@@Blas4ublasphemy Ooo...that is a good one, too. I think there are just way too many great Saturn games for just a top 25 list. I could probably list like a dozen other games that I owned on Saturn that were quality titles (except some are not Saturn-exclusive).
@@ianswift3521 Die Hard Arcade wasn't really that great, average at best. And I can't believe how people get upset when they don't see their favorite games on a list. If I could I would hand over a tissue or play the world's smallest violin for you.
Thanks SegaLordX, we watch your videos Friday night here in Hokkaido and its just pure documentary entertainment for the era of games. You always record the game sound and soundtracks perfectly, which really encourages playing these games again. Thank you.
@@zenmaster24 Any video with a countdown or multiple topics for that matter needs chapters, SLX is one of the few channels I still watch without them, because I love his content. If a channel has them, I leave a thumbs up if I like the content or not, and when I don't see chapters, I'll leave and visit ones that do.
Growing up with the Sega Saturn was a transformative experience that ignited my passion for gaming. Its iconic design, diverse game library, and groundbreaking features captured my imagination and opened up a world of endless possibilities. The Saturn wasn't just a console; it was a gateway to unforgettable adventures and unforgettable memories. Even today, whenever I see its distinctive logo or hear its startup sound, it takes me back to a time when gaming was pure magic. The Sega Saturn will forever hold a special place in my heart, reminding me of the power of imagination and the joy of exploring new worlds.
Isn't it just hilarious when someone tries to claim that your own personal experience is artificial? It's like stumbling upon a glitch in the game of life! Picture this: you're the protagonist, fully immersed in your epic adventure, and out of nowhere, a character pops up, insisting that it's all just pixelated illusions. But hey, I'm the fake one, right?
The Saturn was one of my all-time favorite Sega consoles. Next to Dreamcast, this is by far my favorite system ever made. It was so very underrated and had so much power that was underutilize.
@@liamloxley1222 late 90's nah more like the late 60's lol dating myself. Megadrive was cool and had a ton more games, however I still dig the Saturn more.
I didn't own a Saturn back then. I got into contact with Panzer Dragoon Saga for the first time 2 years ago, when I played it and... It's one of the best games I've ever played, I'm advising everybody around me to play it :)
100% agree it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played! To be an honorable mention is crazy it is probably the biggest production value on the Saturn. 4 disks! Great gameplay, amazing story and atmosphere! Game never gets old to me. I play through it once every couple years. Wish it was a little more challenging though, maybe a couple hidden super bosses at the end would have been awesome!
This video makes me want to buy a saturn and collect games for it. I never got the chance to own one as a kid. It's an amazing system. I think i might like it equally or more than the dreamcast. I hope it isn't too expensive.
Great video! When Virtua Fighter 2 came out, I couldn't believe my eyes! It was amazing to think that those visuals were being produced by the Saturn. Still looks great even today.
Great list! I've only owned and played a small fraction of the Saturn's library, but what I played was excellent. I did own Nights and Panzer Dragoon awhile back. Panzer Dragoon was one of those games that was just an experience. I remember just the atmosphere in the first level made chills go down my spine just from the music and visuals. I no longer have my Saturn and just don't have the budget to buy some of the crazy asking prices of some Saturn game copies now. I think it is criminal that many of these titles are being lost to time as many haven't been rereleased or remastered on modern hardware. I honestly don't like to emulate, but if it is the only option, I would love to experience some of these games! Many people just don't give the Saturn the respect it deserves.
As someone who grew up with PS1 and later PS2 as a kid, I'm thankful for this video to helping me get into Saturn games. I already knew enough about Genesis, Super Nintendo, N64, etc. but I never really knew where to start with the Saturn.
The music is what made NiGHTS - Into Dreams so great for me. It fits the gameplay perfectly. Thanks for the list; would have overlooked Astal entirely otherwise.
I was a freshman in high school back when the Saturn first came out, and I had to BEG my mom to buy it for me at its HEFTY price point of $399. I was somehow able to convince her, and it ended up becoming one of my favorite systems I ever owned. At the time, it was quite literally like having an arcade quality machine at home which was totally unheard of at the time. The PlayStation may have been cheaper and much more successful, but it couldn’t hold a candle to the Saturn’s performance and game library. A truly underrated and under appreciated game system. I was huge on arcade fighters back them, and my top 5 Saturn games are… 1. Virtua Fighter 2 2. Street Fighter Alpha 3. Guardian Heroes 4. Virtua Cop 5. Virtua Fighter
Back in the day there was a rental place that had consoles to rent at a fairly good price after trying the 3DO I got to rent the Saturn as a kid. Trying out Panzer Dragoon and Virtua Fighter 2 made me completely forget the existence of the 3DO. Safe to say I rented it again to continue to experience its arcade greatness. About half a decade back after digging up some of the few consoles I kept from the early days such as my model 1 Genesis and OG Xbox, I started recollecting a lot of what I had plus retro console I never had. The most exciting climax of my collecting phase was the arrival of my Japanese Saturn feeling an incredible feeling of excitement when I opened up the box. I got a nice collection of games including about half or more of the games you mention here plus many more. With the Brook adapter I can use modern controllers and fighting sticks wirelessly on it and my Japanese Dreamcast too.
Im almost 40 and had never played a sega saturn. The other week i got a rog ally and loaded it with emulators and SS is one of em. Loving powerslave and panzer dragoon, but i def need to get dragon force! Looks super fun! Great vid!
My list of must have Saturn Games in no particular order except PDS is number1 always 1. Panzer Dragoon Saga 2. Dragon Force 1 and 2 (2 has an english patch) 3.Guardian Heroes (If you have a friend to play with) 4.Shining Force 3 (scenarios 2 and 3 have english patch) 5. Shining the Holy Ark 6. Bulk Slash 7. Literally all of Capcom's Fighting Games 8. Virtua Fighter 2 9. Sega Rally 10. Darius Gaiden 11. Nights and Christmas Nights 12. Saturn Bomberman if you have friends to play with 13. and the super underrated Baku Baku Animal if you have a friend to play
So happy to see Guardian Heroes on this list! One of my absolute favorite games on Saturn, to be sure! Also, Policenauts!!! Man, I wish I'd gotten to play that.
I wish the 32X had never released. I had the Genesis, Sega CD and 32X. The latter console soured my opinion permanently on a brand I had previously loved. I got the N64 and PS1 instead. The next generation I got the XBOX, GameCube and PS2. I passed on Dreamcast. Wish I knew then what I know now. Emulation is great, but I’d love to have the original hardware and software. Far too expensive to justify now. You make great content, sir. Keep up the good work.
Same here, I will prefer a backward compatible for the saturn over the 32x. Also, scaler enhancement chip for the genesis (upgrades with PC CD port with compilation for the saturn), PC CD and sega published games (better multimedia and CD based consoles) over the sega cd.
You didn’t miss anything. Ps1 had better games. Sega was too arcade heavy with most titles. Chasing high scores against a timer which is a carryover from their arcade business. One of their great blunders is continuing to produce arcade games for home console when everyone was moving toward games AAA medium to craft a deep and meaningful story. They had no answer for games like metal gear solid and gran turismo and their version of castlevania was terrible. Of course all the best RPGs of the era were on ps1 too.
You honestly didn't miss as much as you think you did. Every console you got after had infinitely better overall game collections. There are a few between Saturn and Dreamcast that were legitimately great, but nothing you can't find either ported or through emulation. I bought both consoles about a decade ago, thinking how you did... It was a lot better in my head than reality. Also, if you never owned an SNES or GBA, THOSE are the ones you should really invest in. Their game collections in both quantity and quality are matched only by maybe the PS2 (or OG backwards compatible PS3).
