What's the Saturn story?

[kevin_psx]

Release date?

Strengths? Weaknesses?

Games worth buying & playing?

Why'd it fail versus the PS1 & N64?

[Cirrus]

Release date?

Strengths? Weaknesses?

Games worth buying & playing?

Why'd it fail versus the PS1 & N64?

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3142283

Hehe, sorry, but it's such a good article.

Edit: Some of my favorite games are Radiant Silvergun, Burning Rangers, Shining Force 3, NiGHTS into Dreams, Panzer Dragoon 1 and 2 (Zwei), Guardian Heroes, Daytona USA, Fighters Megamix, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Virtua Cop 1/2, Virtua Fighter 1/2.

That would be a damn good collection right there. Not all of the great ones, but that's off the top of my head.

And yes, it's worth tracking down a system and owning one.

[kevin_psx]

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3142283 Hehe, sorry, but it's such a good article.
Wish I could see it - broken link! :(

[jajaja]

The link works fine here.

[Cirrus]

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3142283 Hehe, sorry, but it's such a good article.
Wish I could see it - broken link! :(

Works perfectly. Try a different browser.

[Flack]

You might also find these threads helpful:

The official Sega Saturn thread:
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18291

Top 20 Sega Saturn Games
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1594

Top 50 Sega Saturn Import Games
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6622

Complete List Of Saturn Shooters...
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3646

[Anthony1]

Release date?

Strengths? Weaknesses?

Games worth buying & playing?

Why'd it fail versus the PS1 & N64?



1. The Sega Saturn launched in Japan on November 22nd, 1994. (kinda interesting that it launched in Japan exactly 11 years prior to XBOX 360 launching in the U.S.) The Saturn launched in the U.S. on May 11th, 1995.


2. 2-D games, 3-D games

3. A ton. If you are talking about U.S. games, then it really depends on what genre's you like the most. Here is how I would rank the best U.S. Saturn Games:


1. Sega Rally - Time has not been kind to SR in terms of Graphics, but man.... This game has a pure feel to it that is so refreshing. You can really get into this game in terms of the control of the vehicle and the feel of it. Very Challenging.

2. Panzer Dragoon- Again, time hasn't really been kind to this game, but the music and majesty of this game is still very noticable. Another game that is very challenging in the later levels.

3. Darius Gaiden - This is easily one of the most underrated shooters on the Saturn. It doesn't get nearly as much pub as it should.

4. Daytona USA - Ok, time has been really, really, really unkind to this one. There also is the Championship edition, but personally, I actually like the original, warts and all. Gotta love that music!

5. Astal - Possibly one of the most artistic and gorgeous platformers ever made. Incredible music. A true work of art.

6. Clockwork Knight 2 - The first Clockwork was a great game, but way too easy. This one is longer and more challenging. Very unheralded as well.

7. Virtua Figher - I know alot of people are going to think I'm crazy, but I actually like the original, glichty, bug ridden Virtua Fighter. Most people will say Virtua Fighter Remix is way better, but I don't like the texture mapped characters. I like the orignal flat chaded ones.

8. Galactic Attack - The Saturn is all about shooters, especially the ones in Japan, but this one did make it over, and it is awesome.

9. Bug - You either love or hate bug. I love it.

10. Rayman - It's my personal opinion that the Saturn version of Rayman is the best version. Alot of it has to do with the Saturn controller. It controls better on the Saturn than any other system.


Other great games:


