PS1 or Saturn?

[roguetrip]

Why not look for a PS2? It can play PS1 games just fine (well, I think maybe all of 5 games are incompatible with PS2). You can usually get them for around $60 used as well.

Then a Saturn I'd guess.

[retrospiel]

If you're on a limited budget, get none.


PS2 or PS3 can both play PS1 so either of these would be sufficient whenever you're in a better financial situation.

Saturn is great but like many pointed out:
- most third-party games suck
- the good ones are rare and thus expansive
- and at roughly 90% Japan-only


Neither is worth it if you're on a limited budget. Upgrade your PC or buy some games for your Genesis instead.

[17daysolderthannes]

get a PS2, end of story. PS1 accuracy is perfect on the PS2 and you also get a nice DVD player out of it, not to mention a wonderful smattering of PS2 games. The reason PS1s are so cheap is because there is really no point in owning one anymore, especially now that PS2s are cheap. As far as I know, all accessories work on the PS2 except for ones like the GameShark that require use of the serial port on the back.

As for the Saturn, I would only recommend it if you have already collected everything you want for other systems as everything, even shitty games, cost an arm and a leg. I modchipped mine and it's still hardly worth it. There were certainly some great games, but it was so short lived and those games are so pricey, it's just not quite worth it. I have to say it too: NiGHTS is pretty overrated. It's a beautiful and unique game, but the core gameplay is tedious and repetitive. It's like if Sonic wouldn't let you advance a level if you didn't collect a certain number of rings...bullshit. Even the highly revered Radiant Silvergun was pretty "meh" to me. I'd pay $20 for it, but the $150 people pay for it is criminally insane. Some people applauded it for fighting game ports, but SNK games were better on the Neo Geo CD (even though load times are awful) and PSX had pretty decent versions that didn't require RAM expansions and other pricey and slightly ridiculous add ons. Overall, the Saturn was just at the wrong place at the wrong time, I'd take my Sega CD or 32X over it anyday.

[nathanallan]

The reason PS1s are so cheap is because there is really no point in owning one anymore, especially now that PS2s are cheap.

Ah you don't own a hot pink PS1 I guess. Great machine and a pleasure to look at.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T537-WP4Ke0

[retrospiel]

Overall, the Saturn was just at the wrong place at the wrong time, I'd take my Sega CD or 32X over it anyday.

The Sega CD has a small selection of excellent games that are better than a good part of Saturn's US library [things like Lunar and Snatcher are available for Saturn in Japan], but as far as I remember there are only three decent 32X games that never were released for Saturn: Knuckles Chaotix, Kolibri & Virtua Racing Deluxe.

While Saturn might not have a billion of games in all genres like PS1, with a little diggin' you will find some excellent and even exclusive gems in all kinds of genres - from 16-bit and arcade retro compilations to RPGs and 2D fighters to shmups. The vast majority of these remained in Japan, but there are a few early releases that made the jump.

[TmEE]

I had been playing some 50...60 PSX games before I got my Saturn and I never look back at the PSX... games seem more smoother, controllers are lightyears better and there's so many great game... I've got a great deal of EU homemade originals aswell as some US and few JP ones and I cannot see what is the talk about western games for Saturn being poor.
RPGs are something I don't give a damn about, and I'm not a fan of fighters and most racers.

[kool kitty89]

The Sega CD has a small selection of excellent games that are better than a good part of Saturn's US library [things like Lunar and Snatcher are available for Saturn in Japan], but as far as I remember there are only three decent 32X games that never were released for Saturn: Knuckles Chaotix, Kolibri & Virtua Racing Deluxe.

So, while Saturn might not have a billion of games in all genres like PS1, with a little diggin' you will find some excellent and even exclusive gems in all kinds of genres - from 16-bit and arcade retro compilations to RPGs and 2D fighters to shmups. The vast majority of these remained in Japan, but there are a few early releases that made the jump.

Hmm, were Space Harrier and AfterBurner released on Saturn in the US?

Shadow Squadron is another. Star Wars Arcade is up to personal taste. And some people are partial to Metal Head and more toward T-MEK. Probably a couple others I'm forgetting.

Overall though I'd tend to agree that the Saturn is better to collect for than the 32x, even just going by the easier to collect ones. Now, Sega CD and 32x together is certainly another story, and all of these cases would be ignoring the Genesis library of course. And the 32x isn't nearly as accesible/affordable in Europe as in the US as I understand.

[Jeckidy]

Hmm, were Space Harrier and AfterBurner released on Saturn in the US?

Shadow Squadron is another. Star Wars Arcade is up to personal taste. And some people are partial to Metal Head and more toward T-MEK. Probably a couple others I'm forgetting.

Overall though I'd tend to agree that the Saturn is better to collect for than the 32x, even just going by the easier to collect ones. Now, Sega CD and 32x together is certainly another story, and all of these cases would be ignoring the Genesis library of course. And the 32x isn't nearly as accesible/affordable in Europe as in the US as I understand.

In regards to 32X: What about Tempo? That's another favorite of mine. The import-only Tempo game for Saturn is actually one of its sequels (counting Tempo Jr. for GG).

[QuickSciFi]

The PS1 Slim comes with cords and controllers. I only own one Sony console (PS3, no backwards compatibility). And, I already own an N64 with a pretty good amount of games (20 or so) and only play it for nostalgia. And, I'm just a retro collector that dabbles in different stuff.

You can play ps1 games on the ps3, it's the PS2 games that give you the most trouble, but you can still play them with some configuration.

But if you don't want to, I'm with almost everyone else here, I'd go for a BRAND NEW PS2 slim. Those babies sell themselves. You can get one at Walmart for $99.99 with the choice of three games (did I mention three of those games are Neo Geo SNK anthologies of the 2-Dimensional variety, pardon the redundancy? )

Anyways, good luck with your purchase. I know how awesome it is to re-discover a whole "new" retro console.

[AD2101]

I only own one Sony console (PS3, no backwards compatibility).

All PS3's will play PS1 games, it's the PS2 emulation that's tricky. I prefer the Saturn for it's awesome imports (and due to the fact that it's so easy to get imports to play on a Saturn) but it'll be a lot cheaper and easier to collect PS1 games, especially if you already have a system that will play them.

[kool kitty89]

All PS3's will play PS1 games, it's the PS2 emulation that's tricky. I prefer the Saturn for it's awesome imports (and due to the fact that it's so easy to get imports to play on a Saturn) but it'll be a lot cheaper and easier to collect PS1 games, especially if you already have a system that will play them.

You need an excessery for memory cards though, right?

In regards to 32X: What about Tempo? That's another favorite of mine. The import-only Tempo game for Saturn is actually one of its sequels (counting Tempo Jr. for GG).

Yeah, forgot that one.

[QuickSciFi]

^Have I hit some people's ignore list somehow? I thought I made a mention of it first.

[Devil N]

You need an excessery for memory cards though, right?

Only if you want to copy game saves from a physical memory card to your PS3. The PS3 uses virtual memory cards that are stored on the hard drive, and you can just create those at will. If you have no need to use old saves from a real memory card, then you don't need an accessory.

[TheEdge]

I want to suggest buying the Saturn but it's just too difficult to find games for it. Best thing to do is get some PS1 games and play them on the PS2.

[kool kitty89]

^Have I hit some people's ignore list somehow? I thought I made a mention of it first.

Heh, I skipped past your post by accident and noticed it just after I made mine.

Only if you want to copy game saves from a physical memory card to your PS3. The PS3 uses virtual memory cards that are stored on the hard drive, and you can just create those at will. If you have no need to use old saves from a real memory card, then you don't need an accessory.

Good to know.