The Sega Saturn VS The Sega 32X

Let's see how Sega's two 32-bit platforms compare!
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Opening "Sega" jingle is from Astal for the Sega Saturn.
Ending Music during the credits is from Batman for the Sega Genesis.
SLX Logo
By: Jan Neves
KZbin Page - / jan3d
Intro by Evan S.
portfolio.tsestudios.com/
Episode Notes:
1. Game captured on real hardware.
2. Many of the 32X's games were on 24 and 32 megabit carts. At that time, that usually meant a higher price tag.
3. The 32X library was small enough that I pretty much played everything as it was released.
4. I owned a Saturn and 32X together for a while. Once it was clear the 32X was doomed, I dropped it and sold what I had.
5. I always wondered what a 32X version of Outrunners, Alien 3, and Revenge of Death Adder could have done for the systems sales. I mean Sega had the games in theory to support it. We just never got them.

[@TheMultiGunMan]

The 90's was a wild time. There was nothing quite like it.

nor it will ever be. I was born in 89, and I consider myself to be pretty fortunate. Kids from 99 are still ok... anything after belongs to the matrix lololololol

[@KingStr0ng]

I miss Sega. I wish they would get back into consoles again.

[@scottvincent184]

​@@KingStr0ngI feel with a good team involved, they really could accomplish a great console!

[@wmv8996]

You mean a zany time.

[@kenterminateddq5311]

MuliGunMan, it's also the best time for music fans and video game fans. 😊

[@lifeofhax5706]

Had em both. I liked the 32X but I was a child at the time and it wasn’t my money. Got a Saturn from my parents about a year later and loved it. If I was an adult and bought the 32X with my own money though, I woulda been pissed. 😂

[@marshmower]

You would be paying close to $70 per cartridge for a while with the 32X. The $20 deals took several years to appear.

[@BashoftheMonth]

I think I still would've been pissed because I couldn't rent anything for it.

[@tom11zz884]

WoW! Imagine having a 32X and a Saturn as a child growing up at the same time.

[@lifeofhax5706]

As soon as I got the Saturn I gave the Genesis/SEGA CD/32X monstrosity to my younger cousin.

[@Stuffies2022]

@@lifeofhax5706do you regret that decision lol

[@jamiehainline2940]

The 32x homebrew scene is just getting started. With new versions of MK2, DOOM Resurrection, and Golden Axe!!!! I cant wait to see what they come up with next. Open Lora Tomb Raider is in the works. Would love to see more of this kind of Love going to the system.

[@bifftannen1598]

Being there's really no memory limitations now & after seeing Doom Resurrection, it'd be cool if developers did a ground up Mortal Kombat Trilogy for 32X with no load times obviously. It'd be the best version out there & as long as it's downloadable, it could be a good $ maker. Would be cool to see how good the 32X could've been

[@jamiehainline2940]

@@bifftannen1598 That's what I'm talking about!!!

[@the757general2]

@@bifftannen1598 there's already a CD based version of Mortal Kombat Trilogy with no load times. The GoG version that released in 2022 is based on the 1997 PC version but with no load times. Perfect for Shang Tsung players.

[@bifftannen1598]

@@the757general2 - nice! Thanks for letting me know

[@JiltedValkyrie]

Doom on 32X was my first DOOM. If I had started with the Saturn version, I would have hated it, but since the 32X port was playable, I enjoyed it and had no idea about extra levels or bosses. Being a kid when Internet was not a thing in the home was often a blessing.

[@worsethanhitlerpt.2539]

The SNES was my first DOOM so I know what you mean even if its kinda shitty you love it forever. The SNES was so blocky it make you appreciate the advanced versions more too

[@jt0l3r]

As a proud Sega owner I own both of these consoles and many of these games on both 😆 I still love them regardless, nostalgia is with it

[@mdkgod43]

I wouldn't call 32x a console, it's an add on😅

[@Turbotobi79]

But the tower of power certainly is a very unique console 😂 I do miss Sega a lot as a hardware manufacturer.

[@andrewdowell6474]

Sega was smoking crack having the 32X out along with the Saturn but I would love to know what could have been if the 32X could have reached its potential. I find its attempts at 3D to be charming.

[@demonology2629]

GENESIS 32X Is a project that came from SEGA OF AMERICA, SEGA SATURN is a project of SEGA OF JAPAN.

[@maroon9273]

​@@demonology262932x was suppose to be lesser spec neptune Duo console created by SOJ. SOA got SOJ idea and pitched for a add-on for the genesis and was given the green light to release the 32x.

[@porovaara]

Everyone forgets the Saturn was supposed to come out later than it did. Sega rushed it to market to compete with the PS2. Sega of America pushed for the 32X hard simply because they expected the Saturn to come out 6months to a year later than it did.

[@RobJaskula]

I'll never understand what was happening at the corporate level at the time. The Saturn came out in Japan the day before the 32X! Why not just release the Saturn in North America. Sega of America had way too much influence at the top of the C suite; poor leadership at the top

[@porovaara]

@@RobJaskula at the time the US was receiving Japanese consoles 10-15 months after the Japanese release. Localization for games was a much harder problem back then and text heavy titles could take months to be converted so this huge lead time was mostly spent doing just that to make sure there would be enough titles for launch in the US market.

[@thehumbleone1983]

I love the 32X it’s shame what happened back then as I love games like Virtual Racing , After Burner , Space Harrier, Nuckles Chaotix , and it’s a shame we never got to see many unreleased games for the 32x

[@ricardobarros1090]

Imagine 32x KoF, SF Zero....

[@malcolmar]

Agreed!