Battle Monsters - cool fighter with monsters
Bug Too! - Again, you'll either love or hate bug.
Burning Rangers - one of the best action/adventure games
Clockwork Knight - great game, little to easy and short
Cyber Speedway - Wipeout like racer, kinda cool
Dark Savior - unofficial sequal to Landstalker
Daytona Championship edition - I like the original better
Earthworm Jim 2 - 16 bit port, but looks a little better, sounds better
Gex - you can't play Gex in RGB on the 3DO. Saturn controller is better too.
Guardian Heroes - This game gets much love, but I don't think it's quite as good as everybody else thinks.
The Legend of Oasis - 32bit sequal to Beyond Oasis
Magic Knight Rayearth - not my type of game, but lots of people love it.
Mega Man X4 - solid platformer
NHL Powerplay 96 - best Hockey on Saturn
Nights - cool game, a little bit overhyped.
Powerslave - A Doom type game, and a very good one.
Shining Wisdom - kinda like the 16 bit Zelda, except updated to 32bit
Shinobi Legions - Not as good as it should be, but still a good game.
Skeleton Warriors - This is one of Neversofts oldest games
Sonic 3D Blast - Talk about some color. This game will overload your RGB monitor, and make your eyes tear up.
Street Fighter Alpha 2 - awesome fighter
Tomb Raider - The Saturn version isn't as bad as I thought it would be
Virtua Cop - great conversion if you have the gun
Virtua Cop 2 - same as above
Virtua Fighter 2 - personally, I don't like how this game looks on the Saturn, but it is a good game.
Virtua Racing - Not made by AM2, but still pretty damn good




4. Why did it fail? Too many reasons to count, but mainly because the wrong games were emphasized, and the best games from Japan never made it over here. It still would have never beaten the PS1 or N64, but it could have survived quite well to hardcore enthusiasts, if it had the best Japanese games coming over.

[fishsandwich]

I agree with some of your choices and disagree with others. You forgot Shining Force 3, Panzer Saga, and House of the Dead, too. How could you!!!

Battle Monsters - Dreadful. Just dreadful. Stop drinking!
Bug Too! - I recommend the bug. He's fun.
Burning Rangers - This is one cool game.
Clockwork Knight - Short but sweet.
Cyber Speedway - Utter shit. Pop-up central.
Dark Savior - A most excellent game with horrible music.
Daytona Championship edition - The original IS better.
Earthworm Jim 2 - 16-bit on the Saturn but still fun.
Gex - Boring.
Guardian Heroes - This game DOES get too much love, but I still like it.
The Legend of Oasis - Lots 'o fun.
Magic Knight Rayearth - Too girly.
Mega Man X4 - Solid indeed.
NHL Powerplay 96 - I'll take your word for it.
Nights - Must be played to decide if you like it (duh.)
Powerslave - AWESOME Doom clone.
Shining Wisdom - This one is great.
Shinobi Legions - Gag.
Skeleton Warriors - Eh.
Sonic 3D Blast - NOT a good Sonic, or even a decent one. Mediocre, maybe?
Street Fighter Alpha 2 - Agreement... awesome.
Tomb Raider - Not far off the PSone version.
Virtua Cop - Awesome arcade port.
Virtua Cop 2 - Ditto.
Virtua Fighter 2 - You are high, this game is the shiznit.
Virtua Racing - Better than it's given credit for.

Gotta be into imports to REALLY appreciate the Saturn.

[Xizer]

Which Saturn 2D controller is better, the bigger, blockier one, or the slightly smaller, more rounded one?

[Anthony1]

You forgot Shining Force 3, Panzer Saga, and House of the Dead, too. How could you!!!

Battle Monsters - Dreadful. Just dreadful. Stop drinking!
Cyber Speedway - Utter shit. Pop-up central.
Gex - Boring.
Magic Knight Rayearth - Too girly.
Shinobi Legions - Gag.
Skeleton Warriors - Eh.
Sonic 3D Blast - NOT a good Sonic, or even a decent one. Mediocre, maybe?
Virtua Fighter 2 - You are high, this game is the shiznit.

[/size]


Battle Monsters is kinda cool for a minute. I mean, I think I got the game for like 2 bucks, and it's kinda cool. The main reason why I recommend it, is because it's different, and it's a Saturn exclusive.

Cyber Speedway definitely has some problems, but I think the game gives you a very good flavor for the early part of the Saturns life. It was one of the first games released for the Saturn in Japan. The Saturn has it's own particular flavor, and Cyber Speedway gives you a glimpse of that.


Gex - Okay, Gex is a old 3DO game, but the reason I recommend it, is because the Saturn controller is much better than a 3DO or PS1 controller for this type of game. And the Saturn version can be played in RGB. Basically, if you are ever going to play through Gex, then the Saturn version is the one to play.


