The Sega Saturn appreciation thread

[cleeg]

I loved Soviet Strike. The cut scenes were like an 80s action movie, therefore good.

Anyone else find the cow on the Transylvania level which when shot says "Moo" in English, whereas the other cows just moo?

[Da_Shocker]

Perhaps not the place to be posting this but I'm not really sure where this could go. Does anyone have a bunch of price friendly import saturn suggestions that are pretty decent or are just plain the worst thing ever? I just got a new copy of funky fantasy in the mail and its not as bad as it looks. If anyone could lay down a suggestion or two or 100 that would be awesome! Thanks in advance.

Willy Wombat
Dead Or Alive
There a couple of cheap SNK games on there too
Macross

That's probably the most I can think of right off the top of my head.

[Barone]

To add to the above:
MechWarrior 2 - Supports Saturn analog pad (PSX version supports only its old analog controller that nobody has)

PS1 version has far better textures and better 3D models.
Also, you can use cheap 3rd party controllers (like these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/200840672443...84.m1497.l2649) that are compatible with the Analog Joystick protocol, thus avoiding the need to use that old giant POS.

Mortal Kombat II (Better than the PS1 port, but still a crap port)

You have a good list there but I have to disagree about this one...

Saturn version is worse than the PS1 port in many aspects, especially in the sound department.
Saturn version has a nasty bug/glitch/stupid design decision when you fight against Shang Tsung making your character look pixelated as hell.
Some tracks in the Saturn version are atrocious, to say the least. SFX engine is buggy and does NOT work like on the arcade or in the PS1 port. Several SFX missing as well.
There are tons of other details but I have pointed them so many times that I'm kinda tired of this and these 32-bit ports of MKII don't worth the effort (after all, the PS1 port is just OK...).

Oh I forgot about some of those. But Wipeout I'd put in the debatable list because while it plays better, the frame rate is lower and the transparencies are worse.

This.

To me it looks pretty similar to what the original Daytona USA looks like on the Saturn. Basically the scenery doesn't smoothly scroll towards you, it seems to jump a bit.

This.


Let me add some other games superior on the Saturn:
Night Striker S - The Mission Stick support, alone, makes it superior since the PS1 version has no analog support.
Shockwave Assault - The Mission Stick support, alone, makes it superior since the PS1 version has no analog support.
Soviet Strike (already listed but without comments) - The Mission Stick/3D Control Pad support, alone, makes it superior since the PS1 version has no analog support.
Solar Eclipse/Titan Wars - The Mission Stick support, alone, makes it superior since the PS1 version has no analog support (also EU only on the PS1).
Creature Shock - The Mission Stick support, alone, makes it superior since the PS1 and 3DO versions have no analog support (also JP only on the PS1).
Duke Nukem 3D - Far better graphics.
Galaxy Fight - PS1 version is clearly inferior. Slowdowns and missing animation frames.
Myst - Faaaarrr superior to the crappy PS1 version. Arguably better than the 3DO version as well (clearly shorter loadings on the Saturn).
Primal Rage - Far better graphics and much shorter loadings.

[Zz Badnusty]

Hey now Barone, dont be calling the Sony Analog Joystick a POS!
That is one bad assed controller for the games which support it.
I really only use it for Namco's Assault, but I've also had good use of it with Choro Jet Rainbow Wings, and Zero Pilot.
In fact, I'd argue it is one of the most under appreciated controllers ever.

[Barone]

Hey now Barone, dont be calling the Sony Analog Joystick a POS!
That is one bad assed controller for the games which support it.
I really only use it for Namco's Assault, but I've also had good use of it with Choro Jet Rainbow Wings, and Zero Pilot.
In fact, I'd argue it is one of the most under appreciated controllers ever.

Hehe
Sorry... I really don't like it. I find it awkward. I prefer to use more "normal" controller and sticks.
The fact that it is not compatible with dual shock games also annoys me (and the official dual shock controllers are also incompatible with analog joystick games).

There are some lesser known sticks which are compatible with the analog joystick, NeGcon (for games like the first Ace Combat and Xevious) and dual shock games; and they work better IMO. Also, they can be used as digital sticks...

The lack of programmable buttons also makes it a pain to configure some games.

[Zz Badnusty]

I believe it is leaps and bounds better than the Saturn Mission Stick.
For sure it is unfortunate, near inexcusable, that the Sony Analog Joystick isn't compatible with later dual shock games, but that isnt the stick's fault.

