Info needed on import Saturn games

[Axon]

I might get a Japanese Sega Saturn, but first I need to get some information on the games. How much would these games cost individually?


Dodonpachi
Rayforce
Raystorm
Soukyugerentai
Batsugun
Battle Garegga
Sexy Parodius
Thunderforce V
Hyper Duel
Strikers 1945 II

Also, is there a good store for imported Saturn games?

Feel free to recommend others, shmup or not. I don't have that much money, and if I do get the Saturn, then when I buy a game for it, I probably won't buy another for a long time, so the game with the most replay value would be the best, unless it stinks.

[Neon]

A completed listings search on evilbay will give you a good idea of the highest price you'll pay for any of the above. You'll also want to pick up a jpsx/ps2 at some point and some games are better on that format, so you might avoid them for the time being to avoid redundancy.

Opinions on what you should get will vary widely. Rayforce is a classic, except in the eyes of perverts and known Communists, and the cheapest of the lot, I recommend that first.

edit - I forgot, I know a store. akibagames.com has prices which have at times been crazy low, and I can vouch for their reliability. Play-asia does get the occasional Saturn game as well though their prices are typically high.

[BulletMagnet]

A few bits to add to what was already said:

Rayforce's US release was retitled "Galactic Attack," and I think the Japanese version was called "Layer Section"...you might want to search under those titles.

The Saturn release of Raystorm was called "Layer Section II." Most people prefer the PS1 version, though the Saturn port has a few extra things.

Hyper Duel is the rarest and most expensive of the bunch by a decent margin.

Spelling it "Soukyugurentai" will probably turn up more results.

There is a "Special Pack" version of Thunder Force V which includes a soundtrack, but it's a good deal rarer and pricier than the "regular" version, which also got a "SataKore" re-release.

There are a few other tidbits you might want to know (mostly PS1/Saturn port differences), but they've been covered elsewhere.

[captain ahar]

Opinions on what you should get will vary widely. Rayforce is a classic, except in the eyes of perverts and known Communists, and the cheapest of the lot, I recommend that first.

very true... except for the perverts part, i mean, i still like it...

[Diabollokus]

I'd drop donpachi from that list man, great game, but honestly it runs pretty bad on saturn, 2 player. MAME is the answer.

Dodonpachi on the other hand rocks. All pretty good shmups in there man.

Strikers 1945 2 is pricey on saturn sometimes, strikers 1945 twin pack on PS2 is a cheaper alternative.

Hyper duel, expect to pay quite a bit for it along with garegga and batsugun.

If I had to quote the entire collection for you in UK pounds from Ebay. I'd say in the region of £270-300 seriously if you bought em all separately. thats what $500?

Obviously Silvergun is the big one no in there, its great yeah, but expensive as new console.

[Axon]

I wasn't expecting the games I put on my list to be pricey. Most were atleast $40+ and they were almost all from Japan, so the shipping is also high, of course I'm talking about auctions on Ebay. I did find Rayforce for about $4 with shipping, but it was the PC version, the Saturn versions that I found were about $25, that will probably be the game I will get first if I decide to get a Saturn. Is the American PS version equal/lower/better than the Japanese port?

Also I would like to know which games I listed have redbook audio, thank you.

[Neon]

Buy it nows just try to assrape you. I've gotten my best deals off of forum members. Neo-geo.com is a great place for this...lots of people sell their crappy games at high prices but there's the occasional great deal, especially on hardware.

If you're strapped for cash a domestic Playstation and a copy of G. Darius can be had for peanuts. Likewise for a Dreamcast and Gigawing. Saturn's a great system but you should only fuck around with it when you've got lots of cash and patience.

Everything besides Strikers II has redbook, IIRC, though Soukyu's redbook is actually music from other raizing games.

[Axon]

Maybe I should think about getting a Dreamcast instead of a Saturn. I already have a NA PS2. The reason I'm thinking about getting a Saturn is because someone put it up for offers on another forum, and the seller was American. The games that I most want for the Saturn are Dodonpachi, Batsugun, and Soukyugerentai. I don't mind waiting but the price is the main problem.

[jp]

The games that I most want for the Saturn are Dodonpachi, Batsugun, and Soukyugerentai. I don't mind waiting but the price is the main problem.

Then go for it. Souky will run you $40-50. Batsugun's price fluctuates all over the place, but I'd say $50-60 sounds about. Dodonpachi will run you...$30-45.


