I just recently bought a Japanese Sega Saturn. All the games are cheaper and easier to find. I wish I never got rid of my original Saturn but I'm glad I can play all my old classics again.
Still amazed when I found a working, great condition Japanese Saturn (without cords mind you) for 2,000 yen last year - always thought the Saturn would be out of my price range, but sometimes you just have to look around. The All-in-One cart with the 1MB/4MB RAM & Save functionality (plus region-free/CD-R Burned disc compatobility) is nice to have too (about 40$ to 70$ depending on the version you buy), but you could get by with the cheaper Japanese Saturn games at about 500yen to 15$ a game (Daytona USA, SEGA Rally, Virtua Cop 1/2, Virtua Fighter Remix/1/2/Kids, Fighting Vipers, Fighters Megamix). Cord solutions are pretty easy to find for Saturn & looks amazing on a 50" inch plus OLED if you have a friend you can borrow the RetroTink 5x (300USD) from, plus an RGB SCART cable (40-60USD) for it. Otherwise the normal composite cables (10-20$) do the trick, or even a cheap (40-60$) HDMI converter box if you don't have a CRT to play with. The Saturn can start cheap as you want to as expensive as you want if you buy all the accesories for sure. An ODE like the Satiator is nice, but expensive ($259USD). Twin Sticks can range from 3,500yen to hundreds of USD if in box.
I’m definitely considering Saturn as I want to discover it’s awesome library of games, especially its Japanese exclusives and your video has definitely helped with this.
I got one two years ago. I chipped it and bought many CD-R. You could say Nintendo. Back than and also switching to pc I nearly completely ignored sega.
@dogeymon83 - ... I went with the Terraonion MODE. I wanted to preserve the expansion slot for a V-CD card, for the few Japanese games that support it. I was fortunate to find a Victor v3.0 V-CD card a few years ago for around $160. It's the ultimate V-CD Saturn card and now, they're tough to find + even more expensive!
I gew up with it as the first console I chose out of my own free will not something your parents just buy. I got the SNES as a surprise birthday gift and I liked it but I LOVED the Sega Saturn. Still do. So many great games.
Some tips and tricks I learnt along the way with my Saturn: To those looking into either the MODE or Fenrir as ODE options, I recommend you also find a mount to go with it. Installing the ODE leaves a huge gaping hole in the console as it was molded to have the disc drive stick out. This isn't inheritly bad on itself as by all means you're likely to keep the lid closed as you're playing, but be warned that it does make it so dust can seep through the console more frequently as well as being a general electrical hazard with the power supply being directly to the side. Getting a mount not only makes the finishing build more pleasent but also makes it less of an electrical hazard if you decide to take your storage device in and out of the console. The one gripe I have is if you're moving the console it can bump the ribbon cable connecting the mount to the ODE loose and you have to open up the shell again to reposition it. Should be fine though if you just keep it one place and don't intend to move it from one room to the next, or at least if you're careful how move it. I'd highly advise trying to seek a Pseudo Saturn Kai whether or not you're using discs or an ODE as it reduces the amount of times you need to put things in the cartridge slot. There's a switch on top of these cartridges typically to switch between different modes, from extra storage to 1MB RAM to even 4MB RAM. I have had finicky experiences with the cart though as one time booting up Cotton 2, not all of the expansion cart options were loaded but after some fiddling it's been showing fine. After market methods for Saturn games do generally require a lot of figuring stuff out and isn't always the most elequaint in terms fo what seems to be on the surface. Still, what they do to extend the life of a Saturn is more appreciated than a detriment. Only do this if you get a Saturn suffering from faulty sound and visual distortions, clean the motherboard and possibly see if you can get it recapped. Recapping the consoles isn't something urgent you need to do but down the line those caps on the boards may burst and if you're cleaning and notice any acid seeping out then seek out someone who's familiar with recapping motherboards. The console is going onto 30 and while it may be around this decade where re-capping might need to be considered, from what I've seen from the retro community it's not something you should stress about until you see the signs. Hell you could have a freak of nature that won't crap itself until it's like 60 possibly and the Saturn has shown to be a sturdy piece of 90's tech. A more fun note to end this on; you can restart the console from just the controller! Just hold Start then A+B+C. This will soft reset whatever game your in if you're currently in the middle of playing it but doing it again on a game title screen will reset you back to the boot menu, meaning you can swap games without having to get up and manually hit the access button on the console. Pretty convenient if you're going the ODE route for the Saturn too! Granted while I have been hyping up ODE's this whole comment, I can understand why some people don't want to take appart their consoles. The Satiator is currently a decent option though it is WAY more expensive to import out of Japan (last I checked at least in Australia they only ship over with DHL?) but also on the way is research being done on a solution requiring a cartridge to play games on. This cartridge solution is looking really promising also as it may mean you get the benefits of playing back ups, having spare memory and ram within the one cart also and the back expansion bay still being open to the video card for the games that use them... ...Though I definitely won't blame you going the Satiator route as the expansion bay you put it in is only reserved for a Video Card that only a handful of Saturn games use and only one game in that selection requires it (that being Lunar: Silver Star Story... Which already has another release that doesn't require the card). Only get this if you're a big fan of the games it was used for, which majority are in Japanese so either wait around for translation patches or if you so happen to be bilingual (or learning the language).
I’ll buy one today. Although I was a N64 kid, your channel opened my eyes to Saturn’s collection of unique games. I love pixelated 32-bit graphics with lots of 2d elements.
Young gamers need to understand this: The 32-bit era was gaming's crowning achievement in bringing 3D graphics to the home consoles before the Windows 95 commencement for PCs. To be able to witness games go from 2D to 3D is historical and mesmerizing. The saturn our family witnessed in christmas of 1996 (there was triple game bundle) blew our socks off in how powerful this system was. Like a distant cousin, I will always cherish the Saturn for my exposure of 3D Graphics and optimal performance a game system should have.
I agree. These kids now will never experience the greatness of the 1990s in gaming. It's sad, actually. The modern shite is going to lead to another crash...I can't wait. It needs it.
