Aquired a Sega Saturn for 5 bucks (should I keep it or sell it?)

[sav127]

As posted in the January finds threads, I aquired the lot below for 5 bucks.

Anyway, I cleaned it up and was planning to sell it on ebay, but I decided to ask everyone here if its worth owning a saturn. It should be noted, I'm not the biggest collector. I really only like to collect things, I'll actually use. I have a NES, Super NES, 64, Gamecube, Wii, PS2, Xbox 360, GB, GBA, DS lite. I can actually say that i play each of these at least once a year.

My question is, what game would be good to play for the saturn to show off its best features. As you can see from the games I aquired, they are mostly sports games so I don't think they will do it justice.

[Joe West]

if you have all those game systems, i would sell it, if your not into saturn.....i would sell the games seperate, you mite make a little more money.....

[Pezcore343]

I'll buy it from you if you plan on selling. I've been looking to acquire a Saturn recently.

[Ze_ro]

Try out Daytona, and the previews of Bug and Panzer Dragoon. Those should give you a good idea of what's going on. If I remember correctly, Black Fire was decent too.

--Zero

[ProgrammingAce]

You have a decent sampling of games there, and you got a great deal on the system. Try 'em out and see if it's worth keeping.

--Zero

[sav127]

Thanks, I'll try it out.

I never played a saturn, so I'm going in fresh.

My last question is, Is there a really great game for Saturn that I should give a shot, while I have the system?

[pwpcody]

Please try Nights into Dreams, it is such a fantastic game. Also, if your into fighters, Fighters Megamix and the Virtua Fighter series on Saturn is pretty well done.

[rpepper9]

Looks like a pretty nice lot for only 5.00. If you don't think you will get into Saturn, it would be a quick and easy sale on eBay. I am sure you will turn a nice profit since you started out only paying 5.00 for it.

Also, I would sell it as a whole lot, don't divide out the games. Console + games sounds better than console with nothing to play on it and a second lot of crappy sports games.

[shopkins]

I'd say keep it but since you say you want to get some better games that show off what it can do more. I'd suggest trying out:

Fighter's Megamix, which is just a big, fun fighting game that pits the Virtua Fighter and Fighting Viper characters against each other with some weird extras like Rent-A-Hero thrown in for good measure.

Last Bronx: Another good Saturn fighting game, with great graphics for its time and a focus on fast-paced weapons combat.

Sega Rally: A little light on tracks but still one of the best arcade racers I've played to this day.

Panzer Dragoon series: Really awesome rail shooting series. Allegedly has a good RPG spinoff, but I am too poor to pony up for it.

Dark Savior: Interesting Isometric action RPG. It's kind of like Landstalker for the Genesis, if you are familiar with that.

Shining the Holy Ark: Nice first person-perspective RPG with a traditional feel.

Guardian Heroes: An awesome fantasy beat-em-up, RPG hybrid. Might be expensive, though. I lucked into finding my copy for five bucks at a flea market.

Virtua Cop games: The first one is still my favorite light-gun game.

And apparently if you buy a special RAM cart you can play great versions of 2D fighting games.

I, personally, don't like Nights that much at all. I don't know if there's something wrong with me or what, but it just isn't a game for me.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

I say keep it. Your love for video games may grew over time, and you may never get one for $4 again. You can always sell it down the road, perhaps for even more than its worth now.

When you say best features, I don't think of graphics, but gameplay. There a couple of shooters, Darius Gaiden and Galactic Attack, that never get old for me. Both are co-op too if you have a buddy.

Knights into Dreams is another that never gets old. Christmas Nights Into Dreams gets me into the spirit around Christmastime; it's very festive. Mass Destruction is great if you like to drive tanks and blow things up. The Panzer Dragoon series is original and fun. Also try Saturn Bomberman, Virtual Cop 1 and 2. Baku Baku will make you feel guilty since it is cute and childlike, but very fun indeed.

