Tricking out a Sega Saturn (Fenrir, 50/60hz and more)

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The Sega Saturn remained in the shadow of the Playstation in the UK but it was common enough that I got to try it out, it didn't make a huge impression on me. In later years I came to realise I might be missing out on a lot of games, especially 2D, that really shone on this console. Today then we'll make our ultimate Saturn so we can explore them. And play Outrun. Mostly Outrun.
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[@TheRetroCollective]

Thanks for watching, and if you're new here why not give the channel a sub, I'd really appreciate it! Neil - RMC

[@espressomatic]

We're here for your booger squishing, nooks and grannies.

[@Caddy666]

did you try the analogue stick in nights? also you getting the saturn switcher for it?

[@axelguzman8432]

Muchos saludos desde Michoacán México viva sega siempre siempre eternamente

[@carlstokes7321]

@@Caddy666 Sadly it's not true analogue.

[@LxRv]

I was... except that I wasn't. Mysteriously un-subscribed? Now fixed..

[@Mamiya645]

The Saturn could do genuine transparency effects but that was only for the two three people who had the system figured out to that ridiculous degree.

[@Firefoxfifty]

Sonic Team were the masters. Transparencies were used alot in Burning Rangers.

[@HappyCodingZX]

yes, it could be done but only in software, not hardware, meaning it would be hitting processors normally used for other things. A bit like how many 8-bit computers could do sprites in software.

[@GaiusIuliusCaesar1]

@@HappyCodingZX There is hardware transparency, but it was complicated to implement. It also depended on the rendering order or the transparency effect could eat through things between the transparent object and the background layer. In general the programmer had to really know what they were doing and the game and art design had be done with the saturn in mind to make it work. Hence why most devs said f*** this and lazy dithering/cross hatch effects instead. Pretty much the entire the story of the Saturn.

[@HappyCodingZX]

@@GaiusIuliusCaesar1 thanks for the info - I know some coders used software tricks to give the effect of transparency so I assumed that it had to be done in software.

[@jeremygregorio7472]

@@HappyCodingZX it had hardware support for transparencies it just only had it for the background layer because they put the hardware support for transparencies in the vdp responsible for backgrounds The most famous example of this is probably DragonForce where the special effects when they pass over enemies we obscure all the enemies even if they're not really supposed to. Also the girl in guardian Force as a transparent skirt but again if you look closely when she is over an enemy Sprite you can't see the enemy Sprite in the transparency just the background layer

[@RonnieN1995]

I've watched this channel since Neil was just doing it out of a closet. Even though I did not grow up with the kind of tech featured (I'm from 1995), it is always a blast to see the interviews, trash to treasure and repairs. Mark is such a nice bloke, hope you keep him around for a long time because you two interact so good on screen. Keep it up. And when I ever take te ferry from the continent to England, I will surely visit the cave! Thanks Neil, and thanks Mark!

[@fredsmith1970]

I used to love the arcade version of Outrun... I was on a family holiday in Spain in the late 80's and the hotel had an Outrun machine in the bar area. By the end of the 2 weeks of the holiday, it wasn't a case of whether we could complete the game or not, it was a case of who could get the faster time and top the leader board between me and my brothers. Happy days.

[@cadburybunny]

You know it's gonna be a fun episode when both the lads are at the very start!!

[@DamnDealDone]

Too bad they solder and mod like rank amateurs.

[@cadburybunny]

@@DamnDealDone Too bad you comment and act like a rank twat!

[@andrewclegg9501]

Fenrir can dump the memory contents to the SD card, and the reverse to allow battery swap. Battery still runs down with FRAM, its running the clock.

