Is the Sega Saturn Worth it?

[Black Tiger]

Don't taint your first SOTN experience by playing the Saturn version. PS1 version is far superior and actually cheaper. SOTN is a goddamn masterpiece, easily in my top 3 games of all time.

I'm not quite sure though. Saturn version has some extra areas, better music, more items and two extra characters available from the start. I understand the graphics are a little worse, but is it a big deal? Or is there more that I am missing.

Saturn version has better gameplay.

Graphics aren't fully intact, but if the Saturn version looks bad, then the Playstation version always did as well.

[jeffhlewis]

Don't taint your first SOTN experience by playing the Saturn version. PS1 version is far superior and actually cheaper. SOTN is a goddamn masterpiece, easily in my top 3 games of all time.

I'm not quite sure though. Saturn version has some extra areas, better music, more items and two extra characters available from the start. I understand the graphics are a little worse, but is it a big deal? Or is there more that I am missing.

It does have some bonus stuff, but I played through both versions and it's really not worth the downgrade on the graphical side (the transparencies on the Saturn version are all dithered pixels vs. a true alpha channel), plus the sound effects sample rate seems to be worse on the Saturn.

The Saturn does have my favorite game pad of all time but the ps1 version controls just fine with the stock pad.

To each they're own - you'll love the game either way.






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[Tatsujin]

Don't taint your first SOTN experience by playing the Saturn version. PS1 version is far superior and actually cheaper. SOTN is a goddamn masterpiece, easily in my top 3 games of all time.

I'm not quite sure though. Saturn version has some extra areas, better music, more items and two extra characters available from the start. I understand the graphics are a little worse, but is it a big deal? Or is there more that I am missing.

Saturn version has better gameplay.

Graphics aren't fully intact, but if the Saturn version looks bad, then the Playstation version always did as well.

it's general knowledge that the saturn was a cheap take over from the original playstation version with a lots of downgrades involved.

it's has no transparencies at all -> makes many thing look far worse (mist, waterfall, aura stuff etc.)
looots of annyoing slowdwons, where there shouldn't be any -> better gameplay where?
more often and longer loading times
sometimes using different resolutions which make look things strange and blurry
entirely missing back grounds
less animations of certain enemies
downsampled fx
totally crappy done running horse at the beginning (don't even know of why they changed that completely from the PS version?)

the only good thing the saturn has are few added stages, which were all unfinished take out from the PS, which KCEN decided to add. while they're nice to have them (especially the cave one one for its music), they look unfinished and don't live up to the rest of the game.

also that you can choose different characters from the beginning, doesn't really make anything better. you're just spoiled for choice.

it's kind of a similar situation like with the PCE WoT -> MegaCD LoT port.

[Digi.k]

I quite like the Saturn version of SoTN.  Yes it is rough around the edges and yes some of the effects are a big downgrade but also there are transparency effects and some of the enemies have death animations not seen in the psx version (making use of the saturn's sprite rotations etc) and others some effects were removed etc..

You also get to use a 3rd slot in the equipment screen where Alucard can equip a weapon, shield and food/potion iirc... and also later on in the game you can obtain godspeed shoes that allow Alucard to run..

Also quite like Maria character which you can use straight from the start and Ricter.

It's also a port by Konami Nagoya team which I have no idea who they are except they did most of the PSX ports to saturn and expect the port to suffer quite a bit..


But anyway if you got some spare cash and time and like importing.  The Saturn will offer you a collection of eclectic and dulcet library of games.

[Black Tiger]

Don't taint your first SOTN experience by playing the Saturn version. PS1 version is far superior and actually cheaper. SOTN is a goddamn masterpiece, easily in my top 3 games of all time.

I'm not quite sure though. Saturn version has some extra areas, better music, more items and two extra characters available from the start. I understand the graphics are a little worse, but is it a big deal? Or is there more that I am missing.

Saturn version has better gameplay.