I would not play any racing games like Daytona because they have not aged well. Also, there are some first person perspective games that don't look good anymore when compared to what's on the next gen consoles.

[scooterb23]

It's one of the most fun systems ever, you've got some of the best cheap games for the system sitting right there. You'd be a fool to not give it a good run through before deciding what to do with it.

But since I'm an anonymous face on the internet, I think you should sell it now before you actually play it and accidentally enjoy it. Because remember: only other people can tell you what is good or not. Do not trust your own feelings.

[c0ldb33r]

Get Panzer Dragoon Zewi - it's fantastic. I remember the first time I played Zwei. I was awe struck with its awesomeness. Also, get Galatic Attack - it's also very awesome

[xDerekRx]

While we are doing game suggestions... not sure how many people played the Saturn as a FPS system but I thought Saturn had some nice FPS's

Powerslave, Quake, Duke, Alien Trilogy are the 4 best traditional corridors shooters for the sysem. I bought those right when they were released (as I didnt have PC until around 1997-98!). Back then there were so few FPS games on consoles. Powerslave is going to be the most original youll play. All 4 are relatively cheap as well. Eh and Ill get blasted for this but Congo the Movie is a guilty pleasure of mine. It was an FPS, only on saturn, I like games that take place in jungle/forrest so I enjoyed it as a change of pace FPS. Its cheap and I might be the only person that would give it higher than 1 out of 10

If you dont like FPS or have played them all on PC or other systems. The original games are great. Any arcade ported game is fun. Virtual Cop 1/2, Virtua Fighter series, Fighting Vipers, Last Bronx, Sega Rally (and Touring car). House of the Dead is fantastic but itll cost. Die hard Arcade and Guardian Heroes both fun with 2 players.

Then there are the truely great system only games. Panzer Dragoon series, Nights, Saturn Bomberman, and Burning Rangers are great and really gave the system its own identity.

If you like Platformers Im a fan of Bug, and clockwork Knight games. Both original games for Saturn and fun. Croc is good too but also on PSx.

RPGs, even despite the pres of Sega USA condeming them, the Saturn was still able to pump out a few gems. Im not a big RPG guy, Action RPG is closest I get. Shining holy ark was cool cause it was FPS, and if you can afford PD Sagas, its really the most appealing RPG for all genre fans.

Us Saturn fans also didnt have series like Cool Borders and EA games late, but Sega Sports did a great job with Steep Slope Sliders and their Sega Sports series games.

Its too bad the Saturn died because most of the games that came out at the end were awesome and took real advantege of graphics finally.

[c0ldb33r]

Powerslave, Quake, Duke, Alien Trilogy are the 4 best traditional corridors shooters for the sysem.

This. Duke Nukem 3D is amazing on the Saturn. It has great light sourcing and is loads better than the PS One version. It uses the Powerslave engine. I don't know what engine the PS One version uses, but Saturn's is better.

[j_factor]

Keep it, but you really need more games to get a feel for the system. The games you have are okay, but not exactly representative of the system's best. And get a "model 2 style" controller, as well as an analog pad. Those controllers that you have aren't as good.

As for the games you have... World Series Baseball and its sequel are actually excellent if you like baseball games. Daytona USA is decent, but has poor graphics. Black Fire is just okay -- it's the third best helicopter game on the system. Virtual Open Tennis is actually the best tennis game of that era, but that's not saying much; it's no Virtua Tennis. No comment on Pebble Beach, as I hate golf games in general.