Thanks to you I was able to inform me better about the Sega Saturn and can buy the 1st American model in good condition. In a couple of months the "All In One" cartridge will be coming and I couldn't be more excited for the rest of the hours that await me with the Sega Saturn.
I just got a Satiator for my Saturn so, once again your channel is on non stop so i can find some great games to play! BEST SEGA CHANNEL ON TH-cam! keep it up!
Nice, just home from work and a new Sega Lord X video is just what I needed today. I'm considering getting a Saturn this year - if I do, this will be my first source for what to collect for it.
Thanks for putting this together. My best friend had a Saturn right when they came out. So, I got to play it quite often. These days I have a JPN system with an Action Replay cart, so I can play games from every region. I mainly find myself playing Sega Rally and Out Run on the Sega Ages disk. Like you said, it’s that Sega magic.
I had your setup, but I really recommend the Terraonion MODE disc mod, it's the greatest video game purchase I ever made. All the fan translations that exist on the internet are then playable on Saturn, the load times are shorter and you can play pretty much every game that was ever released for Saturn. It kinda made the Saturn games I own on disc obsolete, but at the same time I don't have to worry about scratching the CD's and shortening their lifespan.
Someone probably mentioned it already but Powerslave was remade recently really well. Doesn't quite replicate that contrast heavy lighting of the saturn but i think it's the best way to play. I can't spend 400 bucks for the classic saturn version.
Growing up in a more remote area made loving the Saturn tough, when I was little. There just weren’t many US releases that made it to NE Canada. I had Gex, Panzer Dragoon, Mr Bones, Virtua Fighter and Virtua Cop… I was into rpg’s, coming from the snes. It took me years (and an ODE) to really appreciate the library. I recommend either the satiator or the fenrir (or the phoebe or the ray)to everyone with a Saturn. The fan translations are where it’s at, and the cost of games is hard for most people to deal with, these days. I’m looking forward to the translation for Vanillaware’s first game, Princess crown, as well as a few other strange rpg’s that seem to be in the works.
My brother bought a Saturn off someone around 1997, i was just turning 17 around then. Well i have some great memories of this time. At least, as far as video games, i had a ps1 and enjoyed the rentals... otherwise i didn't have much money to spend and so i mostly played just what was available to me. Bunch of demo discs. Those were everywhere. Anyway. Late one night, i couldn't sleep, as a lifelong insomniac this was common. I found Mystoria in a pile, i hadn't recognized it, but i threw it in anyway. Next thing i knew the sun was up and i was back for more the next night. The 90s really did have a unique spot in gaming history, we'll never see AAA titles like we had then, with how experimental it was. A lot of innovative ideas we still see today. Both the 80s and 90s... early 2000s even (more PC there). By the time the ps3 and 360 came around, they were focused on big theatrical type gaming closer to hollywood or something. Now they hardly consider risks, it's so by the books, stick to the formula that makes money. And so, it does make me happy to see all the translations we have today. It's been awesome to finally see these games that I either never heard of or frustratingly thought I'd never play. I appreciate all the hard work these people put into it, they have an important place in video game preservation, i think. But I've rambled enough.
You inspired me to get most of these. I never had a Saturn growing up, and it sucks I missed out on so many good titles. But now thankfully I've gotten the opportunity to check them out. So many hidden gems on this system. Thanks for the content!!
Sega saturn will always be my "what if" 16 bit games looks so good and pushing the 2D pixels game more than ever before in 32 bit system would be really wild. What if just for one generation more we focused on 2D
No Radiant Silvergun or Virtual On?...these seem like glaring omissions. Should've made the honourable mentions section even if you don't rate them that highly
I remember getting my Saturn for Christmas one year. A friend of mine got his much earlier.. Playing Sega Rally was such an incredible experience. I had no doubt in my mind which console I wanted. Got a package deal from Currys; Saturn, two pads, Sega Steering wheel and four games: Sega Rally, Virtua Fighter 2, Alien Trilogy, and a football game ... Think it was called international soccer. Steadily collected games for birthdays and Christmases. Otherwise I'd swap or borrow .One year I asked for Resident Evil for my birthday. Once I'd completed that I took it to the market to swap. Wasn't sure what I wanted to get. Was a big RTS fan but I already had Command & Conquer and Warcraft 2 ... Saw Dragon Force on the table (I'd never seen it in the shops). I remembered reading about it in SS magazine and seeing a demo on one of the Sega Flash Discs, So I went for it, straight swap. Best thing I ever did. I Spent so many wonderful hours in Legendra. Was like nothing I'd played before yet it seemed so familiar and I took to it naturally. I must've been around 14 at the time. I think there's some things that folk will never understand. The feeling you have playing Dragon Force (as you rightly say SLX with no prior knowledge) for the first time is one of them. It's utter magic. I'd love to see a remaster. ✌️💚
Mr. Sega Lord X, may I say that I thoroughly enjoy your narrations - you've got a great speaking voice (you know, as opposed to a non-speaking voice) and it makes these videos that much better. There are some TH-camrs with great content, but not the greatest presentation...you do not have that problem. Keep up the great work!
Just want to say you have one of the best intros on TH-cam. You and Majuular are neck and neck for my favorite. Really puts me in the mood to relax and talk about games.
You rock, SLX. Just in case you haven't heard it enough. I love the personal nature, and how you make clear that your personal experience is where you came to conclude what you did, why you did / didn't enjoy games this way or that way. There is no "absolute best" for everyone, all "best of" lists are just opinions based on your life experience, it's easy to forget. I bought a Saturn brand new on launch day, and it may be my favorite console, maybe, hard to say. But my list would definitely include Last Bronx, Die Hard Arcade, X-Men vs Street Fighter, Mass Destruction, Warcraft II, and maybe Wing Arms, on top of a lot of the ones you had. Generally, my top five would be something like... 1) Die Hard Arcade, 2) Nightwarriors, 3) Guardian Heroes, 4) Dragon Force, and 5) Fighter's MegaMix. Maybe. :) Though I will say....Virtua Cop / Virtua Cop 2 with a light gun on a BIG CRT is impossible to beat, with the Stunners. Never have I had more pleasure with a home arcade game than in that situation. 27" Flat Trinitron (mine died years ago, RIP)...I would play these two with friends for HOURS. Amazing.
I completely forgot about Blazing Heroes! Sooo good! Also loved Steep Slope Sliders but the game I bought the Saturn for was World Series Baseball '98. First game that had all the unique stadiums rendered.
My memories from the Sega Saturn was Nights Into Dreams (backwards compatibility for Xbox Series X), Panzer Dragoon (with a remake available), Virtua Fighter 1&2 (Virtua Fighter 2 backwards compatibility with Xbox Series X) , Bug, Clockwork Kight, Daytona USA ( Daytona USA available and backwards compatibility with Xbox Series X), and Sonic 3D Blast.
Landstalker by Climax Graphics was one of my all time faves. So Dark Savior will definitely be one for me to check out! Thanks for bringing this to light!
love your videos dude, the best part is that you can download a ROM burn it and play in on the system with a pseudo saturn kai without having to spend over $400 for Alberts odyssey
My friends and I all had the Genesis but most if not all of us got burned by the 32X or Sega CD. Only one of my friends got a Saturn and everyone else got a Playstation. I cant imagine the meetings at Sega of America and Japan talking about the non existing sales outside Japan. Must have been insane.