Shinobi Legions - Yeah, I'll admit it. Shinobi Legions is pretty damn weak. It's just that you want it to be good so bad, that you kinda give it an extra chance. The game definitely has issues, and isn't the dream come true I thought it would be. Still, I would check it out if you are a fan of the Shinobi games.

Skeleton Warriors - I'm a big time action/adventure game fan, and even though this game has some issues, I think it's a pretty good platformer. The Saturn version is much better than the PS1 version.

Sonic 3D Blast - Ok, it's defnitely a departure from your nomal Sonic games, and the perspective is kinda trippy, but if you think of it as a completely seperate game from the normal Sonics, then it's a good game in it's own right. And when you see the puppy in RGB, be prepared for your eyes to start watering from an overload of color.

Virtua Fighter 2 - My big problem with this game, is that the Saturn simply isn't powerfull enough to pull this game off, and it's kinda embarrasing. The Saturn can't do that game justice. Sure, it's still a good game, and it plays good, but I would rather play the original glitchy Virtua Fighter over any of the other Virtua Fighters on Saturn.

[KingCobra]

Like all Sega stuff outside of the Genesis, you must Import if you were in the U.S IMO.

Make sure you get the later 6 button Saturn controllers, and if you can find some Saturn to Dreamcast adapters at this point it really enhance's that system as it's basically a 2D fighter gamers dream along with some awesome space shooters. No point in going into the software as it's been pretty much cover'd already.

[chrisbid]

http://www.eidolons-inn.net/segabase/SegaBase-Saturn(Part1).html

excellent piece on the history of the saturn (along with articles on other sega consoles)

[kevin_psx]

Why was the saturn weak with 3D? Same flaw as Jaguar?

[chrisbid]

Why was the saturn weak with 3D? Same flaw as Jaguar?

2D was still the focus of the original saturn design, while 3D was the primary focus of the playstation design. sega added extra processors to allow the saturn to do 3D better, but the multiprocessor system proved to be difficult to develop for.

[Elusive]

Why was the saturn weak with 3D? Same flaw as Jaguar?

2D was still the focus of the original saturn design, while 3D was the primary focus of the playstation design. sega added extra processors to allow the saturn to do 3D better, but the multiprocessor system proved to be difficult to develop for.

Common misconception. The processors used in the Saturn were built for 3D gaming - they were a 'next step up' from arcade technology of the time, put into a home console. Remember, this was a top-of-the-range powerhouse at the time. 3D capabilities weren't just 'added on' at the last minute.

Odd - 'multicore' systems are the norm now, back in 1995 it was an oddity and was blasted for how hard it was to program. THAT is whay the Saturn never outsold the PSX (note lack of 'fail' =P) - you used the crappy devkits, or you hand-coded in assembly. As such, practically zero of the game library uses the machine to its full capacity.

[kevin_psx]

Same flaw as Jaguar

[kevin_psx]

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3142283 Hehe, sorry, but it's such a good article.

Yes it is! Summary - Incompetance. Same thing that mortally-wounded Atari in 1985.

Dreamcast had no chance to save Sega. Sega lost 1 billion & was doomed to die.

[CrimsonNugget]

I still dream of a day when a new Sega console will rise from the ashes of the Saturn and Dreamcast. I know I'm crazy, leave me alone. :(

[ClassicGameTrader]

Man, it seems like I must constantly apply defense for the Saturn. WHY WASN"T THIS SYSTEM RECIEVED BETTER????

Name another system that EB carried imports for???

It was a TIGHT ASS SYSTEM

Sega imploded meanwhile

::Best definition ever::

[poloplayr]

Great article. Thanks a mill for the link.

[kevin_psx]

Man, it seems like I must constantly apply defense for the Saturn. WHY WASN"T THIS SYSTEM RECIEVED BETTER????
Launched early with no games. Cost $150 more than the PS1. Didn't give the customer want he/she wanted - Advanced 3D. Would you want to pay $150 more for a console that has no games & almost no 3D? Not Me.



Know ya'll love your saturns/dreamcasts but looking over the list I see most of the games I already have on my ps1 ps2 n64 or cube.

Any saturn/dreamcast-exclusives that I can't live w/o playing?