Sega took its Virtua Fighter formula to another level with Fighting Vipers, a game that deserves more respect and attention. The Saturn version did an excellent job of bringing the arcade action home intact, and it even added some new features that make this a definitive title for any fighting game fan’s library.
Author: Hasen Hull
Shenmue
Yu Suzuki’s Dreamcast masterpiece was a revolutionary title that blew gamers away when it debuted in 2000. Decades later, it still holds up, with its intricate narrative, large world to explore, and those great little capsule toys! If you haven’t played it yet, what are you waiting for?
Clockwork Knight
The Saturn debuted with few titles, among them the 2.5D platformer Clockwork Knight. While it had some impressive effects, it didn’t really do much to bring the genre into the “next generation” of hardware. It’s not a bad game, but it’s not exceptional either.
Tomb Raider
Tomb Raider was conceived on the Saturn but found its niche on Sony’s PlayStation. Lara Croft went on to practically become the machine’s go-to character. Even so, the Saturn version is still highly playable and worth owning. It might not be as visually impressive, but its gameplay still holds up despite its flaws.
Global Defense
Sega wowed arcade gamers with SDI, a trackball-based shooter that had them defending the planet from enemy attack. The game was soon ported to the Master System, and while several compromises had to be made for it to work on the less-powerful hardware (and with a controller), the conversion turned out surprisingly well. It’s one that’s worth checking out.