[@Ish0tJR]

10:25 Great video, one thing regarding the 50/60hz switch. A PAL Saturn switched to 60hz outputs an off spec NTSC signal, 59.3hz instead of 59.97hz. Most 50/60hz switches will work fine on a CRT but won’t work on some HDTV’s and scalers because their output is off spec. You can swap the PAL crystal oscillator with an NTSC one to fix this, there’s even a dual oscillator mod available but the website for that chip you used doesn’t mention anything about the oscillator so it sound like a regular switch. Just thought I’d mention this, most PAL Saturn owners nowadays just buy a Japanese system for NTSC games as it’s cheaper and easier then getting the oscillator mod done.

[@johnjames7332]

Is this an issue for a modded PAL consoles if you use RGB scart since since the colour information is then not in NTSC?

[@Ish0tJR]

@@johnjames7332 No, it’s purely to do with the refresh rate.

[@johnjames7332]

@@Ish0tJR Thanks

[@jonnyharket]

I was wondering this. Does it end up resulting in tearing or judder etc?

[@Ish0tJR]

@@jonnyharket Typically judder and the sound cutting out.

[@Interference22]

"This is why Mark doesn't get to choose games." A great injustice. Cho Aniki is legendarily mental.

[@WhatAboutZoidberg]

Thumbs up for Cho Aniki, one of the most insane, amazing games of all time. Saturn really is a 2d Powerhouse. Never got to experience one as a kid, but i've got one to delve into now. So many great Japanese exclusives as well, some getting amazing translation patches too. Such a fun series, cant wait for the next system.

[@Sonikkua]

The entire Cho Aniki series is worth checking out just for the absurdity of it all.

[@wussup12345]

You really gotta stop calling everything ‘amazing’ lol

[@kfpv634]

I can't find a cho aniki rom that works on my fenrir, the 3 that I found crash after the 1st level. Does anyone know where I can download one please?

[@GreySectoid]

PC was also my go-to platform and still is, but I am not a snob and can appreciate every gaming system out there. That's one of the draws of this channel, I can learn about consoles I've never even seen in real life.

[@jomeyqmalone]

Retro Bit makes officially licensed wireless recreations of the Saturn and 6- Button genesis/megadrive controllers. Both work interchangably if you buy the extra receiver. I've been happy with one of each on my Saturn/Fenrir, no b problems using ABC+Start to go back to to the fenrir menu etc. Still no analogue stick, but very few Saturn games use it, and I don't really miss it. The Arcade stick is a much more important accessory for that system.

[@billy-waynejeffcoat4828]

This is the only true way imo, I want I like retrofighter but they keep messing up on controller features. Only retrofighter controller I have is the dreamcast one.

[@bobbus_74]

I'm a big fan of the Saturn. I bought mine on launch day and was instantly hooked. Sega Rally is still one of my favourite racers, but since then I've gone on to explore the much wider Japanese catalogue. Great video and some essential mods installed there. Nice work. 👍

[@MikeyGRetro]

Great video Neil! I tried getting a Sega Saturn drive working again and never thought of an ODE so know what I need now. 👍🏼

[@EricHostile]

The 60fps Outrun is the best Outrun! Love your videos!

[@Wishmaster65]

I saw my first Sega Saturn in a local toystore in the Netherlands back then and also with Panzer Dragoon demo on it. I was instantly hooked and until today I still remember that moment.

[@RoadRunnerMeep]

I'm glad I grew up in the generation that had the Commodore 64, Amstra, Megadrive Spectrum etc all in them.

[@wruzicka78]

My understanding of the analogue stick on Saturn (I can verify this on my Saturn later) is that for MOST Saturn games they are digital only. Only certain games programmed to take advantage of the analogue stick will play the way you are expecting. I would suggest trying Nights into Dreams and see if the analogue stick works on that one. Back in the day I bought the bundle that came with the analogue pad and Nights together.

[@TheRetroCollective]

I’ve had a chat with the supplier and they confirmed this is digital only

[@carlstokes7321]

@@TheRetroCollective that's the thing with Retro fighters products. Always so close, but always an issue with the design of them. I believe this is digital only as it was primarily aimed at use on the Megadrive.