I didn't deserve that!!!! ;) Nice video! A friend of mine worked at SquareSoft Redmond (WA), and some friends and I used to go hang out at their offices, and play Doom/Heretic after hours on the network, play with their SGI Workstation, and in the break room, they had some of the first Japanese Playstation and Saturns. I couldn't believe what I was seeing at the time. (Ridge Racer on the PS, and some shooters on the Saturn.) I bought both systems the minute they hit the US, because I had just gotten my first job. :D
Like you, the Saturn was the console who made my brother and I get into RPGs, FPS such as Duke 3D, Alien Trilogy and Hexen. Finally perfect arcade ports home, KOF96 and 97 were huge were we lived and that was a dream, later SFZ-Z2-Z3 and more. It's great to see Mystaria, Riglord Saga in Japan getting its deserved recognition, even back then we found its overall presentation clunky, but when you get into it, it's a great Tactical RPG with a memorable soundtrack. The sequel, Riglord Saga 2 is probably getting a deserved translation in the not so distant future, I believe, one day all Saturn RPGs will be in English. Even so, I don't wait for translations to happen, even as a kid I played many RPGs in Japanese, even Chrono Cross and finished them all. Dragon Force is a great game, but it's way below Shining Force III (all scenarios) to me and honestly, I think the PS1 and N64 could reproduce this game without issues, the unit sprites are dozens of clones and their animation is very basic, this games doesn't push the Saturn and I strongly believe a PS version wouldn't be that different. In fact, there are quite a few Strategy RPGs on the PS1 that uses dozens of sprites on screen. Speaking of which, a game that wouldn't be reproduced as elegantly on the PS1 is the aforementioned Shining Force III, if you think about it, the game switches engines from the tactical field to the 3D battle scene seamlessly like it's a cartridge game. I've played many PS1 RPGs, Brigandine is a similar game, and there are over a 100 Tactical RPGs on Sony's machine and even those that feature 2D battle scenes have long loadings, the Saturn could handle more data and Shining Force III shows that.
King of Fighters 97 was an important game for me as well, and made me love my Saturn even more than I already did. I saw the arcade cabinet in a comic shop. I was actually there because a friend of mine wanted to show me Street Fighter 3. While its animation was great, I didn't like the art design. Right next to it was KOF 97, which itself had great animation, and I just loved the stylish characters. I immediately knew I had to get the game. I agree with you. While Dragon Force is a great game, and pushes tons of sprites, I don't think it would be especially troublesome for either the PS1 or N64(leaving out the storage medium). All three systems could display as many polygons/sprites as their CPUs could keep track of. Obviously, the Saturn version is already constrained by system RAM, so it would be similar on the PS1 since the RAM amount is pretty similar. PS1 games in 1997 weren't even as optimized as they would be later thanks to newer development tools, so I think you're right.
Seeing that very same arcade game booting up at home in our own TVs was something else, right? Nice to know others having a similar experience. Like you, I also prefer SNK games over SFIII, they have better art direction, and I'd much rather play RB Fatal Fury Special on the Saturn (that I did for years), or SFZ3, among others we got. I agree about DF, and again you're right that PS1 and N64 (for that matter) got better from late '97 onwards. The game has tons of the same sprites, with little animation and this alone uses less memory, but Dragon Force 2 has more variety during battles, so it's more demanding. A good example about the Saturn version being superior is Dragon Ball Z - Idainaru Dragon Ball Densetsu, released by the same developers at the same day for both consoles, the PS1 release suffers in performance, the game boast 6 characters doing many different things at the same time and it indeed taxes the PS1 CPU, while the Saturn runs noticeably smoother. Something like a solid a 30FPS (Saturn) against 20 with hicups on Sony's machine.
@@roberto1519 Yeah, it was mind blowing to realize current 2D arcade games, especially CPS2 and Neo Geo, were basically perfect at home on the Saturn. While it wasn't quite perfect due to RAM limitations, Marvel Super Heroes was probably the game that really made me appreciate that. Seeing Hulk vs. Juggernaut filling up the screen was crazy. Of course, X-Men vs. Street Fighter with the 4MB RAM was also impressive offering the same sprite quality but more frames of animation. But in terms of art direction, style, and gameplay, KOF 97 appealed to me so much more. Just to follow up to what I said earlier, not only was I instantly drawn to KOF 97 the moment I saw it, I never actually played it until I got it for the Saturn, but it absolutely lived up to my expectations.
Can't tell you how much my brother and I played X-Men and Marvel vs SF on the Saturn, actually we played almost all fighters on the console, Fighters Megamix, Toshinden and more. Back to Capcom stuff, they were arcade perfect and virtually no loadings. Interesting you haven't played KOF '97 until you got it for your Saturn. Back then, my older brother (actual owner of the console) brought KOF '95, and later '96, then '97. We played 95 a ton at the local arcades and 96 not so much, but 97 was THE game at the time, bringing those home was nothing short of a dream coming true, I was 10 or 11 then. You may know this, the Saturn port, while virtually identical to the NEO GEO CD, it has higher pitched voices for some odd oversight from the developers, it's a bit funny and nostalgic to me.
I’m pretty sure that Powerslave got remastered about a year ago for current consoles. There are some of these games that have been rereleased through the years on Xbox. Games that need to be remastered for current consoles: Dragon Force 1&2, Shining the holy ark, shining force 3, Mystaria(I remember it being called The Riglord Saga), clockwork knight, and Astal. I get way more nostalgic with the Saturn than I do with the PS1 or N64.
Riglord Saga was that game's Japanese name. Mystaria was the first translated name, but got changed to Blazing Heroes to avoid confusion / copyright entanglements with the D&D setting of Mystara.
Knights was pretty mind blowing in its day. It and Mario 64 were like the first two games that really let you explore a 3d space. The freedom of movement compared to the games that had come before was intoxicating.
Absolutely CRAZY that Panzar Dragoon Saga isn’t in your top 5. That game spanned 4 discs, had incredible cinematic moments, and included a unique battle system. CRAZY
I agree. Lists like these are personal, and it's more about hearing why people like the games included rather than worrying about what's on the list and what isn't. There are a few inclusions here that likely would not have made my list if I was making one. And that doesn't mean those games are bad. It's hard to narrow down such a list. I will add, and I've said this many times already, one game that absolutely would make my top 25 which wasn't included here would be Virtual On. I got that one without knowing what it was, and it was one of the most pleasant gaming surprises I ever got(Dragon Force would be another). I loved the concept of a mech battling game. I loved the approach to the control. It took a bit of time to learn what tactics were necessary, but it became one of the most important games in my library, which is the reason I mention it specifically. It was games like that and many of the games on this list, which were not mainstream hits, but were just so interesting and rewarding, that made owning a Saturn in its time so special. There were games on other systems I wished I had access to, but there was nothing that ever made me regret going with the Saturn
Seeing MSH vs Street Fighter reminds me of seeing a game running simultaneously on Saturn and Playstation in a store at the time and the Playstation version used a badly compressed recording of the intro whereas the Saturn properly recreated it in 2D sprites. I knew it was a Capcom fighter but couldnt remember which one it was, but actually found it in another one of your videos! its X-Men:Children of the Atom!!
I have only recently got into playing Saturn games through emulation on my steam deck and there are a few games on this list I will be trying now thankyou.
How could anyone really hate Panzer Dragoon Saga? It has issues, but for the time it has incredible art, gameplay and story. Honestly I think its even superior to some jrpg classics.
