Saturn Reviews S

Who was the marketing genius who convinced Konami that 2D shooters wouldn't sell in America? That idiot single-handedly deprived an entire continent some of the best games for the Sega Saturn! Salamander Deluxe is a slick compilation of three space shooters that will thrill old-school fans. The first title, the original Salamander (1986), is a Gradius spin-off that alternatives between side-scrolling and vertical stages. The power-ups come early and often, allowing you to accumulate multiple satellite orbs (called "options") which shoot alongside of your ship. The caves you explore and enemies you encounter are biological in nature, so expect a lot of worms, giant claws, and oozing sacks of puss. I really don't like having to shoot my way through those fleshy walls, especially when they can regenerate and swallow you up. The first boss, a grotesque floating eye with swirling arms, became a trademark of the series. The second title, Life Force, is actually a re-release of Salamander with new color scheme and selectable power-ups. The music is a little cute and the voice effects are cheesy ("destroy violent antibiotics!"), but there's no denying the intense, action-packed gameplay. The horizontal stages are much better than the vertical ones. The vertical areas are too difficult, especially when you're dodging huge orbs and enemy ships materialize out of nowhere. The third title is Salamander 2 (1996), and this "modern remake" is a real treat. It smartly retains the classic Salamander gameplay while giving the graphics a 3D makeover. The long slithering things are back, but this time they're bigger and slimier. This game is like a high-tech version of Bio Hazard Battle (Genesis, 1992). The first boss appears to be the familiar eyeball monster, but it's immediately swallowed up by a larger, nastier beast! Wow - that caught me off-guard! All three games are extremely hectic, and once you accumulate four or five options, it can be hard to keep track of your ship on the screen! High scores are saved automatically, but I couldn't figure out how to switch between the three games without manually resetting the console. I'm really glad I picked up one of those heavy duty Saturn joysticks back in the day, because it is tailor-made for twitch shooters like these. © Copyright 2009 The Video Game Critic.

Scorcher's back-story explains how in the year 2021 the cities of the world have been reduced to wastelands due to war and pollution. Why in the hell do these futuristic games always have to be so damned depressing? I was expecting Scorcher to be a Wipeout clone, but its brand of racing action is more akin to Super Monkey Ball (GameCube, 2001). The racers are encased in green wireframe balls that "roll" along the course. That's great, but whose idea was it to make everyone the same color? When several get bunched up, it's impossible to tell which ball is you! The control scheme lets you accelerate, jump, and turbo boost. Power-ups appear in the form of triangles on the course, and I love how the way they shatter as you roll over them. Scorcher requires a careful, deliberate approach because it's easy to roll off the edge of the course and the braking system sucks. Advanced stages are especially hard because the roads are narrow and there are fewer barriers to keep you on track. Upon initiating a speed boost the trailing green smoke makes it look like you've unleashed a mega-fart. The controls are not good. The steering wheel works better than expected but it's not a miracle worker. The most appealing aspect of the game is its desolate, post-apocalyptic atmosphere. The elevated tracks run through dark industrial areas, abandoned freeways, canals of toxic waste, and twisting tunnels. They look impressive, thanks in part to some programming trickery. Darkness effectively hides the fact that there's minimal scenery in the foreground, and fantastic digitized backdrops convey the illusion of an expansive world in the distance. The silhouettes of dead trees in the opening stage look creepy, and the futuristic city skyline of the third stage looks spectacular. I love how the sun shimmers against those glass buildings. Complementing the postmodern visuals are pulsating techno beats that perfectly match the overall tone. The game offers a championship mode and time trial modes, and best times are recorded. Scorcher has a few interesting audio/visual elements, but the gameplay doesn't exactly set the world on fire. © Copyright 2011 The Video Game Critic.

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.

It was easy to take this collection for granted in 1996 when more extensive arcade compilations were hitting the market. That said, this classy title boasts three bonafide hits from the late-80's: Space Harrier, Afterburner II, and Outrun. These are faithful to the arcade, have extensive option menus, and automatically save high scores. If you're looking for extras you'll find them in the thick, glossy manual that includes everything from playing tips to translation notes. All three games employ scaling to convey the illusion of zooming forward at break-neck speeds. In order to raise the stakes (and send this review into the stratosphere) I purchased Sega's "mission stick" designed for aim-and-shoot titles. Space Harrier is the perennial "fire into the horizon" jet-pack shooter. You'll frantically blast away at saucers, stone faces, and slinky dragons while avoiding trees and columns on the checkerboard ground. Advanced stages offer some truly surreal landscapes. The mission stick didn't turn out to be a good fit for Space Harrier because its auto-center makes it hard to remain in one place (except the middle of course). The second game, Afterburner II, is an intense jet-fighter where you lock-onto targets into the distance before unleashing heat-seeking missiles. The fast-moving ground scenery conveys an alarming sense of speed, with each stage featuring a vivid new color scheme. The chaos is off the charts as the screen becomes cluttered with spinning planes, bursting explosions, and trails of smoke. As bewildering as it can be, Afterburner is quite a rush. I'm not convinced the mission stick helps but it did make me feel like I was steering a plane, so that's something. Last but not least is Outrun. This time you're in a convertible with a blonde racing through branching, exotic stages. The vibrant beach scenery and kick-ass soundtrack makes the opening stage feel exhilarating. The manual recommends using the steering wheel controller but the mission stick works great! Steering feels surprisingly comfortable and there's something awesome about using the trigger to brake. I could play this all day! Sega Ages is a return to the good old days when games were bright, fun, and quick. Just pop this in when you need a quick shot of adrenaline. © Copyright 2020 The Video Game Critic.

