Top 10 Sega Saturn Games
Sega's jump into 3D wasn't a smooth run, hell we didn't even get a good Sonic the Hedgehog game. But it did give us some classics. Join http://www.watchmojo.com as we countdown our picks for the top 10 Sega Saturn Games.
For this list, we ranked our favorite games that were either Saturn exclusives, or made their debut on the system simultaneously with another console. Therefore, late ports from other home consoles are out, although we've given leeway to arcade ports, since most Sega Arcade games were built to promote the Saturn.
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#10: “Virtua Cop” (1995)
When a cop investigating the crime syndicate E.V.L. Inc. gets killed, it’s up to you to take that syndicate down. Thankfully, you’ve got the tools you need to confront them, because you can plug in your remarkably precise Saturn Stunner light gun for hours of fast-paced blasting fun. Just don’t get too carried away—those idiotic civilians keep showing up to stand in your line of fire, and you’ll get penalized for knocking one off.
#9: “Die Hard Arcade” (1997)
This game doesn’t have much to do with the movie, but that doesn’t keep it from being action-packed fun. Whether your using your fists, a pepper shaker, or an anti-tank cannon to face the waves of enemies, the frantic combat is a blast. The Quick Time Events between scenes vary the gameplay, but watch out, because if you fail a lot of them you’ll have to play through an extra action scene.
#8: “Radiant Silvergun” (1998)
This game had a resurgence in popularity after it was rereleased on the Xbox Live Arcade in 2011, but Saturn fans had known about its brilliance for quite some time. In the game’s one-of-a-kind weapons mechanism, you can combine the three main guns to create six unique guns. You better learn to use them, because you won’t find power-ups to help you, forcing you to plan accordingly and get strategic.
#7: “Guardian Heroes” (1996)
Great games present the player with interesting choices, and this title offers lots of them. You can play as five different characters, including unforgettable favorites like the mage Randy M. Green and his powerful magic spells. Not only that, but your actions affect the story and determine which of the awesome multiple endings you’ll see. Whichever one you end up with, the beautiful hand-drawn sprites and elaborate backdrops create a great experience.
#6: “X-Men vs. Street Fighter” (1997)
The predecessor to the “Marvel vs. Capcom” games, which went on to become one of the most beloved set of fighting games in the history of gaming, this is the game that started the series off right. It was also the first title to mix the gameplay of the “Street Fighter” series with tag team combat, allowing for awesome pairings like having Ryu and Wolverine fight side by side.
#5: “Saturn Bomberman” (1997)
Long before online gaming really took off, this title was letting gamers dial up their modems and take part in the hilarious Bomberman mayhem with players from around the world. It doesn’t skimp on the local multiplayer either: yeah you’ve seen 4 players on your couch for most other games, but can you fit 10 players in your living room, around the same screen? Even in single player, the wide variety of levels will keep you blowing stuff up for ours.
#4: “Sega Rally Championship” (1995)
Rally driving can really brings out how skillful you are as a driver, but thankfully, it’s nice to have someone helping you navigate. That’s why this racing game features a navigator who warns you about oncoming turns, like when there’s a “long medium right maybe.” We also love the ability to race on different surfaces, like gravel and mud, and seeing our cars react to them, since this was the first title to incorporate such a feature.
#3: “Panzer Dragoon Saga” (1998)
The “Panzer Dragoon” series as a whole was an epic series for the Saturn, but we’re going with this Saga for deepening the games’ on-rails shooting action by adding RPG elements to the mix. You fly around on a dragon, and the wonderfully complex morphing system lets it transform into hundreds of forms. The game’s hard to find, because Sega didn’t release many copies, but if you can find it at a decent price its well worth taking for a spin.
#2: “Virtua Fighter 2” (1996)
The Saturn had a lot of great fighters, but its trademark fighting series is without question the best one. Its stunning graphics, for its time, showcased the best the console could offer, using awesome 3D visuals while other developers were still stuck on 2D. The beautiful animations are perfect for bringing to life the game’s combat, which focuses more on realism than a lot of other fighters.
Before we get to our number one, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions:
“Shining Force 3” (1998)
“Street Fighter Alpha 3” (1998)
“Daytona USA” (1995)
“Fighters Megamix” (1996)
“Burning Rangers” (1998)
#1: “NiGHTS into Dreams…” (1996)
There were some cool games for the Saturn, but this 3D platformer soared to the top of our list almost unopposed. You help two children, as well as the titular jester, fly through the game’s beautiful dreamworld, made up of two parts known as Nightopia and Nightmare. Along the way, you’ll have to collect colorful spheres known as Ideyas and face terrifying bosses like a Nightmaren. Its so good that Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto has stated on record that this is the one game he regrets never creating.
Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Sega Saturn game? For more classic top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
