PlayStation vs. Saturn

[digitalpress]

I don't recall this topic anywhere in our forums - I did a few different types of searches but could only find a few topics dancing around the subject without actually putting it to the Roundtable vote. If you find one like this, let me know and we'll lock it up and go to the original.

I was thinking a few days ago (and it hurt) about two collections that take up about the same amount of space in my game room: Saturn and PlayStation. I was thinking: if I had to clear one of these out of here, which would it be? After some debate with myself where some punches were thrown and sharp kicks delivered to sensitive areas, I decided that the Saturn would go.

It's a tough choice. As a launch-day mallrat I had my Saturn first and it truly introduced a new age in graphics to me at the time. My import Saturn library is nearly as large as my US library and I'm sure this is an area that many Saturn fans will bring up as a plus for that system. However, I must say that the PlayStation import library is impressive as well - and while in my personal collection PS1 imports consist heavily of rhythm-based games like BeatMania, Guitar Freaks, and DDR, it's every bit as much fun for me as the pile of great Saturn SHMUPS I've got.

I also look at the Saturn US library as one of the weakest in history. The percent of high-quality games and exclusives is pretty low. I'm not saying that the PlayStation's ratio is any better, in fact I'd bet it's worse - but there are so many more games on the PlayStation that you can weed out all of the bad stuff and still have three times more games than were ever released on the Saturn.

Before I made my decision I moseyed over to the "Top Games for System" lists in our Classic Discussions Area.

Saturn: http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1594
PSX: http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1570

Going over these threads sealed it for me. My choice has been made.

What's yours?

[Drexel923]

I've really discovered alot about the Saturn recently, and have been buying a ton of stuff, but I don't ever see myself owning more Saturn games than Playstation games. I don't think I could ever get rid of one of them though, they both do different things right and they both have some great games, but Playstation wins for me.

[PapaStu]

Even though theres crap... and crap in copious levels you said it Joe. You can weed it out (or not, because for the most part people were still buying it in droves) and play some damn fine PlayStation stuff.

My decision was made simple because up until recently I didnt have any import PS stuff. My decision was made purely on US releases and try as I might to breakdown and get a Saturn, I could never find more than a few games I wanted (Die Hard Arcade!!!!!) and with my space being taken up by a PlayStation library, I seem at least for nowcasting my vote for the PlayStation and not the Saturn.

[smokehouse]

You know, no matter how many times I go to buy a Saturn, I never do. Of all the Sega systems, it’s the only one I don’t have. For some reason I can’t find any must have titles for it, thus the fact I have never bought one. I know it got a much better treatment over in Japan but here in the states…there’s just not much to be found (this may be ignorance talking fellas, if so feel free to correct me). For every 1 decent Saturn title there’s 5 on the PS1. Sega always seemed to treat the Saturn like their red-headed-step-child. At least here in the US, it’s no contest. Japan on the other hand may be a different issue.

Joe, I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to the boatload of crap titles for the PS1 issue. Not unlike any other successful system (NES, SNES, Genesis) there’s always so many garbage titles released but amongst the crap, there’s nuggets of gaming gold. The US Saturn just didn’t seem to have the same amount.

[Captain Wrong]

As long as I can keep my imports, it's Saturn all the way. US games only, and I'm firmly in the PSX camp.

Tough call though. I've logged many hours on both of those consoles.

[dreamcaster]

I can't make a decision. The Saturn has a greater percentage of games that I like, but the PSX has a larger number of games that I like.

[fishsandwich]

I voted Saturn as it's my favorite 32-bit system. Those imports make a big differance!

Keep in mind that I think that the PSX has MORE good games... the PSX library is just so big! I know there are a huge number of duds in there, but there are also a huge number of awesome games as well that never made it to Saturn.

