The Beginning of the End with SEGA

In 1995, the generation of systems took another step forward, prompting Sega to make their fifth console system; the 32-bit CD-ROM based video game console entitled the “Saturn”. The Saturn was a piece of hardware that, although bulky, it’s specs were pretty impressive from the previous failure Sega 32X. The lineup, although not really compelling, gave the Saturn promise to be the next best arcade-based home system. Titles such as "Virtua Fighter 2", "Virtua Cop", and "Daytona" came out within Saturn's first year in the market; giving the Saturn some guarantee toward surpassing the NEO-GEO as being the ultimate home-based arcade machine - in terms of the system’s power, Sega’s reputation, and a vaster market to work with. With its launch being a year ahead of the N64, the horizons were looking prosperous for the Saturn. Then, all of a sudden, the unexpected happened. Sony came out with its PS One and not only blew Saturn out of the water in sales, but seriously crippled the Nintendo franchise. I was flabbergasted by the results. I mean I picked out the Saturn before the PS One to best avoid being swindled out of purchasing a presumably failing machine like the Magnavox and Philip CD-I (two companies, like Sony, that designed televisions and accessories). I honestly thought Sony was going to rupture. Boy, was I mistaken. Anyhow, as large as Sony’s library was, and the fact that all my friends owned a PS One besides me, I was in the position of forgetting about the Saturn altogether. But did the prosperity of Sony truly destroy the appreciation I had over the Saturn? Not in the least. I think the Saturn was a spectacular system with horrible, horrible games that ruined the Saturn's opportunity to be eminent. Here is my review.



My Brief and Personal Terminology of Saturn


Despite the name used for describing the sixth planet furthest from the sun, as well as the top-selling economy car of the late 1990's, Saturn was a system that did nothing spectacular to Sega's career. More like a filler-in system used as a grout to link the Genesis with the Dreamcast, the Saturn really had no major impact on society. True, Sega made commercials for less than a handful of the games. But - being like the third-party politician running an election for office - the Saturn was just in the background of Nintendo's and Sony's retaliations, did a few impressive things to please a handful of devoted supporters, and disappeared out of sight to allow the two more-recognizable contenders duke it out without further interruption. Throughout the havoc between PS One and N64, I didn't see many publicities over the Saturn as it withered and died.

I am not saying the Saturn didn't do an impressive job, it is a great system and Sega worked extremely hard in salvaging their deteriorating market. I, myself, have suffered plenty of ridicules made by classmates during my attendance of grades 8th through 10th on behalf of the Saturn's sake. Did I regret being teased and resented by fellow students for owning a Saturn? Heck no! From my own experiences through social inequities plagued from the mouths of my fellow classmates, I have matured and learned the true definition of the Sega Saturn. While the Saturn doesn't enrich a popular reputation, it instead defines character - a message in which proud owners say, without apprehension, "Yes, I have a Sega Saturn. I revel in owning its games and I don't care if you think of me as the town fool for wasting my money on this machine." That is what differentiates classic systems from pop-icon gimmicks; character, audacity, and innovation.



Can I have Specifications, please!?!


Fine then, fine then... No use getting all huffy. Here are the blasted specifications.


Processors

Two Hitachi SuperH-2 7604 32-Bit RISC processors at 28.6MHz (50-MIPS)
SH-1 32-bit RISC processor (controlling the CD-ROM)
Custom VDP 1 32-bit video display processor
Custom VDP 2 32-bit video display processor
Custom Saturn Control Unit (SCU) with DSP for geometry processing and DMA controller
Motorola 68EC000 sound processor
Yamaha FH1 DSP sound processor, "Saturn Custom Sound Processor" (SCSP)
Hitachi 4-bit MCU, "System Manager & Peripheral Control" (SMPC)


Memory

1MB (8 Megabits) SDRAM
1MB (8 Megabits) DRAM
512KB (4 Megabits) VDP1 video RAM
256KBx2 (2x2 Megabits) VDP1 framebuffer RAM
512KB (4 Megabits) VDP2 video RAM
4K VDP2 on-chip color RAM
512KB (4 Megabits) audio RAM
512KB (4 Megabits) CD-ROM cache
32KB nonvolatile RAM (battery backup)
512KB (4 Megabits) BIOS ROM


