I parted with my PAL collection due to the inflating prices, replaced them with JP versions and never looked back. It is fortunate most of the system's more worthwhile titles are arcade ports given that I don't know a lick of Japanese 😅
I appreciate this comment mate & actually it was thanks to your content that I got the best video output from my retro systems including Sega Saturn ☺️
Mate, I sold all my systems and games in about 2009/2010. They were all from my childhood aswell still regret it today, but life kicks in sometimes and I needed the money. Been slowly collecting again since 2016 and got most of it back. Saturn is an amazing system and I play it everyday, great arcade ports and the shmups are insane.👍🏻
Ah we are all guilty of something like this but, as you said here, life gets in the way or something has to be sacrificed :) Luckily emulation will keep me going until I can get an SD card based Saturn in the future :)
I got my SS back in 95 right when it came out and I got back into it 29 years later thanks to the renaissance of retro games and the rediscovery of the SS’ extensive Japanese library. One thing I only realised now was that games on the Saturn were purposefully designed to be played with composite or RF video adapters - not RGB Scart or component. I never understood why developers would even opt for using mesh half transparency effects as opposed to just leaving them out altogether. That is, until I saw Nights into Dreams played with a composite cable. All mesh effects - a real double whammy when using the ultra sharp RGB output - had disappeared and beautiful transparencies took their place. Have a look at the first 5 seconds of virtua cop and the windows of the police car. There’s even a composite vs RGB comparison video. Absolutely stunning how this was supposed to look. Not only is it transparent but has a Color gradient effect on composite. Now, check out the explosion effects of Virtual On. These things are huge and on anything but RCA, everything you see is a mesh effect and clearly not what was intended by the developers. Now, I use RCA into a retrotink + mClassic. The RCA provides the transparencies and slightly softens the harsh 3Ds of the time while the mClassic adds contrast and sharpness back in - but those meshes are gone forever. Now, Wipeout XL (NTSC-J) looks muuuuuch closer to the PS1 version, has a good frame rate and longer draw distance. Meshes are a feature, not a bug. But you only see that when you use composite. If you only use the SS for 2D Games, then your component cable is the best option. I’d love to see people’s reactions to this. It certainly made me think… We were never supposed to see those meshes, ever.
It will be personal preference and of course influenced by the type of display you use :) For me, I love sharp graphics, always have done and because I use the OSSC on a HDMI display, I was using component cables custom made for the Saturn :) Yes, the transparencies and ugly meshes do improve with RF or Composite cables but, I'd rather have sharpness and clarity & for me, those effects do not bother me :) There's plenty of ways to display the SEGA Saturn so, pick which method works for you & enjoy!
@WezTH-cam I love this console, I've since gained a Japanese version with the Satiator, so I'm definitely loving the experience with Japanese games especially:)
I originally bought my Saturn for Resident Evil. Picked up two other games and decided to stop. Nope. I’ve procured some massive amount of Saturn goodness. Hi Saturn Navi cib, Tectoy Skeleton and Tectoy white cib. Over 100 American games cib, along with dozens of pricey Japanese games. I lost my marbles long ago.
It starts out with one game or curiosity then BLAM! You are hooked, especially when you discover the wonderful Japanese library:) I definitely want to get an SD card modded system in the future, a Japanese one at that :)
Here's my four year experience with the Sega Saturn, a console which has now become one of my favourites!
I parted with my PAL collection due to the inflating prices, replaced them with JP versions and never looked back. It is fortunate most of the system's more worthwhile titles are arcade ports given that I don't know a lick of Japanese 😅
The Japanese games are certainly worth it, I adore them although I do miss my PAL collection, I was very proud of it!
Great memories! I appreaciate your honesty and authenticity.
I appreciate this comment mate & actually it was thanks to your content that I got the best video output from my retro systems including Sega Saturn ☺️
Mate, I sold all my systems and games in about 2009/2010. They were all from my childhood aswell still regret it today, but life kicks in sometimes and I needed the money. Been slowly collecting again since 2016 and got most of it back. Saturn is an amazing system and I play it everyday, great arcade ports and the shmups are insane.👍🏻
Ah we are all guilty of something like this but, as you said here, life gets in the way or something has to be sacrificed :)
Luckily emulation will keep me going until I can get an SD card based Saturn in the future :)
I got my SS back in 95 right when it came out and I got back into it 29 years later thanks to the renaissance of retro games and the rediscovery of the SS’ extensive Japanese library. One thing I only realised now was that games on the Saturn were purposefully designed to be played with composite or RF video adapters - not RGB Scart or component.
I never understood why developers would even opt for using mesh half transparency effects as opposed to just leaving them out altogether. That is, until I saw Nights into Dreams played with a composite cable. All mesh effects - a real double whammy when using the ultra sharp RGB output - had disappeared and beautiful transparencies took their place.
Have a look at the first 5 seconds of virtua cop and the windows of the police car. There’s even a composite vs RGB comparison video. Absolutely stunning how this was supposed to look. Not only is it transparent but has a Color gradient effect on composite.
Now, check out the explosion effects of Virtual On. These things are huge and on anything but RCA, everything you see is a mesh effect and clearly not what was intended by the developers.
Now, I use RCA into a retrotink + mClassic. The RCA provides the transparencies and slightly softens the harsh 3Ds of the time while the mClassic adds contrast and sharpness back in - but those meshes are gone forever.
Now, Wipeout XL (NTSC-J) looks muuuuuch closer to the PS1 version, has a good frame rate and longer draw distance.
Meshes are a feature, not a bug. But you only see that when you use composite.
If you only use the SS for 2D Games, then your component cable is the best option.
I’d love to see people’s reactions to this. It certainly made me think…
We were never supposed to see those meshes, ever.
It will be personal preference and of course influenced by the type of display you use :)
For me, I love sharp graphics, always have done and because I use the OSSC on a HDMI display, I was using component cables custom made for the Saturn :)
Yes, the transparencies and ugly meshes do improve with RF or Composite cables but, I'd rather have sharpness and clarity & for me, those effects do not bother me :)
There's plenty of ways to display the SEGA Saturn so, pick which method works for you & enjoy!
Ive just won a saturn on ebay! Im sure im going to takk about it in a future video, but i loved hearing your thoughts in this video
@WezTH-cam I love this console, I've since gained a Japanese version with the Satiator, so I'm definitely loving the experience with Japanese games especially:)
The Saturn is my 2nd favorite console
It definitely deserves to be up there for sure!
I originally bought my Saturn for Resident Evil. Picked up two other games and decided to stop. Nope.
I’ve procured some massive amount of Saturn goodness. Hi Saturn Navi cib, Tectoy Skeleton and Tectoy white cib. Over 100 American games cib, along with dozens of pricey Japanese games. I lost my marbles long ago.
It starts out with one game or curiosity then BLAM! You are hooked, especially when you discover the wonderful Japanese library:)
I definitely want to get an SD card modded system in the future, a Japanese one at that :)