[@malcolmar]

@@ricardobarros1090 Those would have been awesome Especially seeing what Capcom was able to do on the 16-bit SNES with Street Fighter Alpha. Still sad we never got Alien Vs Predator The Arcade or a true arcade port of Super Monaco GP.

[@juniorhunter7268]

The cartridge slot on the Saturn should of work with 32x games that why I didn’t buy the Saturn cause I bought sega cd and 32x next the sega cd and 32x should of been one system

[@worsethanhitlerpt.2539]

I like the 32x but the extra Power adaptor and wires etc. kinda kills the idea. Its supposed to run off the Genesis but its really its own system that just links with the Genesis

[@fockewulf2352]

i went the Saturn route but only for the CD, i saw the 32x as a step backwards for Sega and i already had the Sega CD model 2 player, and the 3DO so i saw no reason to go for the 32X which was a cartridge, and i never regretted that choice the Saturn is a great system even today

[@reservoirdog1]

Saturn rules !

[@jmcmonster]

I had the 32X as a kid and the main thing I remember is how mad my Dad was with the system. It started with those stupid electromagnetic shield metal things that we could never get to fit correctly in the Genesis 1. Not to mention the terrible audio quality when we first fired up the Star Wars game. I did enjoy Virtua Racing and Doom, but traded everything in to Funcoland around the time of the Saturn. I do wish I still had all of that!

[@Andrew_TS]

And you don't even need the metal plates!

[@ady123181]

​@@Andrew_TSI found out the hard way that you do, it protects the 32x against static electricity. I was playing mine on a carpet without the metal plates in and my 32x got fried. I bought it new and had only had it a couple years. I still have it to this day my genesis and sega cd work, but my 32x doesn't.

[@awill891]

@@ady123181 Are you sure it was "fried"? 32X have an issue with their garbage ribbon cables, I have to unseat and reseat the cable every couple months or else it won't work.

[@glenndoiron9317]

@@ady123181 The shielding had absolutely nothing to do with static electricity protection. You would have annihilated your unit even if the RF shields were in place.

[@felixblack2388]

I loved my 32x and always will. I couldn’t afford a Saturn at that time, and I picked up the 32x for £99. After I saw it running Star Wars Arcade in the shop, I was sold. I loved the power boost that it gave me alongside the most awesome home versions of Afterburner, Virtual Fighter and Virtual Racing. It felt like finally having a near close to arcade experience at home. 32x was a great machine for me!!!

[@briansteiger918]

Same.. I loved the arcade game ports. Too bad there wasn't enough.

[@mattnova18]

it has some great exclusives like Kolibri, and sadly some bad exclusives like Metal Head and Cosmic Carnage. I was lucky to find them both cib for cheap, but wow there are some bad 32x games.

[@worsethanhitlerpt.2539]

The 32x was supposed to run off the Genesis but it needed its own Power supply which is dumb. They should have made an adaptor that could power both machines with a split-cable but still it would be dumb

[@briansteiger918]

@@worsethanhitlerpt.2539 I always wondered why they didn't do this, myself. Especially after the Sega CD.

[@dogeymon83]

I got 32X when my dad and I walked into a Toysrus and a gigantic pyramid shaped piles of new-in-box 32Xs were sitting there with a giant $29.99 sign in front of them. The price was right and each one came with Virtua Fighter, we thought “why not?” I just wanted a 32bit system so much and it would be a while longer before we could afford that. For a short period, the 32X felt like I had an amazing system. Virtua fighter was a sure fire hit. My second game was Shadow Squadron and those graphics blew my mind. Doom was my third game and my friend and I played it for hours. Had no idea there were missing levels. Virtua racing and Star Wars came next and each one I got, I felt so confused why the 32X failed. It had great games. But after those games, each new game after that left a lot to be desired. Kolibri felt and looked like a standard Genesis game. Knuckles Chaotix was fun but not impressive. Then the sports titles hardly showed off any power. I wished all the other games were as impressive as the first ones I got. But the system felt like developers gave up on it, even while it was still being made

[@SlothMachines]

Virtua Fighter 32X Is awesome. It's my 'go to' for the original game. It has extra features the Saturn and Arcade do not have. Added camera angles, extra colors for outfits, tighter and more responsive controls and the super fun 'Tournament mode'. My kids and I play that mode all the time to see who can get first place. They went the extra mile with this one, should have launched on the 32X or been a pack-in instead of being one of the last releases. One of my favorite fighters of all time...on the 32X of all places.

[@Gamma00Ray]

There was a later edition of the 32X where Virtua Fighter was a pack-in.

[@mrfake675]