They can still play 90s games though, if they want too. Got two of my nephews onto Baldur's gate this month, they are really enjoying it. Great thing about modern gaming is the indie scene, its top notch.
i disagree and i was there as well. not everybody was into the new 3d stuff that got introduced in the second half of the 90s. true, a lot of people fell in love with mario 64 or tomb raider back in the day, BUT there were also others who didn't. heck, i still remember some people hating on all this polygonal stuff - such as myself - and prefering to talk with others about the weather over playing the og super smash bros at birthdays. i still dislike those horrible polygonal games from that generation. to watch them looks like torture to me. my belief is that the og playstation was very popular just because it was dirt cheap to get games - many people had a collection of burned cds with pirate ps1 games. the sega saturn was too expensive and had very few games in comparison.
@@1984relax_ Funny you mention this since this is how VR games of today are getting the same treatment through its current early stages. I think the difference between the push for 3D and VR are significant in that the push for 3D (which HAD been the center focus of all entertainment at that point through experimentation) involved committed engineers and programmers willing to evolve technology to the next level whereas Virtual Reality now has been left in the wayside due to these gaming companies dialing back due to disinterest in product integrity and economical concerns post-covid. We're very fortunate we had 3D games to begin with or else it would've been just all SCUMM or FMV had not been for Apogee, ID, Lucasarts, Sierra, and Sega pushing technology to the next level. Where would be without 3D technology? I guess back to reading books i suppose. 😁
I'll never forget when I went into town in early '96 with my folks with the intention of getting a Megadrive, and my dad let me get a Saturn. I had the choice between that and the PSX, and I've never regretted the Saturn. Seeing VF2, Sega Rally and Nights (when it came out) for the first time was just something that'll always stick with me. I remember even my dad, who never really thought much of videogames, was totally blown away by Sega Rally and Tomb Raider.
I've lived and breathed Nights all these years and I'm 41 now. I don't think I'll ever get bored of it. Mind you, I still enjoy some like Panzer Dragoon Saga, Guardian Heroes, Dragon Force, Fighters Megamix, Metal Slug and Dead or Alive almost as much.
For me, it was the Sega arcade ports such as Virtua Fighter 2, Sega Rally, Daytona USA and Virtua Cop 2. I must have spent thousands of hours playing those games, especially fighting in VF2 against a friend was seriously addictive fun. VF2 was also a marvel of technical excellence, running fluidly in hi-res mode and making full use of both CPUs.
just recently got a saturn and my only game is daytona usa. It’s actually insanely fun, and i’ve been replaying it for a couple weeks now, perfecting my skill and going for faster laps. I can’t wait to get my pseudo saturn kai and explore the full library of the saturn at will!
It's truly replayable. Trying to beat your previous score in any of the courses is a bliss not everyone actually appreciates. Tip for you: try holding down the brake and accelerator at the same time during the countdown at the beginning of the advanced and expert courses, and release only the brake at around 6/7k rpm when the countdown has finished. It'll give you a fantastic boost which will let you surpass your previous records by 5 seconds or more. Discovered it a week ago and I'm having so much fun replaying such courses these days.
I know people like to chide it now, and yeah maybe they made better ports later, but I played the heck out of Daytona when I first got it and loved every minute. 👍
It's rough around the edges, especially today, but you can't escape the charm and speed. Daytona CCE was more polished but for some inexplicable reason they decided to wreck the original handling of the cars. It's one of the biggest mysteries in gaming development.
Great video! We really do need a Saturn Mini. I know SEGA said it would be super hard to make, but they also said that they would be open to making it if they could work alongside people who truly love the Saturn. I'm sure there's more than a few people out there with the skills needed who would gladly help SEGA out.
Apparently they also approached this with the Dreamcast mini, but they had said they won't make it because there's no way they can make it and sell it for less than $300.
I've been watching your Saturn videos to learn about and build my excitement for the Saturn. I have acquired a Japanese Saturn with several awesome games, and I can't wait to dive into this system.
I really love 2D on the Saturn, to me it is the ultimate 2D machine with the Neo Geo. But for 3D im not that much a fan, it doesn’t handle polygons too well. Sprites are where this console excels with its almost a dozen Processors!
Heres how I did it..I love saturn so much, I bardered, sold, and traded in my entire collectibles collection, in exchange for saturn stuff. Zero out of pocket expense.BTW we badly need a video of which games came with foam and which didn't. Im trying to CIB my collection. Also my "worth it" japanese Satrun game is Super Robot Taisen Final F.
Just bought my first Saturn today for my birthday in large part thanks to you. Appreciate your videos, and am looking forward to diving into a new console. Keep up the awesome work.
Huge fan of your work. Thank you for the videos and your hardwork on them. I recently got me a Sega Saturn a year ago and now I own Sonic Jam, Sonic R, Sonic 3D Blast, Megaman 8 The House Of The Dead, Fighters MegaMix, Fighting Vipers, Virtua Fighter 2, Rayman, X-Men Versus Street Fighter, Astal, Clockwork Knight 1 and Clockwork Knight 2 and Nights Into Dreams!
Love the channel. Keep up the great work. Gives me my retro fix. Memories of my local videogame shop, and places like software etc and funcoland. A golden era for sure.
I have been watching your awesome stuff for a while, and the Saturn is one of my most beloved systems! So many games I can always go back to and play. Some to throw out there: Dragonforce, Enemy Zero, Guardian Heroes, Three Dirty Dwarves, and Shining the Holy Ark! Keep up the great work!
I always wanted a Saturn since the 90s and finally got me a Japanese model 2 at the beginning of this year 🥳, even though there are some very good 3D games, I’m mainly interested in the 2D games, they are so colorful 90ish pixeled vibrant like nothing else out there❤
I love my saturn. Even though emulation is there, using a pseudo cart and real hardware just makes everything super simple (hoping princess crown gets the English patch treatment soon.)
I'm sat up at 06.10 am in a lot of pain with neuropraxia,and badly damaged dics. nothing comfort's me more than my medication and sega lord X. I've literally lost count how many times I've watched everything you've done back to back and in awe you took the time to read my request on the Ranger X video. Without a doubt my favourite RUclips channel and definitely a large part of my daily routine. Thank you lord X, genuinely you make my life more manageable with my pain and can't remember a time I haven't jumped on your uploads as soon as they drop.
Kinda rare and not a popular device. The VCD adapter. Enabled the Saturn to play mpeg1 video. There was an extensive library of videos available in the 90s. Device was placed in the backside, above the backup battery.
