Sega Saturn for Beginners

[gone fishin]

Absolutely get it chipped, I bought a Saturn about 4 years ago and got it chipped, it was the best thing I've done for it- although it's still a 50Hz Saturn. I picked it up from console goods http://www.consolegoods.co.uk/ , it was very straightforward to mod it yourself (a little bit of soldering). You can do the old swap trick, but it's a bit of a pain in the old erse.

There are some fantastic games for the Saturn, but unfortunately some of the best games (Radiant Silvergun, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Psychic Killer Tomato - or whatever it's called) are unbelievably expensive to buy. So I would really strongly suggest getting a mod chip and heading over to snesorama.us/board , check out the trading zone and get some of the long lost Saturn images.

The Saturn was also fantastic for retro type games (either emulated or re-worked). Some of my faves are the Capcom Collections (Ghosts n Goblins, Commando, Street Fighter etc), the Sega Ages collections (Outrun is a great conversion) and there's Elevator Action Returns, a new (well, mid-90s) version of Elevator Action.

There's also some games that don't really get that much attention-

Road Rash,

Need For Speed (the original, like the 3D0 version),

Tempest 2000 (fantastic game, although you may have it on something else)

Astal,

Silhouette Mirage, (Treasure game, a bit strange, but fun)

Shinobi X, (this seems to be derided by a lot of Shinobi fans, but I really like it)

Try Rush Deppy,

Bacu Bacu Animal. (great puzzle game)

Street Fighter - The Movie (now you CAN play as Jean Claude Van Damme. Or as Kylie.... actually, it's not that bad!)

Don't know if Burning Rangers has been mentioned, but it's quite a good little game by Sonic Team.

The Saturn was at its best with updated versions of 16 bit style games- it wasn't particularly great for 3D games - but it's almost like an inbetween 16-bit and 32-bit console. Basically it made games possible, that were just a little bit too powerful for the 16 bit machines (Street Fighter series etc).

[Oracle]

As I understand it, the Jap version of CCE fixed the handling issues, and both CCEs don't suffer from the awful pop-up of the original.

This is I did not know, its called Daytona Circuit Edition and I've just bought a copy

[Qazimod]

um, DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYTONAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Less "A"s at the start and more at the end, but otherwise I agree.

[Popo]

As I understand it, the Jap version of CCE fixed the handling issues, and both CCEs don't suffer from the awful pop-up of the original.

What, seriously?

I feel like tracking down a small collection of my own now... I have a Saturn with a HUGE library of games back home (during uni I turned into a right collector, even tracked down every back-issue of Sega Saturn Magazine - a costly way to round off my collection), but since I'm living in Japan I reckon I should be able to find second-hand stuff cheaply and easily.

No RGB here though, I hope it supports D-tanshi.

[buster_broon]

this is a shelf you should try and get

[Alexlotl]

this is a shelf you should try and get

If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not go anywhere near Final Fight Revenge.

[buster_broon]

If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not go anywhere near Final Fight Revenge.

very true

the bone break's in the game are quite cool otherwise a 3d turd

[Nick R]

I know the spindash was added, but what did they do to the levels? I played Sonic 1 to death on the Megadrive and so I didn't really bother with Sonic Jam's version past a cursory glance.

Sonic Jam has three difficulty settings for each of the games: Original (identical to the MD versions), Normal (adds extra rings, platforms and possibly other minor changes. The Normal versions are the versions used in the game's Time Attack mode), and Easy (a run through the game that skips certain Acts).

Also, in the original PAL Mega Drive version of Sonic 1, a side-effect of the game being slowed down to 50Hz was that the music was slowed down by the same amount, which wasn't a problem with the sequels. PAL Sonic Jam still plays at 50Hz, but it brings the music up to the right speed.

[Wiper]

Less "A"s at the start and more at the end, but otherwise I agree.

Rooooolling Staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaart, surely?

I had that song on CD long before I had Saturn (a 'Saturn Sampler CD' that came with some magazine or other). Loved it - aside from the aforementioned track, had some real classics on there (including a few from VF - Sarah and Akira's themes, I believe ). Sadly, long lost - I wish I still had access to that CD

[Ketchup]

House of the dead looks terrible but plays great. You really do need to pick up all the Sega light gun games. As you've got a mk1 saturn you'll also be able to run import and backup games easier using the disc swap technique until you get it chipped.