In the golden age of gaming, nestled within the pixelated landscapes of the Sega 32X, there existed a virtual fighter game that was unlike any other. It wasn't just a game; it was a testament to human ingenuity, the pinnacle of interactive entertainment, and an unexpected beacon of hope for all of mankind. This extraordinary game boasted graphics that pushed the boundaries of what the 32X could achieve. The characters moved with an almost lifelike fluidity, their blows echoing with the crispness of reality. Gamers from all corners of the world flocked to their screens, their fingertips dancing on the controllers as they became masters of martial arts. But little did they know, their virtual battles were more than just a source of amusement. The energy, passion, and skill they poured into the game reverberated through the cosmos. In the dark corners of the universe, on a distant and desolate planet, there lived a solitary alien worm. Its existence was a grim one, trapped in a world of rotting stench and perpetual darkness. One fateful day, as the worm slithered through the foul muck of its planet, it sensed something new in the air. A faint shimmer of talent, an unexplainable surge of prowess, began to manifest within its primitive mind. It was as if the universe itself had whispered secrets into the worm's consciousness. The alien worm, driven by this newfound energy, began to exhibit strange behaviors. It moved with unprecedented grace, dodging obstacles and predators with ease. Its body pulsated with a radiant light, a testament to the hidden talent it had unlocked. As time passed, the worm's abilities grew more astonishing. It could manipulate its surroundings with a mere thought, bending the decaying flora and fauna to its will. The stench that had once permeated its world began to dissipate, replaced by a strange, otherworldly aroma. News of this miraculous transformation reached the corners of the galaxy. Scientists and explorers flocked to the planet, hoping to unravel the mystery behind the worm's newfound abilities. What they discovered was a connection, an ethereal bridge that linked the virtual fighters of Earth to the mind of this alien worm. The virtual fighter game, once seen as a mere pastime, had inadvertently become the crowning achievement for all of mankind. It had transcended the boundaries of entertainment and reached across the cosmos, igniting a spark of talent in the most unlikely of beings. The alien worm, once trapped in a world of despair, had become a symbol of hope, a testament to the limitless potential of human creativity. And so, as gamers continued to battle in virtual arenas on Earth, they unknowingly contributed to a cosmic tapestry of talent that shimmered across the galaxy and into the mind of an alien worm on a planet of rotting stench, forever altering the course of its existence. In this strange and interconnected universe, the virtual fighter game had become a beacon of inspiration, proving that even the most unexpected of achievements could shine brightly in the darkest of corners.

[@Sam_Giancana_]

​@@mrfake675😂😂😂 good one

[@poopy_fingers3324]

I was in 5th grade in 1995, so my games were what my parents bought me, which was usually at Christmas and my birthday. But if I was older with an income I couldn’t imagine how frustrating and confusing this time would have been to be a sega fan.

[@marshmower]

Great way to piss off parents who tried to call themselves informed even. Mom got mad when I took my 32x back and so did my grandpa who bought the Sega CD but I got a Saturn out of the deal. Try that a few years later and they say "too bad so sad" at the service desk. Or stamp "void" on your game boxes. 😢 Apparently go-backs had to stop on a global level.

[@RobJaskula]

I'm the same age as you, I absolutely loved my Genesis but it was clear from the monthly magazines that Sega had no clue what they were doing as the next generation news heated up. We rented a Sega CD and Road Rash (which was awesome) just to check out CD games but there was never any inkling of staying with Sega for our next system. Christmas 1996 brought a PlayStation and 1998 a Nintendo 64. I knew one kid with a 32X (and later the only Saturn I knew of) but after about two minutes we had his TurboGrafx out

[@krono5el]

I'm a Sega Maniac that still loves my Genesis, Saturn, and Dreamcast, but for some reason the sega cd and 32x never made a bleep on my radar and never thought of them or wanted them and idk why.

[@glennshoemake4200]

At this time I felt a bit burned with the Sega CD being a bit lackluster and I already moved on to pc gaming by then. Then in May 2000, I bought the Dreamcast as a gift for myself for passing the Cisco CCNA exam. 32x and Saturn I completely skipped on.

[@Marcus_K]

I think it was an exciting time. You were getting two new Sega consoles after all. The Saturn was clearly their next-gen system, while the 32X was just an add-on for Genesis users. The only thing that was frustrating about it was Sega making exclusives for the 32X, like Star Wars Arcade, Metal Head and Kolibri. It's baffling that those never came to the Saturn, their main 32-bit console.

[@joshoshea3194]

I was dying to own a 32X back when it was released but the guy in my local game shop convinced me and my mam to hold off from buying one and wait for the Saturn because the 32X was just a stop gap. I couldn't understand why Sega would do this to their fans at the time & I still don't? Although I did eventually end up going with the Playstation, I'm glad I waited because after its release the 32X always just looked to me like a Beefed up Megadrive/Mega-CD. Back in the day when your parents could only afford the one home console (if you were lucky) and the devastation you would've felt if you'd of chosen the 32X over the Saturn or the Playstation? But I LOVE it when you do side by side comparisons like this.

[@Jghost11]

I was in a similar boat as a kid, I thought a beefed up genesis sounder cooler than a whole new console. Luckily I wasn't in charge of finances and my parents ended up getting me a PS1.

[@joshoshea3194]

@@Jghost11 Oh happy days! Simpler days...🙁 Were you also in a similar situation where you: A) didn't realise you needed one or B) just couldn't afford one; a Memory Card!? Playing Ridge Racer wasn't a problem but starting any sort of action game right from the beginning every single time was definitely something new alright. 🤔

[@Jghost11]

@joshoshea3194 so with the 32X it was more so that I probably was going to wait for it for a couple of years before asking for it. Because I got the genesis around 96/7 so I already had that console plus the SNES, and by the time I would have asked for it when it would have been feasible for my parents to get it, it would have been off the market. PS1 had been out for a couple of years when I got it and there was deal for the console and NFL Blitz plus an extra controller so that's what my family did.

[@Jghost11]

We didn't get a memory card for 3 or 4 months because we didn't know we needed it. Most of my first games were those free demo ones. It wasn't until a few years in where I beefed up my collection.

[@joshoshea3194]

@@Jghost11 snap! I remember those demo disks fondly. There was this one game on one of them called "Kurushi". It was a puzzle game of all things and it only had the one level on the demo disk (it came with a whole bunch of other games on the disk so it all evened out) but I played the living hell out of it. They renamed it "Intelligence Cube". It comes with the Playstation Mini. I want to get one just for that game 😀👍

[@Boogie_the_cat]

My biggest hurdle when looking at the 32X (besides the lack of games) was the darn $60-70 pricing scheme. It made waiting for the Saturn (which i ended up getting and loving) that much easier. Not to mention we were a poor single parent family that could only afford one console. I sold my Genesis and all the games when the Saturn got it's price drop, and while I missed my Gennie, I got a lot out of the Saturn that the Genesis could never do, like Panzer Dragoon, Virtua Cop, Virtua Fighter 2, the amazing Guardian Heroes...