If you want to enjoy Sonic 3D Blast on the Saturn, do yourself a favor and play the Genesis version first. Both look the same at a glance, but superior audio and subtle visual effects gives this the clear edge. Not a true 3D title, Blast uses an isometric view to convey the illusion of tiered platforms (a la Marble Madness). The marbled tiles and stone walls are beautifully textured, and I loved the periodic downpours that occur in the Rusty Ruins zone. Water puddles splash as you run through them, rope bridges sway, and you'll even spot animals lurking in the scenery. But what really makes this version exceptional is its beautiful music. The flowing beats, soothing pianos, and dramatic vocals put you in a relaxed, dreamlike trance. This might be the best music I've ever heard in any video game! Sadly, Sonic 3D Blast suffers from the same issues that hampered its Genesis counterpart. Namely, it's just not that good. Judging jumps is hard, the collision detection is suspect, and your momentum tends to carry you into danger. Collecting wandering birdies can be a tedious chore, especially when dealing with proximity mines and other annoying hazards. The stages are incredibly uneven in quality. To reach the gorgeous winter zone you'll need to survive the nightmarish "Spring Stadium" stage with its assortment of painful devices - akin to a torture chamber, only less pleasant. The map on the pause screen is useless, and the half-pipe bonus stages are a carbon copy of those in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis, 1992). At least the "bridge" bonus stages in the Genesis Sonic 3D Blast were original! The lack of a save mechanism is a tremendous oversight considering this isn't the kind of game you can zip through. Sonic 3D Blast is playable on the Saturn, but compared to Sonic's 2D adventures this one rings hollow. © Copyright 2014 The Video Game Critic.

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.

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.

Compared to its closest rival, Cool Boarders (Playstation, 1997), Steep Slope Sliders has the definite edge, mainly due to its smoother graphics and more forgiving gameplay. The visuals are somewhat pixelated (especially those sorry-looking cardboard "people" standing around), but the powdery snow surface looks nice as it flows under your board. The game is easy-to-play, fun, and conveys a nice sense of speed. The courses tend to be wide-open and easy to navigate, although that's partially due to the game's lousy collision detection, which sometimes lets you pass right through obstacles like barrels. The turn control could be better as well - it's not easy to "carve" the more narrow sections. The tricks are a cinch to perform (especially compared to Coolboarders), and you get plenty of opportunities to catch air. There are even rails to grind - unprecedented for a snowboarding game in 1997. The courses are generally unspectacular, but occasionally they'll wind through some scenic caverns or quaint little towns. In addition to normal downhill trails, you also get alpine and "snow park" courses which let you practice different skills. There's a lot of good in Steep Slope Sliders, but the game falters on occasion. First, it's awfully easy to get "stuck" in the middle of the course, and it's frustrating as you attempt to "hop" your way back onto the main trail. After practically every run, the game prompts you to enter your initials and save, which is a real hassle. And instead of letting you change courses between runs, the poorly-designed menus force you to quit back to the main menu first! Finally, the soundtrack is bizarre and generally bad. It's got this new age/techno thing happening, but the repetitive beats sound like a broken record. Turn it down so you can hear the "whoosh" of the snow instead. Steep Slope Sliders has some problems, but if you want a good winter game for the Saturn, this won't let you down. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

When I originally purchased the Playstation version of Street Fighter Alpha, I was really bummed out by the outrageously long load times. It was hard to enjoy the game! I also recall how Saturn fans boasted about their superior version of Street Fighter Alpha. Ya know what? They were right! This Saturn edition still has load times, but they're quite reasonable (under 15 seconds). Although subtitled "Warriors' Dreams", this is really a gamer's dream. The Alpha series took Street Fighter 2's basic gameplay and spiced it up with a new line-up, larger characters, and more fluid animation. The roster includes newcomers Sodom, Birdie, Adon, Rose, Guy, and a Guile clone named Charlie. Returning fighters include Ryu, Ken, Sagat, and Chun Li (now wearing tight blue pants). The fights are crazy fun and can be enjoyed by gamers of any skill level. Novice players will experience limited success by button mashing, but experts will uncover all sorts of subtle techniques to hone their skills. The "super combos" are tricky to pull off, but very satisfying when they work. For beginners, an "auto" mode lets you execute super combos without all the fancy joystick movements. The new "alpha counter" reversals look great, although I can only seem to pull them off by accident. The new victory icons that represent the deciding moves of each round (throw, special, etc) are a nice touch. The fresh set of backgrounds include a train depot, the Roman Coliseum, and the Great Wall of China. Bourbon Street (of New Orleans) is represented, but it looks awfully sparse. In general the stages are very understated and lack the charm of those in Street Fighter 2. Likewise the uninspired music tracks sound like Street Fighter 2 outtakes. There's no auto-save feature, but high scores and "master rankings" can be saved manually. But these are minor quibbles considering the quality of Street Fighter Alpha's gameplay, which is outstanding. Saturn fans were justified in bragging about this game. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.