Vatlva (Saturn)

[Iron Draggon]

This is a really neat game! I'm sure that most people here already know of it, as it tends to get alot of high praise just due to the fact that its characters were designed by Hitoshi Ariga, the #1 most popular Mega Man manga artist. He also designed the characters for Beyond Oasis, AKA, The Story of Thor. So that automatically qualifies this game for greatness, at least graphically so. You may also know of it as the prequel for the GBA game Car Battler Joe.

Basically, you choose a car and travel from arena to arena, blowing up your opponents. That's the whole point of the game, vehicular arena combat. There are 6 vehicles to choose from, and there can be up to 6 players in one arena at a time. So obviously this is another reason why it's a popular game, it's one of the few multiplayer imports available, and it's one of the better ones. Sort of like Bomberman, but while driving in various vehicles.

The vehicles are extremely varied also. There's a buggy, a rally car, a hover craft, a 4-footed gun, a road roller, a battle tank, and a hidden vehicle that I've yet to unlock, so I don't know what it is. Each one is outfitted with their own special weapons for offense and protective shields for defense.

There are 12 different arenas to fight in, each with terrain as varied as the vehicles themselves. Each one has various obstacles that can aid in your defense, and throughout the battle new weapons and upgrades will appear in the arena for whoever gets to them first. So you're not just fighting for survival, you're fighting for new enhancements too, as well as a high score.

The game is also compatible with the Saturn MPEG decoder, which was never released here in the US. I assume that means that you'd have to have a Japanese system to be able to use it, but if anyone has information to the contrary, I'd love to know about it. If there's a way that I can get one of those MPEG decoders to work with my American Saturn, then I just might have to get one for this game. It already looks gorgeous, so if it can possibly look even better, then I really wanna see just how much better it can look!

Overall it's a very fun game that should've been released here in the states for sure, but for some strange reason it never made it. I suspect that it's probably only because of it's MPEG decoder compatibility. Since Sega chose not to release the MPEG decoder here, I guess they figured there was no point in releasing any of the MPEG decoder compatible games here either. It's no wonder that the sequel did manage to make it to US shores though!

[vulcanjedi]

The game is also compatible with the Saturn MPEG decoder, which was never released here in the US. I assume that means that you'd have to have a Japanese system to be able to use it, but if anyone has information to the contrary, I'd love to know about it. If there's a way that I can get one of those MPEG decoders to work with my American Saturn, then I just might have to get one for this game. It already looks gorgeous, so if it can possibly look even better, then I really wanna see just how much better it can look!


I remember reading that the cartridge slot and the hardware card connector were universal so you could use hardware from anywhere. Only the software is locked out by country codes. You should have no problem using one of the MPEG cards in any saturn.

It's a decoder for MPG files like the ones used on VCD's So instead of Saturn's software decoding of cinepak CPK files it can use faster hardware decoding. I'm sure for the most part it improves the cut scene's and ads extra FMV.

I think there are three different ones like JVC and Hitachi and one other. They pop up every once in a while on eBay and from time to time on Lik-sang or lan kwei.

VJ

[fishsandwich]

I'm glad somebody likes this game besides me... it's awesome! One player and especially two... this game is freaking cool.

It's CHEAP too!

As far as the VCD card goes... it is indeed one of the few Saturn games that can take advantage of it (I think there's a Lunar game too?)

I've got a modded Saturn with a card, biut it also worked on my USA Saturn with convertor cart, no problem.

It's NOT that great of an upgrade... it just takes the nomally letterboxed video and makes it full-screen. I understand the Lunar game utilized the card much more.

Cheers

:D

[vulcanjedi]

It's got that great of an upgrade... it just takes the nomally letterboxed video and makes it full-screen. I understand the Lunar game utilized the card much more.

Cheers

:D

There are only 4 Saturn games that use MPEG I think? But Lunar MPEG is supposed to be the best Lunar available and the game will not play without the decoder card.

vj

[Iron Draggon]

COOL, thanks for all the info! Maybe I'll save up for one of those decoder cards for it sometime then. This game is amazingly cheap, and seems to be very obscure for some reason, which is very surprising considering that it's just about as close as you can get to playing Twisted Metal on the Saturn.

[vulcanjedi]

Oh Yeah,

Some of the alternate saturn units like the HI saturn and JVC's came with the MPEG card.

Not suprising since hitachi and jvc were the main manufacturers of them :)

VJ

[Iron Draggon]

Yeah, I've heard that HI Saturn is a sweet system too, if I could afford one, I'd go for it, because I sure could use a JPN Saturn system for some games!

[dj898]

won't be cheap for V-Saturn...
http://

and even more for Skeleton...
http://

:D

[Iron Draggon]

MMM... I do love the skeleton! But what's so special about the V-Saturn, is it just another one of those alternate manufacturer models, like the Hi-Saturn?

[dj898]

yes. And like Hi-Saturn there are M1 and M2 variant. You can have Hi-Saturn in any colour you like as long as it's black. :D For V-Saturn M1 was grey like standard JPN but in two tone and M2 was in light purple instead of white...

