Buying a Sega Saturn

[SUMIRE]

I am looking at buying a Sega Saturn to play Japanese and US games. My goals are to buy some awesome shooters and hopefully Panzer Dragoon on NTSC US. I was originally going to buy a Japanese model here from the forum or a white edition, but then read some games wont work.....

Is it best to just get a modified basic Saturn with a switch for 50/60hz? or will a Japanese Saturn be able to do everything I want, ie play US Panzer RPG and other titles?

[speedlolita]

If you're not playing PAL games then you could install a US/JP switch in a JP Saturn to play US games.

Of course, a PAL machine modded will work fine too. I personally have a 21 pin model 1 Saturn hard modded to 60/JP with a consolegoods modchip. Can't fault it!

[SUMIRE]

Will that action replay cartridge allow me to do that?

[speedlolita]

Well, yes. But the board is thicker than advised and will screw up your slot in the long term. But if that doesn't bother you than sure.

Not an option I'd consider myself.

[SUMIRE]

Ah, ok, I never knew that. One more question if you don't mind. Do all White Saturns turn yellow eventually?

[dvdx2]

I am looking at buying a Sega Saturn to play Japanese and US games. My goals are to buy some awesome shooters and hopefully Panzer Dragoon on NTSC US. I was originally going to buy a Japanese model here from the forum or a white edition, but then read some games wont work.....

Is it best to just get a modified basic Saturn with a switch for 50/60hz? or will a Japanese Saturn be able to do everything I want, ie play US Panzer RPG and other titles?

You'll need a fat wallet to buy those mate....

I have a PAL modded model 2 saturn,mod chipped, with a hertz selector and an action reply cart inserted for those 1mb/4mb games that require extra ram. Never had a peep in over 6 years from it and the cart has never been removed. Boots anything.

Chip it and pirat8!

[speedlolita]

Ah, ok, I never knew that. One more question if you don't mind. Do all White Saturns turn yellow eventually?

I think it's to be expected. Rates will vary though.

If you leave the AR cart in then it should be fine. I was just talking about if you were going to go back to use a Saturn memory cart or something after having it inserted over a period of time.

[sj33]

To be honest, while the board for the Action Replay 4in1 card is indeed thicker, my cart port still works today even after all these years. I wouldn't worry about it, you should be fine using a cart.

Do know that there are many different types of cart, too. You want the one of the top two listed on here, as they are compatible with games that require the RAM expansion.

http://www.robwebb1.plus.com/saturn/saturnhard.htm

[SUMIRE]

Ok, thanks for the advice chaps.

[J0e Musashi]

If you get an NTSC unit, you'll get some of the screen cut off when playing PAL titles unless you have a 50/60Hz switch.

[speedlolita]

Only of the games at optimised such as Sega Rally.

[Lyris]

Thread title means I have to post this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo0JWIYZibs

[speedlolita]

CGR FTW!

[sj33]

Only of the games at optimised such as Sega Rally.

Indeed, although most pre-1998 first party games are optimised, or at least partially optimised (games like Fighters Megamix and Manx TT are still not completely full screen but optimised enough so that they will overscan when run in NTSC). Even some unoptimised games like Sonic R can have issues such as the race beginning countdown being out of sync.