Thank you for mentioning alternative options to collecting the original products. I remember the old days of RUclips and RetrowareTV, where the idea of talking about something like emulation could get you ostracized.
Got one with an ODE connected to a CRT. Love the experience with the original gamepad which I consider to be one of the best for 2D Gaming. 6 Facebuttons, 2 Shoulder and the Genesis Style DPAD. Pure nostalgia. Pretty underrated system that was unlucky to compete with Sonys 3D-Powerhouse.
I’ve always been fascinated by the Saturn and have always been curious about getting one. Might just be because unlike the Genesis or even the Dreamcast and Game Gear, I didn’t know a single person that had one. It’s always seemed like the “diamond in the rough” console that just had lots of brilliant games that NEVER got mainstream attention.
Have so much regret for walking past Saturn games when retro games were cheap. Talking about just under 20 years ago. At the time I only collected Super Nintendo for my retro fix and the rest of my money went to current gen then at the time PS2.
Excellent video. Love the Saturn and the quality of some of the arcade ports (All the SF 2, Sega ages, most schmups etc.) always impresses even after years.
Saturn is such a beast and so very glad I held on to my collection after all these years! I do agree that PowerSlave and BulkSlash are two masterpieces on this console.
I used to own a Saturn and really enjoyed all the arcade conversions and import games...... however I gave it up and sold it all off as the prices were just getting insane especially for games that were only a few bucks not that long ago. The prices killed the fun of searching out new games.
This actually applies to me, i just bought a Saturn as of this past friday and always wanted to own one when i was a kid back when it released. I have no idea where to start as far as games so this vid should be of help!
Awesome video. Completely agree about expectations. Picked mine up 2013 expecting a playstation contemporary and was left very disappointed. Takes time from new to learn and appreciate what the Saturn has to offer.
Big man I've been SEGA since 1987, you still manage to get me super hyped to keep playin' the classics. All my mates had Nintendo PlayStation or PC, I always felt like a bit of an outsider. There's a strong sense of community with us SEGA lads. TBH, I had a bit of a superiority complex back in the day, like my peers are idiots. SEGA were kings of and I still stand by that. Great content brother.
As a fan of Sega Saturn and it being my favorite console that I owned as a teenager this video helped me so much with a clearer idea of where I should start to collect again. Thank you so much SLX!
@@Jaxxon123 open your brain and think why is it that the PlayStation was in more people's homes than Saturn? Hell even more N64s, it wasn't about having a pretty piece of kit to sit under the TV...clearly it was something about those consoles that the consumer liked....
Star Wars The Force Awakens is one of the highest grossing films ever. Taylor Swift sells more music than most bands/singers combined. Don't mistake the lack of mass market appeal for a lack of quality. Just because a game/platform doesn't move millions of units, doesn't mean it isn't quality.
I never really bought into the console wars as a kid, I was all about the games, but while I was a Nintendo consumer (we could only afford Either/Or and I chose Nintendo), I did enjoy the Sega Genesis when I got the chance to play one, thought their arcade games were incredible and owned a Dreamcast which became one of my favorite consoles ever. Lately I've been fostering an appreciation for the Master System, Genesis and Saturn libraries (I've fallen in love with the Streets of Rage games) and am thoroughly enjoying your channel. Keep it up.
Super glad that I jumped on getting a Saturn at a play and trade game store back in 2007 for 35 bucks. Still works and has an ODE installed today. It's been an investment that has been rewarding today with the amount of fan translations that are completing in recent years.
As someone who has never imported, buying a Japanese Saturn in 2021 was the best decision I’ve made. Just the fact how clean, functional, and fresh the games/accessories/ and of course console are is amazing. The price so way cheaper, and definitely beats buying a worn down US Saturn game for $50+ compared to a SEALED Japanese copy I got of virtua fighter, Daytona, and sonic jam for $20 each. LOVE IT
Given the price of games, i went with the fenrir duo ode and play it through a retrotink. Its been a blast and im finally getting to play through shining the holy ark. Runs well.
Recently got a HUGE deal by sticking with either bulk deals, or loose games. Every so often you get bad ones, but for an EA bundle and somehow, getting a copy of Christmas Nights? That's always a nice feeling
Just got my first Saturn a few years back. Had to settle with the JP version bc of the price, but I absolutely love it so far. The controller is way better than the Dreamcast IMO
I think in the 90's when 3D console games were a hot new thing, you could see consumers looking at 3d graphics over everything else, but now after three decades we've circled back in a way where lots of people love stylized 2D graphics over 4k RTX stuff. Look at the success of games like Hollow Knight, Pizza Tower, Cuphead, Celeste (I could seriously list dozens more hahaha). The Saturn feels perfect for gamers like that because there is just such a gorgeous aesthetic so many games pulled off on that system. Fantastic video, as someone who's wanted to own one since release and was never fortunate to have one, I've been looking at them the last year or so and this was exactly what I needed to help me. Thank you, sincerely.
I got my Saturn back in ‘99 when they were giving them away. I still have it, but last time I tried firing up, I couldn’t get a picture or sound. I was devastated! The disc spins.
Great video, I appreciate updating the advice for 2023. Got my Saturn in 2021 and collecting is fun, although prices are even steeper than when I had it as a kid back in 95'. Saturn is a total nostalgia ride for me, but that's what I want from it. DAY TONE AHHH!
It gladdens my heart that you get so much interest in the system, it tells me its legend continues to grow. I've got 100 games for mine, and there are so many interesting titles remaining I could easily buy 100-200 more.
You put it perfectly, the Saturn library if great but what really makes it shine is how unique and different it is from the other systems at the time. For me it's the arcade ports that I really love but there is plenty for everyone to find some fun! Great video brother, appreciate what you do!
SEGA Lord X Thank you for this video. I bought a Japanese model 1 Saturn and a couple of games. I also bought a MODE to preserve the games cuz good grief they’re pricey now. But it is always hooked up on my shelf just like my Dreamcast and N64. I absolutely love the Saturn. Thank you for all the info.
I literally found a Victor Saturn at a Pawn shop for 75 bucks w 7 amines that I thought were games! I also found your channel a few days later. Thank you for the video.