Saturn was not ready for 3D. These 3D games on this gaming generation was terrible looking…we have to be honest. Personally that is why to this day I have not even played PD yet and I have the whole series installed on my MODE.
I never owned the Sega Saturn, but looking back on it. This system was a victim of the time that it came out. This thing can blow a Neo GEO away, but was affordable at the time. Sony entering the Console space with a machine that was slightly better at polygonal 3-D completely ruined. What would have been the best 2D graphics machine that we had seen at home. I had a buddy who had the tower of power with the CD and the 32X, and it was great. The problem was it was slow. Saturn solved every problem that those units had. If that thing had come out a year or two sooner, Sega would’ve kicked ass out of any competition they had
Damn bro, TH-cam didn't even recommend this to me... sorry for the late view/like! VF2 will forever be my favorite fighting game, and Saturn game. Thanks Lordster! SEEEEEEGAAAAAAAAAAA!
I remember the Playstation and Saturn came in the magazines, and I fell in love in the Saturn. I also wanted a sega since I had the Master System at the time. I never got to have the Genesis :(. Unfortunately the Saturn never made it the stores here in Norway. They allready knew it was going to be a failiure and skipped it completely.
Been busy with Baldurs Gate 3 and soon to be Armored Core VI, but looking forward to getting back to my Saturn soon, still need to beat radiant silvergun and guardian heroes!
Saturn bomberman in teams of 2 (6 or 8 players) is crazy fun. Also many people forget it, due to being a "secret" bonus game, but Death Tank Zwei is definitely one for a party (or as a duel game).
Panzer Dragoon Saga is only on the honorable mentions! End video 😂😂😂 that’s insane! That is easily in the top 3 best Saturn games ever made and I didn’t even think that was debatable.
I like Panzer Saga. Good game. But I'm an action game guy. Notice how few games made the top 25 that have random battles? Saga has a great fighting system but everything else around it lacks that same energy/quality. I didn't care about the story, either. It's why I recommended it but wouldn't rate it among my favorites.
The Saturn is my favourite console ever. Thankfully I have my V Saturn fitted with a MODE so can play anything.. that said I've still lucked out and got a copy of SF Zero 3 pretty cheaply :)
Everything from 1st generation to 7th generation of gaming was the last era of creativity when it came to games. The xbox one and playstation 4 and nintendo wii u were alright. But the creativity has gone down hill and we need this to come back in gaming. Maybe they should try revamping these games for the modern generation.
PowerSlave was remade for modern consoles & I picked it up (PS4) based on your high praise of the Saturn original. I was waiting for you to mention the modern remake, if you didn't know about it possibly consider making a future video on it. Great list regardless.
We evidently have VERY different opinions on what makes a truly great Saturn game, as my personal top 3 only made it to your honourable mentions (Decathlete/Athlete Kings, Panzer Dragoon Saga and Fighters Megamix) while the rest of my top 5 (Burning Rangers and Die Hard Arcade) didn't feature at all. But to me that's what's so great about the Saturn, it did so many different things and did them all so well. There was something for everyone, it's unreal how badly Sega screwed up with the console in the west because it should've done so much better. Difference of opinions aside, much respect for your continued efforts to highlight what a unique and misunderstood console the Saturn was!
It's so odd how in hindsight this console was considered a failure having lost to playstation mgs made me break down and also buy a psx but it's unique games its now by far the more desirable and rare with the most expensive games.
No 'Twinkle Star Sprites'? 😢 That game is very underrated. It is a competitive shoot 'em up that is still played to this day The Sega Saturn port is the definitive version.
I actually own a PlayStation, N64 and a Saturn all purchased in the 90s. Guess which console is still sitting beneath my big screen TV? I have Dragon Force in it fight now, playing through the campaign and loving it.
At that time I was a PSX gamer from day 1 but I remember Saturn have had some exclusives I always wanted to play like Panzer Dragoon, Sega Rally, Astal, etc...
great video, thanks for all the effort you put into them. PD: YT hide your video in my feed for some reason and I had to enter your channel to see new releases
Yup, I covered the Powerslave remake. You can see it here:
th-cam.com/video/zZmpEXECCro/w-d-xo.html
You got your wish!
Not even an honorable mention for Die Hard Arcade?
@@Blas4ublasphemy Ooo...that is a good one, too. I think there are just way too many great Saturn games for just a top 25 list. I could probably list like a dozen other games that I owned on Saturn that were quality titles (except some are not Saturn-exclusive).
@@Blas4ublasphemy yeah I couldn't believe he didn't mention that. just a bunch of lame rpg type zelda/ff games.
@@ianswift3521 Die Hard Arcade wasn't really that great, average at best. And I can't believe how people get upset when they don't see their favorite games on a list. If I could I would hand over a tissue or play the world's smallest violin for you.
Thanks SegaLordX, we watch your videos Friday night here in Hokkaido and its just pure documentary entertainment for the era of games. You always record the game sound and soundtracks perfectly, which really encourages playing these games again. Thank you.
I appreciate the comment. It's awesome to hear others enjoy the channel.
1:30 Honorable Mentions: Decathlete, Vampire Savior, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Vandal Hearts, Grandia, Fighters Megamix
3:52 25. The Legend of Oasis
4:59 24. Virtua Cop 2
6:03 23. Saturn Bomberman
7:03 22. Layer Section
8:12 21. Dragon Force 2
9:06 20. Dark Savior
10:13 19. Astal
11:53 18. Cotton 2/Boomerang
13:11 17. Gungriffon
14:20 16. Street Fighter Collection
16:07 15. Magic Knight Rayearth
17:28 14. Policenauts
19:03 13. Nights into Dreams
20:17 12. Panzer Dragoon 2
21:28 11. Virtua Fighter 2
22:57 10. Guardian Heroes
24:34 9. Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter
26:02 8. Shining the Holy Ark
27:23 7. Mystaria/Blazing Heroes
29:20 6. Street Fighter Zero 3
31:06 5. Powerslave
32:49 4. Panzer Dragoon
34:11 3. Sega Rally
36:05 2. Shining Force III
37:54 1. Dragon Force
good work! this video needs chapters
@@zenmaster24 Any video with a countdown or multiple topics for that matter needs chapters, SLX is one of the few channels I still watch without them, because I love his content. If a channel has them, I leave a thumbs up if I like the content or not, and when I don't see chapters, I'll leave and visit ones that do.
No die hard arcade?
@@backbackforward lol yes
Thanks!😊
Growing up with the Sega Saturn was a transformative experience that ignited my passion for gaming. Its iconic design, diverse game library, and groundbreaking features captured my imagination and opened up a world of endless possibilities. The Saturn wasn't just a console; it was a gateway to unforgettable adventures and unforgettable memories. Even today, whenever I see its distinctive logo or hear its startup sound, it takes me back to a time when gaming was pure magic. The Sega Saturn will forever hold a special place in my heart, reminding me of the power of imagination and the joy of exploring new worlds.
Well said.
I feel so sad for you for being the kid who didn't grow up with a playstation or n64. Very sad.
This sounds like an AI version of a sega lord x script
Isn't it just hilarious when someone tries to claim that your own personal experience is artificial? It's like stumbling upon a glitch in the game of life! Picture this: you're the protagonist, fully immersed in your epic adventure, and out of nowhere, a character pops up, insisting that it's all just pixelated illusions. But hey, I'm the fake one, right?
@@JamesNGames you try too hard bro.
The Saturn was one of my all-time favorite Sega consoles. Next to Dreamcast, this is by far my favorite system ever made. It was so very underrated and had so much power that was underutilize.
