and the System Hoarding continues (Sega Saturn this time)

[Edmond Dantes]

Well okay, the true story is a friend was tired of it, and decided to just give a Saturn to me because he thought I'd get more use out of it.

The local game store has a lot of Saturn games (including Galactic Attack and Enemy Zero), and my friend also gave me D.

I don't know if this is a model 1 or a model 2 Saturn though. The first thing that amazed me on seeing it is how HUGE it is compared to pretty much any other console ever. Thing is bigger than the NES. Anyway, mine is black, has a power, lid open, and "access" button. It appears to not save the date and time settings, which I'm guessing means I need to replace a CR2032 battery somewhere (anyone wanna confirm that before I go breaking it?)

I would love to play it, but my friend only included an RF switch with it and... I can't stand RF picture quality. I've already ordered a set of AV cables online, but I'm wondering if I should spring for those "gold-plated" ones published by Retro Bit?

Anyway, if there's anything at all I should know about the Saturn in terms of care and maintenance and what games to look for (I've read Racketboy's articles but feel free to name anything at all) or ways to play import games that don't involve modding, let me know. Thanks.

Now if only I had a Game Gear with all the caps replaced, I'd have pretty much every Sega system that matters.

[Colorado Rockies]

You can play imports w/ an action replay cartridge. There around the 20 dollar range or so.
Saturn definately has some great import games like the Street Fighters, and the shmups.

For U.S. games I recommend:
Panzer Dragoon Trilogy
Nights
Shining Force III
Dragon Force
Albert Odyssey
Magic Night Rayearth
Shining Widom
Sonic Jam
Herc's Adventures
Lunacy
Resident Evil
Tomb Raider
Burning Rangers
Steep Slope Sliders
World Series Baseball

[Edmond Dantes]

Wasn't Shining Force III never finished or something? (or parts 2 and 3 never translated rather)

[Genesaturn]

First of all..yes you have to replace the battery and theres a small access panel in the back that you just pull out to replace the battery, nothing you can go breaking. This effects the system settings and the internal save game data.

Also if you buy the 4mb memory cart you can play imports no problem, or theres the ST Key specifically for playing imports..the other ones..i think its just a bug in them allowing you to play

Shinning force 3 wasnt finished in english but if you know japanese they finished it there

Speaking of which..if your into importing..then the Saturn will become one of your favorite consoles..the U.S. only got to see 200 games (take or give) and japan saw upwards of around 650.

Some good U.S games to find..that i can come up with right now..trust me there are plenty

Panzer Dragoon
Panzer Dragoon Zwei
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Guardian Heroes
Shining Force III
Astal
D
Enemy Zero
Magic Knights Rayearth
Sonic 3D Blast
Nights Into Dreams
Fighting Vipers
Virtual On
Three Dirty Dwarves
Burning Rangers
Albert Odyssey

[Sunnyvale]

Seconded on the battery. Easy fix. And all but one of my Saturn faves are listed here. Legend of Oasis is literally the only RPGish game I can tolerate from 16 bits and up. It rocks.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Buy an S-Video cable. Sega released official ones.

[Lerxstnj]

I don't know if this is a model 1 or a model 2 Saturn though.

This is an easy one to distinguish... Oval buttons on console is a model 1, Round buttons is a model 2.

[gameofyou]

I don't know if this is a model 1 or a model 2 Saturn though. The first thing that amazed me on seeing it is how HUGE it is compared to pretty much any other console ever. Thing is bigger than the NES. Anyway, mine is black, has a power, lid open, and "access" button. It appears to not save the date and time settings, which I'm guessing means I need to replace a CR2032 battery somewhere (anyone wanna confirm that before I go breaking it?).

It sounds like a Model 1. I don't think the Model 2 has the "access" light. It is actually a Reset button that's near the "access" light.

I use a S-video cable with mine, and the picture is fantastic.

[Edmond Dantes]

My TV doesn't have an S-Video jack. It does have ports for AV cables tho. Can't wait to start playing D as soon as my AV cables come in...

