The Sega Saturn is, unfortunately, frequently ignored, especially compared to the Dreamcast and Genesis. This could be in part due to there being no mainline Sonic game appearing on the console, mismanagement from Sega of America, or the fact that it was a 2D powerhouse in an industry that was shifting towards 3D. Either way, the Saturn doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves.
There were many great titles on the system, many of which remain exclusive to this day. As an ode to the Sega of old, we have decided to curate 10 of the best games the Saturn had to offer.
10 Silhouette Mirage
Starting off strong with Silhouette Mirage, this oft-overlooked game is a 2D sprite-based run and gun with some added beat em’ up elements. The game was created by the ex-Konami employees that make up the masters at Treasure.
The game leans heavily on the gimmick of colors. If you are facing in one direction, you’ll be red, face the other direction, you’ll be purple. Depending on which enemy you’re attacking, you’ll have to face either direction. It sounds confusing, we know, but, once you get the hang of it, it’s a great time.
9 House of the Dead
Now a household name with many ports across many systems, the Sega Saturn version was actually the very first homeport of House of the Dead. It may have been ugly and blocky in comparison to its arcade counterpart, but being able to blast away zombies at home without needing a pocket of quarters made it worth the slight regression in visuals.
With the campy voice acting an over the top violence, Sega created the perfect homage to B-rated, cheap horror movies of the 80s and 90s, with the sequels only getting better!
8 X-Men vs Street Fighter
The Saturn had a fantastic selection of fighters to choose from, from the odd Waku Waku 7 to the tradition Street Fighter Alpha 3, and, thanks to the 2D prowess of the Saturn, these home console ports could finally live up to their arcade counterparts.
X-Men vs Street Fighter marked the first time Capcom and Marvel characters fought in one game and gave birth to the Marvel vs. Capcom series that still runs to this day. The over the top comic book action is some of the best 2D sprite work on the console and is still impressive to this day.
7 Nights into Dreams
Night into Dreams seemingly took the spot of Sonic on the Saturn as Yuji Naka, the creator of Sonic, was behind this project. In Nights into Dreams, you guide the jester looking Nights’ through different circles to collect points as you fly through the air.
The game came with a controller designed specifically for the 3D aspect of the game, but it works perfectly well with a regular controller. The game later got a sequel on the Wii, and the original has been ported to many different consoles including the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and more.
6 Burning Rangers
In Burning Rangers, you play as a futuristic firefighter who is equipped with a jetpack for dashing around levels and a special fire-extinguishing laser gun. Throughout the game, you collect gems, put out fires with your team of elite firefighters, and save innocent civilians from burning buildings.
The game was created by Sonic Team as well as Yuji Naka following the development of Nights into Dreams, and it later had a spiritual successor named Gun Valkryie on the original Xbox which expanded on the gameplay with more complex jetpack dashing and aerial gunfighting action.
5 Guardian Heroes
Created by the same team who developed Silhouette Mirage, Guardian Heroes is a four-player beat em’ up with RPG elements. The three-level playing field and multiple characters to choose from and level up gave the game depth unlike most other beat em’ ups of the time.
As with any Treasure game, there are many oversized bosses as well as difficult gameplay to keep you coming back. Luckily, this game was ported over to online stores with updated graphics, with there also being a sequel for the Game Boy Advance, so this game isn’t entirely lost to time.
4 Panzer Dragoon 2 Zwei
The Panzer Dragoon series is an essential part of any Saturn collection. The first two games in the series are evolutions of the Space Harrier formula, updated to suit a 3D space. The third game in the series, Panzer Dragoon Sagas is an epic RPG set in the universe of the first two games.
The gameplay is simple to understand, but it can be very difficult to master. You rotate your character 360 degrees on their dragon and fire at enemies that can come from any angle. The gameplay was later expanded even further in both the sequel Panzer Dragoon Orta and Rez.
3 Astal
Astal is a traditional side-scrolling platformer that has elements of a beat em’ up. The game has outstanding graphics that make great use of color and truly proves that the Saturn was a 2D monster capable of delivering timeless graphics that can still be appreciated over 20 years later.
The intro of Astal has a beautiful full-motion-video showing off the character, the ensuing plot, and Astal’s feathered friend whom you rescue early in the game. The bird becomes an integral part of the gameplay and can actually be controlled by a second player.
2 Radiant Silvergun
The third a final Treasure game on this list, Radiant Silvergun is a shoot em’ up unlike any you have ever played. Rather than collecting power-ups, you are given all of the power-ups from the beginning and have to figure out when the best time to use each is.
To master this game, you must master the radiant sword, a sword that absorbs enemy bullets until it is entirely powered. Once it is powered up, it can clear the screen of all enemies with massive swords that come out of your ship. You must learn to use this and all of the eight separate power-ups effectively to beat this rather difficult game.
1 Daytona USA
Daytona USA is one of the most iconic games for the system. Daytona USA, like most of Sega’s racing games, made its first appearance in the arcades. As you blaze through these levels with the Hornet, Sega’s mastery over racing games is apparent.
The main theme, composed and sung by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi at the start of the game, is just as iconic as the Hornet itself. The game was later updated further on the Dreamcast with Daytona USA 2001, which included every course from the original Daytona USA game, as well as the Championship Circuit Edition.
NEXT: Physical Games Are Making Bank For Sega