Some cheap US games:

Astal - One of the most beautiful 2D platformers ever.
Die Hard Arcade - A 3D beat 'em up that's actually good.
Galactic Attack - To this day, this is one of my favorite shooters of all time.
GunGriffon - This game stands above the rest of the 3D mech shooters.
Herc's Adventures - LucasArts puts their usual adventure game charm into an overhead action-adventure.
Last Bronx - A very deep 3D weapons-based fighter.
Last Gladiators: Digital Pinball - One of the best pinball games ever.
Mr. Bones - 2D platformer, with some musical gameplay (Bemani-esque) mixed in, and an endearing plot for good measure.
NightWarriors - Better than the original Darkstalkers in every way, and different enough from Vampire Savior to remain worth playing.
NiGHTS: Into Dreams - Obviously.
Panzer Dragoon - Brilliant rail shooter, still holds up well today. Its sequel is even better, but a little pricier.
PowerSlave - At the time, this was the best FPS on any console. It holds up pretty well, if only because most FPS games today don't play like this at all. It actually has mild elements of Metroid-style gameplay.
Scorcher - Very unique racing game with hazardous tracks. Great graphics for the time.
Shinobi Legions - Great game, although it doesn't play much like previous games in the series. Think of it as the 2D predecessor of the PS2 Shinobi.
Skeleton Warriors - 2.5D platforming at its finest.
Slam 'N Jam '96 - A basketball game in the tradition of NBA Jam. While I'm at it, NBA Jam T.E., College Slam, and NBA Jam Extreme are also on the system (listed in order from best to worst). For a more serious basketball game, NBA Action '98 is excellent.
Solar Eclipse - The FMV sequences are a bit cheesy, but this is a great space shooter, much better than Total Eclipse.
Soviet Strike - The best game in the Strike series IMO. EA totally nailed it.
Street Fighter Alpha 2 - Brilliant conversion of one of the best SF games. If you don't mind splurging, pick up Street Fighter Collection instead, as it has a slightly better version of Alpha 2, along with SSF2 and SSF2 Turbo.
Tempest 2000 - One of the most addictive games ever.
Thunderstrike 2 - The system's other great helicopter game. Sequel to one of the best Sega CD games.
Virtua Cop 1 & 2 - The pinnacle of light gun gaming, but only if you have an SDTV.
Virtua Fighter 2 - Dirt cheap, excellent fighter, excellent port.
Virtual On - Unique, fantastic mech fighter, and it actually controls decently with the regular controller.
Worms - This game has had tons of sequels, but there's something special about the original.

[cyberfluxor]

You have more Saturn sports games than me and I have over 100 games for the system including imports from EU and JPN. NBA Jam T.E. is a good pick-up and I'm sure you could trade for it with someone. Other than that, there's plenty of helpful advice posted above to go with.

[mills]

nah you shouldnt keep it you should sell it to me. After 6 years saturns stop working and the games erase themselves. I'll save you the trouble of dealing with it and take it off your hands for 10 dollars.

[Tupin]

Keep it, the Saturn is a good system. Get one of those import carts and enjoy some awesome import Saturn games.

Wait, is there even a difference between the Model 1 Saturn and the Model 2 Saturn other than the button shape? I personally like the look of the circle buttoned one, but is it just aesthetic? Oh, and what's with the whole controller thing?

[bangtango]

Needless to say, acquiring that Saturn lot for $5 was a steal.

Since you got it so cheaply, getting rid of it would be a colossal blunder in my book.

Why?

Because sometime down the road if you decided you wanted to get a Saturn again, you'd be kicking yourself for getting rid of this one that you had gotten so easily and already had in your hands.

Plus it is a great system if you've got the right mix of games (many of which have already been mentioned in this thread).

Do yourself a favor and hold onto it.

Wait, is there even a difference between the Model 1 Saturn and the Model 2 Saturn other than the button shape?

There is another difference. One version of the Saturn is easier to mod than the other, can't say I remember which one because I don't mod systems myself. But I do read about this all the time with the Saturn. Someone else can easily reply further on that topic.

[A Black Falcon]

It's the model 2 that's a lot easier to put a mod chip in.

The Saturn modchip just enables CD-Rs, not other-region games, though... the region mod is a different mod. Of course, you can change the region of Saturn games just as easily as you can Sega CD with an ISO patcher so that's not a problem for copies, but you still couldn't run official other region discs without something like a region mod, Action Replay 4M Plus, etc.