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Would anyone be kind enough to explain the differences, if any, between standard releases of Sega Saturn games versus the Netlink releases?
I'm interested in grabbing a copy of Virtual On and wanted to know, online capability aside, are there any significant changes?
And while I'm thinking of this, is the online play any great shakes?
Thanks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ypCHc6D-pY
From memory, Sega Rally has updated color and I think bits of textures are changed here and there. It felt different, but I couldn't measure framerates or draw distance or anything. I remember at least one new roadside sprite, like a hill scrolling at the side of a cliff.
Netplay was pretty amazing and lots of fun. It was setup well for matchmaking and communicating between matches. Duke Nukem was the best. I rarely got to see first person shooters on computers and even when I did, they never had a sound card and chugged pretty bad. So Duke Nukem for Saturn was my first dearhmatch experience where I coudn't see my opponents screen and splitscreen gameplay really doesn't compare.
I wound up befriending one guy in particular over netplay who really wanted me to get into Virtual On, but it just never appealed to me, so I can't really comment on the differences (I thought it looked slightly updated). I loved Sega Rally but he found the learning curve too steep. In Duke Nukem he had the advantage of being a rich kid who had mastered the game on PC. So he loved hiding after setting up lots of laser triggers and waiting for me fall for one of his traps. The smaller stages were the only ones that worked well for one-on-one. Otherwise you could wander too long without finding each other.
Despite being two completely different things, I think the Netlink version of Virtua On also added the cable link (local link-up between two Saturn consoles) option.
And I think the Netlink version of Daytona USA CCE corresponds to the Japanese Daytona USA CE, which had better frame rate, improved controls and a few other extra details when compared to the standard Daytona USA CCE release in US.
The standard Japanese version of Virtual On has link cable ability. I don't know about hte US version - it may be hidden or removed since Sega didn't release the link cable outsdie of Japan.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barone
And that would be some interesting info about Netlink Daytona USA CCE, it would almost be like the US got three versions of the game.
ya'know, Link Play isn't something that we've talked about in the PSX racing game thread, I'm going to look into that - which Playstation racing games permit system link multiplayer?
I've done two TVs with Daytona USA CE once, it was pretty sweet, impressed the heck out of the Playstation and Nintendo friends who were playing, though they were all confused by the Saturn 3D pad.
Thanks for the insight fellas; I'm a big VO fan so maybe I'll go out on a limb, grab both copies and post my findings if it is of any interest to anyone - namely aspects of graphical, color or sound alterations (if any).
The Saturn Netlink setup is something I've never personally played with but is a total curiosity looking back years later - a bit before its time or just not marketed properly? Will have to play with it come summer - so would love to experiment with online connectivity if someone is available.
Ahh... summer feels so far away... :(
Virtual On Netlink Edition also adds the ability to give your mech a new paintjob.