[@carlosjuniorfox]

As I know. Only 5 or 6 games had taken advantage of the analog stick. Games like Daytona USA CCE, Burning Rangers, Nights and Sega Rally. I can be forgetting some game or another. But isn't many more. Sonic R, Sonic Jam e Sonic 3D Blast had the support for the analog stick, but don't take advantage of that. Others, like the original Daytona or Sega Manx TT Superbike, were compatible, had taken advantage, but weren't designed to be used with the analog stick, but with the Saturn's racing wheel.

[@DavidWhitley]

have a Saturn that needs repair, your video as great as it was, has made me realise i was looking at it with rose tinted glasses, my Saturn will remain a shelf queen. Great video as always Neil

[@ArandomNutter]

Another fine video, well done

[@petemc4190]

So happy you're in the 60mhz Saturn club, Mark fixes stuff videos on it got me to fix up mine a treat and play on the Saturn properly. Think you'd appreciate the N64 at 60mhz and rgb some time soon...

[@jamesnewman4351]

Had my JAP Saturn since Christmas 94 , great machine and play all games with the 4 in 1 cartridge . Great video thanks👍

[@davidbanner9001]

I have such respect for you guys saving this hardware and indeed enhancing it for us all. Thank you.

[@Shane55able]

I like the background music when explaining the conversion mod. 👍

[@Harp00nX]

I was still on the Amiga and SNES when the Saturn was released, it didn't wow me enough to want one especially at that price (and I was never impressed by the Virtua games). On the other hand when I saw Ridge Racer on the Playstation I knew I was getting one of them lol

[@slerched]

Instead of Fenrir/MODE, I went with Satiator. Can't use an MPEG card anymore (...not that I ever had one) but I don't have to swap out my working drive to play games from an SD card, so the biggest win possible. I only have one Saturn, it's my baby bought in '98 and the thought of modifying it made me sweat bullets and almost cry.

[@loganjorgensen]

20:00 That is such an oversight to not have analog support when the SS clearly had analog games like Nights and such. :P I'd even argue the MD XE-1 AP could use some aftermarket support too. Not to undervalue the SS/MD/SMS support aspect but I would think the SS would be the primary market for that new controller.

[@RetroSegaDev]

Great to see some Sega Saturn love on the channel Neil :)

[@MrWazhead]

Lots of respect for having such a high opinion of Outrun: It holds so much nostalgia for me that I can sometimes almost burst.

[@ItsCrapContent]

Best Segue to an advert ever ….love that x

[@henryespitalier777]

Thanks a million for the quality video and the lovely humour

[@hardcore8uk]

Another quality production, excellent guys loved the episode!!!!

[@AndyLundell]

Another lover of the 3DS version of Outrun! I'm sure that's the 3DS game I've played the most. God stuff.

[@dant5464]

The B-roll of Mark putting the box down and the Edge magazine fondling tickled me, I think it might have reminded me of some shots in Look Around You. Write that down in your copybooks now.

[@Brian77766]

The Cartridge is also available with mutli region capabilities and also can allow you to play game backups, it works great - I have one.

[@wyleFTW]

They put a lot of work in to do what the cartridge already does, but interesting to watch anyways

[@Cobalt-Jester]

