2D Games on the Sega Saturn

Episode 393 - 2D was going out of style fast in the 32-bit era and most people didn't want to play such games. We know better now, so let's check out how much of a 2D Monster the Saturn really is!
0:00 - Exciting Intro
0:48 - A
2:31 - B
4:05 - C
5:30 - D
10:03 - E
11:28 - G
15:23 - H
17:19 - K
18:57 - L
20:02 - M
22:19 - N
23:52 - P
26:28 - R
28:16 - S
38:29 - T
40:07 - V
40:43 - X
42:28 - End Sketch
#segasaturn #2d
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[@HappyConsoleGamer]

Merry Christmas to Game Sack! and that Joe guy....

[@jhuanbrown3455]

You're bidding fare tidings to The Sack of Game itself? 😂 Good one.

[@TheIllustriouBlueJay]

​@@jhuanbrown3455well it is the star of the show. If it weren't there, it would just be Joe talking and who honestly wants that? Lol.

[@cax1175]

Merry Christmas to Happy Console Gamer and that Johnny guy.

[@theflyingninja1]

Merry Christmas to Dave too!

[@cellphonesmartphone7496]

Merry Chistmas!! Feliz Natal!!!

[@Aenima308]

That thing yelling fire is infinitely worse than baby Mario crying in yoshi’s island

[@Mecha82]

fireing fireing fireing fireing

[@rocketgrunthyunho]

I got a hit!

[@thenightstar8312]

It's not even remotely THAT bad

[@roastytoasty8559]

@@thenightstar8312 if you had it turned up loud enough in your apartment i could totally see some one hard of hearing calling the fire brigade for you haha

[@moverofobjects]

It's 2 am here...why not watch a 43 min gamesack episode. Thanks Joe

[@moogle1019]

literaly same hello from toronto

[@DCMann2000]

11 PM here on the US west coast and I'm ready for some Sack

[@alejandro9043]

First Christmas gift, imma right?

[@roastytoasty8559]

hey hey don't be too nice remember what joe did to us all at 19:46 was unforgiveable.

[@moverofobjects]

@@roastytoasty8559 😂

[@nesforce7712]

A christmas gift for us Game Sack fans. ALL RIGHT!

[@rufusray]

Indeed, Joe never fails to deliver the goods.

[@Pewpewpew182]

Merry Christmas everyone. Joe thanks for keeping this channel going. You and AVGN still keep me coming back to KZbin ❤😊

[@sjake8308]

Merry Christmas to you too!

[@Pewpewpew182]

@@sjake8308❤ Enjoy time with your loved ones ❤ Thank you 🙏

[@menhirmike]

17:57 This sounds like the Sound Designer of Neo Geo's Blazing Star discovering Yoshi's Island and putting it into Keio's Flying Squadron.

[@viewtifuljoe99]

I'm eternally grateful for the years of great Game Sack episodes. Retro gaming has been a big passion for me and its crazy to think just how long it's been since I followed the Channel when the CRT episode was posted and just how much of a constant the show and retro games have been. Thanks again, Joe.

[@Followthelemming]

Put the SCUD CD in a CD player or in music mode on the Saturn. Listen to the whole answering machine skit. The programmers had a great time on this build.

[@SilverXTikal]

“SHES DEAD BILLL!!! OH MY GOD!!” Never owned the game clearly I would have found this earlier in life if I did. I never owned a Saturn. But I had over 300 games mostly Japanese ones from a pawn shop that closed down

[@EnigmaHood]

25:05 Basically the hold up is that the main developer of the English translation of Princess Crown had a series of setbacks in his personal life. It also didn't help that he never actually finished a translation project that he committed to. Back in 2019 he stated that he could finish the project in 2 months if he worked full time on it. The thread on the project has been locked, and despite claims to the contrary, it's unlikely to ever get finished with people declaring the project dead and that a new team is free to pick up the project and finish it in a timely manner. While I have nothing but gratitude to the people who work for free on translations, I think it's wrong to get people's hopes up, lay claim to a translation project so no one else picks it up, string them along for 10 years, only to all but abandon the project.

[@GameSack]

Thanks for the info! I really do hope some of the more ambitious Saturn translation guys can pick it up.