And I too am a fan of the neGcon, but you have you admit that thing has one of the worst d-pads ever (next to the Lynx, imo)


As an aside, I think the peripheral compatibility with Sony systems is the most convoluted and messy of any console family.

[Hidden_Darkness]

speaking of saturn and playstation accessories, i've always liked the second version of the virtua stick for both saturn and later for ps1/ ps2. is anyone else a fan of the later virtua stick?

[Barone]

I believe it is leaps and bounds better than the Saturn Mission Stick.

Why do you think so? It would be cool if you could give me some details...

For sure it is unfortunate, near inexcusable, that the Sony Analog Joystick isn't compatible with later dual shock games, but that isnt the stick's fault.

Yeah, Sony handled development and publishing process of games for its console in a very "relaxed" manner those days. So it ended up being a mess since there was no great effort to standardize the protocols adopted in each game genre.

And I too am a fan of the neGcon, but you have you admit that thing has one of the worst d-pads ever (next to the Lynx, imo)

I find it much more interesting as a protocol than as a controller itself.
The neGcon controller has an atrocious d-pad and its rotation mechanism wears out really quick so I just ignored it and researched a lot to figure out which 3rd party controllers were multi-compatible and had good construction quality.

As an aside, I think the peripheral compatibility with Sony systems is the most convoluted and messy of any console family.

I can only speak for the PS1 and I think it's an interesting mess.
From a regular gamer point of view, it's shitty since the official controllers don't provide multi or backward compatibility with the protocols and some of those official devices are not very reliable, like the neGcon and the dual analog controller (to not talk about horrible d-pads).

However, as a controller nut, it's like the paradise to me. After 2 years of research, I'm still discovering wonderful 3rd party devices.
On top of that, no other console until the PS1 had such an amazing number of options to properly play each type of game. You have trackball (it's good for collections of old games; Marble Madness comes to mind), paddle controllers (Puchi Carat and other similar games), tons of steering wheels (most of the 3rd party devices support both neGcon and dual shock compatible games; tons of racing games on the system) with all sorts of options that you'd ask for, tons of light guns with a plethora of functions, many types of sticks (from microswitched digital sticks to multicompatible and programmable analog ones), tons of different control pads with all sorts of button layout (Saturn still has the edge though), lots of good arcade sticks from major brands, a plethora of analog pads (some specialized for racing games and even controllers specialized for FPS games) with all sorts of functions (fully programmable, analog sensitivity adjustment, multicompatibility with analog protocols, digital stick function, etc...), a good mouse that can be found for cheap (and you have lots of PC games to play using it); and you still have more weird controllers like Fighting Arena and FreeStyler.
Best of all: most of the best controllers can be acquired for cheap since most of people don't even know that they exist.
It lacks a keyboard though...

The major down side is the iffy analog support in early games (except the racing ones that are superb in this department for the most part). Several Mission Stick games on the Saturn are digital only on the PS1. Heck, even the 3DO has some major advantages like Wing Commander III having CH Products Flightstick compatibility on the system while it is digital pad only on the PS1.
Another problem is that most of the games published in US are lacking info about controller compatibility (sometimes also providing wrong info like the first NFS game) and/or having less supported devices than the other regional releases (like for V-Rally).

is anyone else a fan of the later virtua stick?

I am. That thing is purdy IMO

[Moirai]

Does anybody know whether the Horipad SS is any good?

[NostalgicMachine]

speaking of saturn and playstation accessories, i've always liked the second version of the virtua stick for both saturn and later for ps1/ ps2. is anyone else a fan of the later virtua stick?

Holy hell, I remember seeing this at FuncoLand back in the day. They had a VF display/demo going, and they were pushing the game and controller as a bundle or something. I haven't played any VF title in years.

[Zz Badnusty]

I find it much more interesting as a protocol than as a controller itself.
The neGcon controller has an atrocious d-pad and its rotation mechanism wears out really quick so I just ignored it and researched a lot to figure out which 3rd party controllers were multi-compatible and had good construction quality.


I can only speak for the PS1 and I think it's an interesting mess.
From a regular gamer point of view, it's shitty since the official controllers don't provide multi or backward compatibility with the protocols and some of those official devices are not very reliable, like the neGcon and the dual analog controller (to not talk about horrible d-pads).