Audio
Saturn Custom Sound Processor


Video

VDP1 32-bit video display processor
VDP2 32-bit background and scroll plane video display processor


Storage

Saturn double-speed CD-ROM drive


Input/output

Two 7-bit bidirectional parallel I/O ports
High-speed serial communications port (Both SH2 SCI channels and SCSP MIDI)
Cartridge connector
Internal expansion port for adapter card
Composite video/stereo (standard)
NTSC/PAL RF (optional)
S-Video compatible (optional)
RGB compatible (optional)
EDTV compatible (optional)


Peripherals

Santurn digital controller (D-pad, 6 buttons)
Analog gamepad
"Stunner" lightgun
Multitap (up to 10 players)
Sega NetLink
Netlink PS/2 Keyboard Adapter (for use with Netlink modem)
1.44 MB 3.5" disk drive (interfaces with serial port, supported by only a few games).
Various MPEG cards allowing VCD playback using the Saturn
RAM expansion cartridges
Backup data Memory Cartridges
Action Replay/ Game Shark cheat devices


Power source

AC120 volts; 60 Hz (US)
3 volt lithium battery to power non-volatile RAM and SMPC internal clock
Power Consumption: 25 W


Dimensions

Width: 260 mm
Length: 230 mm
Height: 83 mm


I don't know what all these specifications mean, but they made the system work great. Besides the fact that there was hardly any slowdown, the CDs themselves were almost as indestructible as NES Cartridges. What I mean by this is that I had a fighting game "Battle Arena Toshinden Remix". It was a horrible fighter with even worse controls. Well, both my friend and I were bored with it and (feeling I was cheated out of thirty dollars) we felt like goofing off one day to try and see if the game offered more fun. So, we practically used the CD as a Frisbee and threw it back-and-forth to each other in the front yard. Needless to say the CD became horribly scratched up, we decided to try out the game again. It worked! I mean, sure there were a few sporadic glitches (but then again, the game had many glitched before). But, I was impressed because my friend, who owned "Twisted Metal 2", had only five light scratches on the back of the CD and the Playstation One didn't even read it; making us deprived from its awesome multiplayer. One good thing about Sega is that the company usually designed durable systems and trustworthy accessories.



What makes this system an innovation?


Sega, a company known for making innovative systems (Sega CD, DREAMCAST, Game Gear), far from failed with its second 32-bit attempt. The Saturn was a diverse system of many revolutionary traits - all compacted into the bulky black box. It featured NetLink (although the price was too expensive (I think 100 dollars for the modem and 100 more for the authentic Saturn keyboard)), which was an improved version of the X-Band (found on Genesis). This was the first console system that saved files internally - by use of a battery. When you turn the system on (without a Saturn game in the CD tray) a screen showing the cockpit of a spaceship comes on; it is here where you can change the date, language, and erase any save files of your choice from the console. Another neat perquisite the system offered was voice alteration; a simple-to-use synthesizer that alters the sound of the lead singers voice (from a twisted/slurry motion to a squeaky/high-pitched tone) as well as the background music. Also, the analog pad was invented with the release of Nights into Dreams (though, I don’t know if it came out before or after the N64; but it came out way before Sony's dual-shock controller). While it is not the most ground-breaking system, the Saturn is a fascinating console that still has a few tricks up its sleeves.



Is this a system for everyone?


The biased side of me would say most definitely, while the critic in me says not in a million googolplexes from now. I like the system, it had it’s good games. Most of it’s games were horrible. Despite the system’s price, I would consider this as the poor-man machine. The games were cheap (because nobody would buy them) and I felt as an exclusivity because no one wanted a Saturn. Above all, the Saturn is an introvert’s dream machine.



What genres dominate the Saturn?



Well, although the library is very diverse in genres, I would have to say the main genres that dominated the Saturn were the RPG and Fighting genres. Don’t expect any Need For Speed quality racing games on this system; I mean it does have the first Need For Speed, which isn’t all that great… The rest of the racing games are abysmal - few of those reaching sub-mediocre. There are a few good action titles; most of the superior versions you can otherwise find on the PS One (Resident Evil - for starters). But, besides that, the rest of the bunch have sup-par and skimpy amounts of titles for the rest of the genres.



What are the best games to get?