Just purchased a Saturn a few days ago and I'm waiting on it to come in. I also bought a Dreamcast last month. Back in the day I didnt buy either of them and have regretted it for many years. I'm really excited to get started with the Saturn and I'm loving my Dreamcast so far.
@@danseth5775 meh, it's a game. If I'm not having fun it's time to stop. Save states are just a different way to play the game And if I wanted to challenge I'd go back to college
That's something the Sega Saturn and I have in common: we both work better if we clean our insides with high grade alcohol. Mine tends to be a bit more barrel aged.
I had a Japanese game for the Saturn called Deep Fear. It was a survivor horror game that took place in an underwater base. It was the 1st survivor horror game that you were able to move and shoot at the same time.
The Saturn is still my favorite console. I have been considering getting a fully kitted out, modded Saturn as the hardware ages, lasers die and storage continuously blanks with the watch battery.
This video has great timing; I've recently been considering getting a Japanese Saturn so I can explore its library like I never could. Many of the games I'm interested in are relatively cheap, and even have the case and manual. Games like NiGHTs and Sonic Jam are much, much more affordable than their western releases. The console and its controllers are simply beautiful, and I've always found them to be cooler-looking than the Playstation.
I actually inherited my Saturn from my uncle, years after he forgot about it and we were selling my grandma's house, it was still there! Only had VF2 to start, but I've got myself a nice little collection now never spending more than $50 on any single game.
I don’t comment often, but when I watched this, I thought “I sit at the feet of the master.” Fantastic take on the Saturn, and bringing into 2023 while still keeping the history in context. 🤘🏼🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘🏼
Great video as always, Sega Lord X. The only two subjects missing would be discussing Netlink with a DreamPi or PC allows us to still play online. The other would be that the Saturn shines best on a CRT TV with two light guns, offering a gameplay experience that modern consoles don't have.
Whew, I just got done clearing out most all of the “broken” Saturns on eBay. Glad I did before the price starts to jump… never had a Saturn until now, I buy the broken ones, fix them up for myself, ode shells, and dc power supplies.
Just last year I bought a Japanese Saturn for $79, and a Fenrir ODE for $130. Easy to install, now I can play all of the Saturn games I missed out on, games that are incredibly rare to find, or insanely expensive to collect. I highly recommend going this route if you want to experience all the Saturn had to offer. Plus, English translations and vocal patches for games that were never released in NA is a huge bonus.
I have a brazilian skeleton Saturn with modchip and I bought a cheap scart to HDMI converter on aliexpress that actually does the correct upscaling to my 60'' TV. It's being a blast for the past 4 years and I didn't even spend much on it. I even bought a wireless controller adapter so I could you that 8bitdo Mega Drive controller, which makes everything more authentic.
i got a Sega Saturn all the way from Osaka japan came in 2 days a rare bundle with the virtual cop gun con its so much fun despite the words and reviews i love that console!!!
I've been slowly growing my Saturn collection back to its glory days. While I may never get Panzer Dragoon Saga again, I'm looking at other games instead. I'm focusing on the fighting games because pixel art back then was top notch and cost be damned.
I just recently bought a Japanese Sega Saturn. All the games are cheaper and easier to find. I wish I never got rid of my original Saturn but I'm glad I can play all my old classics again.
Research the terraonion mode and play the entire library off a Microsoft card on your saturn.
Not Microsoft Micro SD^ card
Still amazed when I found a working, great condition Japanese Saturn (without cords mind you) for 2,000 yen last year - always thought the Saturn would be out of my price range, but sometimes you just have to look around.
The All-in-One cart with the 1MB/4MB RAM & Save functionality (plus region-free/CD-R Burned disc compatobility) is nice to have too (about 40$ to 70$ depending on the version you buy), but you could get by with the cheaper Japanese Saturn games at about 500yen to 15$ a game (Daytona USA, SEGA Rally, Virtua Cop 1/2, Virtua Fighter Remix/1/2/Kids, Fighting Vipers, Fighters Megamix).
Cord solutions are pretty easy to find for Saturn & looks amazing on a 50" inch plus OLED if you have a friend you can borrow the RetroTink 5x (300USD) from, plus an RGB SCART cable (40-60USD) for it. Otherwise the normal composite cables (10-20$) do the trick, or even a cheap (40-60$) HDMI converter box if you don't have a CRT to play with.
The Saturn can start cheap as you want to as expensive as you want if you buy all the accesories for sure. An ODE like the Satiator is nice, but expensive ($259USD). Twin Sticks can range from 3,500yen to hundreds of USD if in box.
They aren't cheap anymore now that everyone is buying them up
I’m definitely considering Saturn as I want to discover it’s awesome library of games, especially its Japanese exclusives and your video has definitely helped with this.
Wish they make a Sega Saturn Mini.
Given the complete failure of Playstation mini, if they were to do a mini Saturn, Sega would need to take great care.
I bought 2 sega saturn consoles this year. Dont regret my purchases. Even though I'm a hardcore Nintendo kid, I absolutely love the Saturn
Get a satiator. It’s all anyone needs.
I got one two years ago. I chipped it and bought many CD-R.
You could say Nintendo. Back than and also switching to pc I nearly completely ignored sega.
@dogeymon83 - ... I went with the Terraonion MODE. I wanted to preserve the expansion slot for a V-CD card, for the few Japanese games that support it. I was fortunate to find a Victor v3.0 V-CD card a few years ago for around $160. It's the ultimate V-CD Saturn card and now, they're tough to find + even more expensive!
@@dogeymon83For $260 I don't think so. Just get a flash cart and some blank CDs.
I gew up with it as the first console I chose out of my own free will not something your parents just buy. I got the SNES as a surprise birthday gift and I liked it but I LOVED the Sega Saturn. Still do. So many great games.
Some tips and tricks I learnt along the way with my Saturn:
To those looking into either the MODE or Fenrir as ODE options, I recommend you also find a mount to go with it. Installing the ODE leaves a huge gaping hole in the console as it was molded to have the disc drive stick out. This isn't inheritly bad on itself as by all means you're likely to keep the lid closed as you're playing, but be warned that it does make it so dust can seep through the console more frequently as well as being a general electrical hazard with the power supply being directly to the side. Getting a mount not only makes the finishing build more pleasent but also makes it less of an electrical hazard if you decide to take your storage device in and out of the console.
