Saturn



"It's how you play the game."

The Saturn was a mixed bag for Sega. It was actually their most successful console in Japan; not a monster hit like the PlayStation, but it did better than the Nintendo 64. Consequently, it amassed a very respectable game library, full of unique, high-quality titles. On the other hand, it was a total commercial disaster in America, due to incompetent management and a launch so botched that it made some retailers swear off Sega entirely. Naturally, much of that sweet library stayed in the far east.

Due to the poor sales, games and accessories are getting rare and expensive these days. If you actually have the system, it is a good idea to get an optical drive emulator. There are three options: the fancy Terraonion MODE lets you load games from microSD cards, USB flash drives, or SATA drives; the more affordable Fenrir accepts only microSD cards; and the more recent Satiator, which uniquely uses the rear expansion port instead of replacing the CD drive.

Also consider getting a Pseudo Saturn Cartridge and look up on how to use it, as some games require a memory expansion. Otherwise, just emulate it (SSF for low- to mid-range PCs, mednafen/Beetle for mid- to high-end).

Also check these guides from Randomized Gaming: The complete European Sega Saturn 60Hz guide to PAL optimised games, and Sega Saturn games with major region and version changes.