Saturn imports that are better/improved over the US versions

[The Brown Eye]

I've been getting back to Saturn lately, and I was wondering what games I was better off buying the import for. I know of these so far:

Fighting Vipers - has PEPSIMAN!
Fighters Megamix - I believe this has a matching game and a few extra pictures
Last Bronx - has an extra disc

Does anyone know of any others? No matter how insignificant it may seem, I'd like to know about it.

[Steven]

VF Kids has a Java tea drink that the US version omitted.

ONE exception I can tell you to avoid is the JP Saturn Bomberman. It has 3 variations of each map, while the US one has 4. Regarding SB -- the US version is the one to get.

[WiseSalesman]

The japanese cover art for Guardian Heroes is much better.

I admit, although this is the sort of thing that intrests me, my lack of funding means I have very little knowledge on this subject.

[Lord Contaminous]

X-Men: Children of the Atom -Code to play Juggernaut and Magneto (?)

[Arthur-Otaku]

The japanese cover art for Guardian Heroes is much better.

I admit, although this is the sort of thing that intrests me, my lack of funding means I have very little knowledge on this subject.

99% of japanese covers of all old systems are much better than Us versions

[Lemmy Kilmister]

X-Men: Children of the Atom -Code to play Juggernaut and Magneto (?)

Are you sure that wasn't in the American version, too? I remember there was a code to play as Akuma in the domestic Saturn version at least.

[Steven]

X-Men: Children of the Atom -Code to play Juggernaut and Magneto (?)

Are you sure that wasn't in the American version, too? I remember there was a code to play as Akuma in the domestic Saturn version at least.

Naw, the code to play as Juggy was JP only, but IIRC, there's no code to play as Magneto

[davidbrit2]

I've been told Sega Rally is better, but I've never played the US version, so I couldn't tell you. :-) Ditto for Daytona Championship Circuit Edition.

Outrun is slightly improved in that you can choose to have remixed versions of the music. However, it's also a single release, as opposed to the US collection with Afterburner 2 and Space Harrier.

[InsaneDavid]

I've been told Sega Rally is better, but I've never played the US version, so I couldn't tell you. :-) Ditto for Daytona Championship Circuit Edition.

*chimes in*

Sega Rally - the Japanese and UK versions came out after the US release and thereby were actually "finished." The US release is missing some of the on-screen displays, a good amount of the sound effects and graphics like the mountain background on the "Mountain" stage. The US version still plays fine however it's not as complete as the Japanese and UK versions.

Daytona USA Circuit Edition - first off netlink play is standard. Second the horrible remixed music for Three Seven Speedway, Dinosaur Canyon, and Seaside Street Galaxy is there as it was in the US version. However you can change it out in the option screen for the ARCADE versions of "The King of Speed", "Let's Go Away", and "Sky High" - note that the Saturn release of the original Daytona USA didn't feature the exact arcade background music. Eric Martin sucks, alright, deal with it. :P Lastly the US release of Daytona USA CE used a new handling system over the original Daytona USA, screwing up the responsiveness. For the Japanese release the original handling model was gone back to so the cars respond as they did in the original Saturn release of Daytona USA. Just as with Sega Rally, the Japanese release was a few months after the US release so it's a more finished product and addressed the problems with the US version.

Don't have very many other comparison releases, but yes, Fighting Vipers is well worth importing to get Pepsiman.

[davidbrit2]

For the Japanese release the original handling model was gone back to so the cars respond as they did in the original Saturn release of Daytona USA.

Hmm, I gotta disagree with you here. I've played the Japanese version only, but I can tell you the cars handle NOTHING like in the original Saturn Daytona. Heh. Unless the original Daytona has significant differences between the US and Japanese versions as well, or something.

[InsaneDavid]

For the Japanese release the original handling model was gone back to so the cars respond as they did in the original Saturn release of Daytona USA.

Hmm, I gotta disagree with you here. I've played the Japanese version only, but I can tell you the cars handle NOTHING like in the original Saturn Daytona. Heh. Unless the original Daytona has significant differences between the US and Japanese versions as well, or something.

It's all in your head with the framerate differences, seriously. I thought the same at first. Obviously the handling characteristics are different because the different car specs are more diverse, but the core control input peramiters are the same.

Play the US version of Daytona USA: CE, compare, and you'll see.

[davidbrit2]

Well, I doubt it's the frame rate throwing me off, because I've played a great deal of the arcade version at 60 fps, and I can say that it doesn't handle anything like Circuit Edition either. Heh. I've noticed that in Circuit Edition, when you steer the car, not only does it rotate left or right accordingly, but it also slides that direction too. The result is not unlike lightly holding the slide buttons in F-Zero GX into the direction you're turning.

Other than the pedal response and acceleration off the line being a bit different in the original Saturn Daytona (no analog pedals), the handling is nearly identical to the arcade.

[fishsandwich]

Does the Saturn version of Daytona: Championship Edition run a bit like Sega Rally? I understand they use the same basic game engine.

:/

[davidbrit2]

Does the Saturn version of Daytona: Championship Edition run a bit like Sega Rally? I understand they use the same basic game engine.

:/

Frankly I didn't think it played at all like Sega Rally or Daytona. Heh. It's mostly the Sega Rally graphical engine and menu systems that were used for Circuit Edition.

[InsaneDavid]

Does the Saturn version of Daytona: Championship Edition run a bit like Sega Rally? I understand they use the same basic game engine.

:/

Frankly I didn't think it played at all like Sega Rally or Daytona. Heh. It's mostly the Sega Rally graphical engine and menu systems that were used for Circuit Edition.

Same here, Sega Rally is far looser (as should be) than either of the Daytonas, including either of their region formats. I haven't played it in a LONG time but I remember Sega Touring Car Championship feeling a bit like Sega Rally, with a really low framerate however.

[The Brown Eye]

Thanks for the help guys. I was hoping there were more titles with differences beyond the fighting games, but that doesn't seem to be the case. In any event, if I find any others I'll post 'em here.

[Lozza]

The japanese cover art for Guardian Heroes is much better.

I admit, although this is the sort of thing that intrests me, my lack of funding means I have very little knowledge on this subject.

99% of japanese covers of all old systems are much better than Us versions

Except Double Dragon! Just look at those stereotypical hard nuts!

[Mark III]

Damn it I thought Pepsiman was in the Japanese Fighters Megamaix. Now I've bought a japanese version for nothing.