TL:DR It all happened because an 8 Year old played on an Outrun Machine.. . Outrun was one of my first ever video games that I played. I was about 8 years old and my grandparents took me to Spain for a holiday. In the bar in our hotel was a full sit in and moved about Outrun arcade machine. I fell in love. The Master System was going to be released in time for the next Christmas. I got one. It came with Hang On game card. Other family members bought me games. So I had Wonder Boy, Space Harrier, Afterburner, Choplifter, Action Fighter, and OutRun... But I disagree with your pick for the best version of Outrun. I'm slightly bending the rules but having Outrun on a hacked PS VITA is one of the best ways to play it. It runs perfectly, with no slowdown or flicker, it sounds great and on that super crystal clear VITA screen looks stunning. And, you have Outrun in your pocket. A few years ago before COVID I was on an aeroplane and playing Outrun on VITA and a guy about my age, 40, heard the music from a few seats in front of me. He came talking to me and we jiggled around some seating arrangements with his wife and kids and mine too so he could sit next to me and play it. lol. I showed him other retro games I stuck on there. And we just took it in turns playing our childhood games. He later told me that he is usually terrified of flying and that I'd helped him make a 3 hour flight seem like 30 minutes and we went our separate ways. But he ended up on our return flight and again we moved some people about and sat together. When we landed I gave him my hacked VITA, I had a couple of spares as sometimes the hack would brick the console so I had bought a good many broken VITAS with cracked screens and faulty batteries, they're like £10-£40 for broken ones. I had enough broken VITAs to make about 5 working ones. He wanted to buy it but only had bits of Euros on him. We swapped emails and we still talk to each other. We play rocket league and Call Of Duty together. Last year we on holiday together. I have a really good family friend. All that happened because as an 8 year old I played on an Outrun machine.

[@Colin_Ames]

You know it’s going to be a good video when both of you appear at the start!

[@HoldandModify]

I’m leaving this comment because I really enjoy his videos. Nothing clever. I never would’ve started my own if not for channels like his. It’s the only family I know. We are a nostalgia union.

[@chaozer42]

LOL. 17:50 "This is why mark doesn't get to choose games" 🤣🤣 I love trippy japanese titles myself.

[@LegendaryWizball]

The SEGA Ages version of Outrun on Switch might be the best now.

[@chriswalsh3149]

I never owned a Saturn, but I recently got a freebie "junk" one from a friend and I have been blown away by the library of available games here in Japan. It was a monster here and it's a shame that didn't translate to the west...

[@striderskorpion]

I know people tend to say old 3D games don't age well, but I have to disagree. The old school 3D has a certain kind of charm just like old school 2D games, IMO.

[@jomeyqmalone]

It's a great system to witness how stunningly fast 3d graphics were improving at that time. To see Virtua Racing and Sega Rally Championship and realize they were released just 2 years apart is mind blowing. It's also fun (and occasionally infuriating) to see how different games at that time try to figure out controller mapping to move in 3d space, as there were a lot of different ideas tried out. Burning Rangers using the shoulder buttons to quickly swing the view around 90 degrees at a time is one I still think is pretty good.

[@colinwatt9387]

That's the most complicated ODE mod I've seen, good job guys. (title for a book on console modding "ODE to Joy...sticks") (I'll get me coat)

[@fabiosemino2214]

Great introduction for the Saturn,btw the wipeout version you shown is the first episode, which differs from the psx version for some different tunes, worse FPS and a different collision model, this did not deter me to purchase it one week before getting the actual console and consuming the disc in both the SS and in the portable CD player

[@alext3811]

Didn't it get some flak for being inferior to the PS1 version, or was that the N64 one. If only Sony didn't kill WipEout around a decade ago...

[@thegreatgario3478]

Picked up a Saturn and a Fenrir mod, having a good time with it so far :)

[@CheshireNoir]

I do enjoy watching Neil and Mark together.

[@Evercade_Effect]

Just fantastic! 🔥🔥🔥

[@killerbee2562]

This and LGR's recent video have convinced to get a ODE for my playstation.

[@markg5480]

Saturn collecting/buying/selling was bananas back in the early - mid 2000's. I sold my modded Saturn, X-Men vs SF (with cart), Marvel, vs SF, Bomberman, Darkstalkers Revenge, KoF 95, Samurai Shodown 3, X-Men COTA, and Alpha 2 for £750 back in 2004. I also bought Try Rush Deppy for $30 in 2001, then traded it for Demon's Blazon on the SFC a couple of years later

[@llynellyn]

You can get a PCB called a SaturnPSU that replaces the power board with a smaller/cooler one that runs of any >=3A 12v PSU, it's a great bit of kit that runs cooler and more reliable than the original PCB as there's no AC/DC conversion so less to go wrong.