[@TheSnatchbuckler]

It sucks they did it that way, too, cause the 32x was supposed to be a lower cost entry point into the 32-bit era. It was only half the price of the Saturn, but games were usually much higher.

[@malcolmar]

I too love my Sega 32X. I had one at launch, sold it to "upgrade" to the next new system only to I re-buy it again to have it for keeps. Sad how the 32X never had a chance to show what a 32 bit cart based system could do especially when you consider what the Neo Geo was able to pull off with all its years of support. Seeing the incredible stuff put out by indie developers for the Sega Genesis I would love to see and be willing to pay good money for Indie 32X games. I already have cart versions of the 32X Mortal Kombat II Arcade Edition as well as the 32X Doom Resurrection. Both games are simply outstanding and give us a glimpse of what is possible.

[@jordanwhite352]

So as a huge Sega fan back in the day and if someone who grew up in that era was so frustrating about this. Looking back is that if they had simply sat down combined all of the advantages that they're hardware proposals had and made one singular console. They would probably have still been alive today. The Sega Saturn, the 32x and even some degree. The Sega CD really shows how factionalism and them being headless on where to go absolutely destroyed themselves.

[@maroon9273]

Sega saturn hardware we all desired if Soj wanted a JP 1994 launch date. Having the sega cd's scaler and fmv compression feature. The 32x flexible software graphical features and the saturn 2D/3D hardware features with full transpericies, Luminosity, lighting, no warping sprites/polygons, and unified color palette/count with no early launch.

[@yuvraj01]

If you thought Daytona was bad for the Saturn, imagine what it would have been like for the 32x! In general the 32x and Saturn were symbols of the disunity at Sega.....this disunity paved the way for the Dreamcast to be here today and gone tomorrow and the end of the hardware era for Sega...

[@eponymous7910]

Saturn should've been backwards compatible with Genesis. It would've been a game changer

[@maroon9273]

In place of the 32x add-on.

[@darinherrick9224]

SONY would have been DOA if the price was the same.

[@MaxAbramson3]

SEGA had considered a 68EC030 based Genesis 32-bit with the maxed out 2MB of RAM and improved VDP--basically just a Genesis with the architecture pushed to its practical limits. That would've cost as much as a 32X addon, so didn't seem to make as much sense at the time.

[@seantaft3853]

I don't think it would have helped. The root of the Saturn's failure was the complete disconnect between Japan and America, both in Sega management and in the audience. Even backwards capabilities couldn't save the Saturn; hell, being backwards capable is never a reason a console is successful.

[@VOAN]

@@darinherrick9224 I still don't think Sony would be DOA. Remember every disc game on the PS1 was produced by Sony so they lose nothing on CD whereas every disc on the Sega Saturn Sega lose money to get production of those disc manufactured as Sega doesn't produced those disc by themselves. This is also why RPGs were more expensive to make on Saturn than PlayStation. On Saturn if an RPG required 2-4 disc, then Sega had to provide multiple disc purchase from their partner for that dev to make the game happen whereas on PS1 Sony doesn't had to do that, all the dev had to do was buy the bulk of disc manufactured direct from Sony themselves and for a cheaper price too. If an RPG doesn't sell on Saturn then both the dev and Sega lose money, if the RPG doesn't sell on PS1 only the dev lose money, not Sony.

[@s.t.phoenix]

Glad to hear you mention the cost of the 32X cartridges. That was a big deterrent for a lot of people. I remember a lot of later Genesis and Super NES carts being similar as well, especially the RPGs. Phantasy Star IV was almost $100 at my neighborhood FuncoLand growing up. Looking back, while it probably wouldn't have saved the add-on, having some more arcade titles for the 32X would have been cool. I would've dug a home port of OutRun to the same quality After Burner Complete got, and maybe even some stuff like Revenge of Death Adder, since the 32X could have easily handled a game like that. A lot of wasted potential and missed opportunity... but that statement all in itself kinda describes SEGA around that time rather well unfortunately.

[@lo1bo2]

Yeah, cartridges were expensive. I loved being able to rent games and try out a lot of titles for a small amount.

[@GreyMatterShades]

Yeah, with cartridges being so expensive, I honestly think the Sega CD had better potential as an add-on. With the criminally under-utilized sprite scaling hardware in it, it probably could have handled games like Outrun quite well, and Sega could have pushed the value of the platform by making more compilation CDs of Genesis games with enhanced soundtracks.

[@legendsflashback]

Yup

[@djberryhardkore]

Wow a golden axe beat ‘‘em up would’ve be perfect for the 32x

[@ArneChristianRosenfeldt]

1994 why would some MB on ROM be expensive? ROM is simpler than RAM. Arcade games are not movies. Hand drawn! Hand composed chip tune !

[@petermalek935]

Great video! Makes me wonder how some 32X exclusives would have fared as Saturn ports. Kolibri, Star Wars Arcade, and Pitfall could have been dynamite.

[@glazfe8112]

Your videos are helping me through a really rough time in my life. Thank you

[@SegaLordX]

Hang in there.

[@stabinghobo57]

Jesus is with you body. I will pray for you.