@@liamloxley1222 late 90's nah more like the late 60's lol dating myself. Megadrive was cool and had a ton more games, however I still dig the Saturn more.
I didn't own a Saturn back then. I got into contact with Panzer Dragoon Saga for the first time 2 years ago, when I played it and... It's one of the best games I've ever played, I'm advising everybody around me to play it :)
100% agree it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played! To be an honorable mention is crazy it is probably the biggest production value on the Saturn. 4 disks! Great gameplay, amazing story and atmosphere! Game never gets old to me. I play through it once every couple years. Wish it was a little more challenging though, maybe a couple hidden super bosses at the end would have been awesome!
Linkle Liver story is one of my faves. I know it's not very deep, and a little short, but dang it was so charming!
This video makes me want to buy a saturn and collect games for it. I never got the chance to own one as a kid. It's an amazing system. I think i might like it equally or more than the dreamcast. I hope it isn't too expensive.
I was a Nintendo guy myself. But my aunt had a Saturn and I LOVED it! Too bad everything for the Saturn is so dang expensive 😭😭
Great video! When Virtua Fighter 2 came out, I couldn't believe my eyes! It was amazing to think that those visuals were being produced by the Saturn. Still looks great even today.
Vandal Hearts was ace. Had that on Playstation though. Would really like to pick up a Saturn as i missed some great games
It is actually better on Saturn.
Great list! I've only owned and played a small fraction of the Saturn's library, but what I played was excellent. I did own Nights and Panzer Dragoon awhile back. Panzer Dragoon was one of those games that was just an experience. I remember just the atmosphere in the first level made chills go down my spine just from the music and visuals.
I no longer have my Saturn and just don't have the budget to buy some of the crazy asking prices of some Saturn game copies now. I think it is criminal that many of these titles are being lost to time as many haven't been rereleased or remastered on modern hardware. I honestly don't like to emulate, but if it is the only option, I would love to experience some of these games! Many people just don't give the Saturn the respect it deserves.
As someone who grew up with PS1 and later PS2 as a kid, I'm thankful for this video to helping me get into Saturn games. I already knew enough about Genesis, Super Nintendo, N64, etc. but I never really knew where to start with the Saturn.
The music is what made NiGHTS - Into Dreams so great for me. It fits the gameplay perfectly. Thanks for the list; would have overlooked Astal entirely otherwise.
I was a freshman in high school back when the Saturn first came out, and I had to BEG my mom to buy it for me at its HEFTY price point of $399.
I was somehow able to convince her, and it ended up becoming one of my favorite systems I ever owned. At the time, it was quite literally like having an arcade quality machine at home which was totally unheard of at the time.
The PlayStation may have been cheaper and much more successful, but it couldn’t hold a candle to the Saturn’s performance and game library. A truly underrated and under appreciated game system.
I was huge on arcade fighters back them, and my top 5 Saturn games are…
1. Virtua Fighter 2
2. Street Fighter Alpha
3. Guardian Heroes
4. Virtua Cop
5. Virtua Fighter
Back in the day there was a rental place that had consoles to rent at a fairly good price after trying the 3DO I got to rent the Saturn as a kid. Trying out Panzer Dragoon and Virtua Fighter 2 made me completely forget the existence of the 3DO. Safe to say I rented it again to continue to experience its arcade greatness. About half a decade back after digging up some of the few consoles I kept from the early days such as my model 1 Genesis and OG Xbox, I started recollecting a lot of what I had plus retro console I never had. The most exciting climax of my collecting phase was the arrival of my Japanese Saturn feeling an incredible feeling of excitement when I opened up the box. I got a nice collection of games including about half or more of the games you mention here plus many more. With the Brook adapter I can use modern controllers and fighting sticks wirelessly on it and my Japanese Dreamcast too.
The Saturn, Dreamcast, N64, and Vita are consoles that have small yet awesome libraries.
One of my biggest regrets was never getting a Saturn back in the day
You’ve got to cover Sakura Wars sometime. It was the Saturn’s killer app in Japan for a reason.
I'm glad I still have my Saturn, been 27 years now.
Good for you , unfortunately I sold mine back in the day to buy a ps1 , 😢
Im almost 40 and had never played a sega saturn. The other week i got a rog ally and loaded it with emulators and SS is one of em. Loving powerslave and panzer dragoon, but i def need to get dragon force! Looks super fun! Great vid!
My list of must have Saturn Games in no particular order except PDS is number1 always
1. Panzer Dragoon Saga
2. Dragon Force 1 and 2 (2 has an english patch)
3.Guardian Heroes (If you have a friend to play with)
4.Shining Force 3 (scenarios 2 and 3 have english patch)
5. Shining the Holy Ark
6. Bulk Slash
7. Literally all of Capcom's Fighting Games
8. Virtua Fighter 2
9. Sega Rally
10. Darius Gaiden
11. Nights and Christmas Nights
12. Saturn Bomberman if you have friends to play with
13. and the super underrated Baku Baku Animal if you have a friend to play
So happy to see Guardian Heroes on this list! One of my absolute favorite games on Saturn, to be sure! Also, Policenauts!!! Man, I wish I'd gotten to play that.
I wish the 32X had never released. I had the Genesis, Sega CD and 32X. The latter console soured my opinion permanently on a brand I had previously loved. I got the N64 and PS1 instead. The next generation I got the XBOX, GameCube and PS2. I passed on Dreamcast. Wish I knew then what I know now. Emulation is great, but I’d love to have the original hardware and software. Far too expensive to justify now. You make great content, sir. Keep up the good work.
Same here, I will prefer a backward compatible for the saturn over the 32x. Also, scaler enhancement chip for the genesis (upgrades with PC CD port with compilation for the saturn), PC CD and sega published games (better multimedia and CD based consoles) over the sega cd.
You didn’t miss anything. Ps1 had better games. Sega was too arcade heavy with most titles. Chasing high scores against a timer which is a carryover from their arcade business. One of their great blunders is continuing to produce arcade games for home console when everyone was moving toward games AAA medium to craft a deep and meaningful story. They had no answer for games like metal gear solid and gran turismo and their version of castlevania was terrible.
Of course all the best RPGs of the era were on ps1 too.
You honestly didn't miss as much as you think you did. Every console you got after had infinitely better overall game collections. There are a few between Saturn and Dreamcast that were legitimately great, but nothing you can't find either ported or through emulation. I bought both consoles about a decade ago, thinking how you did... It was a lot better in my head than reality.
Also, if you never owned an SNES or GBA, THOSE are the ones you should really invest in. Their game collections in both quantity and quality are matched only by maybe the PS2 (or OG backwards compatible PS3).
knights into dreams came with the console as a demo, I think only the first 2 stages were playable. dang that demo was fun.
Thanks to you I was able to inform me better about the Sega Saturn and can buy the 1st American model in good condition. In a couple of months the "All In One" cartridge will be coming and I couldn't be more excited for the rest of the hours that await me with the Sega Saturn.
Doesn't the saturn use disc's lol
@@Xhalonickthat cart allows you to play backups and doubles as mem card. Not all carts do both
The Dreamcast was my first favorite but there's just something about the saturn that i just love so much
I just got a Satiator for my Saturn so, once again your channel is on non stop so i can find some great games to play! BEST SEGA CHANNEL ON TH-cam! keep it up!
Nice, just home from work and a new Sega Lord X video is just what I needed today. I'm considering getting a Saturn this year - if I do, this will be my first source for what to collect for it.
Hope you enjoy it!