[@chanhjohnnguyen1867]

Thank you. It feels like because people just hear it’s being worked on they won’t bother to do it themselves

[@cellphonesmartphone7496]

Chrismas Truce !!! Merry Christmas !!! Feliz Natal !!! メリークリスマス ！！！

[@sunekoo]

In the 10 years waiting for the translation you could just have learnt Japanese lol

[@PandaMoniumReviews]

This is a slightly bad take. A guy started a side project free of charge, then had to set priorities straight in life and set the hobby aside for a while. People are now getting mad at a guy for putting his personal life first. No one put pre-orders out for this thing or spent a dime on getting it done, it is strictly some dude’s side hobby.

[@TonyLikeGames2]

Merry Sackmas!

[@noaht2005]

Saturn had an amazing library that really feels like a follow up to the 16 bit era with tons of gorgeous 2d titles. I’d love to see a ps1 video as well. As a sean seanson fan I know there are some real gems

[@robertpeacock894]

Agreed. Saturn is what young me thought the future would be in 1993 with no clue 3D games were waiting to take over gaming.

[@ozmond]

Not at all. I think it’s becoming a bit over rated. Like the vita.

[@noaht2005]

@@ozmond zince when was the vita overrated

[@polycube868]

​@robertpeacock894 3D not fully existing until the next generation would have been fine, 32 bit 2D looked amazing.

[@gundamw3490]

SegaSaturn Ps2 ps1 Best great games time ❤

[@exidy-yt]

The Saturn was the ultimate 2D powerhouse....at the dawn of the 3D era. If only it had come out a couple of years previous without all the Sega infighting and SegaCD and 32x nonsense.....(sigh) So many gems. I LOVE Elevator action 2, goofy names aside (Jad the Taff?? LOL) Dragon Force and Nocturne in the Moonlight (Symphony of the Night) almost as much as the 3D powerhouse titles like Panzer Dragoon Saga, NiGHTS into Dreams and Shining Force III (last game I bought for my Saturn) as well as the many MANY Japan only games highlighted here. Thank you for doing so! (Special thanks for highlighting Galactic Attack, one of the best pawn shop pickups I ever made and also Saturn Bomberman, both of my daughters' all time favourite game.)

[@Jokerwolf666]

Awesome video! Side note there is a performance patch for Symphony of the Night that fixes pretty much all the slow down.

[@Dominicn123]

You are lying!!!

[@thedeadpoolwhochuckles.6852]

​@@Dominicn123Talking about something you yourself would have to add to a rom.

[@socksfelloff]

The biggest improvement is putting the map on a dedicated button!

[@jessragan6714]

@@socksfelloff Wasn't it weird that you could equip items to three hands in the Saturn version of Symphony of the Night?

[@sjake8308]

I think the biggest problem with the Saturn version is that the additional content is crap and actually detracts from the rest of the game. The pregnant pauses when opening the menu screen were also incredibly annoying. The slow down I could actually live with.

[@AyaC]

Joe used Koyori in Sengoku Blade...a man of culture because I too used her and she gave me a lot of "feelings" during my younger years while playing as her.

[@darrencurry4429]

On Scud, level 2 has a very specific way that you have to traverse it or it will repeat itself. Its a maze, if you will.

[@GameSack]

I hate it!

[@buzzmx]

Fun Fact: Scud never come out in PAL land so the developers made the US disc region free.

[@Craig_Fulk]

A "Tate Mode" and a "MetroidVania" reference in the same episode? Aside from this being strictly dedicated to the SEGA Saturn, I bet Joe had a ton of fun making this episode. Craig Stadler > Fred Couples though.

[@Pai3000]

I loved the Sega Saturn back in the day. It was my console of choice. So many good memories...

[@alexrekzu4079]

T A T E mode

[@cellphonesmartphone7496]

Chrismas Truce !!! Merry Christmas !!! Feliz Natal !!! メリークリスマス ！！！

[@adrian_veidt]

That transparent Saturn is a work of art!

[@chanhjohnnguyen1867]

Saturn Assault suit leynos is getting an official English localization soon for modern consoles so that’s a big plus

[@lutfimakarim8258]

They better do a collection or it's not worth it.

[@Medicint20]

@@lutfimakarim8258a remake of the original is available on ps4 and the snes version is available on switch but I agree, they should release a collection.