[@tron.44]

​@@stabinghobo57that's an awful thing to do. It's like saying "I will not do anything to assist you, at all. I think your situation is worthy of a fairytale response."

[@luimu]

​@@tron.44I mean did you do anything more than him? At least this guy clearly had good intentions and displayed them in his own way.

[@Stuffies2022]

@@tron.44what is he supposed to do, fix their life himself?

[@wizzgamer]

The Mega Drive versions with the 32x peripheral hold up fairly well compared to the next generation Saturn.

[@The_Badseed]

Had both systems. Was a Sega fan boy back in the day. Remember sega almost had the Neptune come out instead

[@MaxAbramson3]

Neptune CD would've made more sense.

[@madspunky]

The Super Nintendo had so many excellent games release in 1994 and 1995, that I didn't feel a need a rush to choose between these two. The PC was also also coming into its own.

[@roberthornibrook6344]

Always wondered why Sega just didn't add 32x compatibility to the Saturn via the cartridge slot. Would have made a lot of sense.

[@legendsflashback]

Virtua fighter cart click , no load times !

[@Melsharpe95]

They were developed by two different sections of Sega: The USA did the 32X and Japan did the Saturn. Unfortunately there was intense mistrust between the two and Sega of Japan didn't give it a chance because they didn't want to support two systems. Fast forward to today and Microsoft does the same thing with their Xbox One/One X and Series X/S. But they actually put their weight behind the idea of having multiple power levels of console to choose from.

[@Marcus_K]

The 32X needs the Genesis hardware to run nearly all of its games. Emulating the 32X-Genesis combo on the Saturn would've probably been too complex.

[@SirRigbyBaconKaiser]

​@@Marcus_Kbut that's the irony of it all. The Saturn was designed to be a Mega Drive as well on top. There's a 68k CPU nestled in the system.

[@Marcus_K]

@@SirRigbyBaconKaiser I wouldn't say it was designed to be a MD as well, since it never was backwards compatible with the MD, but the Saturn does include a Motorola 68EC000 as a sound controller. Reminds you of the MD using the Z80 as a sound controller, which did allow the MD to be backwards compatible with the Master System. The MD has its own VDP chip though, which plays a large role in the console's performance. The Saturn has several collections of MD ports, such as Sonic Jam, Thunder Force Gold Pack and Phantasy Star Collection, so it would be interesting to know whether those ports managed to use the Saturn's 68EC000 chip or whether they ran on the SH-2 CPU.

[@MattyIcecubes]

The 32X was so confusing when it came out. My friends and I weren't sure whether it was the new console or not. Turned out it wasn't.

[@bobcharlotte8724]

Sounds similar to the WiiU

[@jpetersongaming]

I was so confused when it came out lol! I guess that was a huge marketing error on Sega's part

[@Tremadog102]

I am happy that I asked for the Saturn. If I had asked for the 32x I would have missed out on Virtual On, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Fighters Megamix and all the arcade ports like VF2 and Sega Rally. I wanted to play Chaotix but I think I made the correct choice. It is interesting to see some of the superior ports for the 32x here though. Having to make buying decisions based on magazine reviews rather than KZbin footage was a bit drawback I'm those days!

[@DLPAgenda]

You never miss man. Another superb video.

[@marshmower]

As a 12 year old, i simply took my 32x and sega cd (+games) back to toysrus for $380 in Jeffrey dollars. I thought about the Saturn for a day or two and returned to buy the system and Daytona USA and clockwork night. Virtua fighter was included. I was already out more than my store credit by that point. I bought a 32x again 2-3 years later for $30 and Virtua Racing deluxe for the second time. Doom was new to me even though it was a 5 + year old port on 32x. Still......

[@HighHeelKnight]

Corpse Killer is one of the first games that I ever called an official hotline for assistance. I was struggling with the final level.

[@Blue5wirl]

I forgot that the release dates were that close together for these systems. Unless you've done it already (apologies if so), it'd be interesting to do a comparison of the games that got Mega Drive/Genesis, 32X, and Saturn versions. I know that Virtua Racing and Mortal Kombat II were on all three.

[@tron.44]

Did you watch the video? Those comparisons are in the video.

[@juststatedtheobvious9633]

Did you read the comment? Show me the Genesis versions.

[@Blue5wirl]

@@tron.44 What juststatedtheobvious9633 said. A *three way* comparison including MegaDrive/Genesis. Not every game in that video had a MD/G version, and they weren't included if they did. (Which isn't a slight on the creator, the video is 32X compared with Saturn, after all.)

[@LateToTheBeardParty]

I recall hearing that the 32X was developed by Sega USA, in spite of Sega Japan not wanting them to do so, likely due to them wanting their future to concentrate on the Saturn.

[@Chris-techgamesfood]

We had a 32x at my grandads house, it was my first time playing Doom too and I still love it. I know it pails in comparison to other versions but I had a ton of fun with the 32x. Mind you, I was a kid at the time, it’s amazing how much more wonder and joy you find in things as a child.

[@jonathonhappel]

Video game magazines at the time of the 32x release were very positive on it. However, all the planned third party support never materialized.

[@BrianJones-wk8cx]

Wow-in spite of everything, I came away from this video with a much deeper appreciation for the 32X! It compares much more favorably than I had anticipated going in, thank you as always for your coverage!

[@pixelsncreatures]

Oh wow, Stellar Assault looks awesome. I wish I knew about it back then. I don't buy games for my older systems anymore

[@rodrigogirao8344]

It got a fan translation recently.