[spaceyjase]

As I understand it, the Jap version of CCE fixed the handling issues, and both CCEs don't suffer from the awful pop-up of the original.

The handling in CCE is terrible, not at all like the arcade game. AI has been ripped apart too, car redesigns and altered graphics. Stick with the original, even if the pop-up is worse.

[The-Plethora]

I spent so many hours on Shining the Holy Ark, surely one of the saturns best games. As someone else mentioned Exhumed is very good on the saturn and has different layouts compared to the PC and PS versions. You should also lookout for a copy of fighting vipers or better yet fighters megamix which still holds up well. Shining force 3 is good although can be a little expensive and its seperated into 3 chapters which form different games from what I remember, only one of which is translated into English. If you know where to look online you can get fan translated English copied of the other 2 chapters.

Wipeout 2097 whilst not as good as the PS version is still a good racer and 'D' whilst basically FMV and slow paced I quite enjoyed.

[trickytree]

Also, in the original PAL Mega Drive version of Sonic 1, a side-effect of the game being slowed down to 50Hz was that the music was slowed down by the same amount, which wasn't a problem with the sequels. PAL Sonic Jam still plays at 50Hz, but it brings the music up to the right speed.

Due to the music being CD tracks, because the Saturn can't recreate/emulate the quirky MD sound chip. Sound effects are sampled too.

[Rev]

Rooooolling Staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaart, surely?

I had that song on CD long before I had Saturn (a 'Saturn Sampler CD' that came with some magazine or other). Loved it - aside from the aforementioned track, had some real classics on there (including a few from VF - Sarah and Akira's themes, I believe ). Sadly, long lost - I wish I still had access to that CD

I believe I have that at home. I'll rip and upload if you want? Assuming I can find it...

[Wiper]

I believe I have that at home. I'll rip and upload if you want? Assuming I can find it...

That would be absolutely amazing if you could!

[ChuChu]

This? It came with 'Mean Machines Sega' back in 1997, had some decent music as I recall. A good Saturn site that is still updated is Satakore BTW

[Rev]

It's not where I thought it was, but I do have it somewhere. I have put my hands on this oddity though:

[Rev]

In fact, having a flick through that one it is quite possible it single-handedly killed the Saturn. While Sony were being all hip, Sega fought back by releasing this. It literally oozes marketing-dads-being-hip-in-their-cords-on-the-hired-for-PR-reasons-dance-floor. Bless them, they just couldn't compete.

In an entirely unrelated fact, a busker on the underground was playing the Shenmue theme on his acoustic guitar.

[Wiper]

This? It came with 'Mean Machines Sega' back in 1997, had some decent music as I recall. A good Saturn site that is still updated is Satakore BTW

That's the one!

And cheers for the link, bookmarked

In fact, having a flick through that one it is quite possible it single-handedly killed the Saturn. While Sony were being all hip, Sega fought back by releasing this. It literally oozes marketing-dads-being-hip-in-their-cords-on-the-hired-for-PR-reasons-dance-floor. Bless them, they just couldn't compete.

Not seen that CD before, but it is very typical of them. They were so cool in the 16-bit era, but then...

Still, it has Richard Jacques remixes (and one of a NiGHTS track) so it can't be all bad!

[Rev]

Still, it has Richard Jacques remixes (and one of a NiGHTS track) so it can't be all bad!

I'm sitting (metaphorically) on an interview with him, it might appear in the next issue of Disposable Media once I've cleared it with him that it is ok to use an interview that is now quite old.

He's a very nice chap.

[ChuChu]

In fact, having a flick through that one it is quite possible it single-handedly killed the Saturn. While Sony were being all hip, Sega fought back by releasing this. It literally oozes marketing-dads-being-hip-in-their-cords-on-the-hired-for-PR-reasons-dance-floor. Bless them, they just couldn't compete.

Aye, they just appeared behind. Sega had Virtua Fighter, Sony advertised Tekken which looked cool. Sega had Daytona, Sony had Ridge Racer which looked cool. By the time the Saturn got AAA games such as Virtua Fighter 2 and Sega Rally which shit on Sony's offerings it was too late, their poor reputation already preceded them.

[Rev]

To be honest, even if they'd come earlier it would have been difficult. The 32x and Mega CD killed the Saturn before it even launched. Then the price too.

