The Sega Saturn Thread

[dcultrapro]

That looks bloody awesome! Might have to get me some lol

[Rogue Trooper]

Continuing from post in 3DO thread on Legacy Of Kain, i knew saturn version had been canned-happened at time a lot of publishers started doing the same with Saturn versions, as PS1 was steamrolling all under foot, Saturn user base deemed too small, too risky etc, but was'nt aware Saturn version was going to be an enhanced version (though given it's 2D abilities it seems the idea machine to put the game on).

Rumours of game being 75% complete, 100% complete were denied by Silicon Knights, but footage that has appeared shows differences to status panel and claims by person who say's he played a 75%+ complete version said the slowdown from the PS version was gone, there was more blood, voice samples loaded quicker etc.

Personally would have loved an enhanced edition back then or an HD version today.

[TL]

What a shame 

[TL]

I really want these!

Sega Ages Memorial Selection / メモリアルセレクション VOL.1 (Sega Saturn)

Sega Ages Memorial Selection / メモリアルセレクション VOL.2 (Sega Saturn)

Real retro awesomeness right there!

[TL]

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about all the different versions of the Saturn console. It is just amazing how many there are considering the machine was relatively unsuccessful for Sega.

Does anyone own any of these fancy variations or any others?

[dcultrapro]

I would kill anyone quite literally, to own that "This Is Cool" Saturn... SERIOUSLY 

[Rogue Trooper]

Really was'nt sure where to put this, but....odd as it might sound, if Sega had'nt released Clockwork Knight on the Saturn, chances are we'd not have seen Grand Theft Auto.....or at least not as we 'knew' it in it's original form.

DMA coder, Mike Dailly had been working on a prototype city engine for use in a gang war type game , but it encountered technical difficulties and the game engine looked very similar (as did the gameplay mechanics) to Syndicate Wars, so he+team were forced to reconsider what to do with it.....


DMA had seen good buisness in the past from platform games and Mike had seen and been very impressed by the Saturn's Clockwork Knight, in the way it took a side-view platformer and added a perspective display to the platforms, giving them convincing depth, so he took the idea and built his own engine and with it, thought struck him, that although it was a 'side-on' engine, all he needed do was add a floor and hey presto, it was an 'above engine'.

He showed said engine to Dave Jones, who loved it as the viewpoint allowed him to 'flesh out' the concept of what a city contained, rather than how it looked and it'd be ideal for a classic 'Cops 'n' Robbers' game he thought would appeal.

Thus 'Race'n' Chase' (as G.T.A was originally known whilst in development) was born and whole thing pitched to BMG. rest as they say is history.....


Ironically the Saturn (and N64) version which was planned was dropped due to too small a user base (in both cases).

G.T.A did not, as many think, create the 'sandbox' genre, developers admit influences came from:Turbo Espirt, Micro Machines, Mercenary, Elite, Syndicate as 1 might expect, to the more bizare Pac-Man, Pinball and Postman Pat's Trail Game!

[TL]

I remember the Saturn version of GTA being announced, I so wish it had come out as I think that it would have looked far better on the Sega machine.

The PS1 version of GTA was converted by Imagitec Design and they were supposed to do the Saturn version too and I know it was started but they were pulled off it to get other projects finished.

[64bitRuss]

The N64 games Body Harvest and Space Station Silicon Valley are DMA games, which precede the GTA3 series. You might not be talking about exactly the same thing here, but as far as influence and the origins of sandbox games, you can definitely look to those two N64 games made by the guys who would make the big leap on the PS2 with GTA3

[TL]

[align=center:10bw0bp2]Fun With the Sega Saturn Arcade Racer[/align:10bw0bp2]

[Ben]

I would kill anyone quite literally, to own that "This Is Cool" Saturn... SERIOUSLY 

I own a Hi-Saturn and a This is Cool Saturn (they have nifty controllers that match as well, of course).  You're missing one model also, the Derby Stallion Saturn.  One thing to mention about these, I believe they were all Japan only (I know in the US we only got the black model); the Saturn actually outsold the N64 in Japan, and was a worthy rival to the PlayStation.  It was in the US that the Saturn hemhorraged money, due to its botched launch (retailers found out it was coming early at E3, had no shelf space and were not happy), as well as Bernie Stolar of Sega America deciding that no one wanted to play 2d games or RPGs anymore (Bernie having just been fired from SCEA partly for thinking FFVII would never sell in America and opposing a marketing push for it).  So it actually makes sense; the Japanese market got cool variants since it was successful, but they never made it overseas.  Actually, part of what angered a lot of developers and peripheral makers was that Sega killed the Saturn in Japan in favor of Katana/Dreamcast, as it was still very successful there.