[@cheaterman49]

11:50 I don't quite understand the need to scratch the solder mask and solder directly to the ground plane, isn't there a perfectly fine ground pin right under the LED?

[@danielt.8573]

The Sega Saturn could do transparencies, reflections and other effects in the hands of those who could program the console to its max.

[@TotoGuy-Original]

booked for the 10th of september cant wait!

[@sinclairspeccy5376]

I looked at modern alternative controllers but I settled on and would recommend the brook convertors from brook accessories, xbox controller (or you can use PS4 or PS3) connected wirelessly or wired - one box/dongle with a Saturn and DC connector. I do like the uniqueness of the original controllers - they are boxed and put away. The analog on XBox/PS are so much better.

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

What a lovely mod! Soon our Multisystems will play Saturn hopefully😀😀💪 I haven’t played the system for so long and could never find many good games back then 🌱

[@idj20]

Another great video where I enjoy watching them. But I noticed when you said about "trying out a Saturn in a shop but knew the Playstation was coming", I thought the Playstation was released a good few months before the Saturn here at the UK. I could be totally wrong and will google it up, just that I was one of the early adopters of the PS by being able to purchase one on the week of its release and then remember being unimpressed with the Saturn (lack of transparency effect, framerate seems more choppier, etc) when that came out a few months later. I guess it might just be my memory playing tricks with age and having been a bit of a PS fanboy.

[@mja65]

Fond memories of the Saturn. The video tape rental stores where I lived sold them off cheap (NZ$50 for a console and 3 games if memory serves) when the console failed. A large discount chain then got a batch of games and sold them off cheap. Helped a poor Uni student amass a decent collection and to be able to play some great 2d games (Mortal Kombat, King of Fighters, Fighters Megamix come to mind). Managed to pick up the same Sega Ages you have here back in the day (in my case I wanted Afterburner). I haven't yet entered the world of ODE, though the softmod with the 4MB cartridge seems to work well with the CDRs (touch wood!). Coincidentally, the first game I wanted requiring the soft mod was Powerdrift - a good conversion and definitely better than the Amiga! A bit surprised given it's history of being an ex-rental that mine still works after close to 25 years!

[@floydian06]

I'll take responsibility for Mark choosing Cho Aniki, lol. I suggested he play the TG-16 version on a livestream he did a while back. I recall his and the chats' reactions being quite entertaining!

[@tonydotnottingham]

Try Deathtank Zwei on the Saturn - best multiplayer pickup and play game, ideal for the cave! It's a bonus game avaialble on Duke Nukem 3D (unlocked if you have a Quake save game)

[@ferrarikangaroo9271]

More Sega Saturn love is always a good thing. PS - You showed gameplay of Wipeout 1, not Wipeout 2097

[@MatticusFinch1820]

This is perfect for a console with a dead disc drive but if you have one with a working drive, get a Satiator, you can get the ODE features of a Fenrir but you can still use your CDs and games! It plugs into the rear VCD card slot.

[@ProffyChaos]

It's always going to be good when Mark is there.

[@GarryGri]

I have that Multipack for my Saturn 😊 I don't know why, but the Saturn version of Wipe-out was always my favourite on any system.

[@NathanChisholm041]

Greetings from Oz. The Sega Saturn has 540 game titles so there's plenty for everyone and I still use it offen. Cheers Neil & co

[@ThemeParksAndAttractions]

Nice video RMC

[@moomah5929]

The Saturn I bought just after it came out still works and I'm hesitant to replace the disc drive with a Fenrir as I love putting my old games (and also new ones I'm still getting to expand my collection) in and playing it the way it was meant to be played. I only need to fix the screw holes as they got stripped by me opening and closing it multiple times like for deactivating the sensor for the lid being opened or closed as I used the swap trick to play imports back in the day (now I got an Action Replay Plus which also functions as memory card and 4M RAM expansion). Still remember downloading games like Psychic Killer Taromaru and so on via 56k modem (5kB/sec oh yeah!)... Just got a Virtua Arcade Stick as I never owned one. Already got enough normal controllers and the 3D pad but also looked at these RetroFighters pads before as I wonder if they might be better than my original Saturn and MD pads. Also do they really support the MS as the original MD pads can be plugged into the MS but have issues? Would also love to use the MD pads on my C64 but they don't work there, while the MS pads work but are quite bad.

