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10 Sega Saturn games you need to play
Every dog has its day. We present 10 Saturn titles you need to play no matter your age.
The 32-bit underdog.
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The Sega Saturn was unquestionably the big loser of the 32-bit console war, and was comfortably outsold by its rival the Sony PlayStation, despite coming off the back of the hyper popular Mega Drive / Genesis 16-bit system.
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Radiant Silvergun
Only released in Japan, Radiant Silvergun is arguably one of the finest shooters ever made. Developed by Treasure – the studio responsible for the likes of Gunstar Heroes and Astro Boy on the Game Boy Advance – this vertically-scrolling blaster mixes 2D and 3D visuals to create the kind of spectacle that many doubted the hardware was capable of. You're blessed with a wide range of weapons from the start and have to figure out how best to deploy them, and the game has an RPG-style levelling system where, on each play-through, your arsenal grows in power, encouraging multiple attempts. You'll need a Japanese Saturn to play this – as well as a large bank balance – but if you don't fancy paying top dollar it's worth noting that the game was remastered in HD for the Xbox 360 in 2011.
Shining Force III
Burning Rangers
There haven't been enough video games about fighting fires, but when they do come along they're usually worth the wait. Burning Rangers is all about a band of futuristic fire-fighters and features one of the most impressive 3D engines ever seen on the Saturn. The aim is to explore various blazing buildings and safely evacuate the people trapped within. Stunning visuals and fantastic overall presentation make this one a solid gold classic, and the ability to use the Saturn's analogue controller makes it even sweeter. While this did receive a release outside of Japan, it's quite rare these days so expect to pay a pretty penny. The Japanese version – which comes with a music CD – is cheaper, but the game relies on spoken guidance when finding a route through each location, so you miss a lot if you don't understand Japanese.
Nights Into Dreams
Shining the Holy Ark
Taking place in the same universe as Shining Force, Shining the Holy Ark is the sequel to what is in fact the very first entry in the franchise: Shining in the Darkness, a Sega Mega Drive / Genesis release. Viewed from a first-person perspective, the game has RPG staples such as random encounters and turn-based combat, and mixes in towns and villages packed with non-player characters to chat with. Great music and visuals make this a real treat in terms of presentation, but it's the lengthy and gripping quest which will keep you glued to your console for many, many weeks. The western version is predictably quite expensive these days, but well worth seeking out.
X-Men Vs. Street Fighter
Guardian Heroes
Yang lainnya
Princess Crown
This relatively obscure title might not be as famous as some of the other games on this list, but it's just as worthy of your time – especially when you consider that it's by the same designer as Odin Sphere and Dragon's Crown, George Kamitani. Showcasing some of the best 2D visuals on the Saturn and a massive action-RPG game world, Princess Crown has crafting, levelling, side-quests and non-player characters, all contained within a branching, nonlinear fantasy realm. What really makes it cool is the fact that the combat isn't turn-based, but happens in real-time and even boasts Street Fighter-style blocking, evasive moves and charged special attacks. As a relatively late Saturn title this never had a chance of being released outside of Japan, but with a decent guide you can still fumble your way through without knowing any Japanese. A PlayStation Portable release also exists, and is slightly cheaper on the second-hand market.
Sega Worldwide Soccer '97
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