[Iron Draggon]

OK, what are the M1 and M2 variants? I'm really not up on all the Japanese systems at all, so I could use this information before I commit to a purchase.

[dj898]

Saturn was originally launched in grey colour shell in Japan and in black when it was launched in US and Europe. To their wisdom Sega tinkered with Saturn's internal and made various revisions with earlier model - often called M1 as Model 1. When Sega was relaunching Saturn as multimedia rather than just simple game console they redesigned the shell and made it into white - apparently to appeal to female buyers... This one is quite different from grey unit both internally and externally and had round button and no disc access LED - and we call it M2 as Model 2.

actually last grey Saturn HST-3200 and first white Saturn HST-3201 are almost identical internally just different shell... :D

There really isn't any difference in terms of performance although some may argue otherwise. It's only relevant to those who stick in the mod chip as nowadays only mod chip you can get is for M2... also people like the white shell over the grey one...

so now you know... :p

[Iron Draggon]

So how many different versions are there of the white one, and how much do they run? Is that one of the cheaper ones? Because I really would like to have one of those sitting next to my Dreamcast. But ever since I got Vatlva and found out that some of the JPN Saturn models come with the MPEG decoder card, I'm thinking that I might like to just get one of those systems instead, so I can enjoy all the extra features in the MPEG compatible games. The only one that I have right now is Vatlva, but I might get some more.

You really should start a webpage outlining all the JPN Saturn systems and their differences, if there isn't one out there somewhere already. It sounds like you know alot more about them than most people do, and I know you have quite a few import consoles. How many different versions of different import consoles do you have? I know you have a Hello Kitty Dreamcast! HEHE

[dj898]

In fact I do have pink Hello Kitty DC box set sealed and stored away for my daughter.. :) When she's old enough I will give it to her as a b/day present...

anyway I've had numerous consoles - having lived in Japan and mom's family in Japan thing's easier for me to get my hand on some of JPN stuff... the prized console in my collection would be pre-launch Saturn prototype console my relative somehow obtained not so long ago... it's basically grey Saturn with no marking but internal is more like Sophia Dev board than retail Saturn board...

then I have Sonic Saturn and Skeleton and about 4 White and 5 Grey although I've sold most of them except Sonic and Skeleton...

For game play however I use PAL Saturn that has been modified with country as well as 50/60 Hz switches...

For VCD card you can actually get it separately.
I have had about 6 cards at one point before sold all of them except one for my collection...

Then there are Dev Saturn setups... for some crazy reasons that I forgot now I have two CartDev Rev.B system - one is complete minus optional Mirage VCD unit... guess I was contemplating to develop a game on Saturn at some point... not! :p

Other consoles are DC - with R7, Overclocked, and generic JPN and PAL - and MegaDrive - Sega Wondermega - not to mention 5 PS inc. DTL-H2100 DebugStation and 1000/5500/7000/9001. And then current gen consoles - Halo Xbox, PS2 Test, modified GC Platinum...

funny you ask... missus does web design and I could ask her to help me out, but it will be side hobby... so it's no priority and I really have no time to maintain the web page...

cheers

[Iron Draggon]

There's a Sonic Saturn? What does that one look like? I bet it's expensive!

[dj898]

there you go...
http://members.optushome.com.au/currypuff1/sonicsaturn.jpg

and I forgot to mention PC Engine which I was heavily involved till recently...
nowadays I'm more interested in current gen taking back seat from Saturn PS and PCE collections... LOL

[Iron Draggon]

OK, now that just might be the one I get! :D Are they hideously expensive?

[dj898]

anywhere between $350-450 would be the safe bet I'm afraid...
believe it or not it was Toys R Us exclusive and very limited in numbers - probably more rare than Derby Saturn...

I saw it listed twice on eBay and only once on Yahoo Japan...

[Iron Draggon]

Yikes! Well there's one on ebay that I'm watching right now, just for fun. I can't afford to bid on it this time, but I do wanna see how much it goes for.

[dj898]

last time I put one of mine it went over $200 although didn't meet the reserve.
later I sold it to a private buyer. The above is the better one of two and stay in my collection. :p

[Iron Draggon]

Well we'll see. The only problem that I would have with spending that much money on a JPN Saturn system would be knowing that the same amount of money would buy me a factory sealed copy of Radiant Silvergun, or a few of the other uber-expensive ultra rare factory sealed import games that I want!

[dj898]

i dunno.
only expensive Saturn title I don't have is Stellar SS or something, Final Fight, and D&D box set... Seeing I'm not a fan of those don't see me dropping three figures to buy them...

last big Saturn purchase was Astra Superstar that cost me 9980 yen - around $94 few last month :( However the most expensive purchase game wise would be dropping close to 20000 yen for factory sealed MD Panorama Cotton w/ Cotton o'cha Cup... Was told it could fetch at least $600+ on eBay but it's for my private collection... :D

I did make nice profit on eBay selling various items from my collection so it kind of equals out... I've been thinking of selling many of titles I no longer play often but thinking of the task to list them just gives me headache - taking photo, researching the value, list on ebay and sort out the fee...
oh well...

cheers

[dj898]

have a look here (http://www.assemblergames.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=1083&highlight=) for some of my collection. :-P

[Iron Draggon]

DAMN, Son! X_x VERY nice! I'm turnin' GREEN! :shameful: Being able to go to Japan sure as hell has some NICE advantages! I don't suppose there's any chance that you might include ME in your will, is there? ;) Seriously though, that is one SWEET collection, and you have quite a few things that I'd LOVE to have first chance at, if you ever decided to sell them. My own collection is HUGE, but you have ALOT of cool stuff that sure does turn my head in envy!