[@fattomandeibu]

Cho Aniki is a special blend of horror and hilarity.

[@8bitnation419]

Wonderful mods. You no longer need to remove the CD Drive thanks to the Saturn Switch mod that retains both the ODE and the CD Drive there is also the Satiator which plugs into the expansion port. And as for those that prefer NTSC J consoles there is the Pico Universal PSU mod, power efficient, runs cooler and no more step up transformer.

[@CallousCoder]

I adore Outrun! I hacked it on this channel last year, to never RunOut of time and so finally see every stage. In 34 years I’d never even finished one whole stage! And I played it on Arcade but I hacked the SEGA MegaDrive version but also the Mame (arcade Rom) but I shot all staged whilst playing the megadrive.

[@perrythesylvester]

Great video guys. Very well done. New subscriber here.

[@ValentinoCarbone]

You don't need that region free mod since the Fenrir takes care of this. All you need is to switch the console to 60hz permanently, which can be done with a single wire, no extra mods needed. The you can use NTSC roms with the Fenrir.

[@johnknight9150]

Excellent observation regarding the ageing of 2D and 3D titles. I find 16-bit titles (especially platformers) generally have aged better than Playstation-era 3D games, which look pretty awful these days, and often don't play brilliantly either. When these machines do enter 2D world though, it does look flipping brilliant.

[@31leoceara]

Most 3D games of that generation looked bad to me even back in the day.

[@johnknight9150]

@@31leoceara Haha,we've got a proper grump here -- kudos!

[@31leoceara]

😄👍

[@truecauseofchaos]

Awesome! I have a Satiator (which loads games through the VCD port at the back) as I still have a working CD drive. I am interested in the region mod though!

[@a1exh]

Nice video. Some detail about the difference between oval button (20 pin) and round button (21 pin) Saturns and the Fenrir would have been nice. Also region free bios instead of cutting the motherboard

[@exidy-yt]

I have a large library of original Saturn games, so a Optical drive emulator that allows the CD-drive to stay is ideal for me! That's the one I'll be buying, I've decided not to get an ODE before now because I didn't want to give up my perfectly working Saturn CD-drive. Had no idea there was such an option now, thank you!

[@mrbagitos]

Yes. Sega Ages vol. 1 is awesome for Outrun. I play it with the Sega Arcade wheel along with Sega Rally, Daytona & Virtua Racing. It also works well with Manx TT. I did a fun review of the Saturn wheel on my channel. I just wish they did Super Hang on for the Saturn, that would be awesome.

[@philipboggs3372]

I put a M.O.D.E. in my Saturn awhile ago and it is a wonderful console. I'd personally recommend doing the FRAM mod to it so your not relying on battery for your save games.

[@slappymcphee]

Heard so many mixed reviews on the Fenrir especially after sale support when there are issues with the device. I have a Saturn that I picked up last fall to do the mod, but now instead am hedging my bets on the developing core on the MiSter instead.

[@johnjames7332]

Absolutely Get the Fenrir! I havent come across a game with any compatibility issues, im sure they exist but Ced the developer is active, frequent firmware updates and doesnt have his head up his behind like TerraOnion, or Abrasive that was skimming his patreons for years. Abrasive thought he had the market to himself and had a rude awakening with the release of the Mode and then the Fenrir.

