SEGA SATURN - the discussion thread

[Yakumo]

My fave's out of the two Layer Section games is by far part 1. Did you know that if youplay the game in Saturn mode its missing half the paralax scrolling effects and some other effects. No idea why. I normally play in Arcade mode with the monitor on it's side I do feel however that both layer section games are far too tough.

Probably the best shooters on the Saturn are Sokyugurentai, Shinryu, Layer Section, Hyper Duel, Battle Garegaga, DoDonPachi and Thunder Force 5. Notice RSG isn't in that list? That come under the good shooters list such as Metal Black, Darius Gaiden, Darius II, Gunbird, Strikers 1945 part 1 & 2, Sengoku Blade, Layer Section II, DonPachi, Batsugun (maybe this should be in the best section?), Twinkle Star Sprites, Blast Wind and a few others. There are however some pretty dull shooters on the Saturn such as Planet Joker, Skull Fang, Sonic Wings Special, Kingdom GP (Nice idea but .....), Macross, Gundam Zeta, Night Stirker (even though I like it) and a few others.

By no means is that a full list of Saturn shooters though. I have over 50 of them and I knwo there are some which I don't own yet.

Yakumo

[Duddyroar]

RSG is one of the best shooters on ANY system. People only hate on it because it's got a reputation of being so rare.

It's a damn sight better than Shinryu and TFV...

[Yakumo]

Nope. RSG is not a great shooter once you take away it's flashy graphics. each to their own I guess.

Yakumo

[Commander Marklar]

But you can't take those flashy graphics away, can you?

RSG is one of the best shooters on ANY system. People only hate on it because it's got a reputation of being so expensive.

Corrected.

Edit: Don't Lik-Sang or Play-Asia do cheap-o multitaps for a few quid? I remember buying up a few last year some time but can't check right now. They used to do clone Saturn pads too for around the same price (?4 IIRC); I bought a stack of them too, prompted by the purchase of Bomberman.

[endo]

Has anyone played Dungeon Master Nexus on the Saturn?
I used to love Dungeon Master on my old ST and I remembered recently that there was a Saturn outing.
More to the point- has anyone seen it for sale anywhere and how much does it normally go for, because I'm having a hard time trying to find it (and Mizubaku Daibouken).

[Duddyroar]

DM: Nexus is nothing like the original. It's a 3D-affair with pretty dire graphics. Not really worth the effort of seeking out, IMO...

Back onto the subject of RSG - regardless of the visuals, the game is still one of the best shooters ever created.

The 'RPG' element of the game, where you're rewarded for repeated plays with more powerful weapons, is a masterstroke. However the game is good enough without this feature. The weapons system is perfection, allowing a decent player the chance to deal with any given combat situation. The bosses are varied and challenging and the level design is inspired. No shooter comes close IMO. The excellent graphics and fantastic music are a bonus to what is already a brilliant title.

It's worth noting that even before RSG was fetching stupidly high prices on ebay it was getting glowing reviews from all sections of the gaming press (Official Saturn Magazine gave it massive coverage and CVG gave it five out of five). I bought a copy for less than ?30 (and got a letter printed in the final issue of SSM stating how great a game it was for that price) so you can't say I've been 'carried away' with the hype RSG generates these days. As I stated before, people have started dismissing the title because of the price it commands. But then there's a reason for that high price - it's a brilliant game.

Care to outline why you think it's so poor, Yakumo?

[Yakumo]

I don't like RSG due to many reasons, some being the same why I don't really like Ikaruga that much either.

It's far too smart for it's own good. The amount of weapons on offer are more for show than practical use. The speech in the Saturn mode is annoying. Some stages are poorly designed relying on the graphics to wow you. I don't like its level order either. call me an old fart but I like a level then a boss or maybe a sub boss but in RSG there seems to be none of that. Finally the music is just not suited to a shooter.

I'll probably get slated for what I've said but like I mentioned before, everyone has their own opinion.

Yakumo

[anephric]

You like standard level layout in Treasure games? I thought a great deal of their appeal was in their mixing up of expectation (boss, boss, boss and, er, another boss).

[Duddyroar]

It's far too smart for it's own good. The amount of weapons on offer are more for show than practical use

Nonsense, all of the weapsons have a practical use, and the fact that you can combine their properties is brilliant. I found myself using every weapon (and the combined options) when I played the game. There are so many different combat situations and positions to find yourself in, and as a result every weapon has a use. The only weapon system that comes close is the one found in Hellfire.

