Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus (Japan)
Grade: B+
Publisher: Konami (1997)
Reviewed: 2009/5/2
Our high score: 153700/99600
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Sega (1997)
Reviewed: 2011/8/10
Rating: Kids to Adults
Scud The Disposable Assassin
Grade: F
Publisher: Segasoft (1997)
Reviewed: 2003/11/2
Rating: Teen (animated blood and violence)

I normally enjoy light gun shooters, but Scud is so unpleasant to play that I actually had to turn it off mid-game. Despite good control and double-barrel action, the relentlessly repetitive gameplay is enough to make you nauseous. The whimsical graphics and grating storyline have something to do with a robot programmed for assassination who develops a mind of his own. The unimaginative stages take place in a robot factory, a desert, a zombie-infested town, and outer space. Scud is fun for the first minute or two, with waves of robots entering the screen in various formations for you to blow to bits. Occasionally a pudgy little human appears in the scenery, but it doesn't seem to matter if you blast him or not. Unfortunately, the fun degenerates quickly as the same waves of targets appear again and again ad nauseum. It's as though Sega was trying to address the common complaint that light gun games are too short by making the game twice as long as it should have been. The repeating 2D visuals are extremely uninteresting, and the incoming enemies feature the Saturn's trademark pixilation. There are a few unique elements, like enemies with shields that you need to knock back with continuous shots, and zombies that remove their heads and hurl them at you. Sometimes you can choose you path, but wherever you go in a stage, it all looks the same. Playing with one gun is far too difficult, but playing two-handed is too easy, allowing you to keep forging ahead for as long as you can tolerate it. Playing Scud is simply a miserable experience that Saturn owners should try to avoid. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Sega (1997)
Reviewed: 2020/7/14
Rating: Kids to Adults
Sega Rally Championship
Grade: A+
Publisher: Sega (1996)
Reviewed: 2008/4/30
Rating: Kids to Adults

It took a while for Sega to produce a top-of-the-line racer for the Saturn (Daytona was considered a disappointment), but all of the pieces fell nicely into place with this one. As the premiere racing game for the system, Sega Rally offers fantastic off-road driving action with smooth visuals and sublime controls. The finely detailed vehicles lean into turns, execute power slides with ease, and kick up mud realistically. The three tracks (desert, forest, and mountain) aren't spectacular, but offer bright, attractive scenery with minimal pop-up. The silky-smooth frame rate really helps you get into a groove, and the jazzy soundtrack isn't bad either. You can view the action from behind your car, or try the more difficult first-person angle. Helpful voice and arrow cues alert you to upcoming turns and hazards. Like any good off-road racer, the key is executing controlled power slides over slippery terrain. Careening around corners half-way out of control is exhilarating, and banging into other cars is all part of the fun. Playing modes include practice, championship, two-player split screen, and time attack. The game automatically saves your best times, which enhances the replay value. You can customize your car and even compete against "ghosts" from previous runs. As a well-balanced blend of driving realism and arcade fun, Sega Rally Championship is arguably the best Saturn game of all time. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.
Recommended variation: Desert Time
Our high score: BSC 2'51"25
1 or 2 players
Sega Touring Car Championship
Grade: D
Publisher: Sega (1997)
Reviewed: 2005/2/13
Rating: Kids to Adult

How could it be that Sega released a racer for the Saturn that I've never even heard of? Oh, I see - because it
sucks, that's why. Apparently after Sega Rally, Sega was anxious to put out another racer - any racer - in order to capitalize upon its success. Sega Touring Car is a conventional racer with normal tracks and pit stops, but it lacks the style of Daytona and the finesse of Sega Rally. The one and only thing it has to offer is pure velocity. Yes, the sensation of speed is quite convincing as the pavement whizzes below your boxy racecar. If only you could steer! I'm normally quite proficient at video game racers, but on these narrow roads I was constantly banging into walls. Even with the "3D" analog controller, I was oversteering like a [expletive] [expletive]. I don't even know what a "touring car" is, but apparently they are forced to race on the most boring tracks on earth. There's really nothing to see outside of the wall-lined courses, and the high speeds make it hard to anticipate upcoming turns. But the worst part of Sega Touring Car, by far, is when you ACCIDENTALLY pull into that God-forsaken pit stop area. Like most racers, the pit stop is just a waste of time and if you use it, you're guaranteed to lose. I suppose the same could be said about playing this game. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Vic Tokai (1995)
Reviewed: 2001/11/22
Rating: Teen