The one gripe I have is if you're moving the console it can bump the ribbon cable connecting the mount to the ODE loose and you have to open up the shell again to reposition it. Should be fine though if you just keep it one place and don't intend to move it from one room to the next, or at least if you're careful how move it.
I'd highly advise trying to seek a Pseudo Saturn Kai whether or not you're using discs or an ODE as it reduces the amount of times you need to put things in the cartridge slot. There's a switch on top of these cartridges typically to switch between different modes, from extra storage to 1MB RAM to even 4MB RAM. I have had finicky experiences with the cart though as one time booting up Cotton 2, not all of the expansion cart options were loaded but after some fiddling it's been showing fine. After market methods for Saturn games do generally require a lot of figuring stuff out and isn't always the most elequaint in terms fo what seems to be on the surface. Still, what they do to extend the life of a Saturn is more appreciated than a detriment.
Only do this if you get a Saturn suffering from faulty sound and visual distortions, clean the motherboard and possibly see if you can get it recapped. Recapping the consoles isn't something urgent you need to do but down the line those caps on the boards may burst and if you're cleaning and notice any acid seeping out then seek out someone who's familiar with recapping motherboards. The console is going onto 30 and while it may be around this decade where re-capping might need to be considered, from what I've seen from the retro community it's not something you should stress about until you see the signs. Hell you could have a freak of nature that won't crap itself until it's like 60 possibly and the Saturn has shown to be a sturdy piece of 90's tech.
A more fun note to end this on; you can restart the console from just the controller! Just hold Start then A+B+C. This will soft reset whatever game your in if you're currently in the middle of playing it but doing it again on a game title screen will reset you back to the boot menu, meaning you can swap games without having to get up and manually hit the access button on the console. Pretty convenient if you're going the ODE route for the Saturn too!
Granted while I have been hyping up ODE's this whole comment, I can understand why some people don't want to take appart their consoles. The Satiator is currently a decent option though it is WAY more expensive to import out of Japan (last I checked at least in Australia they only ship over with DHL?) but also on the way is research being done on a solution requiring a cartridge to play games on. This cartridge solution is looking really promising also as it may mean you get the benefits of playing back ups, having spare memory and ram within the one cart also and the back expansion bay still being open to the video card for the games that use them...
...Though I definitely won't blame you going the Satiator route as the expansion bay you put it in is only reserved for a Video Card that only a handful of Saturn games use and only one game in that selection requires it (that being Lunar: Silver Star Story... Which already has another release that doesn't require the card). Only get this if you're a big fan of the games it was used for, which majority are in Japanese so either wait around for translation patches or if you so happen to be bilingual (or learning the language).
I’ll buy one today. Although I was a N64 kid, your channel opened my eyes to Saturn’s collection of unique games.
I love pixelated 32-bit graphics with lots of 2d elements.
I gotta admit the saturn still has a sexy, modern design.
Agreed. Its my favorite looking console next to the Sega CDX.
It really is a console that’s older than me 😅 yet I’m very intrigued as always
Cool
@@lednailsSNES hideous? You take that back you filthy heathen.
And it's built like a tank.
The Saturn is like a pair of nunchucks, difficult to use but when mastered it's brilliance shines
Young gamers need to understand this:
The 32-bit era was gaming's crowning achievement in bringing 3D graphics to the home consoles before the Windows 95 commencement for PCs. To be able to witness games go from 2D to 3D is historical and mesmerizing. The saturn our family witnessed in christmas of 1996 (there was triple game bundle) blew our socks off in how powerful this system was.
Like a distant cousin, I will always cherish the Saturn for my exposure of 3D Graphics and optimal performance a game system should have.
I agree. These kids now will never experience the greatness of the 1990s in gaming. It's sad, actually. The modern shite is going to lead to another crash...I can't wait. It needs it.
They can still play 90s games though, if they want too. Got two of my nephews onto Baldur's gate this month, they are really enjoying it. Great thing about modern gaming is the indie scene, its top notch.
i disagree and i was there as well.
not everybody was into the new 3d stuff that got introduced in the second half of the 90s.
true, a lot of people fell in love with mario 64 or tomb raider back in the day, BUT there were also others who didn't.
heck, i still remember some people hating on all this polygonal stuff - such as myself - and prefering to talk with others about the weather over playing the og super smash bros at birthdays. i still dislike those horrible polygonal games from that generation. to watch them looks like torture to me.
my belief is that the og playstation was very popular just because it was dirt cheap to get games - many people had a collection of burned cds with pirate ps1 games.
the sega saturn was too expensive and had very few games in comparison.
@@1984relax_ Funny you mention this since this is how VR games of today are getting the same treatment through its current early stages. I think the difference between the push for 3D and VR are significant in that the push for 3D (which HAD been the center focus of all entertainment at that point through experimentation) involved committed engineers and programmers willing to evolve technology to the next level whereas Virtual Reality now has been left in the wayside due to these gaming companies dialing back due to disinterest in product integrity and economical concerns post-covid. We're very fortunate we had 3D games to begin with or else it would've been just all SCUMM or FMV had not been for Apogee, ID, Lucasarts, Sierra, and Sega pushing technology to the next level. Where would be without 3D technology? I guess back to reading books i suppose. 😁
I'll never forget when I went into town in early '96 with my folks with the intention of getting a Megadrive, and my dad let me get a Saturn. I had the choice between that and the PSX, and I've never regretted the Saturn. Seeing VF2, Sega Rally and Nights (when it came out) for the first time was just something that'll always stick with me. I remember even my dad, who never really thought much of videogames, was totally blown away by Sega Rally and Tomb Raider.
My favorite game for my Saturn was always Nights: Into Dreams.
Dragonforce
I can always go back and play me some Nights.
Grandia
I've lived and breathed Nights all these years and I'm 41 now. I don't think I'll ever get bored of it. Mind you, I still enjoy some like Panzer Dragoon Saga, Guardian Heroes, Dragon Force, Fighters Megamix, Metal Slug and Dead or Alive almost as much.