Graphics aren't fully intact, but if the Saturn version looks bad, then the Playstation version always did as well.

it's general knowledge that the saturn was a cheap take over from the original playstation version with a lots of downgrades involved.

it's has no transparencies at all -> makes many thing look far worse (mist, waterfall, aura stuff etc.)
looots of annyoing slowdwons, where there shouldn't be any -> better gameplay where?
more often and longer loading times
sometimes using different resolutions which make look things strange and blurry
entirely missing back grounds
less animations of certain enemies


downsampled fx
totally crappy done running horse at the beginning (don't even know of why they changed that completely from the PS version?)

the only good thing the saturn has are few added stages, which were all unfinished take out from the PS, which KCEN decided to add. while they're nice to have them (especially the cave one one for its music), they look unfinished and don't live up to the rest of the game.

also that you can choose different characters from the beginning, doesn't really make anything better. you're just spoiled for choice.

it's kind of a similar situation like with the PCE WoT -> MegaCD LoT port.

The Saturn version has an item that allows you to run as soon as you clear the first castle, so it's much faster all the time, even if it slows down in places. It also has a third hand to equip items to. So in order to use an item to say heal your self, you simply tap a button as you continue playing. On PSX you have to go into the menu screen, unequip your weapon and equip an item, exit to in-game gameplay, use the item, go back to the menu screen, equip your weapon, then finally return to gameplay.

I believe that there are some "real" transparencies as well, but some are missing altogether.

It's one of the many cases where "everybody" knows something based on what they heard from someone else, instead of
experiencing multiple versions of a game themselves. Just like the myth that Sega-CD Lords of Thunder is a bad port and inferior in every way without any improvements.

[jeffhlewis]

Don't taint your first SOTN experience by playing the Saturn version. PS1 version is far superior and actually cheaper. SOTN is a goddamn masterpiece, easily in my top 3 games of all time.

I'm not quite sure though. Saturn version has some extra areas, better music, more items and two extra characters available from the start. I understand the graphics are a little worse, but is it a big deal? Or is there more that I am missing.

Saturn version has better gameplay.

Graphics aren't fully intact, but if the Saturn version looks bad, then the Playstation version always did as well.

it's general knowledge that the saturn was a cheap take over from the original playstation version with a lots of downgrades involved.

it's has no transparencies at all -> makes many thing look far worse (mist, waterfall, aura stuff etc.)
looots of annyoing slowdwons, where there shouldn't be any -> better gameplay where?
more often and longer loading times
sometimes using different resolutions which make look things strange and blurry
entirely missing back grounds
less animations of certain enemies


downsampled fx
totally crappy done running horse at the beginning (don't even know of why they changed that completely from the PS version?)

the only good thing the saturn has are few added stages, which were all unfinished take out from the PS, which KCEN decided to add. while they're nice to have them (especially the cave one one for its music), they look unfinished and don't live up to the rest of the game.

also that you can choose different characters from the beginning, doesn't really make anything better. you're just spoiled for choice.

it's kind of a similar situation like with the PCE WoT -> MegaCD LoT port.

The Saturn version has an item that allows you to run as soon as you clear the first castle, so it's much faster all the time, even if it slows down in places. It also has a third hand to equip items to. So in order to use an item to say heal your self, you simply tap a button as you continue playing. On PSX you have to go into the menu screen, unequip your weapon and equip an item, exit to in-game gameplay, use the item, go back to the menu screen, equip your weapon, then finally return to gameplay.

I believe that there are some "real" transparencies as well, but some are missing altogether.

It's one of the many cases where "everybody" knows something based on what they heard from someone else, instead of
experiencing multiple versions of a game themselves. Just like the myth that Sega-CD Lords of Thunder is a bad port and inferior in every way without any improvements.

I do own and have beaten both versions...just sayin'

[Tatsujin]

Don't taint your first SOTN experience by playing the Saturn version. PS1 version is far superior and actually cheaper. SOTN is a goddamn masterpiece, easily in my top 3 games of all time.

I'm not quite sure though. Saturn version has some extra areas, better music, more items and two extra characters available from the start. I understand the graphics are a little worse, but is it a big deal? Or is there more that I am missing.

Saturn version has better gameplay.