[AlexKidd]

I would choose the playstation over the saturn. I'm not a huge fan of either system but the psx has 2 Castlevania's, a bunch of Namco Museums and lots of good Rpg's/Squaresoft games. As mentioned already, the Saturn's U.S. library isn't the greatest one and I don't buy imports for either system so it'll be the psx for me.

[Cryomancer]

Dunno, I've never (and still don't) own a playstation. I've had fun with them here and there, sure, but as far as "games I'd actually put time into" there's a pretty short list. Perhaps someday I will feel different.

Saturn however, I enjoy on a level that's hard to describe...like I enjoy the whole atmosphere of it or something. I didn't get either back then, I got an n64, heh. Playstation was "that one everyone else had, with the games that look ok and a couple good ones, but I don't relaly want one" or such. Saturn was "that one i played at target once and have not seen since....yet i still somehow miss it". Kinda out on a limb here in my thinking obviously, but what can i say, this is how my brain's wired.

Now, I own two saturns, and no playstations. However later this week I will apparently be able to start trying out burned psx games, so maybe I'll find a slew of new favorites, who knows.

Tron Bonne is a really fun game though.

[Jumpman Jr.]

I chose Playstation.
Not that I overly like either of them, but I think the Playstation has given me enough gaming satisfaction over the years for me to vote for it.
I started playing it at my friends house when it first came out. Some games that I loved were: Spyro the Dragon, Cool Boarders 2, Resident Evil, Twisted Metal 2, Ape Escape etc... All those games are awesome. The thing is, the Playstation has a HUGE library, and having a few good games out of 1000+ games isn't all that good. But I still think its better than the Saturn.
I'm not much of an Import guy, so I don't know what most of you are talking about above me.

[tuxedojoe]

I would most certainly choose the Saturn over the Playstation. I've never really liked the Playstation to begin with, mostly because it screwed up the Nintendo Vs. Sega battle. There are many quality titles on the Saturn that I absolutely love (keep in mind, however, that 90% of my Saturn library is Japanese). In all, I enjoy the 'feel' of the Saturn more than that of the Playsation... if that makes any sense.

[alec006]

Well I would have to say Saturn First because Sega is my favorate company,now even though the Saturn has load times slower than ps1 I still like Saturn better because it had a reason to exist. Now being a video game collector I had to get PS1 so i can say both systems are good for lots of reasons. PS1 had some great games as well like some James Bond Titles and some classic video games,then Saturn had 3 sonic games Sonic R, Sonic 3D Blast, and Sonic Jam. But being a sega fan Saturn.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

I'm sorry, but this is just a joke. Playstation completely and totally owns Saturn in almost every possible aspect. The only thing the Saturn had going for it game wise was Sega games. Sure, there are some classics for the system, but there are 10 times the amount of good games on the PS1.

Playstation, very easily.

[tritium]

I am the only person I've ever met to have owned a saturn. I also just bought mine this year.

On the other hand, everyone of my friends has owed a playstation. In addition, I'm a big FF7 and Chrono Cross fan. I've logged lots of hours into the system, even on just fighting games. The psOne will always hold a special place in my heart, regardless of how fun I find the saturn now. I vote playstation.

Interesting peice of trivia, in '97 I bought an SNES, and my sister bought a Playstation. We spent the next two years being envious of each other. Namely b/c She prefers 2d platformers, and I love fighting games.

[Flack]

I voted Playstation, although I'm sure I'm looking at the situation through rose-tinted glasses.

To me, the PSX seems pretty modern. I mean, I still use a PSX-shaped controller on my PS2, so it doesn't seem like the PSX launch was that long ago. The Saturn on the other hand passed me by, mostly due to the fact that so many of my friends had been burned by the 32x that they avoided the Saturn and went for the PSX, so I did too.

I picked up my first Saturn earlier this year and, while there are a few decent games for it, for the most part it seems like there was a ton of overlap between it and the PSX (looking at domestic releases only). So yeah I have one, but pretty much the only space it's taking up is the console itself.