One of Sega's most enduring characters, Shinobi first appeared on the Master System and several hit Genesis titles. With Shinobi Legions, the sword-swinging/star-throwing ninja makes an impressive transition to the Saturn, getting a graphical makeover while keeping the rock-solid gameplay intact. The characters are completely digitized and smoothly animated, and even the multi-layered backgrounds have a photo realistic look. Shinobi has many new techniques, including about a dozen stab/slash moves, and the ability to hang from rails and block projectiles. He can even swing his sword like a baseball bat and swat enemy projectiles back the other way! There's no shortage of gore either. Enemies get cut in two, with the top half sliding slowly off the bottom. There are nine quality levels, and one has more tree fighting than Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Before each new level there's a movie-quality video segment that explains the story line. Shinobi Legions far surpassed my expectations. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Skeleton Warriors
Grade: B
Publisher: Sega (1995)
Reviewed: 2002/9/3
Rating: Kids to Adults

This hack-n-slash game made me realize how much I love old school, 2D gameplay. In this action-packed side-scroller, you must dispatch of an army of skeleton warriors using your sword and special attacks. The skeletons aren't hard to hack up, but unless you grab their "heartstone" right away, they can regenerate and come back to life. This neat feature adds a bit of originality to an otherwise standard formula. Moves include jump, block, several sword attacks, and a selectable special attack. In addition to skeletons, you'll also face rabid dogs, huge birds, and some impressive bosses. The 3D scenery is well rendered but not particularly intriguing. There are some platforms to jump, but only a few. The characters are large, finely detailed, and have a "claymation" quality to them. Some stages feature snow, which is always a nice bonus. Apocalyptic background music really adds to the intensity. Skeleton Warriors is hard as hell, and you'll soon discover that it will take more than non-stop hacking to beat this game - use your special attacks strategically. There's even a slick 3D hover bike level to break up the monotony. Skeleton Warriors is a surprisingly good time. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Crystal Dynamics (1996)
Reviewed: 2000/12/24
Rating: Kids to Adults

I wasn't expecting this to be any good, but I'm hooked! Slam and Jam offers all the arcade basketball action of NBA Jam, except with five-on-five gameplay and pseudo-3D graphics. I say "pseudo" because the players are actually large sprites that scale in and out - there are no polygon graphics in this game. A camera follows the action from one end of the court, and while the players do get a pixelated up close, they're animated nice and smooth. Each game is a fast-moving, up-and-down contest with plenty of spectacular plays. The control is tight, allowing you to block, rebound, steal, pass, and dunk with ease. You can even perform advanced maneuvers like shaking defenders and setting picks. The dunks are definitely NBA Jam-inspired, with guys flying through the air from well beyond the free throw line. Sometimes they even hang on the rim - always a crowd pleaser! As offensive-minded as this game is, it's still quite possible to steal the ball and block shots. There's no NBA license, so the players are fictional with the exception of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, who perform all of their signature moves. Slam and Jam's audio is above average, with crisp sound effects and intermittent play-by-play. It's not the most realistic game in town, but if you're looking for a fun basketball game, this is it!! © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Crystal Dynamics (1995)
Reviewed: 2000/12/24
Rating: Teen

If ever a game begged for analog control, it's Solar Eclipse. In this mediocre shooter, you view your ship from behind while navigating through valleys and caves of a distant planet, blowing everything to bits while avoiding enemy fire. Unfortunately, the stiff control only allows for very sharp turning, and destroying anything that's not directly in front of you almost impossible. The cockpit view is a slight improvement, but not much. Between levels you can watch over-acted video clips which attempt to weave a lame storyline into the game. Why bother? The game box brags about "over 40 minutes of video starring Claudia Christian", but watch a few minutes of the video and you'll understand why they don't use video clips in games anymore. The gameplay itself is fair. There are plenty of things to shoot at and the explosions look nice. Lasers are your main weapon, but a limited supply of heat-seeking missiles swarm on all potential targets. The graphics are decent, and the corner of the screen has a little video box which lets you see and hear other members of your squad. Despite the lousy control, Solar Eclipse isn't a total loss. You might even have some fun with it. But probably not. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Sega (1996)
Reviewed: 2014/1/17
Rating: Kids to Adults
Our high score: 125,000
1 player
Publisher: Sega (1997)
Reviewed: 2000/6/27
Rating: Kids to Adults