The ten most important games to get:

1. Radiant Silvergun - What can I say? Wow. Not only is Radiant Silvergun the beautiful overhead shooter I have played, but it is one of the hardest and (most important) the fastest console game I have ever played. Not only are there multiple characters to choose from, but combos can be made to make “special” attacks. Although it is a VERY expensive foreign game, this is the best game made on the Saturn that I know of.

2. Nights Into Dreams - Fly like an eagle through daring heights or walk the ground. Nights is an imaginative game that is challenging, fun, and addictive. It is the first game I know that utilizes the analog pad.

3. Dragon Force - A very awesome, deep, tactic RPG that is similar to Ogre Battle. You control one of four generals, who each control around 100 troops (ninjas, dragonmen, zombies, etc.). The overall game can take 80-200 hours to beat, making Dragon Force the second longest RPG I have played. It’s a rare game, but well worth buying.

4. Panzer Dragoon Zwei - Although Panzer Dragoon was the launch-title of the Saturn (which was the first shooter to have lock-on and one-hundred-and-eighty degree turns), Zwei goes beyond the formulas of its predecessor and expands them (better weapons and on-ground movement for a few stages). Huge, action-packed, levels bring a great challenge as huge armies of aerial creatures try to destroy your character.


5. Shining Force 3 (Episode 1) - Although it is a shame Japan didn’t send the other two episodes to the U.S., Shining Force 3 is the worthy sequel I have been waiting 4 years to play - ever since I beat Shining Force II. Although the story isn’t as grand as in Shining Force II, this game is devoted to the other two and makes a very great game.

6. World Series Baseball 98 - Although I don’t care for baseball games, I absolutely LOVE this game. What with the steep difficulty, some of the best graphics on the Saturn, the bat/pitch controls, AI’s strategic plays as compared to the realistic players, and the deep rosters make this game a classic. This is one of the best baseball games I have ever played and I still play the game once in a while.

7. Fighter’s Megamix - An interesting title that, while not as extravagant as Tekken, has dozens of popular Sega characters to play against and dozens more of secrets to unlock. The lists of techniques are enormous; which have over a hundred moves in all. The ultimate fighting game for the fans of Virtua Fighter 2 and Fighting Vipers.


8. Shining the Holy Ark - Although the RPG is not epic, the dungeons are HUGE. The RPG perfectly blends the controls and items of the Shining Force series with the combat found in Phantasy Star. Overall, a great game where every facet is comfortably crafted into perfection.

9. Astal - The most colorful platform game I have ever played. In the game Astal and his bird-companion must go through over a dozen stages. While Astal crushes enemies with his big fists, his sidekick zips throughout the screen (by your command) to render extra damage. The game is pretty difficult and uses more tactics than the simple get-from-point-A-to-B found in most other platform games. Astal is a treasure indeed.

10. Guardian Heroes - Action/side-scroll/Beat ‘Em Up RPG is a high recommendation for a game. Guardian Heroes is not only a game that has nearly thirty levels to complete, but with separate paths to follow and multiple endings at that! Heroes is a quality purchase.



Note: I have played well over a hundred Saturn Games and I wasn’t able to play a few Saturn games (such as Panzer Dragoon Saga and Shining Wisdom, to name a few). If I find better games that surpass the games on this list, then I will knock off a few games to fit those further best on the list.



Is the Saturn worth it after ten years?


If you are the type of person who likes older games and who doesn’t get ashamed by differences, then this is a great system to get. I find Sega to be admirable in taking risks with making quality systems that try to make a difference, but I am as well disappointed with the lack of Second-Party and Third-Party supporters. You won’t find games in the acclaimed territories of Final Fantasy or Metal Gear Solid; few Saturn games presented a blockbuster appeal. I will say MOST Saturn games are not worth buying, but it’s the 30-plus games that make the Saturn a genuine console. From that viewpoint, I don’t regret buying a Saturn and I am, in fact, proud of being one of the few people who still owns this system. An underrated system that came out in the worst system war yet, the Saturn fell in a flaming triumph and still managed to make masterpieces during its death - which is impressive. Now, the Saturn is probably cheap and is a good novelty to have. While not as urgent to get as say the NES or SNES, the Saturn is still one of the five best systems ever created and, ironically, had some of the worst games in the history of consoles.



BEST FEATURE: Music Voice Tweak.
WORST FEATURE: Lack of Quality Games.
Overall: A classic system.