The speech in the Saturn mode is annoying

The speech in DonPachi is annoying too, but who really cares? It can't effect your enjoyment of a game that much, can it?

Some stages are poorly designed relying on the graphics to wow you.

Care to give some solid examples? I can't recall any, TBH. The level design is actually pretty standard shooter fare.

I don't like its level order either. call me an old fart but I like a level then a boss or maybe a sub boss but in RSG there seems to be none of that

Treasure like their bosses, and RSG is not exception. I actually prefer having bosses all over the place as it keeps the challenge up.

Finally the music is just not suited to a shooter.

That's down to personal taste, I love the OST to RSG. The level where you're fighting the massive battleship has some of the best music I've ever heard in a videogame. Personally I think RSG has one of the best shooter soundtracks - it gives the game a very 'epic' feel and is a nice change to the endless techo crap that seems to populate 90's 2D shooters.

I'll probably get slated for what I've said but like I mentioned before, everyone has their own opinion.

Each to their own mate.

[Team Andromeda]

I don't like RSG due to many reasons, some being the same why I don't really like Ikaruga that much either.

It's far too smart for it's own good. The amount of weapons on offer are more for show than practical use. The speech in the Saturn mode is annoying. Some stages are poorly designed relying on the graphics to wow you. I don't like its level order either. call me an old fart but I like a level then a boss or maybe a sub boss but in RSG there seems to be none of that. Finally the music is just not suited to a shooter.

I'll probably get slated for what I've said but like I mentioned before, everyone has their own opinion.

Yakumo

Like you say each to thier own.
But that music sciore is one of the best ever (my Fav part of the game), and fits the onscreen actions Perfectly (much like Souky).
The speech, I find adds to the game as you start descending through the clouds, and if you don?t like it there?s always Arcade mode (if all you want is a quick blast).

And you wrong about the weapon mode, each as their use if you don?t want to loss a life thought out a level.
And the staged design is the best I?ve seen in any shooter, never mind the fact that take like an hour to complete.

[Team Andromeda]

DM: Nexus is nothing like the original. It's a 3D-affair with pretty dire graphics. Not really worth the effort of seeking out, IMO...

Back onto the subject of RSG - regardless of the visuals, the game is still one of the best shooters ever created.

The 'RPG' element of the game, where you're rewarded for repeated plays with more powerful weapons, is a masterstroke. However the game is good enough without this feature. The weapons system is perfection, allowing a decent player the chance to deal with any given combat situation. The bosses are varied and challenging and the level design is inspired. No shooter comes close IMO. The excellent graphics and fantastic music are a bonus to what is already a brilliant title.

It's worth noting that even before RSG was fetching stupidly high prices on ebay it was getting glowing reviews from all sections of the gaming press (Official Saturn Magazine gave it massive coverage and CVG gave it five out of five). I bought a copy for less than ?30 (and got a letter printed in the final issue of SSM stating how great a game it was for that price) so you can't say I've been 'carried away' with the hype RSG generates these days. As I stated before, people have started dismissing the title because of the price it commands. But then there's a reason for that high price - it's a brilliant game.

Spot on mate. Its one of the best, but not 'The Best' Shooter like some people make out. Thuough its in my top 5 for sure.

Also I sure its gets such high prices not just becasue it's a ace game, but so becasue is a Showcase game (so to speak).
Really shows off what the Hardware could do, and so I think that peole that get a Saturn love to get this as well, in part just for the graphics.

Like you I got mine on the cheap , when it 1st game out.?40 odd pounds.

Happy Days!!!

[Yakumo]

The reason why I hate the RSG speech is because I can understand what it says which puts me right off the game It's not the character speech I'm on about but where the old guy starts rabbiting on.

Yakumo

[Duddyroar]

But as an import gamer, 99% of the speech in games you're not going to be able to understand.

[?L?w?]

What does a flashing power light mean?

Upon turning on my Saturn this morning, I noticed the power light was flashing for about three seconds.

Is this some sort of fault alert..?!

[randombs]

does it still work in spite of the flashing light? if not, it could be a short-circuit somewhere. is it modded? i had to sort out a saturn for someone on this forum where his 50/60hz switch had the 5v wire caught under the shield. over time, the wire had melted under there and so caused a short as the shield is grounded. replaced the wire and hey presto. have a go and see what happens