Sonic Jam was somewhat of a cop-out on Sega's part. Apparently they couldn't get a real 3D Sonic adventure game done in time, so they took what they had and threw in four old Sonic games from the Genesis. The final result is a nice package, but less than most people were hoping for. First of all, you get the Genesis versions of Sonic 1, 2, 3, and Sonic and Knuckles . The graphics and sound aren't any better, but you do get extra options like stage select and time trial modes! That's fine, but the centerpiece is Sonic World, a cool little 3D adventure full of mini quests which let you access all kinds of Sonic memorabilia, including artwork, history, videos, commercials, and information on all the old Sonic games. It's a heck of a lot of fun to play, but it makes you wish they could have made the whole game like this, instead of rehashing old titles. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Sega (1997)
Reviewed: 2000/6/27
Rating: Kids to Adults

Sega couldn't manage a 3D Sonic adventure for the Saturn, but at least they were able to make this fairly decent racing game. It pits Sonic against other characters from the series in beautiful 3D environments, complete with loops, shortcuts, and powerups. It's an amazing looking game, with fast, colorful graphics that make you feel like you're on a rollercoaster ride. Unfortunately, the controls make it tough to stay in the middle of the narrow tracks, even with the analog controller. You often end up off the track or underwater, looking for a way to get back. I should also mention that there is some excellent R&B dance music that plays in the background of each stage, and two players can go head-to-head via a split-screen mode. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
Soukyugurentai Otokuyo (Japan)
Grade: A
Publisher: Electronic Arts (1997)
Reviewed: 2009/9/19
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Of all the Japanese-imported shooters I own for the Saturn, Soukyugurentai Otokuyo is probably my favorite, despite the fact I can't pronounce its name to save my life. Soukyugurentai is more sophisticated than other vertical shooters of its ilk. You tap the fire button to shoot rapidly, but holding it down deploys a wireframe "net" that causes each enemy in range to become locked-on. Upon releasing the button, you unleash a barrage of weaponry that chases down all targeted enemies. This type of mechanism has been seen in other games including Ray Crisis (Playstation 2000) and the Panzer Dragoon series. It's very satisfying to use, especially when it comes to locating weak spots on bosses. The B button deploys bombs, and you'll be wise to use them defensively. In addition to 2D sprites, Souyugurentai employs 3D polygons to render bosses and scenery. The stages are quite inventive. In the first, you fly over a city at night, and the lighted bridges and skyscrapers are a beautiful sight. The second stage takes place over a space station with a looming blue planet in the background. The third stage is set over a desert, and it's wild to see the sand kicked up by vehicles riding across the dusty terrain. I also love the way the supply trucks tumble when you blast them from behind. The next stage is a throw-back of sorts, combining elements of Galaga and Asteroids. It's really hard to find fault with this game. Constant power-ups keep your firepower potent, and the bosses are mighty but not unreasonable. The two-player simultaneous mode is fun because the increased visual chaos is offset by slow-down, keeping the difficulty on an even keel. So don't let the name scare you away. I play this game every day and I love it. © Copyright 2009 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Electronic Arts (1996)
Reviewed: 2005/7/31
Rating: Teen (13+) (animated blood and gore)

Space Hulk is a complicated game that combines first-person shooting with real-time strategy. Though certainly original, it isn't much fun to play. Had it been fun, we might all be playing Space Hulk 4 by now. In any case, the idea is to control of a squad of robots on a series of missions set in monster-infested mazes. You issue commands to each robot from a map screen, and you can even watch them perform their duties from this overhead viewpoint. Taking control of any individual robot gives you a nice first-person view of the action, allowing you to navigate hallways and blast creatures as you would in any Doom-style game. Although the frame-rate is far smoother than the 3DO version of Space Hulk, the hallways look far more pixilated. Also problematic is how the cursor moves way too fast on the map screen. Space Hulk's gameplay requires a lot of trial and error along with a heavy time investment. In my humble opinion, it's just not worth the effort. It may have been an adequate 3DO game, but on a system like the Saturn, it just doesn't measure up. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.
Spot Goes To Hollywood
Grade: D-
Publisher: Virgin (1996)
Reviewed: 2005/12/21
Rating: Kids to Adults

