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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.
While this might lead you to assume it has a limited number of truly must-have releases, the reality is much different; the Saturn was not only supported by Sega's development teams – some of the most talented operating in the world at that time – but it also played host to some remarkable exclusives in its native Japan, many of which sadly never made it to the west. While that presents something of a barrier to newcomers – buying import hardware and software isn't cheap or straightforward – the system offers a rewarding challenge for those bold enough to take it. We've compiled a list of ten must-have Saturn games from all over the world which come highly recommended to anyone with even the vaguest interest in this plucky underdog.
Panzer Dragoon Saga
While Panzer Dragoon and Panzer Dragoon Zwei are both amazing titles which are worthy of being on this bucket list, it's the third entry in the series which has perhaps gained the most fame as the years have rolled by – which is ironic when you consider that it ditches the franchise's on-rails shooting action for a more traditional RPG setup. Spanning four CD-ROM discs and boasting an epic storyline that puts Final Fantasy to shame, Panzer Dragoon Saga remains a genre classic, not only for its engrossing quest but for its unique battle system which mixes real-time and turn-based elements to amazing effect. The final Saturn game to be published outside of Japan, Panzer Dragoon Saga was released in limited quantities and this – combined with its lofty status among retro gamers – has made it quite the collector's item.
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
Sega's answer to Nintendo's Fire Emblem series never really got the attention it deserved, which is a crying shame when you consider how fantastic this Sega Saturn entry was. Grid-based strategy gets fused with a deep storyline and the ability to level-up characters to change their abilities, making this a release that effortlessly consumes months of your life – assuming you can obtain a copy at a reasonable price, that is. One of the final western releases for the console, Shining Force III is incredibly rare but owning it is a bittersweet experience; it's actually part one in a trilogy of titles each told from the perspective of a different character. The second and third parts were never translated into English and remain Japanese exclusives, so for English-language players, the story remains unfinished.
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
The Saturn never got a proper Sonic title – the compilation release Sonic Jam doesn't really count – but it did get Nights in Dreams, which some would argue is even better. Developed by Sonic Team and boasting support for the Saturn analogue pad (it was bundled with the controller), Nights isn't really a platformer as you spend much of your time elegantly gliding through the air. The gorgeous graphics and toe-tapping music make this a popular title with Sega fans; the Wii sequel was nice enough but didn't quite capture the same magic.
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
Capcom may have been a key supporter of the Sony PlayStation, but it had plenty of love for Sega's console and released a flood of 2D fighters during the system's lifespan. Out of these, X-Men Vs. Street Fighter is perhaps the most impressive, purely because it was the first title to make use of the console's 4MB RAM cartridge. This allowed Capcom to retain much of the animation present in the coin-op original and reduce loading times – in comparison the PlayStation port was missing huge chunks of animation and lacked the game's signature "tag team" mechanic. While a western launch was on the cards at one point, it never happened, making this another import-only choice. Thankfully, it's not too expensive.
Guardian Heroes
On the surface Guardian Heroes looks like a fairly basic side-scrolling fighter but in reality, it has layers of hidden depth that give some RPGs a run for their money. Each character in the game has different attributes and can cast magical spells as well as lay into enemies with their melee attacks, but it's the Guardian of the title – an undead skeletal warrior – who really steals the show. Controlled by the AI, it can be issued commands to help you deal with large crowds of enemies or tough end-of-level bosses. There are multiple pathways through the game which mean you have to replay it several times over to see everything, and a special arena mode grants control of every enemy in the game, making for some surprising multiplayer fun. Guardian Heroes was an early release for the Saturn and was blessed with a western localisation, but it was recently ported to the Xbox 360 in glorious HD, so that's perhaps the best way to sample its charms.
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
The Saturn may have missed out on many amazing sports titles which were exclusive to the PlayStation but it didn't matter when Sega's own releases were so great. Sega Worldwide Soccer '97 was arguably superior to anything on Sony's console, offering slick 3D visuals, plenty of options and one of the deepest and most rewarding representations of soccer ever seen – in the '90s, at least. It was most definitely a cut above the efforts EA was pumping out under the FIFA banner at the time, despite their awesome soundtracks, and gave long-suffering Sega fans something to smile about when in the company of the PlayStation-owning mates.
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