Saturn imports - what do you love?

Ah, the Saturn - a true Japanese game fan's paradise. Probably my favorite system of all time, and it still gets more use than my PS2.

I came home from Japan with several import titles (ranging from insanely cheap to horribly expensive), and I must say, there are many excellent but fairly unknown import Saturn games out there. Sure, everyone and their mom has heard about Radiant Silvergun - but what about the also-excellent Soukyugurentai? How about cool 2D platformers like Keio Yuugekitai? Or even obscure arcade ports like Bubble Symphony, Cotton 2... even unique stuff like Necronomicon pinball.

So what are your favorite Saturn import games? Famous or not so famous, any genre, I want to hear them. Although the system may be dead, it's top-notch library gives it life forever in the hearts of dedicated gamers everywhere.

 

Shining Force 3 would be my favourite saturn game by far I think. Never getting around to importing scenarios 2 and 3 bothers the hell out of me.

Other than that, xmen vs street fighter and the wealth of other quality capcom fighting games available on the machine.

It's also the machine that really got me into vf.

 

Getting all of Shining Force 3 is very much worth the time and effort. Scenario 2 is particularly rare for some reason or other.

I still want the SF3 Premium Disc. But it costs an arm and a leg to obtain. Dammit.

 

Gotta agree with Entropy...

I actually bought my Saturn just for X-Men-SF and MSH-SF. Great system, I should hook it up again one of these days, unfortunately I don't think I have a stick for it anymore /versus/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

Heh, you didnt care for it long ago when i asked if ya wanted one.

 

If anyone here's ever seen my site (or my avatar on a couple of other sites) you'd see it's no secret that I'm a particular fan of Keio Yuugekitai - one of the best games on the systems.

other goodies:
Both Cottons
Too many 2d Shooters to list (Shienryu, Layer Section II, Batsugun, Game Tengoku, Segnoku Blade)
Phantasy Star Collection
Sega Ages (especially Space Harrier)
Princess Crown
D&D Collection
ARcade Gears games
Panzer Dragoon Series
Nights
Astra Superstars (and I hate 2D fighters)
Silhouette Mirage
Time BOkan
Twinklestar Sprites

Just to name a few. /versus/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

I've wanted to get Batsugun for a while, seeing as how it's a (unofficial) Cave game, and Cave's stuff is simply top-notch. Unfortunately I couldn't seem to come across it anywhere in Japan. Curse my rotten luck!

Shienryu sucks though. One of the most overly mediocre shooters I've played. Can't see any reason why anyone would regard it very well, considering what else is out there.

Has anyone here played Psychic Killer Taromaru? It's quite valuable and has a cult following, but I'm wondering what it is about the game that makes it so (supposedly) good.

I must also recommend that anyone going to Japan's used game stores try to pick up a copy of Saturn Magical Drop 3 - you can usually get it for < 1000 yen, and for that price, it's incredible bang for the, er, buck.

 

I know technically it's not an import, but I'm having a blast playing Burning Rangers, which I purchased off of Ebay for around 50 bucks without the original packaging or manual. Sure wish Sonic Team wold revisit some of their older ideas like this and Nights. PSO just doesn't do it for me, but Sonic Heroes does looks simply phenomenal.

 

Taromaru kinda has the old Shinobi feel, thats why people go gaga over it, that and it was a limited Time/Warner release before they exited the games biz

 

AZEL
Culdcept
Grandia
Groove on Fight
Hyper Duel
Lunar SSS Complete
PK Taroumaru
Sengoku Blade
Shining Force III Scenario 1-3
Thunder Force V
Vampire Savior

 

Groove on fight has yet another sequel on the Neo Geo BTW.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Fishie said:

Groove on fight has yet another sequel on the Neo Geo BTW.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yet another? Matrimelee is a sequel to the older games (1-2, Legends) and is quite bad for a 2003 release. Its predecessors from 10 years ago are far superior.

 

Ah yes, my bad.
I really liked the first one with its ofbeat SF2 style gameplay all those years ago.
Latest one is on weaker hardware then the original.

 

The only Saturn Import games that I ever bought (and still own) are the various Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki, Tokimeki Memorial, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and Fire Pro Wrestling games. My favorite saturn game of all time is still Nights - Into Dreams (Amazingly addictive and fun). I'm still amazed that I can sell some of my english Christmas Nights discs for up to $30 each on ebay.

 

Shienryu's definitely mediocre, but the U.S. ps1 release is only $10 . . . i'd say its worth it.

Any soukyugurentai fans have advice for how to better enjoy the game? I never really found a control layout I liked, and the zooming in / out bugged me to no end.

 

Souky is class, definately in the top-tier of Saturn shooters. But my most treasured import Saturn game has to be Battle Garegga (Raizing/Eighteen) - without a doubt the best shoooter I've played.

 

Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers. One of my favourite RPGs. /versus/images/graemlins/blush.gif

And then there's Sakura Taisen.

 

Battle Bakraid is much better - too bad it's an arcade-only release.

 

Fire Pro Wrestling : Six Man Scramble

Over 180 selectable characters. Fully customizable characters from their home country to their mullet size down to what attacks you have when your opponent is face up head towards you, or face up head away..... Six player insanity. Only on Saturn.



SEGA!!!!!

 

Zero:

I liked Shienryu, but I'm not a Shmup-head, so my tastes might be different. There's definitely much worse shooters on the system (Planet Joker is apparantly laughable). I don't like the WWII themed stuff in general, so Battle Garegga is out.

Taroumaru:
It's a pretty good game. 2.5D side-scroller, and as Fishie said, kind of Shinboi-ish (with lightning instead of throwing stars). Apparantly the director (or producer was it?) was from Treasure. I've got a video of the opening, but no gameplay footage.

Can't believe nobody's mentioned Princess Crown.