With the release ofSony’s brand-new PlayStation in 1994, Sega knew they needed their next system to be something above and beyond to stand a chance of competing with their new rivals. This would result in the Sega Saturn, a console which, while only around for a handful of years, ended up becoming the home of more than a few fantastic games, some of which have since gone down as iconic to many fans.
Though the Saturn only received limited third-party support, there were still some developers who recognized the power of the system and decided to design their games specifically with the console in mind. Of course, this also came alongside a plethora of first party Sega games which were known for always being of very high quality. The PlayStation may have cut the Sega Saturn’s life short, but with each year that the console was around, there was always at least one standout game players could look forward to jumping into.
6Virtua Fighter - 1994
Virtua Fighter Was The First Game In Its Genre To Take The Step Into 3D
Virtua Fighteris often considered to be one ofthe most influential fighting games ever made, primarily because it was the first game in the genre which took the bold step into 3D. As a result, it made the presentation of the stages and characters seem much more realistic than other fighters, but it also helped that the core gameplay itself was rock-solid, being easy to pick up and play but still containing a pretty high skill ceiling.
Though the game had initially dropped for arcades at the end of 1993, Sega knew they had something special on their hands, and therefore decided to port it over to the Sega Saturn, where it was released at the end of 1994 in Japan. This was a smart move as the game would go on to become one of the system’s best-selling titles, and earned rave reviews upon its release for its addictive gameplay, character variety, and being more accessible than the likes ofStreet FighterorMortal Kombat.
5Sega Rally Championship - 1995
Sega Rally Championship Combined Stellar Graphics With Fast-Paced Gameplay To Create An Amazing Racing Experience
Racing fans were spoiled for choice during the mid to late 90s as it felt like a new game was coming out every few months, especially on Sega systems. In 1995 though, Sega created what some still consider to be one of the greatest racers ever made, this beingSega Rally Championship, which was far ahead of its time in several aspects. For one, the game still looks incredible even by today’s standard, with its vibrant colors and stunning environments alladding an extra layer of immersion to the experience.
The game’s main mode, World Championship, provided a unique spin on the standard race formula which saw players moving between a set of areas, carrying over their finishing position as they go as part of one giant globe-trotting race to the finish. The game’s funky techno soundtrack also went a long way in making each and every race feel as intense as possible, keeping players engaged from the moment they rev up their engine, all the way up until the finish line.
4Nights Into Dreams - 1996
Nights Into Dreams Contains A Staggering Variety Of Vibrant Levels For Players To Enjoy
Sonicmay have been Sega’s go-to character when developing platforming action-adventure games, but in 1996, they decided to switch things up by introducing a brand-new IP in the form ofNights Into Dreams,which instantly became a smash hit. There’s a lot to love aboutNights Into Dreams, but one thing that needs to be given credit is the level variety. Each time the player enters into a new “Dream”, they will be in an entirely different area with new enemies, obstacles, and puzzles which help to freshen things up. The general pace of the gameplay, while still fast, is also a bit slower than the likes ofSonic, making it much more accessible and easier to master.
Speaking of mastering the game, players can easily do so by returning to levels and improving their score, unlocking new goodies along the way.The jawdropping graphics, memorable levels, and perfect blend between action-adventure and platforming have all contributed to makingNights Into Dreamsone of the most beloved games ever released for the Sega Saturn.
3Vandal Hearts - 1997
Vandal Hearts Set Out The Blueprint For Tactical RPGs Going Forward
As players make their way through the massive fantasy world featured inVandal Hearts, they’ll also take part in thrilling grid-based battles which can often be quite challenging to complete. Thankfully, each character in the game fits into one of seven classes which come with their own pros and cons, giving players plenty to experiment with, and making the core gameplay very strategic as a result. Though many people are used to seeing 3D tactical RPG these days,Vandal Heartswas the first game in the genre to ever achieve this feat, and deservedly earned a lot of praise from critics for pulling it off so well.
Of course, it wouldn’t be alate 90s RPGwithout also having a great story, andVandal Heartscertainly doesn’t disappoint, featuring an epic tale which is full of political intrigue, and all so many twists and turns. The game also isn’t shy about killing off major characters throughout its story, leading to plenty of heartbreaking and emotional moments that feed into the larger themes of this iconic RPG title.
2Panzeer Dragoon Saga - 1998
Combining RPG Mechanics With The Gameplay Of Panzeer Dragoon Turned Out To Be A Huge Success
After the enormous success of the original two on-railsPanzeer Dragoongames, director Yukio Fuatatsugi and his team decided to take the series in more of an RPG direction for the next game. This wasn’t just a typical RPG though, as it also included full 3D graphics, voice acting, and the fast-paced shooting gameplay borrowed from the first few games. ThoughPanzeer Dragoon Sagawas delayed numerous times, many felt it was well worth the wait when it dropped in 1998, with it often even being referred to as one of the greatest games ever made.
As mentioned previously, thetight and focused on-rails shooter gameplayfrom previous entries was back, but there were a few small alterations which made it more strategic and fun. A big example of this is how players are able to change the stats of their dragon to suit the battle at hand, so if they raised the agility for example, it would make the dragon much faster, but its defense would be lower as a result. Outside the combat, players are free to roam around the continent of Sostegaria which is packed full of hidden mysteries and locations which reward the player for exploring as much as possible.
1Street Fighter Zero 3 - 1999
Street Fighter Zero 3 Made Sure That The Saturn Went Out With A Bang
With the PlayStation 2 looming on the horizon and the enormous success of Sony’s original console, the Sega Saturn had almost completely disappeared by the time that 1999 rolled around. In fact, there were only 16 games released for the system during that year, most of which were exclusive to Japan, but there was at least one title that many people got to enjoy in the Saturn’s final year, that beingStreet Fighter Zero 3. As a member of the Alpha series of games,Street Fighter Zero 3mixed up the classic 2D combat gameplay by introducing a new mechanic called “Isms” which allowed players to adjust their playstyle depending on the character.
For example, V-isms are ideal for characters who can throw out quick attacks like Rolento and Guy since it allows them to performunblockable custom combos, and that’s just scratching the surface of how deep this system can go.Alpha 3also includes over 30 unique fighters that players can try out, and the Sega Saturn port even comes with a few extra additions, such as 2 player Dramatic Battles and the intense Reverse Dramatic Battle mode.