I really wish we would get a Magic Knight Rayearth remaster on the switch.
I don't know how the licensing would be but I've definitely would appreciate it.
Never happen. Too many hands in that pie.
Sell your switch and get a saturn?
Said the same for Mario rpg 😛.
What we really need is someone to buy out working designs catalog and rerelease everything.
That sound great to me too … the game was never released here in Europe …
Thanks for putting this together.
My best friend had a Saturn right when they came out. So, I got to play it quite often.
These days I have a JPN system with an Action Replay cart, so I can play games from every region.
I mainly find myself playing Sega Rally and Out Run on the Sega Ages disk.
Like you said, it’s that Sega magic.
I had your setup, but I really recommend the Terraonion MODE disc mod, it's the greatest video game purchase I ever made.
All the fan translations that exist on the internet are then playable on Saturn, the load times are shorter and you can play pretty much every game that was ever released for Saturn.
It kinda made the Saturn games I own on disc obsolete, but at the same time I don't have to worry about scratching the CD's and shortening their lifespan.
Someone probably mentioned it already but Powerslave was remade recently really well. Doesn't quite replicate that contrast heavy lighting of the saturn but i think it's the best way to play. I can't spend 400 bucks for the classic saturn version.
Shining Force 3 should've been number 1, its by far the best game on the Sega Saturn.
Growing up in a more remote area made loving the Saturn tough, when I was little. There just weren’t many US releases that made it to NE Canada. I had Gex, Panzer Dragoon, Mr Bones, Virtua Fighter and Virtua Cop… I was into rpg’s, coming from the snes. It took me years (and an ODE) to really appreciate the library. I recommend either the satiator or the fenrir (or the phoebe or the ray)to everyone with a Saturn. The fan translations are where it’s at, and the cost of games is hard for most people to deal with, these days. I’m looking forward to the translation for Vanillaware’s first game, Princess crown, as well as a few other strange rpg’s that seem to be in the works.
My brother bought a Saturn off someone around 1997, i was just turning 17 around then. Well i have some great memories of this time. At least, as far as video games, i had a ps1 and enjoyed the rentals... otherwise i didn't have much money to spend and so i mostly played just what was available to me. Bunch of demo discs. Those were everywhere. Anyway. Late one night, i couldn't sleep, as a lifelong insomniac this was common. I found Mystoria in a pile, i hadn't recognized it, but i threw it in anyway. Next thing i knew the sun was up and i was back for more the next night.
The 90s really did have a unique spot in gaming history, we'll never see AAA titles like we had then, with how experimental it was. A lot of innovative ideas we still see today. Both the 80s and 90s... early 2000s even (more PC there). By the time the ps3 and 360 came around, they were focused on big theatrical type gaming closer to hollywood or something. Now they hardly consider risks, it's so by the books, stick to the formula that makes money.
And so, it does make me happy to see all the translations we have today. It's been awesome to finally see these games that I either never heard of or frustratingly thought I'd never play. I appreciate all the hard work these people put into it, they have an important place in video game preservation, i think. But I've rambled enough.
@@derealized797there’s still a ton of great indie games that innovative.
dark savior, shining holy ark, and mystaria are heavily underrated
It looked & felt so futuristic & ahead of its time from the controllers to the game selections everything.
You inspired me to get most of these. I never had a Saturn growing up, and it sucks I missed out on so many good titles. But now thankfully I've gotten the opportunity to check them out. So many hidden gems on this system. Thanks for the content!!
Sega saturn will always be my "what if" 16 bit games looks so good and pushing the 2D pixels game more than ever before in 32 bit system would be really wild. What if just for one generation more we focused on 2D
You have GOT to play the Sakura Wars English Patch! One of the Saturn's very best.
No Radiant Silvergun or Virtual On?...these seem like glaring omissions. Should've made the honourable mentions section even if you don't rate them that highly
The honorable mentions would have been(and almost was) longer than the Top 25 if I mentioned every game that deserved it.
I remember getting my Saturn for Christmas one year. A friend of mine got his much earlier.. Playing Sega Rally was such an incredible experience. I had no doubt in my mind which console I wanted. Got a package deal from Currys; Saturn, two pads, Sega Steering wheel and four games: Sega Rally, Virtua Fighter 2, Alien Trilogy, and a football game ... Think it was called international soccer. Steadily collected games for birthdays and Christmases. Otherwise I'd swap or borrow .One year I asked for Resident Evil for my birthday. Once I'd completed that I took it to the market to swap. Wasn't sure what I wanted to get. Was a big RTS fan but I already had Command & Conquer and Warcraft 2 ... Saw Dragon Force on the table (I'd never seen it in the shops). I remembered reading about it in SS magazine and seeing a demo on one of the Sega Flash Discs, So I went for it, straight swap. Best thing I ever did. I Spent so many wonderful hours in Legendra. Was like nothing I'd played before yet it seemed so familiar and I took to it naturally. I must've been around 14 at the time. I think there's some things that folk will never understand. The feeling you have playing Dragon Force (as you rightly say SLX with no prior knowledge) for the first time is one of them. It's utter magic. I'd love to see a remaster. ✌️💚
Mr. Sega Lord X, may I say that I thoroughly enjoy your narrations - you've got a great speaking voice (you know, as opposed to a non-speaking voice) and it makes these videos that much better. There are some TH-camrs with great content, but not the greatest presentation...you do not have that problem. Keep up the great work!
Just want to say you have one of the best intros on TH-cam. You and Majuular are neck and neck for my favorite. Really puts me in the mood to relax and talk about games.
God damn these are some high quality games. I forget just how good the Saturn could be sometimes.
Yup. She was a beast.
You rock, SLX. Just in case you haven't heard it enough. I love the personal nature, and how you make clear that your personal experience is where you came to conclude what you did, why you did / didn't enjoy games this way or that way. There is no "absolute best" for everyone, all "best of" lists are just opinions based on your life experience, it's easy to forget. I bought a Saturn brand new on launch day, and it may be my favorite console, maybe, hard to say. But my list would definitely include Last Bronx, Die Hard Arcade, X-Men vs Street Fighter, Mass Destruction, Warcraft II, and maybe Wing Arms, on top of a lot of the ones you had. Generally, my top five would be something like... 1) Die Hard Arcade, 2) Nightwarriors, 3) Guardian Heroes, 4) Dragon Force, and 5) Fighter's MegaMix. Maybe. :) Though I will say....Virtua Cop / Virtua Cop 2 with a light gun on a BIG CRT is impossible to beat, with the Stunners. Never have I had more pleasure with a home arcade game than in that situation. 27" Flat Trinitron (mine died years ago, RIP)...I would play these two with friends for HOURS. Amazing.
I'm gutted i never owned a Sega Saturn, so many great games!
I completely forgot about Blazing Heroes! Sooo good!
Also loved Steep Slope Sliders but the game I bought the Saturn for was World Series Baseball '98. First game that had all the unique stadiums rendered.
Just want to say I never played Saturn when it was new. I always loved your intro music and had no idea it was from the opening of Astal.
Dragon force is legit my favorite game of all time.
Sega rally on the saturn was outstanding
One of the only racing games I ever enjoyed, together with Mario Kart, Carmageddon and Wipeout. It baffled me as a kid.
My memories from the Sega Saturn was Nights Into Dreams (backwards compatibility for Xbox Series X), Panzer Dragoon (with a remake available), Virtua Fighter 1&2 (Virtua Fighter 2 backwards compatibility with Xbox Series X) , Bug, Clockwork Kight, Daytona USA ( Daytona USA available and backwards compatibility with Xbox Series X), and Sonic 3D Blast.