[@guardianbeardizer6361]

It's a good day when I hear "Seeeeeggggaaaaa"

[@WhatIsMatter101]

I still find it weird years later (from interviews) that the Saturn was a response to the Jaguar, a nonthreat to their market. And that the second chip was added only as a kneejerk response to the looming threats of the PS and N64. I guess the success in the US of the Genesis made Hayakawa paranoid. And they only came close (but no cigar) versus the Super NES.

[@unvaxxeddoomerlife6788]

The 32x is like a 3D Graphics card for the Genesis. I think it's an awesome piece of hardware.

[@zed-xr4353]

I am usually not a fan of these types of comparison videos but you have a knack for making even topics I personally find mundane entertaining. Thanks for making such great content.

[@tristanbruns5968]

Excellent video review! The side by sides were very satisfying and I like how you really gave the 32x the benefit of the doubt (without overlooking its flaws). Subscribed!

[@chane2k1]

I was 8 when the 32x came out and even then I knew it was a waste of time and money. I did end up getting a Saturn with my savings ~$350 and the help of my Mom for the rest. Good memories.

[@urbz6712]

I was the same age. My family after having the JVC X-eye and the Panasonic Cd-i. We waited for the N64. We did the same thing with Dreamcast. Skipped it knowing the Playstation 2 was on the way.

[@PaulieAFantoneJays19]

I just want to say...I absolutely love the intro!!!... I swear, I just find myself watching your vids just to see that awesome intro lol

[@DoobieDoctor5000]

Great video. Also kind of random but great runtime as well. I started the video when I started doing dishes. By the time I had my coffee ready and the kitchen tidied, the video was over. Perfect transition to go melt my brain on the PS4.

[@Aragorn7884]

Those commercials are so GD 90s 😂

[@Chrozi]

I was pumped for 32X because I figured with the increased color palette it would come out with a killer port of Super Street Fighter II Turbo. Yeah, no

[@zerocal76]

Yoo I'm really glad to see your videos getting a good amount of views (for your sub count imo). Will be here when you hit half a millz 😁

[@n8bit874]

Really neat video. I love the quality product you always put out!

[@jmartin1885]

To me, the 32X was a ludicrous idea! That-said, I was perfectly happy with the Mega-CD (UK name for Sega-CD) Sega R&D took valuable resources and applied it to the 32X, instead of pouring it ALL into the Saturn! Then the panic set-in when they heard about the PlayStation... And well, the history is there! The killer-app for me was Virtua Fighter!! The very reason I bought the Saturn... As buggy as the first release was, I loved it... I got Virtual Fighter Remix on release day, then was Blown-Away with Virtua Fighter 2!!! I bought Astro-City-Mini just to play the first hi-res arcade-perfect Virtua Fighter! Thanks Sega Lord X! Another superb video ;-)

[@marshmower]

In the US, if you had a 32x CD from December 94 till July 95, you had the best system besides super nes at the time. Mainstream at least. I never ran across Amiga systems. They must have been at the fancy computer game stores around 92 ish. That was also a crazy time.

[@58jharris]

The Amiga never caught on in the US. The PC was totally dominant by then.

[@redline78inc1]

Been wanting to see a comparison like this. Top notch as always

[@sharksmate]

I think to my eyes, the main issue i see across most games is that the Saturn runs most of the games at 60fps while the 32x seems to run around 30fps. For me that's a big deal. That better color palette is also a big plus.

[@georged7627]

The Mega CD sprite scaling was beautiful 🙏🏽

[@SteveHyde]

Love your videos my good man, great presentation style and love hearing your insights. Sega sure made some interesting choices back in the day, it would be great to go back in time and knock some heads together, and do things differently.

[@BenCossette]

True story, I traded in my Tower of Power towards a Saturn when it came out. And one of the limited titles I had of fit was MK2. I played it on 32X and loved it, but when I got it on Saturn, I was so disspoitned, I called them and complained. I reported the game defective.

[@marshmower]

Awesome. Glad I wasn't the only kid contributing to harsher return policies.

[@joefitzgeraldrodriguez4079]

Seeing you talk about Corpse Killer makes me wish you'd do a ranking or group review/overview of FMV games on the Sega CD/Saturn. My friend and I are on a quest to play all FMV games out there so it'd be a great complement to our journey!

[@third.act.countdown]

I did not know 32x corpse killer had video like that. That's pretty incredible. I wonder what a 32x lost world jp would of been like?

[@seguramlk]

It's incredible that 70% ish of the SS' library has never made it out of Japan. If I'm not mistaken more than 800 titles are known to have been made for it

[@Oysterblade84]

Awesome content as always! I had neither of these back in the day. Today I own a Mega 32X but it only works with a model 2 Mega Drive, hooking it up to my Mega Drive model 1 causes one layer of the background to shake (the 32x layer).

[@SNESKegaGamer]

I would have loved to see 32X ports of Galaxy Force 2, Outrun, Outrunners, or even Power Drift.

[@Aporicwares]

Something to remember with the sega Saturn is it didn't have what I'd consider true 3D rendering, which uses triangles even today (even Ngons are triangles behind the scenes). It had 4 vertex sprites that could be distorted and scaled instead. It's impressive what they could do with that really. Probably made the console a devs dream for sprite scaling games like Space Harrier but a nightmare for games like the Panzer Dragoon series at the time

[@erikw792]

😂 This is so blatantly false. Go look at games like Gungriffon, Virtua On Cybertroopers, Wing Arms etc.

[@deltasyn7434]

While I think there's an argument to be made for the Sega CD, there really is no excuse for the decision to move forward with the 32x. Even as a budget option because you were still looking at more expensive games and the price of the unit itself. In any case, 'the budget option' for gamers is always last gen stuff. Lower upfront cost and larger library. The 32x had neither of these things going for it.

