The Sega Saturn appreciation thread

[Saturn Fan]

Enemy Zero was pretty awesome till i got stuck on a certain part, couldn't figure out how to progress and gave up.

[Zz Badnusty]

How did this game not leave Japan?!

Yeah for real. Not much to translate, and would have been great to promote the 6-player adapter.
I'm not surprised it didn't get released in the US, but it does confuse me that magazines or websites never gave it any attention, afaik.

Interestingly when checking gamefaqs for the release date (Dec'96), I noticed they had an easter egg noted:

You will get a different Loading Screen depending on the date of your Saturn's
internal clock. You can change it freely in your Saturn's options.
New Year's - 01/01
Valentine's Day - 02/14
Summer Holiday 1 - 7/25-28
Summer Holiday 2 - 8/16-19
Christmas - 12/24-25

So not only being one of the few games to optionally use the MPEG card, VATLVA is also one of the only games which utilize the Saturn's internal clock. Pretty cool.

Also, if ya'll aren't aware, Car Battler Joe is the sequel to VATLVA. Obviously battle options are stripped down considering the lack of 6 face buttons on the GBA, yet the portable game impressively holds true to form.

[sheath]

I wish I could find a copy of Enemy Zero for what I'd be willing to pay. The 3D parts don't look all that far ahead of early Saturn titles like Alien Trilogy, actually they might be worse judging from what I saw in those videos. Plenty of blocky non-colored lighting and pop-in and flat walls and floors.

Hey, I've been getting blasted a lot with Crash Bandicoot to Saturn comparisons lately, I think because of this thread. I was watching some of my old videos while posting last minute sales on ebay and came up with these.

[Cross]

Ok so now that I have picked up a Saturn what are some most have things? I know the sega saturn action replay plus is a big most own bc of the saving and playing imports. What other stuff should i go after tho? Is the 3D gamepad any good or there sticks maybe? As well some really fun games to play, i know of a few that have been said here but burning rangers like 100+ bucks lol.

[sheath]

Here is a list of Saturn games that have been recommended for gameplay related reasons. A lot of those can be had on the cheap even in their US iterations, but the Jpn versions are frequently cheaper and still in English. You can't go wrong with the 3D Pad or the Mission Stick. Avoid the Virtua Stick in favor of the Hori Joystick. The Saturn Racer is good but if you can get something with a shifter and pedals it is probably better.

[Cross]

Great to know! What about pal games? Is there slow down like on gens games?

[sheath]

I own Wipeout 2097 and Shinobi X play fine on my US Saturn with the PAR. There might be some games with 50Hz issues, but I think most Saturn games were 60Hz optimized and rarely if ever the other way. Somebody will come and tell me I'm an idiot here in a moment if I'm even slightly off though.

[Zz Badnusty]

Avoid the Virtua Stick in favor of the Hori Joystick.

Huh? If you're going to reference the import Hori joystick, I'm amazed you are confusing the Virtua Stick.
The Japanese Virtua Stick is unquestionably the best stock joystick for the Saturn.

[Assman]

I own Wipeout 2097 and Shinobi X play fine on my US Saturn with the PAR. There might be some games with 50Hz issues, but I think most Saturn games were 60Hz optimized and rarely if ever the other way. Somebody will come and tell me I'm an idiot here in a moment if I'm even slightly off though.

Idiot! You're slightly off!

There are actually quite a few if this list is accurate:

http://www.segasaturn.co.uk/games/sega_saturn_pal.html

It's not a tremendous amount, but that's still pretty surprising to me. I figured most games would be 60Hz like you did, but after digging around for disc images (you know... for research) and seeing a number of games I wanted that were ripped from PAL copies instead of US or JP, that kinda sucks.

[sheath]

Huh? If you're going to reference the import Hori joystick, I'm amazed you are confusing the Virtua Stick.
The Japanese Virtua Stick is unquestionably the best stock joystick for the Saturn.

I bought the Hori Stick in Software Etc here in the States. The US Virtua Stick has a cruddy joystick to say the least.

Idiot! You're slightly off!

There are actually quite a few if this list is accurate:

http://www.segasaturn.co.uk/games/sega_saturn_pal.html

It's not a tremendous amount, but that's still pretty surprising to me. I figured most games would be 60Hz like you did, but after digging around for disc images (you know... for research) and seeing a number of games I wanted that were ripped from PAL copies instead of US or JP, that kinda sucks.

Oh, yeah, I phrased that wrong. I meant games that only work right in 50Hz versus games that were designed for 60Hz. Thanks for the list though, do we have any idea which ones don't work on NTSC systems?

[Barone]

I think you guys are talking about different Virtua Sticks. The US/JP 1st version is no good AFAIK, while the JP "new" version is pure awesomeness and surely better than the Hori ones.

[Zz Badnusty]

Yes, the original US/NA Virtua Stick is crap.
I also thought every Saturn player knew about the import only version and that it is arcade quality.

[Cross]

does any one have a pic of the better Virtua Stick? or what model number is?

[Barone]

Yes, the original Virtua Stick is crap.
I also thought every Saturn player knew about the import only version and that it is arcade quality.

I would say: "Astro City-quality". And you know it means that God is letting you touch heaven for cheap.

does any one have a pic of the better Virtua Stick? or what model number is?

[Genesis32XCD]

The Japanese 1st version Virtua Stick is at least better than the US/Euro version. Same body style, but the Japanese one has a stick fitted with microswitches.