Graphics aren't fully intact, but if the Saturn version looks bad, then the Playstation version always did as well.

it's general knowledge that the saturn was a cheap take over from the original playstation version with a lots of downgrades involved.

it's has no transparencies at all -> makes many thing look far worse (mist, waterfall, aura stuff etc.)
looots of annyoing slowdwons, where there shouldn't be any -> better gameplay where?
more often and longer loading times
sometimes using different resolutions which make look things strange and blurry
entirely missing back grounds
less animations of certain enemies


downsampled fx
totally crappy done running horse at the beginning (don't even know of why they changed that completely from the PS version?)

the only good thing the saturn has are few added stages, which were all unfinished take out from the PS, which KCEN decided to add. while they're nice to have them (especially the cave one one for its music), they look unfinished and don't live up to the rest of the game.

also that you can choose different characters from the beginning, doesn't really make anything better. you're just spoiled for choice.

it's kind of a similar situation like with the PCE WoT -> MegaCD LoT port.

The Saturn version has an item that allows you to run as soon as you clear the first castle, so it's much faster all the time, even if it slows down in places. It also has a third hand to equip items to. So in order to use an item to say heal your self, you simply tap a button as you continue playing. On PSX you have to go into the menu screen, unequip your weapon and equip an item, exit to in-game gameplay, use the item, go back to the menu screen, equip your weapon, then finally return to gameplay.

I believe that there are some "real" transparencies as well, but some are missing altogether.

It's one of the many cases where "everybody" knows something based on what they heard from someone else, instead of
experiencing multiple versions of a game themselves. Just like the myth that Sega-CD Lords of Thunder is a bad port and inferior in every way without any improvements.

I also own and have played both bitd when they came out and I was utterly disapointed with the saturn port. started already in the prologue with that crappy horse (WTHF?), and prior that when you beat the last boss from rondo and it turned into that burning sepia pic which was done in such an unspectacular way, very slow and unpeppy, distroyed the whole atmosphere right there which the PSX one had.. next running as the werewolf through the first stage and the game almost freezes completely from the massive slowdown attack. and it goes just on like that. as for me, no thanks.

Just like the myth that Sega-CD Lords of Thunder is a bad port and inferior in every way without any improvements.

but this is also true. it sure is no crappy game and if there wasn't a PCE WoT this would be the game of games. but that's not the case, so the way it is now it sure is 99% inferior to the PCE WoT in every way.

[Gogan]

I believe I asked this forum the same question about the Saturn. I bought one and an action replay. Needless to say I love it. Saturn is kickass.

[turbokon]

Sadly I don't have a Saturn in my retro collection.


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[gamefreak054]

I do have to say, I thought radiant silvergun was a masterpiece.

Agreed, I thought it was highly overrated the first day I received my copy. I was about to resell it. I put some more time into, and its absurd how much better the game gets.

I am absolutely horrendous at it though.

[TR0N]

Sadly I don't have a Saturn in my retro collection.


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You need to fix that other wise segata sanshiro will give you a beat down !! 

[jeffhlewis]

[Nando]

I haven't been able to get a JP Saturn yet, but this is my top list of JP games I want for the system. YMMV


Cotton Boomerang
Metal Slug
Bulk Slash 
Sengoku Blade　
Bomberman
Cyberbots
Vampire Savior
Keio Flying squadron

[geise]

Everyone needs to listen to Ark and buy a Saturn for Elevator Action Returns!  I have had it since 97 and I still play it at least every other month.  It will never get old.  Having a Saturn for the other Taito F3 hardware games is reason enough for me to own a Saturn.  Also mentioned earlier in this thread Steam Gear Mash is super fun and a $4 game.

[lukester]

I think I killed 3 birds with one stone (needed Genesis and Sega CD as well, nice price).

All this stuff individually would have cost me much more, so I am fortunate.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sega-Cd-Sega-Saturn-8-Joysticks-With-Cords-/131039325779?pt=Video_Games&hash=item1e828d6e53

No Saturn controller, so I would still need to get a Saturn 3D controller and NIGHTS, and some other games for the other systems.