[@Adamtendo_player_1]

The 32X had some good games although they were few and far between.

[@steveandrade3477]

I've always wanted to see a Saturn/32X comparison video. Thanks for uploading! I had always hoped Sega would have made the Saturn backwards compatible with the 32X.

[@worsethanhitlerpt.2539]

The thing is that the 32x would be better as a stand alone system. Linking up witht the Genesis just slowed it down and it needs its own Power cable anyway

[@cristhianbenitez5084]

Finally I been waiting for a video like this!

[@jasonedwards7099]

Awesome video bro! I had the Genesis, but as your video states the 32x and it’s games were expensive lol. So I held out for the Nintendo 64/PS1. I have one now though, and one thing you forgot to mention, is that playing the normal 16 bit Genesis games with the 32x are upscaled and present the best presentation!

[@gdashafe1001]

Wow. Great video filled with interesting facts. I am still scratching my head at what the decision makers at Sega were thinking. And also how things might have played out if the 32X would have been released a year or two earlier.

[@jeffb.6642]

Your videos are the KZbin equivalent of comfort food.

[@theseabass]

The 32X is something I've wanted to find a reason to plunge into, but anytime I take another look at the library I have a hard time justifying it outside of novelty's sake. You can't find them dirt cheap anymore like you used to, but if I do, I'll have to take a stab at it with a flash cart to test the waters.

[@pedeyw]

They should have stuck with SVP chip add on and cancelled the 32x. I think the original plan was to bundle Virtua Racing witb a svp add on cart and then put out various "virtua-" games on the MD/Gen. It would have been less capable but also way less expensive.

[@maroon9273]

Even a SH-2 or Revised Hitachi SVP lock on cart adapter for the genesis.

[@perlichtman1562]

Thanks for the enjoyable video. I agreed with a lot of your assessments and the only one where I really had a different opinion was Corpse Killer. You mentioned that you thought the video quality difference wasn’t that big. Granted, the 32X had quite a bit better video than your standard Sega CD release but the Saturn video was a ton better, in part because of the massive difference in contrast between the two. If I owned a 32X copy, I’d be looking at the Saturn version I’d be saying “why can’t mine look like that?” :)

[@R3troZone]

"What if you were a customer in 1994 and 1995 and saw both these consoles on the shelf?" Answer: I was and I did. I ignored them both until 1998 when the 32X was marked down to $20 and then I bought it. I didn't buy a Saturn until 6 months ago and I got it for $60.

[@jamesburchill7522]

Comparing apples to oranges with this one. The 32X still had to utilize the Genesis to work. The very fact it existed and was able to function, is a testament to the tech used in 1989. Nothing like the 32X has been seen since. It was a failure, but an amazing one. I've no complaints about the 32X, as it was something that Sega of Japan, told Sega of America to toss off and develop.

[@wizzgamer]

1988

[@jabarijones9588]

The Genesis, Sega CD & 32x was and still is trash. The Saturn was not amazing, it pure dumpster fire, the only two good systems Sega made was the Dreamcast and the GameGear!!!

[@jasonlee7816]

​​@@jabarijones9588 8-bit Sega Master System = good 👍 16-bit Sega Genesis/Mega-Drive = good 👍

[@anglo-saxonconnor817]

Sega was basically three divisions doing three different things back then. America and Japan have different ideas and understanding of their respective markets and what they want to do with their systems and sega also have an arcade division to take care of back then. No wonder money was never enough for them back in those days. They simply cannot earn enough to offset on their various ventures.

[@RobJaskula]

Poor leadership in the boardroom. They should have put their foot down with Sega of America and never did. Sega corporate couldn't get out of their own way in the mid 90s

[@Atariatari-ky9te]

Even though the Mega Drive/Genesis and the Sega Saturn are my favorite 2 systems of all time. It was the 32X that was the first system that Blew me away when playing Virtura Racing Deluxe (the first game I played on it) and then later the Dreamcast gave me that same type of feeling. For the ones who dont know. The 32X in the United States in 1994 sold 600,000 units which was better than the 500,000 Saturns sold in Japan and the 300,000 Playstations sold in Japan in 1994. It was a bad move for Sega Of Japan to force Sega Of America to stop with the 32X in the US. Maybe in Japan but in the US the 32X was doing great until everyone got the News that Sega was going to stop supporting it.

[@mikejesernik1451]

Just was looking for a video to chill and watch before bed... Just got posted. Score!

[@pjretroredux]

Love this guys videos, Just sold the triple stack recently which was a sad time :(

[@jeffrokkz2k1]

Crazy time to be alive when in one summer, Sega hardware was plentiful. The Genesis, Sega CD, Game Gear, CDx, Nomad, 32x and finally Saturn.

[@RGT85]

Both awesome and underrated systems. Great vid as usual.

[@stabinghobo57]

I knew of the Sega Saturn when I was a kid, I didn’t know of the SEGA 32X until I was in my thirties! 🤷🏽

[@Assassin0Ninja]

The infamouse SEGA Civil War

[@michaelpanayotou3740]

Love 32x videos!

[@forcedfeedbackclassicgamer5499]

Was literally playing Virtua Racing on my Saturn when the notification for this video chimed. Sega was always their own worst enemy. It wasn't Nintendo or Sony that did them in, but the moronic feuding and disparate corporate strategies between Sega of Japan and Sega of America. What a waste, ya know?

[@RobJaskula]

Yeah, what a waste. They even showed they still had console chops with the Dreamcast, which was obviously far too little, far too late. I remember it being rather "obvious" from reading magazines from 1993-95 that Sega was screwing up with every new thing they announced, and the Saturn being such a huge afterthought to the PlayStation. No one I knew who had a Genesis ever really thought they were going to stick with Sega, from early on in the news cycle.