Landstalker by Climax Graphics was one of my all time faves. So Dark Savior will definitely be one for me to check out! Thanks for bringing this to light!
Just downloaded Mednafen.. I can't wait to give these games a try! I had the N64 and PS1 growing up and missed out on the Saturn.
love your videos dude, the best part is that you can download a ROM burn it and play in on the system with a pseudo saturn kai without having to spend over $400 for Alberts odyssey
Best retro content out here! U actually got me into retro gaming now I’m obsessed. Thanks
You welcome bro
@@sparkybig9799 You're not Sega Lord X
My friends and I all had the Genesis but most if not all of us got burned by the 32X or Sega CD. Only one of my friends got a Saturn and everyone else got a Playstation. I cant imagine the meetings at Sega of America and Japan talking about the non existing sales outside Japan. Must have been insane.
Check out what it looked like behind the scenes regarding Sonic Xtreme. "Fun" (horrifying) read. Sega offed themselves...
I didn't deserve that!!!!
;)
Nice video!
A friend of mine worked at SquareSoft Redmond (WA), and some friends and I used to go hang out at their offices, and play Doom/Heretic after hours on the network, play with their SGI Workstation, and in the break room, they had some of the first Japanese Playstation and Saturns. I couldn't believe what I was seeing at the time. (Ridge Racer on the PS, and some shooters on the Saturn.) I bought both systems the minute they hit the US, because I had just gotten my first job. :D
Layer Section is such a good time! I have it somewhere, in one of my many boxes, but not been able find it for a year or so. 😞
Like you, the Saturn was the console who made my brother and I get into RPGs, FPS such as Duke 3D, Alien Trilogy and Hexen. Finally perfect arcade ports home, KOF96 and 97 were huge were we lived and that was a dream, later SFZ-Z2-Z3 and more. It's great to see Mystaria, Riglord Saga in Japan getting its deserved recognition, even back then we found its overall presentation clunky, but when you get into it, it's a great Tactical RPG with a memorable soundtrack. The sequel, Riglord Saga 2 is probably getting a deserved translation in the not so distant future, I believe, one day all Saturn RPGs will be in English. Even so, I don't wait for translations to happen, even as a kid I played many RPGs in Japanese, even Chrono Cross and finished them all.
Dragon Force is a great game, but it's way below Shining Force III (all scenarios) to me and honestly, I think the PS1 and N64 could reproduce this game without issues, the unit sprites are dozens of clones and their animation is very basic, this games doesn't push the Saturn and I strongly believe a PS version wouldn't be that different. In fact, there are quite a few Strategy RPGs on the PS1 that uses dozens of sprites on screen.
Speaking of which, a game that wouldn't be reproduced as elegantly on the PS1 is the aforementioned Shining Force III, if you think about it, the game switches engines from the tactical field to the 3D battle scene seamlessly like it's a cartridge game. I've played many PS1 RPGs, Brigandine is a similar game, and there are over a 100 Tactical RPGs on Sony's machine and even those that feature 2D battle scenes have long loadings, the Saturn could handle more data and Shining Force III shows that.
King of Fighters 97 was an important game for me as well, and made me love my Saturn even more than I already did. I saw the arcade cabinet in a comic shop. I was actually there because a friend of mine wanted to show me Street Fighter 3. While its animation was great, I didn't like the art design. Right next to it was KOF 97, which itself had great animation, and I just loved the stylish characters. I immediately knew I had to get the game.
I agree with you. While Dragon Force is a great game, and pushes tons of sprites, I don't think it would be especially troublesome for either the PS1 or N64(leaving out the storage medium). All three systems could display as many polygons/sprites as their CPUs could keep track of. Obviously, the Saturn version is already constrained by system RAM, so it would be similar on the PS1 since the RAM amount is pretty similar. PS1 games in 1997 weren't even as optimized as they would be later thanks to newer development tools, so I think you're right.
Seeing that very same arcade game booting up at home in our own TVs was something else, right? Nice to know others having a similar experience. Like you, I also prefer SNK games over SFIII, they have better art direction, and I'd much rather play RB Fatal Fury Special on the Saturn (that I did for years), or SFZ3, among others we got.
I agree about DF, and again you're right that PS1 and N64 (for that matter) got better from late '97 onwards. The game has tons of the same sprites, with little animation and this alone uses less memory, but Dragon Force 2 has more variety during battles, so it's more demanding.
A good example about the Saturn version being superior is Dragon Ball Z - Idainaru Dragon Ball Densetsu, released by the same developers at the same day for both consoles, the PS1 release suffers in performance, the game boast 6 characters doing many different things at the same time and it indeed taxes the PS1 CPU, while the Saturn runs noticeably smoother. Something like a solid a 30FPS (Saturn) against 20 with hicups on Sony's machine.
@@roberto1519 Yeah, it was mind blowing to realize current 2D arcade games, especially CPS2 and Neo Geo, were basically perfect at home on the Saturn. While it wasn't quite perfect due to RAM limitations, Marvel Super Heroes was probably the game that really made me appreciate that. Seeing Hulk vs. Juggernaut filling up the screen was crazy. Of course, X-Men vs. Street Fighter with the 4MB RAM was also impressive offering the same sprite quality but more frames of animation. But in terms of art direction, style, and gameplay, KOF 97 appealed to me so much more. Just to follow up to what I said earlier, not only was I instantly drawn to KOF 97 the moment I saw it, I never actually played it until I got it for the Saturn, but it absolutely lived up to my expectations.
Can't tell you how much my brother and I played X-Men and Marvel vs SF on the Saturn, actually we played almost all fighters on the console, Fighters Megamix, Toshinden and more. Back to Capcom stuff, they were arcade perfect and virtually no loadings.
Interesting you haven't played KOF '97 until you got it for your Saturn. Back then, my older brother (actual owner of the console) brought KOF '95, and later '96, then '97. We played 95 a ton at the local arcades and 96 not so much, but 97 was THE game at the time, bringing those home was nothing short of a dream coming true, I was 10 or 11 then.
You may know this, the Saturn port, while virtually identical to the NEO GEO CD, it has higher pitched voices for some odd oversight from the developers, it's a bit funny and nostalgic to me.
I’m pretty sure that Powerslave got remastered about a year ago for current consoles. There are some of these games that have been rereleased through the years on Xbox. Games that need to be remastered for current consoles: Dragon Force 1&2, Shining the holy ark, shining force 3, Mystaria(I remember it being called The Riglord Saga), clockwork knight, and Astal. I get way more nostalgic with the Saturn than I do with the PS1 or N64.
Riglord Saga was that game's Japanese name. Mystaria was the first translated name, but got changed to Blazing Heroes to avoid confusion / copyright entanglements with the D&D setting of Mystara.
Always wanted a Saturn!
The Story of Thor 2 was my favorite game, even today I still play it on emulator. What a masterpiece, it really is part of my childhood.
Knights was pretty mind blowing in its day. It and Mario 64 were like the first two games that really let you explore a 3d space. The freedom of movement compared to the games that had come before was intoxicating.
Absolutely CRAZY that Panzar Dragoon Saga isn’t in your top 5. That game spanned 4 discs, had incredible cinematic moments, and included a unique battle system. CRAZY
Not what I wanted from a Panzer title and games like Shining Force III and Dragon Force are vastly superior experiences.
This video is perfect for me. Going to be picking up a Saturn when I'm in Japan next week
Great list, just missing Die Hard Arcade! 😉
It was close. Top 35 for sure.