Yep, its a model 1. I recall someone here saying that means they're easier to mod, but in my experience, mods often break consoles, that's why I look for non-mod solutions. The Action Replay sounds good, but what about for games that require a RAM cart (I've heard there's some fighting game that requires you to use the particular RAM cart it comes with), does the Action Replay allow you to plug in another cart on top of it?

Found the battery. Wow, this will be easy peasy.

Whoa, 200 games? For some reason I thought the U.S. got less than half of that. Definitely gonna be keeping my eyes peeled.

[crazyjackcsa]

Come now, the system isn't that big. It's taller than the Ps1, but it isn't as wide. The N64 is about the same footprint, but is slightly shorter too. It's smaller than the Xbox, 360, and Ps3.

And they don't break, ever, most rock solid system I've ever had.

[Emperor Megas]

Come now, the system isn't that big. It's taller than the Ps1, but it isn't as wide. The N64 is about the same footprint, but is slightly shorter too. It's smaller than the Xbox, 360, and Ps3.

And they don't break, ever...

This is an exaggeration, of course (I've had two with issues over the years). They are pretty sturdy by (original) PlayStation standards though.

[SpaceFlea]

Speaking of which..if your into importing..then the Saturn will become one of your favorite consoles..the U.S. only got to see 200 games (take or give) and japan saw upwards of around 650.

Actually, the US got just shy of 250 and Japan got around 1075 (from what is known so far). There is quite a bit to be had. And it is the greatest console ever.

[Tron 2.0]

Wasn't Shining Force III never finished or something? (or parts 2 and 3 never translated rather)

Yup part one of SF3 got a released here but not 2&3 though i heard,part 2&3 got a fan translation.
http://sf3trans.shiningforcecentral.com

Still the down side to play burns games with a patch you would need a saturn with a modchip in it.

[G-Boobie]

The action replay I have doubles as the RAM cart. Cyber Bots and XvsSF run clean and right. They're twenty bucks on EBay or Play Asia.

Saturn is a hell of a system. Buy those batteries in stock, though. They die quick.

[Gamevet]

The best import option is the Action Replay 4+1.

[G-Boobie]

The best import option is the Action Replay 4+1.

Yup, that's the one.

[understatement]

Saturn is a hell of a system. Buy those batteries in stock, though. They die quick.

You don’t really need system batteries if you have an Action Replay, Game Shark, or some memory card do you? IIRC the system battery is there just to hold time/date and saves. Is there any game that uses the system clock for anything game braking if it’s not there? As far as saves are concerned the system memory is lacking to say the least, it can save about 5~10 games unless one of the games is Dragon Force then that’s about all system can save so not a big deal if you lose the ability to keep a save.

Just remember to transfer your saves with the Gameshark (and AR? I think It’s like the GS with the way it backups the save but won’t save directly to it) before you power off the system.

[Edmond Dantes]

Just remember to transfer your saves with the Gameshark (and AR? I think It’s like the GS with the way it backups the save but won’t save directly to it) before you power off the system.

That's the thing though: I WON'T remember to do that. Since 99% of the games I play don't require it, it hasn't become a habit.

Also, CR2032 batteries can be gotten in cheap five packs on Amazon. I think I will stock up, since I keep running into consoles lately that just love the things.

[understatement]

That's the thing though: I WON'T remember to do that. Since 99% of the games I play don't require it, it hasn't become a habit.

Also, CR2032 batteries can be gotten in cheap five packs on Amazon. I think I will stock up, since I keep running into consoles lately that just love the things.

If that’s the case I would suggest a regular memory card so you can access it in games and save to it directly from the game (unless the AR can do this then that for sure).

I’m just saying not to rely on the system memory to much or what happened to me (I had about 6 game saves on the system and no MC, GS, or AR when I got Dragon Force put it in got a good way through it and went to save but couldn’t, I had to delete 3 other saves to make room or lose what I had played of DF) will happen to you.

[Edmond Dantes]

I actually have an Interact Memory Card Plus. I got it years ago from a pawn shop, thinking it was for the Sega CD (the size and shape should've set me straight, but eh, I was a kid back then). Dunno if it actually works, but I'll find out when my AV cables come in.