[@BrianLallyOfficial]

What a great list of Saturn games! Thanks for posting.

[@leecroft7311]

I'm so glad i collected for the Saturn years and years ago, one of my all time favourite systems. The model one Saturn is still my favourite looking console, beautiful looking system.

[@nobel11]

Merry Christmas to my favorite Colorado based retro game KZbin content creator. I just recently got my Saturn and have been enjoying it. The S-Video looks great through the Retrotink 5x. I've really been impressed with how much love it's been getting with fan translations. The team that did Bulk Slash deserve a big mountain of awards. Or a sandwich. But like, a really good sandwich.

[@yousefslimani99]

Thank you so much for supporting my fav 32bit system, I really enjoyed some 2D games that was released on this console, especially shoot'em up games

[@Subfightr]

Joe always plays as Mai in King of Fighters... Mai man! ✋ Up top!

[@Jawcrusher914]

2D games on the Saturn is the best Christmas gift ever!!

[@jkemp6791]

I asked my Aunt Gertrude for Dragon Force and she’s getting it for me for CHRISTMAS!!! Don’t even have to wait for my birthday! Thanks, Joe!!!

[@The_Last_Ninja]

You missed out on I…In the Hunt? Now that’s a great 2-D game right there!

[@hetaliafan117]

Im soooo happy that i modded my saturn with a fenrir duo, ive tried a few of these games and they're awesome!!!!!!!

[@MimosaSector]

Such a great Christmas episode. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

[@jamescameron1861]

I'd love to see a Saturn mini. The console was a 2D powerhouse. I would be happy to pay the required price for the console

[@garou1911]

Aw c'mon Joe, as we get older we all need a little polygonal assistance

[@theharvardyard2356]

37:55 looks like someone had a lot of fun animating that sequence

[@Tjoeb123]

The RAM carts never came outside of Japan, hence why the Saturn versions of the Capcom VS games were Japan exclusives (and were reduced to Street Fighter with assists on other platforms).

[@MiharuHiramu]

Merry Christmas to you and the best console of the 90s!

[@miltonbates6425]

The Sega Saturn really was a 2D beast. Shame that Japan got some of the best games on the console.

[@Chaos89P]

I think I know one word that prevented the Saturn from being more popular in its heyday here: "299."

[@dillonandon]

Merry Christmas to you and your family Joe. Thanks for keeping me very entertained every other Sunday morning.

[@MagisterHamid]

One game you forgot to mention is Wolf Fang! A nice shooter!

[@skywalkerranch]

Happy Christmas Joe. You have brightened the lives of many with your uploads not only this year but over many in the past, too. Have a good break and a fantastic New Year also.

[@Staatus_Quo]

The music in Darius Gaiden totally gives off The Diva vibes from The Fifth Element.

[@DigiPen92]

Nice to see Game Sack doing a video on 2D Video Games for Sega Saturn. Hey @Game Sack, can you do a video on covering Video Games involves Christmas and Santa Claus? Merry Christmas to Game Sack.

[@GameSack]

We tried a Christmas-ish episode once, but we found that seasonal episodes like that don't do very well outside of the season. So I try to make Game Sack so any episode can be watched at any time of the year without needing to be in a seasonal mood for it.

[@streetmagik3105]

So many great games here. I'm one of those diehard fans of Dragon Force. Once you get into the mechanics, it's hard to put down. Probably my favorite game on the Saturn. Also, Elevator Action Returns got a digital release on Switch and Playstation. Definitely worth checking out.

[@skykid4000]

Merry christmas Joe!! Much love from a sega Saturn fan from the UK. 👍

[@rodzandz]

Ahh late night Christmas present packing and a new GSack episode drops. Beautiful!

[@Dac_vak]

Merry Christmas to Joe (and Dave!) Thanks for a great year of the Sack!

[@TheCobraHurrican3]

Megaman X4 and Herc's Adventures look so cool on Saturn 🔥

[@trench01]

Their is a maps for megaman x4 & Herc's games on the site VGmaps if you want to see it all. but for the ps1 version but should be the same.

[@ViVaLaRan]

Merry Christmas yall!

[@Soynereh]

I always wanted to play more 2D back in the 5th gen of consoles. I'd have loved this library.

