire Saviour.
NiGHTS (analogue controller is a must for this one) and Panzer Dragoon Zwei are essential"
Bangaioh, you magnificently-named charlatan! You neglected to mention Radiant Silvergun, not only one of the Saturn's defining moments but the gold standard of 2D scrolling shoot-'em-ups of ALL TIME. PLUS IT WAS MADE BY TREASURE JUST LIKE YOUR NAMESAKE
posted by DoctorFedora at 11:36 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
It is also great for 2D fighting games, and the 4in1 cart will let you play games that need the RAM expansion, such as Xmen vs Street Fighter and Vampire Saviour.
NiGHTS (analogue controller is a must for this one) and Panzer Dragoon Zwei are essential"
Bangaioh, you magnificently-named charlatan! You neglected to mention Radiant Silvergun, not only one of the Saturn's defining moments but the gold standard of 2D scrolling shoot-'em-ups of ALL TIME. PLUS IT WAS MADE BY TREASURE JUST LIKE YOUR NAMESAKE
posted by DoctorFedora at 11:36 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also seconding Guardian Heroes as one of the greatest games ever made. The Panzer Dragoon series are also very awesome.
On note of shooting, if you enjoy light gun games, I used to play hours upon hours of Virtua Cop and Virtua Cop 2 on the Saturn. If you like 3D robot fighting, Virtua On is a great game with surprisingly deep tactics. Last Bronx was a fun 3D fighter that got overlooked.
Although the Playstation had more games, we ended up playing the Saturn a lot more for quick, fun arcade action.
posted by yeloson at 12:38 AM on March 24, 2011
On note of shooting, if you enjoy light gun games, I used to play hours upon hours of Virtua Cop and Virtua Cop 2 on the Saturn. If you like 3D robot fighting, Virtua On is a great game with surprisingly deep tactics. Last Bronx was a fun 3D fighter that got overlooked.
Although the Playstation had more games, we ended up playing the Saturn a lot more for quick, fun arcade action.
posted by yeloson at 12:38 AM on March 24, 2011
You neglected to mention Radiant Silvergun
I did it on purpose, because it's coming to XBLA soon and the Saturn version is bloody expensive (then again, shoot'em ups typically aren't the cheapest games to import). Also from Treasure, Silhouette Mirage deserves a mention, and the Saturn version is different from the US PS1 release, which was significantly altered during localisation.
If you can't afford Guardian Heroes, Die Hard Arcade (Dynamite Deka in Japan) is a fun beat'em up for 2 player co-op in its own right, and I like it better than the Dreamcast sequel.
I wouldn't advise getting Virtua Fighter 1/2 since VF4 Evo on the PS2 and VF5 on 360/PS3 are superior in every way - the PS2 one in particular has a very nice tutorial, a much welcome addition considering the depth of the fighting system; IIRC the Saturn ones don't even give you a moveslist in-game. If you're interested in 3D fighters, Saturn exclusive ones like Fighters Megamix would be a better option, IMHO.
Panzer Dragoon Saga would be another obvious recommendation if not for its price, unless you can read Japanese and get the much cheaper NTSC-J version instead.
posted by Bangaioh at 4:24 AM on March 24, 2011
I did it on purpose, because it's coming to XBLA soon and the Saturn version is bloody expensive (then again, shoot'em ups typically aren't the cheapest games to import). Also from Treasure, Silhouette Mirage deserves a mention, and the Saturn version is different from the US PS1 release, which was significantly altered during localisation.
If you can't afford Guardian Heroes, Die Hard Arcade (Dynamite Deka in Japan) is a fun beat'em up for 2 player co-op in its own right, and I like it better than the Dreamcast sequel.
I wouldn't advise getting Virtua Fighter 1/2 since VF4 Evo on the PS2 and VF5 on 360/PS3 are superior in every way - the PS2 one in particular has a very nice tutorial, a much welcome addition considering the depth of the fighting system; IIRC the Saturn ones don't even give you a moveslist in-game. If you're interested in 3D fighters, Saturn exclusive ones like Fighters Megamix would be a better option, IMHO.
Panzer Dragoon Saga would be another obvious recommendation if not for its price, unless you can read Japanese and get the much cheaper NTSC-J version instead.
posted by Bangaioh at 4:24 AM on March 24, 2011
And Guardian Heroes is also coming to XBLA, reportedly being worked on by Treasure themselves, making it one less great-but-expensive must-have Saturn title to track down.
posted by Bangaioh at 1:08 PM on May 6, 2011
posted by Bangaioh at 1:08 PM on May 6, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by halseyaa at 3:56 PM on March 23, 2011