After making a splash on the Genesis, the 7-Up "red dot" mascot appeared to have a promising video game career ahead of him. But this sorry sequel put the kabash on that! It's a shame, because Spot Goes to Hollywood had a lot going for it. With its likeable main character, excellent production values, and the power of the Saturn behind it, how could it fail? By switching to an isometric (diagonal tilted overhead) point of view - that's how. This game is barely playable! Right off the bat, the controls just don't "feel" right. Pushing up causes Spot to walk diagonally, which is counter-intuitive. The game is played in a 3D space, but the awkward viewpoint and unforgiving collision detection make it impossible to gauge your jumps. You'll leap up to grab an object, but if you're even
slightly off, you'll miss and appear to pass right
through it. The stages feature some exciting themes, including a pirate ship, haunted house, jungle, and even a Jurassic Park-inspired area. So how come they're so frickin'
boring? Probably because the stage designs are painfully uninspired, loaded with cheap hits and spiked pits. The controls are so bad that I would sometimes accidentally jump
off the side of the pirate ship! The 3D scenery is plush and attractive, but the creatures resemble flat, 2D cartoons! Spot's music, sound effects, and stage intros are nice, but who cares when the gameplay sucks this bad? Losing a life means you have to restart the entire stage - unreal! When the game ends, you hear a director exclaim, "Cut cut! This is not working. I don't think you're made for this business." I think that pretty much sums it up. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.
Steep Slope Sliders
Grade: B
Publisher: Sega (1997)
Reviewed: 2005/12/21
Rating: Kids to Adults
Street Fighter Alpha
Grade: A
Publisher: Capcom (1995)
Reviewed: 2008/4/30
Rating: Teen
Street Fighter Alpha 2
Grade: A+
Publisher: Capcom (1996)
Reviewed: 2008/4/30
Rating: Kids to Adults

I don't think I'm going out on a limb when I proclaim this to be the best Saturn fighting game
of all time. This was arguably the
pinnacle of 2D fighting. Street Fighter Alpha 2 takes an already great game and ups the ante with a larger roster, flashier graphics, and more interesting stages. Several familiar faces return to the cast, including Bison, Akuma, Dhalsim, and Zangief. Newcomers include a cute schoolgirl named Sakura, an old Asian guy named Gen, and a weapons-equipped military man by the name of Rolento. The layered backgrounds are more rich and dynamic than those in the first Alpha. The party cruise stage with its scantily clad women offers ample eye candy, but the most amazing sight is the huge hovering jet fighter in the downtown roof stage! Holy cow! Alpha 2's gameplay is solid as ever, and adventurous gamers can indulge themselves with new "custom combos". A survival mode is now available in addition to arcade, versus, and training. There's an autosave function, as well as a gallery of unlockable illustrations. Street Fighter Alpha 2 is billed as a "precise translation" of the arcade game, and it's hard to argue. Not even
Street Fighter Alpha 3 (Playstation, 1999) could touch this masterpiece. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.
Street Fighter: The Movie
Grade: C+
Publisher: Capcom (1995)
Reviewed: 2020/10/6
Rating: Teen
Our high score: 374,600
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Acclaim (1996)
Reviewed: 2001/4/24
Rating: Kids to Adults

The soccer footage that introduces this game has got to be the most unwatchable, pixelated mess I've ever seen, but Strike '96 is not a bad soccer game. With fast gameplay and sprite graphics, it reminded me of the FIFA games on the Genesis. You view the field vertically, which works out better than you might expect. There are 38 teams to choose from, and up to four players can compete at once. Arcade fans will appreciate the kinetic, fast pace of this game. The ball shoots around like a pinball, and the animation never gets choppy. Purists will wish the pace were slower so they could perform their special moves, employ more strategy, and simply control the ball better. The field looks good, but the tiny players aren't as impressive. Automatic instant replays do a good job of capturing dramatic moments, but a lack of a zoom prevents you from getting a really good view. The sound effects and commentary are sparse, to say the least. Striker isn't great, but there's some fun to be had here. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Super Dimension Fortress Macross, The (Japan)
Grade: D-
Publisher: Big West (1997)
Reviewed: 2017/6/24
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I didn't really "get" this game until my friend Jonathan informed me that Macross is a
colossal anime series in Japan. It was brought to the States under the name Robotech - you may have heard of it. From the YouTube videos Super Dimension Fortress Macross appears to be a kick-ass side-scroller with giant sprites, digitized scenery, and extensive scaling. Unfortunately it plays more like
interactive fiction with inconsequential shooting stages sandwiched between lengthy anime scenes. The animated sequences are hard to make sense of if you don't know Japanese, although I did get a laugh out of the bizarre romantic scenes and goofy musical numbers. The shooting stages look slick but play like garbage. Your forward gun is next to worthless, and it's hard to tell which of the scaling enemies are even in your line of fire. It doesn't matter anyway because your guided missiles automatically lock onto targets all over the screen. They zig-zag around completely beyond your control, and it's kind of cool to watch. It's possible to switch from jet to mech form, but there's no clear advantage to doing so. My friend Dennis and I thought we had finished this game in one sitting, until we realized there was a second disc. Macross fans may regard Super Dimension Fortress as a collector's item (complete with glossy manual), but this shooter is not fit for general consumption. © Copyright 2017 The Video Game Critic.
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