Funny how all us collectors can have so much, and still get so jealous of what another guy has, huh? But it's all good. Just about everybody has at least one item that turns everyone else's heads, and starts them drooling. It's pretty amazing, isn't it? That's what I love about this hobby, no matter how much you have, there's always a TON more that you could have, so just about anyone else you meet who's into collecting too will almost always have something that could ignite some hardcore trading negotiations for a swap, even between smalltime collectors that are just getting started it seems!

I wish I had my own collection in a decent state for photographing it, so I could show it to you. But unfortunately, it's all living in cardboard crates right now, as it has for almost all the time that I've owned it. I just don't have enough room to display it all nicely. I almost have to keep it all packed up, just to be able to keep it all in one room, but hopefully someday I'll have it all displayed nicely, whenever I stop buying new games long enough to have some custom shelving for it all built, or build some shelving for it all myself!

But just to give you an idea:

about 500 mint complete Genesis games
about 25 mint complete 32X games
about 25 mint complete Dreamcast games
about 150 mint SNES games with manuals
about 150 mint Sega CD games with manuals
about 200 mint Saturn games with manuals
about 100 mint PlayStation games with manuals
about 25 mint 3DO games with manuals
about 25 mint Jaguar games with manuals
about 5 mint Jaguar CD games with manuals
about 5 mint 32X CD games with manuals
about 15 mint Virtual Boy games with manuals
about 75 mint Game Gear games with manuals
about 200 mint PC games, some mint complete

So about 1500 games total, and always always always buying more, that's why I'm only estimating my totals here, but these figures are pretty close!

:-D

[dj898]

all shelving are DIY I bought from local hardware store...
they are full metal construction and hold around 400-600 DVD/CD... :D

I used to have most of my stuff in various cardboard boxes at several places including storage building but it cost money so I decided to build DIY shelving and put most of collection for easy access... I still have many of my Dev hardwares at the storage building and intend to move to house some time soon...

I was and am Saturn nut and it got me hooked into DC and other Sega consoles but it was recently that I picked up Sega Wondermega that I started MegaDrive/MegaCD collection so that part is still very small... and most of stuff are at my relative's house back in Japan. for current gen it all started with missus bought me xbox as a b/day gift and GC following year... :-P

now I'm kind of taking break from Saturn and am concentrating on my PS and PCE side...

By the way impressive in terms of diversity of formats you've collected mate...

cheers

[Iron Draggon]

Thanks! One of these days I'm gonna have to get off my ass and make a list of all my games. I have tons of rarities now, most of which I all got way back when they were new. I have just about all of the highly sought after ones, only missing a few, so it's not terribly inconceivable that I might shell out big bucks for the few that I still don't have yet, at some point in time whenever I finally have the money to spare for such extravagant luxury items again. lol

What's funny to me though is how many games I have that have become rarities and highly sought after since I bought them. Like my VB Jack Bros., my 32X Spiderman, and more SNES, Genesis, SegaCD, Saturn, PlayStation games than I even care to bother mentioning all by name, it's just unreal. So I'm just sitting here waiting to see what I have that's gonna become scarce next, like all my Dreamcast games, I'm sure that alot of those will soon also.

I sure would like to inherit your Saturn import collection though, that's what has me the most envious of you right now, since I've only just begun to get into really beefing up my own Saturn import collection very recently. I only had about 5 Saturn imports earlier this year, and now I have about 35 Saturn imports, so my import binge sure has been quite a wild ride indeed! And I still haven't come down off of my high yet, but I am having to slow it down alot now, because now I'm getting to a point where all the rest of the games I want are triple digit aquisitions, and I just can't do that very often right now.

[dj898]

as you might noticed I've been selling some of items from my collection - apparently I have had duplicates like two RSG??? how the hell I ended up with two RSG? Oh I remember I traded one with someone long time ago and forgot about and get another on on one of many trips to Japan. same story for Steamhearts - at one stage I had had three although I sold off two already... :D

from what I remember I might've ordered DC Space Channel 5 Part 2 D-Direct LE box sets when it was released... I've yet to sort that one out - maybe my relative has used one I'm not sure...

I'm not too concern with my collection really... some of my mates burrow titles from me to play...(only select few I might add - heh) and I burrow theirs as well...

cheers

p.s. on assembler forum I've posted my short review on demo/promo disc I found. you may want to check it out...

[Iron Draggon]

OK cool, so where do you have your games for sale? In the B/S forum here?

[dj898]

pretty much every where... :D
eBay, this forum or Assembler forum...
though many of them have been sold...