For me, it was the Sega arcade ports such as Virtua Fighter 2, Sega Rally, Daytona USA and Virtua Cop 2. I must have spent thousands of hours playing those games, especially fighting in VF2 against a friend was seriously addictive fun. VF2 was also a marvel of technical excellence, running fluidly in hi-res mode and making full use of both CPUs.
Thank you so much for the shoutout Mel! Great job with the vid, this is pretty comprehensive for people just getting into the Saturn scene.
just recently got a saturn and my only game is daytona usa. It’s actually insanely fun, and i’ve been replaying it for a couple weeks now, perfecting my skill and going for faster laps. I can’t wait to get my pseudo saturn kai and explore the full library of the saturn at will!
It's truly replayable. Trying to beat your previous score in any of the courses is a bliss not everyone actually appreciates.
Tip for you: try holding down the brake and accelerator at the same time during the countdown at the beginning of the advanced and expert courses, and release only the brake at around 6/7k rpm when the countdown has finished. It'll give you a fantastic boost which will let you surpass your previous records by 5 seconds or more. Discovered it a week ago and I'm having so much fun replaying such courses these days.
I know people like to chide it now, and yeah maybe they made better ports later, but I played the heck out of Daytona when I first got it and loved every minute. 👍
It's rough around the edges, especially today, but you can't escape the charm and speed. Daytona CCE was more polished but for some inexplicable reason they decided to wreck the original handling of the cars. It's one of the biggest mysteries in gaming development.
Hyper Duel, and Guardian Force are my top Saturn games.
Got my Saturn at a garage sale in 2018 for 18 bucks, bought a box that included a ps2, og xbox, genesis 3 and a saturn
Great video! We really do need a Saturn Mini. I know SEGA said it would be super hard to make, but they also said that they would be open to making it if they could work alongside people who truly love the Saturn. I'm sure there's more than a few people out there with the skills needed who would gladly help SEGA out.
Apparently they also approached this with the Dreamcast mini, but they had said they won't make it because there's no way they can make it and sell it for less than $300.
I've been watching your Saturn videos to learn about and build my excitement for the Saturn. I have acquired a Japanese Saturn with several awesome games, and I can't wait to dive into this system.
Great video! I'd love to see a similar video covering buying a Master System in the modern day 🙏 Thanks as always for the great content.
I hadn't considered other systems for this kind of video. Maybe I'll try it.
I agree, a "Master System Buyer's Guide" video would be amazing! I'm also thinking a Game Gear video on the topic would be great!
Agreed. I'd love to see a Sega console buying guide series!
I really love 2D on the Saturn, to me it is the ultimate 2D machine with the Neo Geo.
But for 3D im not that much a fan, it doesn’t handle polygons too well.
Sprites are where this console excels with its almost a dozen Processors!
Heres how I did it..I love saturn so much, I bardered, sold, and traded in my entire collectibles collection, in exchange for saturn stuff. Zero out of pocket expense.BTW we badly need a video of which games came with foam and which didn't. Im trying to CIB my collection. Also my "worth it" japanese Satrun game is Super Robot Taisen Final F.
Bought a Saturn back in April and love it! This video helped a lot in that process
Just bought my first Saturn today for my birthday in large part thanks to you. Appreciate your videos, and am looking forward to diving into a new console. Keep up the awesome work.
Still my favourite sega console. Night Into dreams still rocks today.
Huge fan of your work. Thank you for the videos and your hardwork on them. I recently got me a Sega Saturn a year ago and now I own Sonic Jam, Sonic R, Sonic 3D Blast, Megaman 8 The House Of The Dead, Fighters MegaMix, Fighting Vipers, Virtua Fighter 2, Rayman, X-Men Versus Street Fighter, Astal, Clockwork Knight 1 and Clockwork Knight 2 and Nights Into Dreams!
Glad you are enjoying it. Don't forget Virtua Cop!
Once again, another quality video! Keep up the great work and thank you again for the advice!
Thanks again! Appreciate it!
Love the channel. Keep up the great work. Gives me my retro fix. Memories of my local videogame shop, and places like software etc and funcoland. A golden era for sure.
My Mum got me a Saturn in 96. I ❤ My Mum
That's amazing. I got my self one a year after as I was a huge fan. It costed £99 still remember the joy I had playing it!
The Sega Saturn was one of those things I first purchased with my first job😊
Good for you! ^^
#1 mum!
I have been watching your awesome stuff for a while, and the Saturn is one of my most beloved systems! So many games I can always go back to and play. Some to throw out there: Dragonforce, Enemy Zero, Guardian Heroes, Three Dirty Dwarves, and Shining the Holy Ark! Keep up the great work!
I always wanted a Saturn since the 90s and finally got me a Japanese model 2 at the beginning of this year 🥳, even though there are some very good 3D games, I’m mainly interested in the 2D games, they are so colorful 90ish pixeled vibrant like nothing else out there❤
Dude I LOVED Clockwork Knight back in the day!! Such good memories and I still remember the tunes of the levels
if you’re a fan of ‘90s 2D shmups and fighters, Saturn is the King.
Yep.
@@Jaxxon123 mate please don’t call me a ‘kid’ and don’t ever talk to me again. Thank you
@@gracekim1998 Who are you? I don't ever recall addressing you. This is a public forum. You're acting like a whiny kid, now.
Really appreciate the tip about the memory card slot! Mine's definitely in really rough condition. I wasn't aware I could potentially fix it myself!
Don't forget to replace the battery save system with a similar new battery.
I love my saturn. Even though emulation is there, using a pseudo cart and real hardware just makes everything super simple (hoping princess crown gets the English patch treatment soon.)
Bulk Slash looks fun!
It’s a legit blast.
I'm sat up at 06.10 am in a lot of pain with neuropraxia,and badly damaged dics. nothing comfort's me more than my medication and sega lord X. I've literally lost count how many times I've watched everything you've done back to back and in awe you took the time to read my request on the Ranger X video. Without a doubt my favourite RUclips channel and definitely a large part of my daily routine. Thank you lord X, genuinely you make my life more manageable with my pain and can't remember a time I haven't jumped on your uploads as soon as they drop.
I'm glad the videos help and I hope you have more good days then bad.
I agree. This man is knows his stuff. Listening to him always takes me back to the 1990s, when gaming was...gaming. I hope you feel better man!