I agree. Lists like these are personal, and it's more about hearing why people like the games included rather than worrying about what's on the list and what isn't. There are a few inclusions here that likely would not have made my list if I was making one. And that doesn't mean those games are bad. It's hard to narrow down such a list. I will add, and I've said this many times already, one game that absolutely would make my top 25 which wasn't included here would be Virtual On. I got that one without knowing what it was, and it was one of the most pleasant gaming surprises I ever got(Dragon Force would be another). I loved the concept of a mech battling game. I loved the approach to the control. It took a bit of time to learn what tactics were necessary, but it became one of the most important games in my library, which is the reason I mention it specifically. It was games like that and many of the games on this list, which were not mainstream hits, but were just so interesting and rewarding, that made owning a Saturn in its time so special. There were games on other systems I wished I had access to, but there was nothing that ever made me regret going with the Saturn
Seeing MSH vs Street Fighter reminds me of seeing a game running simultaneously on Saturn and Playstation in a store at the time and the Playstation version used a badly compressed recording of the intro whereas the Saturn properly recreated it in 2D sprites. I knew it was a Capcom fighter but couldnt remember which one it was, but actually found it in another one of your videos! its X-Men:Children of the Atom!!
I have only recently got into playing Saturn games through emulation on my steam deck and there are a few games on this list I will be trying now thankyou.
How could anyone really hate Panzer Dragoon Saga? It has issues, but for the time it has incredible art, gameplay and story. Honestly I think its even superior to some jrpg classics.
Saturn was not ready for 3D.
These 3D games on this gaming generation was terrible looking…we have to be honest.
Personally that is why to this day I have not even played PD yet and I have the whole series installed on my MODE.
trying to build my collection! Dude Dark Savior is so good! I watched it today lol
I'm finally going to play Policenauts because of this video. Thanks Sega Lord X.
I never owned the Sega Saturn, but looking back on it. This system was a victim of the time that it came out. This thing can blow a Neo GEO away, but was affordable at the time. Sony entering the Console space with a machine that was slightly better at polygonal 3-D completely ruined. What would have been the best 2D graphics machine that we had seen at home.
I had a buddy who had the tower of power with the CD and the 32X, and it was great. The problem was it was slow. Saturn solved every problem that those units had. If that thing had come out a year or two sooner, Sega would’ve kicked ass out of any competition they had
Damn bro, TH-cam didn't even recommend this to me... sorry for the late view/like! VF2 will forever be my favorite fighting game, and Saturn game. Thanks Lordster! SEEEEEEGAAAAAAAAAAA!
I remember the Playstation and Saturn came in the magazines, and I fell in love in the Saturn. I also wanted a sega since I had the Master System at the time. I never got to have the Genesis :(. Unfortunately the Saturn never made it the stores here in Norway. They allready knew it was going to be a failiure and skipped it completely.
Been busy with Baldurs Gate 3 and soon to be Armored Core VI, but looking forward to getting back to my Saturn soon, still need to beat radiant silvergun and guardian heroes!
Burning Rangers, Quake, Resident Evil, House of the Dead, D and Panzer Dragoon Saga were among my favorite's.
Gonna dedicate some time to Dragon Force this 4th of July weekend. I have it burned and ready to go. Love your recommendations as always.
Saturn bomberman in teams of 2 (6 or 8 players) is crazy fun. Also many people forget it, due to being a "secret" bonus game, but Death Tank Zwei is definitely one for a party (or as a duel game).
Nice list. I hope to try out these Saturn games soon.
Loved my Sega Saturn and logged hundreds of hours on Dragon Force along with the underrated Gungriffon. Cheers.
Dark Savior is the one game that got me into RPGs. If i never played it, i woulda never touched FF7 or Zelda.
One of the Saturn's more unique games.
Panzer Dragoon Saga is only on the honorable mentions! End video 😂😂😂 that’s insane! That is easily in the top 3 best Saturn games ever made and I didn’t even think that was debatable.
Totally agree with you. How Saga is not in the top 25 but Mystaria and Cotton Boomerang are is insanity.
I like Panzer Saga. Good game. But I'm an action game guy. Notice how few games made the top 25 that have random battles? Saga has a great fighting system but everything else around it lacks that same energy/quality. I didn't care about the story, either. It's why I recommended it but wouldn't rate it among my favorites.
The Saturn is my favourite console ever. Thankfully I have my V Saturn fitted with a MODE so can play anything.. that said I've still lucked out and got a copy of SF Zero 3 pretty cheaply :)
Everything from 1st generation to 7th generation of gaming was the last era of creativity when it came to games. The xbox one and playstation 4 and nintendo wii u were alright. But the creativity has gone down hill and we need this to come back in gaming. Maybe they should try revamping these games for the modern generation.
Great video!! Totally makes me wanna try these games I've never played before... I will for sure!
PowerSlave was remade for modern consoles & I picked it up (PS4) based on your high praise of the Saturn original.
I was waiting for you to mention the modern remake, if you didn't know about it possibly consider making a future video on it.
Great list regardless.
This was originally made before that games release.
@@SegaLordXI'd also love a review of the remake. I bought it on the Nintendo Switch and it's awesome.
th-cam.com/video/zZmpEXECCro/w-d-xo.html
These are great videos! I missed out on the Saturn back in the 90’s, but bought a nice Japanese version last year. And have been collecting 👍
We evidently have VERY different opinions on what makes a truly great Saturn game, as my personal top 3 only made it to your honourable mentions (Decathlete/Athlete Kings, Panzer Dragoon Saga and Fighters Megamix) while the rest of my top 5 (Burning Rangers and Die Hard Arcade) didn't feature at all. But to me that's what's so great about the Saturn, it did so many different things and did them all so well. There was something for everyone, it's unreal how badly Sega screwed up with the console in the west because it should've done so much better. Difference of opinions aside, much respect for your continued efforts to highlight what a unique and misunderstood console the Saturn was!
But if your top 3 are still games I think are great, just how different are our opinions, really? ;)
It's so odd how in hindsight this console was considered a failure having lost to playstation mgs made me break down and also buy a psx but it's unique games its now by far the more desirable and rare with the most expensive games.
No 'Twinkle Star Sprites'? 😢
That game is very underrated.
It is a competitive shoot 'em up that is still played to this day
The Sega Saturn port is the definitive version.
My childhood dream. Unfortunately in Italy at the time it was impossible to buy it, it was fucking expensive😢
Personally I was never big on the Saturn but I'm surprised at the absence of Burning Rangers.
Burning Rangers is a good game. It has some issues that pushed it out of contention, however.
Thx for that pleasant video … I love that system as well … I am currently on the PAL Full Set 🤗 Greetings from Belgium 🇧🇪
I actually own a PlayStation, N64 and a Saturn all purchased in the 90s. Guess which console is still sitting beneath my big screen TV? I have Dragon Force in it fight now, playing through the campaign and loving it.
At that time I was a PSX gamer from day 1 but I remember Saturn have had some exclusives I always wanted to play like Panzer Dragoon, Sega Rally, Astal, etc...
Can't stress enough how underappreciated Three Dirty Dwarves is. Great game and absolute recommend!
great video, thanks for all the effort you put into them.
PD: YT hide your video in my feed for some reason and I had to enter your channel to see new releases
Thank you for pumping out great content. Please keep up the amazing work.
First thing first - hit the like button, then microwave popcorn and enjoy SLX's new clip 😊
Love all these Sega videos. One of my fav Sega TH-camrs.