[@bdrenfro]

I've been away for about 2 years and just came back. Glad to see you're still doing your thing!

[@davidczarco]

It's amazing how creative developers were back then .

[@budyll1]

Well, they had to be given that it was the era of 3D games and Saturn could barely handle 3D ;P.

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

With LIMITED resources! Now we have the tech but no creativity. It's sad!

[@Konarcoffee]

@@8KilgoreTrout4 Yeah they could never make Gex today

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

@@Konarcoffee How the hell does that detract from the overall accuracy of the statement? There are plenty of awful movies, music, games, and pop culture nuances from the good old days. I would say the 90s in the early 2000s are kind of just the leftover momentum and not quite as good as the 80s and before. I’m gonna go enjoy some Gex right now on my new RetroBit wireless Saturn controller I’ve been wanting to try more!

[@sjake8308]

Different times. Games weren't prohibitively expensive to make back then (and the industry was less corporate), so publishers could afford to take risks (and were generally more willing to do so).

[@jkemp6791]

2D Saturn games = perfect Christmas present!!!!

[@GrandJediMaster7860]

Hope you had a great Christmas Day, Joe. I've just caught up with all your recent videos - and going back to Remembrance Day November. My Uncle passed away that day, last month, and was only 52 years old. Gone too young :/ He liked the Mega Drive and I'd say he was a SEGA guy. Anyway, have an awesome start to 2024! Looking forward to more GS next year. Thanks for being there for us all.

[@HoroJoga]

Now I'm back to my regular Game Sack with a hangover routine.

[@ShadowArtist]

some 2-D games you didn't mention that are excellent that people: LUNAR Silver Star Story ( i think there's a fan translation patch for the ISO of the game) LUNAR 2 Eternal Blue (might have a translation patch, or it's being worked on) Galaxy Force Out Run Space Harrier Afterburner Macross: Do You Remember Love (side scrolling shooter is really fun and great for fans of Macross) *Thank you for mentioning Princess Crown* some youtubers when talking about "great 2D games or great Japanese saturn games never released in the US on the Saturn" never mention the game.. Princess Crown deserves to be showcased more imo

[@LVNeptune]

SOTN with 4M and Eng patch on Saturn is the definitive version.

[@doomguyplays]

31:46 this and picking Mai. You are a man of fine taste

[@theodorerelic2718]

A lot of great games for the Saturn (if you can afford them). Others I would recommend include Clockwork Knight 1 & 2 and Last Gladiators Digital Pinball (or the only-in-Japan followup, Necronomicon Digital Pinball, with opening and ending music by John Petrucci of Dream Theater). JRPGs like Lunar Silver Star Story and Eternal Blue, or how about the Konami MSX Antiques collection (combines all three of the PS1 versions into one 30-game collection). Lots more to be found for Saturn fans!

[@polariuzz]

Joe is the MAN ,even in xmas eve his the gift that keep on giving

[@chrilz1498]

This is honestly the best Christmas treat for me. Thanks so much, Joe, I hope you and yours have a great holiday week ahead

[@Kinshinobi]

Merry Christmas sack family

[@vallaurianv6024]

Merry Xmas! Love Saturn - perfect for Xmas Eve

[@jong2359]

Thanks for a great year, Joe - enjoy the holidays. Your videos give me a reason to like youtube for 45 minutes every so often.

[@xGMV]

Don't forget about the awesome patch for Symphony of The Night, improves the loading times considerably, fixes the slowdown, translates it with the actual script and not what the West is used to and honestly my preferred way to experience the story, although I played it on the PS1 given my lack of a Saturn or a way to emulate one properly. That Maria mode is the intended way, unlike the one in the Rondo of Blood re-release where she plays like her younger self. Definitely worth to check this one out with the patch.

[@Leo80310]

English translation dont compatible with improvment patch.

[@rustybullett]

Merry Christmas thanks for all the content this year!

[@optimalkfrt]

Great timing Joe, with my Anbernic RG Arc being shipped, 2d Saturn games are now my special interest! Merry Christmas 🎄!

[@tayloralexander291]

Thanks for all the great content! We appreciate your energy and your love for these games. Merry Christmas ☮️✌️

[@willkelmanpenapena3551]

Merry christmas Joe and thanks for an amazing year of gamesack episodes

[@TheHiddenChest]

That transition you use between gameplay previews looks awesome! How do you do it?