[@EatMyShortsAU]

32x and and Sega CD were duds in Australia. By the time PlayStation and N64 was released in Australia with Goldeneye 64, Mario Cart 64, Super Mario 64, Gran Tourismo etc it was all over for Sega. Pretty much everyone I knew either had a PlayStation 1 or N64, I only knew like 1 or 2 people who got Saturn or DreamCast.

[@baxterwilson368]

3:44 I loved Corpse Killer on the Saturn. I still have it, and should probably try to finish it in 2023. 😊

[@zZiL341yRj736]

I was in 6th grade in 1998 and reading magazine and seeing these screnshots were amazing.

[@TobeyStarburst]

Great comparison video man

[@thecunninlynguist]

Neptune might have legit been awesome. Alas...what could've have been.

[@maroon9273]

It needed a massive upgrade as a alternative to the saturn in japan.

[@MaxAbramson3]

Neptune CD could've been sold for $199 in 1995 and not at a loss. SEGA had to sell the Saturn for a staggering 3DO-cost of $400 AFTER we were all broke from hardware. And almost every Saturn, arcade, and PS1 game could've been ported to the 32X-CD, keeping the company alive for 2-3 more years.

[@masamunexc]

I never owned a Saturn, I went with a N64 instead, but I did rent it a few times, played the hell out of Virtua Fighter, Daytona and Sega Rally. I think Sega lost so much creditability with the release of the Sega CD and quickly after the 32X. It really got me and my friends to start thinking that Sega didn't know what it was doing anymore and that these add-ons were a rip off. I wish Sega had gone straight to the Saturn and never released the Sega CD or 32x (although I do like them for their respective libraries now). I think they might have had a better chance.

[@RobJaskula]

You nailed it with how me and my friends saw the situation at the time. From reading the magazines it just seemed like Sega had no clue what they were doing and no one I knew ever really even considered getting a Saturn with the PlayStation on the way and the Ultra 64 hype heating up

[@ricardobarros1090]

Great and Thank you for the vídeo!!!

[@theretrokids6666]

Thank you for this great video. ! ❤

[@gestekoe]

I will say World Series Baseball 98 for the Saturn is AMAZING! One of the better baseball games ever made in my opinion.

[@GeorgeWeeman]

I had boughten the 32x mainly because I already had the Sega CD, so I wanted to have the whole 32x CD experience. The 32x was an issue right from the start because you had to put these metal clips inside the sega genesis for it to work. Also, The Genesis, Sega CD, and 32X all had to have power packs plugged in to get them to work, which meant you were buying extra extension cords if you wanted to play. I was still willing to support the system by buying many 32x titles at retail price, which as SLX mentioned, was very expensive! Hell, I even got Night Trap for the 32x cd even though I already owned it for the Sega CD, and the 3DO lol! Despite it's outrageous prices, The 32x had some gems that I look back on fondly like Virtua Racing, Virtua Fighter, Star Wars Arcade, and Metal Head. I remember trading my Atari Jaguar in for the 32X....At first I thought I made a mistake, but now, I think I made the right choice. Later I bought the Sega Saturn, and that was when my 32X started to collect dust. I was very proud of my game collection, and miss it fondly to this day! Games just don't scratch that same itch that it used too...I'm so grateful to emulation, and channels like this, that makes these games still relevant to newer generations.

[@jagergerg9771]

I love these types of videos

[@metaljo666]

Keep the video coming! Your chanel is great.

[@djberryhardkore]

What if sega had focused in on the mega cd. Released an all in one version and tried for games that utilized cds more (not just basic upgrades to mega drive games)…

[@TheSnatchbuckler]

I ended up trading a genesis/sega cd for a JVC X-eye, which was an all-in-one genesis/cd console. I think there were a few jvc games for it, as well as playing all the sega games. Great console I still have today.

[@djberryhardkore]

@@TheSnatchbuckler wow great call in hindsight, would be worth a pretty penny right now. If you have some of the better mega cd games its a great console, just a shame that so many games were basically mega drive ports with better music...

[@ENFDO]

I had both. In fact bought genesis for 32x and a virtua racing deluxe, a few month later i gifted that shiet to my cousin and bought a release date sega saturn fase 1 with vf1 and was the first time ever in history of human kind u saw a top notch machine conversion in ur room.

[@JRvonnegut]

32x had the blast processing from the genesis!

[@lyrand6408]

The _speed_ (in FPS) of Virtua Racing is very impressive for the 32X version. It was one thing at the time to get full 3D polygons on-screen in motion and as a game to play, already in itself quite the accomplishment... but usually the price of such a thing was sluggish / molasses speed (see Super FX games on SNES for the best examples of that; note that I loved one of them being StarFox as a kid at the time but even I knew, back then, that it was "running slow" without having the vocabulary to explain why). But it was another thing to get such a game running at those speeds on _any_ type of home console system (it was a thing on PC only at the time to get speeds like that for 3D games). If you had shown me StarFox running at the 32X speed of Virtua Racing my mind would have been blown to pieces. To this very day my only wish for StarFox would be for a direct SNES port (rather than a remake... I wouldn't even need or want that) that runs at 60 FPS, that's it (or heck even a constant 30 FPS might be enough, I just don't want to play early-3D games from the 90s at 12 to 15 FPS anymore, actually gives me a headache, makes me realize how much I could cope with when I was younger).

[@jesusruizcarmena]

I love all your videos Sega Lord.