The fact Sony also did everything right just made it a thrashing.

[Oracle]

price:bad

lack of apparent 3d power: bad

initial game selection:bad

promotion:bad

third party support:bad

= not a great start.

[Skull Commander]

To be fair the Saturn WAS mostly shit in the UK. I had pal one a good while back and a lot of the decent games never made it over here. I've recently picked up a Jap one and it's a world of difference.

However, even if we did have all the Jap stuff released over here I think it would have still flopped. 2D was (and is to a certain extent) a dirty word for a lot of people. People didn't want a better megadrive/snes. They wanted new 3D graphics and 'cool' games. Unfortuanatly the Saturn's best games are lost on the casual market.

A true 2D powerhouse and no mistake.

[PikaStu]

I remember not being particularly fond on Shining in the Holy Ark for some reason, but I loved Shining Wisdom. I was 14/15 years old and off school with flu so I sent my mum out to pick it up for me. A very enjoyable week was spent playing through SW! It's probably pretty dated now though... more so than Alundra on the PSOne or Zelda LttP.

I always fancied trying Shining Force III, but I understand only part one was released in Europe. Does the Japanese trilogy contain English text?

[TheShend]

I've written a few eulogies to some of my most fondly remembered Saturn titles.

I've got to echo the love Sonic Jam, just so much packed in there! I filled all my saves for Sonic 3 + Sonic & Knuckles with Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Sonic, Tails etc. replete with all Emeralds & Super Emeralds for the tremendous Hyper state you activate at 50 rings. I remember the time I finally managed to collect all 100 rings in that strict time limit in the over-world. Fist meet Air. YESSS!

Street Fighter Alpha held one of the greatest experiences for the Saturn despite that box-art, Jesus. Anyway, it was the code that unlocked Dramatic Battle mode, where 1P as Ryu and 2P as Ken went head on together against a beastly CPU Dictator. Me and our Teodi had epic times playing that over and over and over. Sometimes murdering the grinning psycho and other times getting both our respective arses handed back to us. Amazing bonus mode that.

I've still got my Official Sega Saturn Magazine collection in the loft with demo CDs. I used to get so excited when it was nearing release that after getting out of school I'd peg it to the local newsagents and quickly scan the shelf, making sure to check behind all other magazines around the area it would normally sit. Desperately waiting for issue 3, I ended up buying the non CD version by mistake, but I had to read it! I went and bought the CD version the following weekend at the larger Smiths of Wigan. Stupid corner shop only stocking the non-CD version

I believe in a moment of teenage stupidity, I actually cut out one of those really daft reserve strips at the back and handed it in to a woman in John Menzies in Wigan, who looked puzzled, went in the back and I heard her tell her friend that "some kid's come in and give me this", "what is it?", "It says if we don't reserve this computer magazine when he comes next time, that he'll strip naked in the shop and have a fit." Stupid self.

I also got a thrill of excitement when I found that if you left the title screen running on one of the games from the demo disc you had in, it would play the intro cartoon/attract sequence. I particularly remember Keio's Fyling Squadron and Virtual On being top!

I recommend Exhumed (see eulogy link) and deffo Guardian Heroes, such a fantastic side scrolling beat 'em up. Surely a pinnacle of the genre?

My mum worked a hell of a lot of over time in Tote Credit to afford that £400 price tag which came with Virtual Fighter, Bug and Clockwork Knight. Cheers Mum

[Skull Commander]

I love scrolling beat 'em ups, but when I had Guardian Heroes it just didn't click with me. I would buy it again to give it a second chance, but I fear that I just don't get on with the vast majority of Treasure's titles.

[Lorfarius]

I always fancied trying Shining Force III, but I understand only part one was released in Europe. Does the Japanese trilogy contain English text?

Nope the other parts only ever hit Japan. However these peeps have been working very hard for a long, long time to get a decent translation going and have pretty much completed most parts:

Links

[gossi the dog]

In an entirely unrelated fact, a busker on the underground was playing the Shenmue theme on his acoustic guitar.

That would be amazing. Which underground was he at? I hope you gave him some money.

[Rev]

That would be amazing. Which underground was he at? I hope you gave him some money.

It was Tottenham Court Road, going down towards the Central line. And no, I didn't - he was tuning when I walked past and I wouldn't have heard it at all were it not for tourists with suitcases slowing everyone down the stairs.