[@c7261]

I live to see Neil’s “wang” 😂 Always love to see Mark. My favourite content on here is when things are slightly off script. It’s nice to see your personalities shine through ♥️

[@byronlaw6491]

Great video. The PAL Sega Ages pack wasn’t optimised well. It doesn’t run proper in either PAL or NTSC. The timers run too quick. It’s the same with Manx TT. It’s best using the Japanese releases of them. The individual Outrun in Japan had an extra soundtrack on the disc also. They released another version of Daytona in Japan called CCE Edition and that improves the Graphics further and adds the original music. Try out the Sega Rally Plus from Japan also as it adds the PAL version’s improvements and analogue support.

[@pedrosolenoid2898]

That's correct about Outrun and I knew it was coming as soon as I saw Sega Ages. I emualte that disc on Saturn over MAME.

[@NLSagat]

Is it still the best version though? For console maybe, but if pc is part of the choices, the cannoball mod might be the definitive version!

[@Doombrain]

Bought one a week after it was released and loved it. Tomb raider was another level in the day.

[@stanneh1978]

It was the best looking console of that Gen.

[@ArcadeCabNBud]

Just a shame how awful the games looked haha

[@stanneh1978]

@@ArcadeCabNBud you just finished a statement with "haha". you are literally that guy who laughs at his own attempt at a joke while the rest of the room raises an eyebrow to each other.

[@espressomatic]

This is the only "mainstream" console I'm currently missing from my collection, not including PS5 and XBOX-X from the current gen. Nice work boys!

[@billy-waynejeffcoat4828]

I recommend finding a way to import a Japanese one. They sell saturn working for like 30$ especially if your just going to mod it. In usa druggies want like 120$ for a beat up one with no accessories.

[@bitrage.]

I swear you and the guy Simon from "Mega Projects" have to be twins!!!

[@silenthill4]

the cleaning step should be "drop into ultrasonic, wait 2 minutes, come back"

[@mausmalone]

If you enjoy arcade racers, make sure you also take a crack at MANX TT. It's very short but it's arcade fun in the vein of Daytona USA. Sadly it does lose a little bit in coming to the Saturn since the arcade cabinet had a ride-on motorcycle as a controller.

[@haydengittins2836]

Absolutely my favourite console ever.. i have 5 of them :) Superior to the PS1 for 2D games, but inferior for 3D. The RAM cart made it possible to do nigh on arcade perfect ports of the best Capcom fighters (superior to the PS1 versions which didn't have the RAM). As for games I'd recommend. Guardian Heroes for beat em up along with the Dungeons and Dragons collection (JP). Fighters you have the Street fighter collection, SF Alpha 1-3 (3 is JP only), Vampire hunter and Saviour, Pocket Fighter and many more from Capcom games (they knocked Saturn support out the park). Sports i'd go Decathlete and WInter heat... two superb hypersports style games. Shmups you have Battle Garegga, Do DonPachi, Keio Flying squadron, Panzer Dragoon 1 and 2, Parodius and more. Once you have that ODE and the Japanese library becomes available there's just too many fantastic games to mention on this console.

[@carlosjuniorfox]

Like you, I also have 5 working Saturns. kkk. I don't think the 3D capabilities of Saturn it's somehow inferior to the PSX counterpart. The PSX handles fewer polygons and suffers from a bunch of scaling and perspective miscalculations because of the lack of float point calculations. The Saturn also does not handle subpixel and floating point calculations, but because Saturn handles with squares and not triangles, it's just easier modelling 3D elements.

[@haydengittins2836]

@@carlosjuniorfox I think technically the Saturn was the more powerful 3D console, but was much harder to code for and get the full potential out of it. As a result most 3D games that came out on both machines were better on the PS1. I think there's a quote from Yu Suzuki saying only 1% of programmers could get the most out of the Saturn. There's definitely decent examples of the Saturn outperforming the PS1 in 3D, it's just not the norm. That said I love the Saturn and it's such a shame it never quite reached it's potential... but those 2D Capcom games alone are worth buying the system for :)

[@carlosjuniorfox]