Here is the Derby Stallion model: 

[TL]

I would kill anyone quite literally, to own that "This Is Cool" Saturn... SERIOUSLY 

I own a Hi-Saturn and a This is Cool Saturn (they have nifty controllers that match as well, of course).  You're missing one model also, the Derby Stallion Saturn.  One thing to mention about these, I believe they were all Japan only (I know in the US we only got the black model); the Saturn actually outsold the N64 in Japan, and was a worthy rival to the PlayStation.  It was in the US that the Saturn hemhorraged money, due to its botched launch (retailers found out it was coming early at E3, had no shelf space and were not happy), as well as Bernie Stolar of Sega America deciding that no one wanted to play 2d games or RPGs anymore (Bernie having just been fired from SCEA partly for thinking FFVII would never sell in America and opposing a marketing push for it).  So it actually makes sense; the Japanese market got cool variants since it was successful, but they never made it overseas.  Actually, part of what angered a lot of developers and peripheral makers was that Sega killed the Saturn in Japan in favor of Katana/Dreamcast, as it was still very successful there.

Colour me jealous!!!!

I never understood why Bernie Stolar did that, I really don't. I bought a Saturn over the PS1 because it had the much better games library and the games I wanted to play, those included 3D and 2D titles. The Saturn had the best of both worlds. The Saturn still has a killer library with so many AAA titles and then when you discover the Japanese library too it just blows you away. It's such a shame that Sega made so many mistakes it with and that so many people believed Sony's hype and bullshit too.

[SnakeEyes]

I would kill anyone quite literally, to own that "This Is Cool" Saturn... SERIOUSLY 

I own a Hi-Saturn and a This is Cool Saturn (they have nifty controllers that match as well, of course).  You're missing one model also, the Derby Stallion Saturn.  One thing to mention about these, I believe they were all Japan only (I know in the US we only got the black model); the Saturn actually outsold the N64 in Japan, and was a worthy rival to the PlayStation.  It was in the US that the Saturn hemhorraged money, due to its botched launch (retailers found out it was coming early at E3, had no shelf space and were not happy), as well as Bernie Stolar of Sega America deciding that no one wanted to play 2d games or RPGs anymore (Bernie having just been fired from SCEA partly for thinking FFVII would never sell in America and opposing a marketing push for it).  So it actually makes sense; the Japanese market got cool variants since it was successful, but they never made it overseas.  Actually, part of what angered a lot of developers and peripheral makers was that Sega killed the Saturn in Japan in favor of Katana/Dreamcast, as it was still very successful there.

Colour me jealous!!!!

I never understood why Bernie Stolar did that, I really don't. I bought a Saturn over the PS1 because it had the much better games library and the games I wanted to play, those included 3D and 2D titles. The Saturn had the best of both worlds. The Saturn still has a killer library with so many AAA titles and then when you discover the Japanese library too it just blows you away. It's such a shame that Sega made so many mistakes it with and that so many people believed Sony's hype and bullshit too.

Both the PS1 and Saturn have a killer library. If you include the japanese stuff, the PS1 has a huge collection of 2D games. Just not a lot of people realise it.

I am one of those that love the Saturn, but to get the best out of it you really need to get involved in the japaneses side of things, especially as it means you don't have to deal with the awful PAL boxes.

[TL]

[align=center:266d35po]Guardian Heroes (Sega Saturn) - Leftover Culture Review

Earthworm Jim 2 (Sega Saturn) - Leftover Culture Game review

Alien Trilogy (Sega Saturn) - Leftover Culture Game Review[/align:266d35po]

[Ben]

I would kill anyone quite literally, to own that "This Is Cool" Saturn... SERIOUSLY 

I own a Hi-Saturn and a This is Cool Saturn (they have nifty controllers that match as well, of course).  You're missing one model also, the Derby Stallion Saturn.  One thing to mention about these, I believe they were all Japan only (I know in the US we only got the black model); the Saturn actually outsold the N64 in Japan, and was a worthy rival to the PlayStation.  It was in the US that the Saturn hemhorraged money, due to its botched launch (retailers found out it was coming early at E3, had no shelf space and were not happy), as well as Bernie Stolar of Sega America deciding that no one wanted to play 2d games or RPGs anymore (Bernie having just been fired from SCEA partly for thinking FFVII would never sell in America and opposing a marketing push for it).  So it actually makes sense; the Japanese market got cool variants since it was successful, but they never made it overseas.  Actually, part of what angered a lot of developers and peripheral makers was that Sega killed the Saturn in Japan in favor of Katana/Dreamcast, as it was still very successful there.

Colour me jealous!!!!