I play saturn games on my polymega, and to my eyes the emulation is pretty much spot on
Always love a good Saturn Video! Great stuff as always.
Glad you enjoyed!
Kinda rare and not a popular device. The VCD adapter. Enabled the Saturn to play mpeg1 video. There was an extensive library of videos available in the 90s. Device was placed in the backside, above the backup battery.
Thank you for mentioning alternative options to collecting the original products. I remember the old days of RUclips and RetrowareTV, where the idea of talking about something like emulation could get you ostracized.
Got one with an ODE connected to a CRT. Love the experience with the original gamepad which I consider to be one of the best for 2D Gaming. 6 Facebuttons, 2 Shoulder and the Genesis Style DPAD. Pure nostalgia. Pretty underrated system that was unlucky to compete with Sonys 3D-Powerhouse.
Same here :) I've been playing through the English translation of grandia I loved the PlayStation version but man is the Saturn version superior
We need Sega Saturn clone consoles in the future!!
Having bought a Saturn in Japan, I love the fighting games it has. Fighters Megamix is amazing
I liked the calming music w nice sparkles w the topic transitions
How do you not run out of topics within Sega? I love it
Very nice video on my favorite console. Thanks!
This year my Saturn collection had jumped from 8 games to 33. I found some surprisingly good deals on eBay on titles I wanted.
Nicely done! The LOT deals are usually a good place to build up a collection
I’ve always been fascinated by the Saturn and have always been curious about getting one. Might just be because unlike the Genesis or even the Dreamcast and Game Gear, I didn’t know a single person that had one. It’s always seemed like the “diamond in the rough” console that just had lots of brilliant games that NEVER got mainstream attention.
Just bought a Sega Saturn today. Never owned one before. I got Daytona Usa, Virtua Cop, and Tomb Raider. Your videos inspired me to make the purchase
Have so much regret for walking past Saturn games when retro games were cheap. Talking about just under 20 years ago.
At the time I only collected Super Nintendo for my retro fix and the rest of my money went to current gen then at the time PS2.
Excellent video. Love the Saturn and the quality of some of the arcade ports (All the SF 2, Sega ages, most schmups etc.) always impresses even after years.
I got mine last June. I love it considering that I never grew up with one.
Saturn is such a beast and so very glad I held on to my collection after all these years! I do agree that PowerSlave and BulkSlash are two masterpieces on this console.
Crazy, my Saturn just came in today.
I used to own a Saturn and really enjoyed all the arcade conversions and import games...... however I gave it up and sold it all off as the prices were just getting insane especially for games that were only a few bucks not that long ago. The prices killed the fun of searching out new games.
This actually applies to me, i just bought a Saturn as of this past friday and always wanted to own one when i was a kid back when it released. I have no idea where to start as far as games so this vid should be of help!
Congrats! Same I got mine this year, very happy with it.
Saturn's Magic Knight Rayearth now goes for $600 on Ebay...Ouch.
Awesome video. Completely agree about expectations. Picked mine up 2013 expecting a playstation contemporary and was left very disappointed. Takes time from new to learn and appreciate what the Saturn has to offer.
awhile back, i got some friends to get their own saturns with dragon force, guardian heroes, and virtual on. great games will sell themselves.
That's awesome
Big man I've been SEGA since 1987, you still manage to get me super hyped to keep playin' the classics.
All my mates had Nintendo PlayStation or PC, I always felt like a bit of an outsider. There's a strong sense of community with us SEGA lads.
TBH, I had a bit of a superiority complex back in the day, like my peers are idiots. SEGA were kings of and I still stand by that.
Great content brother.
As a fan of Sega Saturn and it being my favorite console that I owned as a teenager this video helped me so much with a clearer idea of where I should start to collect again. Thank you so much SLX!
The Sega Saturn was an awesome Console back in the day.
Sales figures say otherwise....it was a commercial flop bar Japan but even that didn't help it's cause
@@yuvraj01 Sales don't necessarily determine greatness. Open your brain, (if capable.)
@@Jaxxon123 open your brain and think why is it that the PlayStation was in more people's homes than Saturn? Hell even more N64s, it wasn't about having a pretty piece of kit to sit under the TV...clearly it was something about those consoles that the consumer liked....
Star Wars The Force Awakens is one of the highest grossing films ever. Taylor Swift sells more music than most bands/singers combined. Don't mistake the lack of mass market appeal for a lack of quality. Just because a game/platform doesn't move millions of units, doesn't mean it isn't quality.
I never really bought into the console wars as a kid, I was all about the games, but while I was a Nintendo consumer (we could only afford Either/Or and I chose Nintendo), I did enjoy the Sega Genesis when I got the chance to play one, thought their arcade games were incredible and owned a Dreamcast which became one of my favorite consoles ever. Lately I've been fostering an appreciation for the Master System, Genesis and Saturn libraries (I've fallen in love with the Streets of Rage games) and am thoroughly enjoying your channel. Keep it up.
Super glad that I jumped on getting a Saturn at a play and trade game store back in 2007 for 35 bucks. Still works and has an ODE installed today. It's been an investment that has been rewarding today with the amount of fan translations that are completing in recent years.
As someone who has never imported, buying a Japanese Saturn in 2021 was the best decision I’ve made. Just the fact how clean, functional, and fresh the games/accessories/ and of course console are is amazing. The price so way cheaper, and definitely beats buying a worn down US Saturn game for $50+ compared to a SEALED Japanese copy I got of virtua fighter, Daytona, and sonic jam for $20 each. LOVE IT
Given the price of games, i went with the fenrir duo ode and play it through a retrotink. Its been a blast and im finally getting to play through shining the holy ark. Runs well.
Love your channel I collect for Saturn and just love the content you push out
I bought a JP Saturn this year to play all the marvel capcom fighting games. These are pretty close to arcade quality
Recently got a HUGE deal by sticking with either bulk deals, or loose games. Every so often you get bad ones, but for an EA bundle and somehow, getting a copy of Christmas Nights? That's always a nice feeling
As a proud owner of a Saturn I have to say thank you for such an awesome video. Please, keep giving us more of these videos.