,@@haydengittins2836 I even don't think that the Saturn it's harder to code than the Playstation. Isn't easy to state the whole thing in a single comment, but architecture-wise speaking, the machines are completely different. I can state that the Playstation it's the most rudimentary or primitive computer from the new generation of video game consoles that we have until today. The way that Playstation handles de graphic elements is most like the way that PCs and consoles from today handle that and this is why it's so easy to emulate the Playstation console since even the time that the console was active on the market. Saturn, on the other hand, can be stated as the most powerful home console from the old generation of video game consoles. The Saturn architecture it's most similar to older consoles, like Mega Drive, SNES or Neo Geo and it's very easy for a programmer from that generation to handle the Saturn hardware than for the programmers that came from the PC 3D accelerated graphics world. So, it's very easy to port games like Metal Slug, Fighting games and even early 3D games come from arcade to Saturn. But it's very hard to port games from the PC world, done with polygonal triangles and general propose CPU code in mind, like DOOM or Quake

[@carlosjuniorfox]

What I believe that happened at the time, was about the mindset from SEGA, with I believe, was outdated to the market expectations. If you back in time, you see that with Windows and the early 3D games had another mindset than just fast gaming as we see in arcades and that kind of game had grown. Games like DOOM or MYST had gained so much space in the market like never before. What Sony did at the time was designed a game console with that perspective in mind. On the other hand, SEGA was still in the same mindset from the past. Develop a game console that was capable of mastering arcade games at home. The Saturn was a beast machine to handle that kind of game, but at the time, wasn't anymore what the market was asking. I believe it was hard to see what should be the market perspective in the early nineties, big franchises from the early generations were still huge as the arcade games like Street Fighter as well. What I think was that the mindset from Sony was to make a bet and they did very well. Keep in mind that after a long battle against Nintendo, in the year 1993, SONY received from the trials, the authorization to explore the SNES architecture in their new generation console. SONY could be launched their version of SNES, but CD-based and instead of that, they just dropped off the idea and designed the Playstation as we know it today.

[@SelfIndulgentGamer]

That is my entire Saturn library,on the desk :D

[@itsjustibs]

Amazing video.

[@MadMorgie6318]

"Give the reset switch a wang." Looks like it's already got one and a happy one at that!

[@LaurentPlancel]

Awesome video! I am Saturn fan since 1994. in the video you have done the region free mod if you go that way It would have been better to add the phantom modchip. instead of using the all in one cart. And also you can do an other mod is to reduce the heat in the saturn by replacing the power board 220v to a 12v pico psu. sega for life!!!

[@kenknight5983]

Light gun- watch a youtube vid on all the saturn games that use it. Especially with an sd card mod and no region restrictions, it'll be a really popular exhibit

[@janneaalto3956]

Wasn't expecting to see Cho Aniki on this channel XD

[@timwald2498]

I'm using an SSD with a Terraonion Mode (with also fits the Dreamcast) with works superbly.

[@StripedBass617]

Oh wow i remeber daytona now. Used to be my favorite

[@CASFAN]

I went down the Satiator route for the Saturn. That wasn’t cheap and needed importing, but it slots nicely into the VCD cart port at the back.

[@Nukle0n]

Hear it has some incompatibility problems with certain games.

[@CASFAN]

@@Nukle0n not sure, it’s run everything I’ve tried so far, but there’s a lot I haven’t tried as yet.

[@johnjames7332]

Would have liked one but the cost it just crazy and Abrasive only got his ass in gear when the Mode and Fenrir got announced. I think he was happily going to string his Patreons along for a few more years before he was going to release it

[@bombjack1984]

Mark finally 'exposes' Neil to a Cho Aniki game! Maybe Mark should next choose '6 Inch My Darling'.

[@spokehedz]

I wonder how each 'port' of the game look on each console. Maybe one console looks better than the other. Interesting.

[@TheCurlyP]

Ye, the Sega Ages all got individual releases in Japan, plus more

[@Nordlicht05]

Great. Last year I got a Saturn and only build in a modchip.