Sega Saturn Memories

[wil327]

I was just playing Nights into Dreams on the Saturn, what a great game.

I didn't get a Saturn until about 4 years ago, and I have been picking up the odd title here and there. This was a beast in terms of having loads of shmups, but also good fighting games.

My favorites are: DoDonPachi, Sonic R, Sexy Parodius, Gradius Deluxe, and Radiant Silvergun.

[Deleted]

Just about all of the ones that you've mentioned are some of my faves... though, I don't have Sonic R. I'll make a note to pick it up.

Lemme also add Galactic Attack/Rayforce, Soukyugurentai, and Guardian Heroes.

... and let me stress on how BITCHING Radiant Silvergun is. ;D

[Neo Rasa]

All the Sega fighting games on it are totally rad (except Golden Axe: The Duel )

[Malroth]

Unfortunately the only game I ever played for the Saturn was that horrible "Bug!" game. Put me off the Saturn permanently.

[Protodude]

The only time I played a Saturn was at a Blockbuster when I was about 7. I think they had Clockwork Knight or some game like that out. But man, I need to get me a Saturn one of these days.

[Discoalucard]

Most of the American released Saturn stuff is shameful. Other then the Sega fighting games, the good games (Shining Force 3, PD Orta, Guardian Heroes) are way too expensive. There are some other decent ones in there though that are easy to come by, like Nights and Astal. Also, the best version of Bomberman, if you can get the multi-tap and lots of controllers.

Otherwise, to get the really good stuff, you need to import.

[Sac (a.k.a Icaras)]

Back in the day, Panzer Dragoon probably would have ben enough for me to want to buy a Saturn, espeically with Shining Force 3 being on the system(though I don't think SF3 was ever released in Australia).

I never did have the cash back then though.

[Weasel]

I wish I owned a saturn. I never have, despite the number of incredible-looking games that were available (I even played demos of the first two Panzer Dragoons and LOVED them, as well as Virtua Fighter 1, Fighters Megamix, and an FMV game called Lunacy which was kinda cheesy but also somewhat interesting).

[Gilder]

never had one, but my one friend did and all he had was Space Jam, Ironman and X-O Manowar, Virtua Cop and Three Dirty Dwarves

Not exactly top-tier quality games. I did have fun with Three Dirty Dwarves for a bit though.

[megamoronx]

Hah, I remember when the Saturn was released in Japan and I got an EGM that had a bunch of letters with people complaining about how shitty it was.

[dartagnan1803]

awesome console. . .
As for the games, it's damn pricey. . .but manageable if you know where to look.

Powerslave is another great title that actually manages to outdo its PS1 counterpart.

[akumajobelmont]

I'm the biggest Saturn fanboy, haha:D

I sold me Megadrive/Mega CD combo with all my games years (YEARS!!! going on 11...) ago, and got my Saturn. It remains my favourite console to this day. I actually thought the games we got out here (in Australia at least) were awesome. I've built up my collection of games over the years (70+) and I'm looking into getting it chipped so I can finally get all those great imports working on my system.

My favourites are:
Sega Rally,
Nights,
Fighters Megamix,
Last Bronx,
VF Kids,
Sonic R,
Sega Touring Car,
Wipeout,
Burning Rangers,
Virtual On,
Guardian Heroes,
Dark Saviour,
and not forgetting Cyber Speedway!

Actually, Cyber Speedway is one of my favourite games of all time... along with Sega Rally.

People tended to hate Cyber Speedway, although I could never see why... the soundtrack (PAL and Jap versions - i understand the US had a different OST) was beyond awesome, the graphics had this gorgeous look and much charm, the controls were perfect, and though there wasn't much to the game, I've come back to it more than almost any other game I could care to mention (except Sega Rally).

I love my Saturn:D

[megatronbison]

Man, Saturn memories- where to start?
I remember the hype initially, seeing all the previews in the Sega magazines and the proclaimations that it would be bigger than Jesus himself!
Then the nasty £400 launch happened here in the UK- with its lackluster launch. even my best friend who was a Sega fanboy scoffed at it and decided he would head for a playstation instead.
For the first few years I seen nothing I wanted. However I remember trying the first Tomb Raider out on it and being impressed.
C+VG kept giving coverage to some great titles- titles that didnt seem to be getting stocked over here at all incidentally, maybe its not too surprising it died so quickly- given how quickly the stores dropped it after the PS1's launch.
Either way though- fast forward to 2000 and the Saturn was worse than dead in the UK. I had just got my first temp job whilst in school and I decided to go bargain hunting- and what should I find but a Sega Saturn for £5!
It didnt come with any games so I bargained the guy into letting me take a game that seemed cool- which was Guardian Heroes!
So hows that- £5 for a Saturn with Guardian Heroes
Inside it was a game that almost brought me as much amusement for all the wrong reasons- Robotica. Early first person shooters really were a crime against humanity...
Anyways, after Guardian Heroes I had a new found respect for the Saturn and proceeded to hunt out bargains for it:
Ended up with some fantastic games for very cheap prices: Shining Force 3, Fighters Megamix, Dragonforce, Burning Rangers, the Panzer Dragoon games- got them all for £5 off some unwitting sap who was wanting a PS2
Sorry for the length of that!

[wil327]

Unquestionably, if you own a Saturn in the US, you absolutely need to import games for it. I would say that about 90% of the games I own for it are imports.

Keep in mind that a majority of them are shmups, with the rest being fighters. I tell ya, it's still perhaps one of my top 5 favorite systems.

The others being Neo Geo AES, PS2, DS, and 360.

[bioniccommando83]

Never owned a Saturn myself, but my brother was kind enough to loan me his with several of his games. Shining the Holy Ark was the first one I tried, and devoured, having been a huge Shining Force/SitD fan for the Genesis. I tried Shining Force III, but couldn't get into it. Next was Magic Knight Rayearth- which I thought was really fun (Incidentally I just finished watching the second season tonight whilst hanging out with friends- game is really kind of different in some ways). Next up- Panzer Dragoon Saga, and dear lord, that game is amazing. I have yet to see a battle system like that return in any RPG I've played, excellent music, and the game's theme/feeling was very real/affective. Finally, the Japanese version of Symphony of the Night was sampled. Maria is a lot of fun, but I can't quite play the game on the Saturn controller due to the button set up (Still didn't stop me from stomping through the underground gardens or whipping Galamoth though).