[blissfulnoise]

As other posters have said, the Import library is where it's at for the Saturn.

It's hard to say what I like more though. While the easy knee jerk reaction would have to give the nod to Sega's finest console (yeah, I said it), the PSX has a monster library with some hall of fame calibur titles. But lets see how the best of the best stack up genre to genre staying the US...

RPG - Panzer Dragoon Saga > Final Fantasy VII?
3D Fighter - Virtual Fighter 2 > Tekken 3?
Shmup - Galactic Attack (RayForce) > Einhinder?
Beat Em Up - Guardian Heroes > Whatever the good beat em' ups on the PSX where (none come to mind)?
Puzzle - Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo > Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo?
Bomberman Game - Saturn Bomberman > Bomberman Party
Light Gun - Virtua Cop 2 > Point Blank?
3D Platformer - NiGHTS into Dreams > Crash Bandicoot?
Strat RPG - Shining Force III > Final Fantasy Tactics?

I think the answer to all but the last of those questions is yes. The head to head in some of the most popular genres is pretty much in the Saturn's favor without even counting imports.

But once you factor in imports for both systems, it blows wide open. Pretty much anything 2D is an automatic nod to the Saturn. SNK ports, Capcom fighters, and nearly every shmup go right to Sega's camp.

Outstanding exclusives like Crows, Prikura Daisakusen, FP: 6 Men Scramble, Sakura Taisen series, Elevator Action Returns, Dynamite Deka (Die Hard Arcade), and lots of others.

Even the mighty Symphony of the Night, which many place at #1 on the PSX library, has extra levels on the Saturn.

Granted, Sega has no direct answer for games like Vagrant Story, Metal Gear Solid, Valkyrie Profile, Twisted Metal 2, and Resident Evil 2; but taken as a whole, game for game, genre to genre, I think the Saturn wins more times than it loses.

And if you're a die hard shmup fan, this shouldn't even be a contest.

I just have to give the nod to the Saturn. I truly think it has the better library of the two.

[AtariBuff]

PlayStation all the way, sorry Saturn fans... :P

[tritium]

As other posters have said, the Import library is where it's at for the Saturn.

RPG - Panzer Dragoon Saga > Final Fantasy VII?
3D Fighter - Virtual Fighter 2 > Tekken 3?
Shmup - Galactic Attack (RayForce) > Einhinder?
Beat Em Up - Guardian Heroes > Whatever the good beat em' ups on the PSX where (none come to mind)?
Puzzle - Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo > Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo?
Bomberman Game - Saturn Bomberman > Bomberman Party
Light Gun - Virtua Cop 2 > Point Blank?
3D Platformer - NiGHTS into Dreams > Crash Bandicoot?
Strat RPG - Shining Force III > Final Fantasy Tactics?

RPG : Grandia was the game designed to go up against FFVII. I won't vote b/c I haven't played Grandia.
3D Fighter : Virtua Fighter is a technical fighter, not very accessible to the masses, I definatley vote Tekken 3 for this one.
Platformer : Nights is a platformer???

And thats it for my commentary =)

[davidbrit2]

Saturn.

DAAAAAYYYTOOOOOONAAAAAA
Much better than that Ridge Racer nonsense. ;-)

Plus you've got the superior version of Dracula X, a bunch of exclusive 2D stuff, the best Bomberman game EVER, all of Konami's MSX Collections merged into 1 disc...

Oh, and the CD-ROM hardware in the Saturn will read CD-Rs without adjusting the laser te he he.

If it weren't for the Bemani games and the NegCon controller, I'd probably never even touch my PS1 anymore. Hell, even with those I rarely do. Heh.

[CreamSoda]

Well I guess I would pick PlayStation(since it just has more games here in the US). But I like Saturn as a system more, if that makes any sense.

DP, you should make a PS2 vs Dreamcast thread. I know it would probably start a fanboy riot but it might be good. Also I would pick Dreamcast, cause it's a better system!