Just got my first Saturn a few years back. Had to settle with the JP version bc of the price, but I absolutely love it so far. The controller is way better than the Dreamcast IMO
I think in the 90's when 3D console games were a hot new thing, you could see consumers looking at 3d graphics over everything else, but now after three decades we've circled back in a way where lots of people love stylized 2D graphics over 4k RTX stuff. Look at the success of games like Hollow Knight, Pizza Tower, Cuphead, Celeste (I could seriously list dozens more hahaha). The Saturn feels perfect for gamers like that because there is just such a gorgeous aesthetic so many games pulled off on that system.
Fantastic video, as someone who's wanted to own one since release and was never fortunate to have one, I've been looking at them the last year or so and this was exactly what I needed to help me. Thank you, sincerely.
I got my Saturn back in ‘99 when they were giving them away. I still have it, but last time I tried firing up, I couldn’t get a picture or sound. I was devastated! The disc spins.
Great video, I appreciate updating the advice for 2023. Got my Saturn in 2021 and collecting is fun, although prices are even steeper than when I had it as a kid back in 95'.
Saturn is a total nostalgia ride for me, but that's what I want from it. DAY TONE AHHH!
It gladdens my heart that you get so much interest in the system, it tells me its legend continues to grow. I've got 100 games for mine, and there are so many interesting titles remaining I could easily buy 100-200 more.
Never was a Sega kid. My friend had a Saturn and i always enjoyed playing. Thank you for the advice and content.
You put it perfectly, the Saturn library if great but what really makes it shine is how unique and different it is from the other systems at the time. For me it's the arcade ports that I really love but there is plenty for everyone to find some fun!
Great video brother, appreciate what you do!
SEGA Lord X
Thank you for this video. I bought a Japanese model 1 Saturn and a couple of games. I also bought a MODE to preserve the games cuz good grief they’re pricey now. But it is always hooked up on my shelf just like my Dreamcast and N64. I absolutely love the Saturn. Thank you for all the info.
I have a PAL Saturn from years ago and last year I bought a Japanese one too. I love this console.
Pal saturn is still good for all optimized pal saturn games
I literally found a Victor Saturn at a Pawn shop for 75 bucks w 7 amines that I thought were games! I also found your channel a few days later. Thank you for the video.
Just purchased a Saturn a few days ago and I'm waiting on it to come in. I also bought a Dreamcast last month. Back in the day I didnt buy either of them and have regretted it for many years. I'm really excited to get started with the Saturn and I'm loving my Dreamcast so far.
Great video as always. Shinrei Jusatsushi Tarōmaru is a Saturn import I absolutely love. Highly recommend it.
It's 2024, finally pulled the trigger and am importing a beautiful Japanese Saturn.
Can't wait until the MiSTer fpga Saturn core gets finished, it's already shaping up nicely
I gotta admit it's tough to give up save states in an emulator.
Yeah but when you think about it, You're not actually beating the games using save states.
@@danseth5775 meh, it's a game. If I'm not having fun it's time to stop. Save states are just a different way to play the game
And if I wanted to challenge I'd go back to college
I know what you mean
Yeah and the nostalgia of playing on a real system will wear off unless you see a fanboy
@@robot7935It's just video games bro. It ain't deep.
That's something the Sega Saturn and I have in common: we both work better if we clean our insides with high grade alcohol. Mine tends to be a bit more barrel aged.
I had a Japanese game for the Saturn called Deep Fear. It was a survivor horror game that took place in an underwater base. It was the 1st survivor horror game that you were able to move and shoot at the same time.
The Saturn is still my favorite console. I have been considering getting a fully kitted out, modded Saturn as the hardware ages, lasers die and storage continuously blanks with the watch battery.
This video has great timing; I've recently been considering getting a Japanese Saturn so I can explore its library like I never could. Many of the games I'm interested in are relatively cheap, and even have the case and manual. Games like NiGHTs and Sonic Jam are much, much more affordable than their western releases. The console and its controllers are simply beautiful, and I've always found them to be cooler-looking than the Playstation.
I actually inherited my Saturn from my uncle, years after he forgot about it and we were selling my grandma's house, it was still there! Only had VF2 to start, but I've got myself a nice little collection now never spending more than $50 on any single game.
I went from Snes/ps1/dreamcast I totally had no idea about this hidden gem of a system. Im currently trying to get it running in launchbox.
I don’t comment often, but when I watched this, I thought “I sit at the feet of the master.”
Fantastic take on the Saturn, and bringing into 2023 while still keeping the history in context. 🤘🏼🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘🏼
Great video as always, Sega Lord X. The only two subjects missing would be discussing Netlink with a DreamPi or PC allows us to still play online. The other would be that the Saturn shines best on a CRT TV with two light guns, offering a gameplay experience that modern consoles don't have.
Whew, I just got done clearing out most all of the “broken” Saturns on eBay. Glad I did before the price starts to jump… never had a Saturn until now, I buy the broken ones, fix them up for myself, ode shells, and dc power supplies.
i want to get a fenrir for the saturn one day , actually buying the games is pretty ridiculous at this point
Just last year I bought a Japanese Saturn for $79, and a Fenrir ODE for $130. Easy to install, now I can play all of the Saturn games I missed out on, games that are incredibly rare to find, or insanely expensive to collect. I highly recommend going this route if you want to experience all the Saturn had to offer. Plus, English translations and vocal patches for games that were never released in NA is a huge bonus.
Sega Lord X Thank You so many great games on the Saturn amazing times in the 80s and 90s
I have a brazilian skeleton Saturn with modchip and I bought a cheap scart to HDMI converter on aliexpress that actually does the correct upscaling to my 60'' TV.
It's being a blast for the past 4 years and I didn't even spend much on it.
I even bought a wireless controller adapter so I could you that 8bitdo Mega Drive controller, which makes everything more authentic.
That Guardian heroes music in the background at 14:38 really hit me hard, I miss that game.
My favorite game in the Saturn.
i got a Sega Saturn all the way from Osaka japan came in 2 days a rare bundle with the virtual cop gun con its so much fun despite the words and reviews i love that console!!!
If you want a physical Saturn collection try to win the lottery
If your are lucky enough to find your self in Japan hit up a game store the prices are surprisingly good.
I've been slowly growing my Saturn collection back to its glory days. While I may never get Panzer Dragoon Saga again, I'm looking at other games instead. I'm focusing on the fighting games because pixel art back then was top notch and cost be damned.