[@ThoughtformsOfTheSubconsciousM]

The Saturn is the pinnacle of 2D gaming, and for me is by far my favorite console ever. Subsequently this may be my favorite episode of Game Sack ever! Thanks for continuing to make excellent content Joe!! 👍

[@bitscene8370]

Thanks for the Video Joe, you never disappoint. Going to check out a few of these titles for sure.

[@Marble_Candy]

YAY Thanks for uploading GAMESACK FOREVER!!

[@chrisd6287]

Merry Christmas Joe! Thanks for another great year of content. Oh and tell Dave happy holidays too.

[@fanciestofcats7111]

Just glad Joe keeps this channel going

[@escaperoutebritish]

Thanks Sack, the offering of good YT content this Christmas Eve has been poor, much appreciate this upload while I get things ready

[@SrPASTILLERO]

the final sketch is the continuation for PETE SAMPRAS TENNISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! I like the video too, btw.

[@BatmanWangChung]

Suh dude! That Ubisoft joke during the Rayman segment was good! 😂😂😂

[@cjttrujillo790]

Merry Christmas Joe what sets you apart from all other KZbin channels is the fact that you got mad skills bro your production quality is second to none......

[@flioink]

I'm still a sucker for a well drawn 2d sprites even tho I'm a pro at the whole polygon modeling thing😆 Vanillaware aesthetics gotta be one of my favorite art styles in gaming.

[@sjake8308]

Yeah, while I was never really a big fan of the games themselves, Vanillaware's art and spritework really is something else.

[@thewarbaron]

Merry Christmas Joe! Thanks for all the great videos, it always makes me smile when I see a new upload.

[@srenvestergaard4249]

Happy holidays to you, Joe, and to all your viewers from around the world :-)

[@teen_laqueefa]

Joe, my friend from Colorado....merry Christmas

[@intilagos-brown5232]

wolf fang kuuga is worth a look. also let me remind you that you can run in elevator action returns by double tapping a direction. ^^ nice vid as always.

[@electroliteg1]

This feels like a genuine Christmas gift. To all of us and to my recently acquired Fenrir-laden Saturn. Merry Christmas Gamesack!

[@jessragan6714]

TATE MODE!!! is back! Merry Christmas to me! Anyway, it's worth mentioning that plenty of these games are currently available on the Nintendo Switch. Some of the games are in the "Saturn Tribute" line, which means that they're Saturn games running in emulation.

[@ShadowArtist]

There's an extensive graphical patch with English translation for he Saturn version of Castlevania Symphony of the Night that fixes all it's flaws and is amazing, one can burn that to a CD R and play it on a Saturn with a Psuedo Kai Cart or on PC with a Saturn Emulator, and is *very much worth playing*

[@sgtsquank]

Taint Mode really is the best mode.

[@robertemrich4982]

merry xmas joe and thank you for your work. your channel should have 3 million subscribers ✌

[@Videogamelover58]

Merry Christmas game sack

[@felix-ve8jk]

This is so awesome. I woke up this morning in Japan to this video and just bought my first Saturn.

[@dab7465]

Christmas Sack yeah!

[@dwood78part23]

Merry Christmas Game Sack et all.

[@craigblackie2034]

I wish we all weren't so obsessed with the idea of 3D games at the time and appreciated all the 2D games more. So many awesome titles on the Saturn that I just overlooked!

[@petemalogne5219]

amazing capture!.. these games really shine w proper scaling/aspect.. freakn insane looking at times lol

[@sebastianhurst958]

Merry Xmas, Joe! Thanks for the 2D highlights of the Saturn!

[@cainmarchenoir4986]

Thanks for all the work and Merry Christmas.

[@brandonjenkins6381]

Merry Christmas Joe and to the people behind the scenes of Game Sack

[@mistkeyblade]

Merry Christmas, Game Sack!

[@emacsterm2949]

Love your videos and especially your humor. Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

[@MzuMzu-nx1em]

Happy holidays, Joe . Still the best retrogame channel for 2023 .

[@joestewart2026]

Merry Christmas Joe! Thanks for all the awesome, quality content! Hope Santa is good to you and yours!