I never understood why Bernie Stolar did that, I really don't. I bought a Saturn over the PS1 because it had the much better games library and the games I wanted to play, those included 3D and 2D titles. The Saturn had the best of both worlds. The Saturn still has a killer library with so many AAA titles and then when you discover the Japanese library too it just blows you away. It's such a shame that Sega made so many mistakes it with and that so many people believed Sony's hype and bullshit too.

Both the PS1 and Saturn have a killer library. If you include the japanese stuff, the PS1 has a huge collection of 2D games. Just not a lot of people realise it.

I am one of those that love the Saturn, but to get the best out of it you really need to get involved in the japaneses side of things, especially as it means you don't have to deal with the awful PAL boxes.

Since you mentioned that, I actually posted a pretty lengthy list of Saturn games that weren't released in the US and are pretty well playable without a translation over at Racketboy, when I used to post there.  I have to admit that I don't know the PS1 import library that well, especially the 2D stuff; but I own darn near every good 2d Saturn game. 

Anyway, here's that list I made, these are games that I consider to be at least good (if not great), and that don't get mentioned as much (so I didn't put on Radiant Silvergun or X-Men VS Street Fighter, for instance):

Cotton 2: Probably the best cute 'em up of all time.
Shinrei Jusatsushi Taroumaru: A side scroller beat em up with horror elements, highly recommended.
Elevator Action Returns: Side scrolling beat em up.
Sexy Parodius – Great shmup, also released in Europe in English.
Astra Super Stars : Very underrated fighter by Sunsoft.
Gungriffon II: Excellent mech/FPS hybrid.
Princess Crown: A side scroller with RPG elements, spiritual predecessor to Odin Sphere. One of the best games on the Saturn.
Dungeons and Dragons: Tower of Doom – Basically a side scrolling beat em up with some RPG elements.
Kyukyuoku Tiger II Plus: Overhead shmup.
Groove on Fight: Great 2d figher.
Tryrush Deppy: Side scrolling platformer.
Hyper Duel – Shmup.
Game Tengoku: Another great shmup.
Cyberbots: 2d mech fighting game.
Blast Wind – Underrated Shmup.
Bulk Slash – Mech fighting game.
PuLiRuLa: Side scrolling beat em up (sort of), with some really beautiful animation.
Sengoku Blade – Another underrated shooter.
Battle Garegga – Very underrated shmup.
Soukyugurentai – Another shmup.
Batsugun: Another shooter.
Virtual Hydlide: A dungeon crawler with random dungeons, it's a remake of the SNES Hydlide. Most people hate this one, but I like it, so I put it on anyway.
Nekketsu Oyako: Side scrolling beat em up.
Purikura Daisakusen: Isometric beat em up.
Dodonpachi: ANOTHER shmup.
Thunder Force V: Side scrolling shmup.
Silhouette Mirage: Side scroller with very colorful graphics by Treasure. Not an exclusive (also on the PSX), but a great game.
Deep Fear: Survival Horror game set underwater, released in Europe in English.
Super Tempo: Very colorful 2D side scroller, sequel to the Genesis games.
Ninpen Manmaru: A 3D platformer from Enix with animated cutscenes. It works with the 3d controller.
Elan Doree: 3D fighter with characters riding dragons, basically Panzer Dragoon Fighter.
Pretty Fighter X: A 2d fighter with high school girls and anime cut scenes. It's not half bad!
Skull Fang: Another shmup.
Dragon Ball Z Densetsu: Decent 2D fighter, I'd pass if you aren't a DBZ fan.
Dragon Ball Z Shinbutoden: Same as above.
Wolf Fang: You guessed it...A SHMUP!
SDF Macross: I hesitated to put this on, it's a great Shmup but has a ton of Japanese text/dialogues. Still playable, but you miss something.
Macross DYRL: See above.
Asuka 120% Limited: Another girl-centric fighter, it was released on Japanese PCs and the PSX too, but this is considered the best version.
Gekirindan: Another shmup.
Dezaemon: OMG! A shmup!
Darius Gaiden: It's Darius on the Saturn. SHMUP
Darius II: It's Darius II on the Saturn. SHHHHHHHHMUUUUUUUUPPPPPP
Sonic Council: Very good 2D fighter.
Cotton Boomerang: Cotton 2 with a few new characters and an amped up difficulty. Probably for SHMUP freaks only, I love shmups and this one makes me want to pull my hair out. Plus it's basically Cotton 2 anyway.


The one thing I noticed when I made that list, is that not speaking Japanese really limits you to a high % of shmups, so it's easy to get burnt out.  But there are a TON of great Saturn imports that are worth grabbing.  I thought it was kind of cool that after I posted that, also, a lot of the games I listed were featured on Game Sack, so I'm guessing people saw my list and submitted them.  Their most recent Left in Japan video has several of these, although I didn't agree with Joe's review of Tryrush Deppy!