However, as a controller nut, it's like the paradise to me. After 2 years of research, I'm still discovering wonderful 3rd party devices.
On top of that, no other console until the PS1 had such an amazing number of options to properly play each type of game. You have trackball (it's good for collections of old games; Marble Madness comes to mind), paddle controllers (Puchi Carat and other similar games), tons of steering wheels (most of the 3rd party devices support both neGcon and dual shock compatible games; tons of racing games on the system) with all sorts of options that you'd ask for, tons of light guns with a plethora of functions, many types of sticks (from microswitched digital sticks to multicompatible and programmable analog ones), tons of different control pads with all sorts of button layout (Saturn still has the edge though), lots of good arcade sticks from major brands, a plethora of analog pads (some specialized for racing games and even controllers specialized for FPS games) with all sorts of functions (fully programmable, analog sensitivity adjustment, multicompatibility with analog protocols, digital stick function, etc...), a good mouse that can be found for cheap (and you have lots of PC games to play using it); and you still have more weird controllers like Fighting Arena and FreeStyler.
Best of all: most of the best controllers can be acquired for cheap since most of people don't even know that they exist.
It lacks a keyboard though...

The major down side is the iffy analog support in early games (except the racing ones that are superb in this department for the most part). Several Mission Stick games on the Saturn are digital only on the PS1. Heck, even the 3DO has some major advantages like Wing Commander III having CH Products Flightstick compatibility on the system while it is digital pad only on the PS1.
Another problem is that most of the games published in US are lacking info about controller compatibility (sometimes also providing wrong info like the first NFS game) and/or having less supported devices than the other regional releases (like for V-Rally).

FUCK YEAH!

[Curryman123]

Any opinions on Game Tengoku?

[Breetai]

Off the top my head I know of these:

Clearly superior:
Marvel Super Heroes
Metal Slug
King of Fighters 95, 96, and 97

MSH is better on the PS1, believe it or not.
Metal Slug and the KoF games... well, they aren't better than the Neo versions. Same with Metal Slug. Is MS better on the Saturn than on the PS1? I've never really compared them. The MS on Saturn does have some slow down, but I forget if the PS1 version does.

i've always liked the second version of the virtua stick for both saturn and later for ps1/ ps2. is anyone else a fan of the later virtua stick?

Who doesn't? It's basically identical to an Astro City cab. If you don't like that, then you are a moron and should never play arcade style games again.

[Barone]

MSH is better on the PS1, believe it or not.

Wow, I didn't know that. Could you give us some details?

Metal Slug and the KoF games... well, they aren't better than the Neo versions.

Yep. But IDK if KOF '95 has any cuts when compared to the original. It loads freaking fast using that ROM cartridge and I didn't noticed any frame cuts.
KO '97 is a weak port IMO. The voices sound really bad.

Same with Metal Slug. Is MS better on the Saturn than on the PS1?

Yes it is. The PS1 version has some annoying loadings during the stages (it was fixed in Metal Slug X) and frame cuts...

The MS on Saturn does have some slow down, but I forget if the PS1 version does.

Pardon if I'll tell you old news (since I know that you're experienced with Japanese gaming) but Metal Slug runs clearly better on the Saturn if you use the official 1MB RAM cartridge. Genesis Knight has posted about that some time ago.
Neither the official 4MB RAM cartridge, nor those 4-in-1 4MB/1MB carts will work properly. IIRC Genesis Knight reported that using the official 1MB cartridge you had noticeably less slowdown in comparison to the usage of the other cartridges.

Who doesn't? It's basically identical to an Astro City cab. If you don't like that, then you are a moron and should never play arcade style games again.

lol
Ditto.

[TrekkiesUnite118]

Metal Slug on the Saturn is an exceptionally good port. If you play with a 4MB RAM cart though it will have some performance hiccups. I believe Genesis Knight did tests to prove this. Basically stick with the 1 MB RAM cart that came with it. While still not Neo Geo perfect, it's pretty darn close and an excellent substitute considering how much the AES version goes for. The PS1 port by comparison is a disaster. Not only is it missing tons of animation, the game stops mid stage to load.

The KoF games are better on the Saturn than they are on the PS1 as well. Again not Neo Geo perfect, they are pretty darn close.

As for MSH from what I can tell performance wise they are pretty close with each having bad slowdown at times. However the Saturn version has more frames of animation and more background details which I would say qualifies it as better.