The absolute best version of Souky is the Saturn version.

The only home port of Batsugun is the Saturn version, and its better than the arcade.

Dodonpachi got a very nice port to the Saturn thats somewhat close to the arcade (from what I understand) and it has Saturn Mode and Score Attack. The PS1 version has a mode that removes all slowdown though... but it costs a lot more.

[CMoon]

I'd drop donpachi from that list man, great game, but honestly it runs pretty bad on saturn, 2 player. MAME is the answer.

Blahhhh... Why not the PSX version which runs great!??

[LoneSage]

Dodonpachi $40-50
Rayforce $15
Raystorm $20-25
Soukyugerentai $30-ish
Batsugun $55-70
Battle Garegga $75+
Sexy Parodius $35ish
Thunderforce V $30ish (without soundtrack)
Hyper Duel $115
Strikers 1945 II $25 (I think wolfgames.com may have one in stock for cheaper, maybe..)

Approximate prices without spine card, but deals are always abound.

[Fighter17]

Dodonpachi $40-50
Rayforce $15
Raystorm $20-25
Soukyugerentai $30-ish
Batsugun $55-70
Battle Garegga $75+
Sexy Parodius $35ish
Thunderforce V $30ish (without soundtrack)
Hyper Duel $115
Strikers 1945 II $25 (I think wolfgames.com may have one in stock for cheaper, maybe..)

Approximate prices without spine card, but deals are always abound.

You got the prices right. Strikers 1945 II plays better on the PSX, get that version. I really want to get Batsugun and Battle Garegga the most, but they cost a lot. I paided $35 with shipping for Soukyugerentai white border edition without spine card.

[FRO]

Strikers 1945 II $25 (I think wolfgames.com may have one in stock for cheaper, maybe..)

Wolfgames has only one Saturn shmup left - Gunbird. I bought a still-sealed copy of Strikers 1945 II from Wolfgames while he was still in full-swing; great package. It's relatively easy to find, & a good addition to any Saturn collection (that said despite my love/hate relationship w/ Psykio games).

[bVork]

If you're going to get Soukyugurentai and use a Pro Action Replay to run imports on a domestic Saturn, make sure you get the white-bordered re-release Soukyugurentai Otokuyo. It's cheaper and the original release has garbled graphics when you use a PAR cartridge.

Somebody already mentioned Galactic Attack/Layer Section, so I thought I'd mention the only other domestic shmup: Darius Gaiden. You can find it for $10 or less if you're patient, and it's a fantastic game.

And if you're looking for a good place for import saturn games, I suggest several places: There's a seller called "The West Exit" on ebay who is super reliable and usually (but not always, so be sure to do your homework) has good prices. Akibagames.com is another very good place for import saturn games, though their selection fluctuates a lot. Finally, check the trading section of this forum. People really do sell a lot of stuff here and the prices tend to be very fair.

[Nei First]

Regarding the pachis.....

Donpachi: Practically everyone ridicules the saturn version, so either get it on PSX(I don't have this, so I'm unsure how perfect the port is, though it's meant to be better then the SS version), or play it on MAME/Arcade.

Dodonpachi: Depends on what bothers you, either versions are worth getting. SS version has a near pointless saturn mode, has some issues with graphics and a lower sound quality, but the gameplay is tight and it's cheaper. If you don't play 2player on DDP, then the PSX port is virtually flawless, but it costs a bit more. I don't ever use 2player in shmups, and I'm a vain lil' bastard so I got the PSX version, and loving it!

[Axon]

If you're going to get Soukyugurentai and use a Pro Action Replay to run imports on a domestic Saturn, make sure you get the white-bordered re-release Soukyugurentai Otokuyo. It's cheaper and the original release has garbled graphics when you use a PAR cartridge.

Somebody already mentioned Galactic Attack/Layer Section, so I thought I'd mention the only other domestic shmup: Darius Gaiden. You can find it for $10 or less if you're patient, and it's a fantastic game.

And if you're looking for a good place for import saturn games, I suggest several places: There's a seller called "The West Exit" on ebay who is super reliable and usually (but not always, so be sure to do your homework) has good prices. Akibagames.com is another very good place for import saturn games, though their selection fluctuates a lot. Finally, check the trading section of this forum. People really do sell a lot of stuff here and the prices tend to be very fair.

Actually, if I would want to get a Saturn, it would already be Japanese. Are the Saturn games with the red spine instead of yellow like Greatest Hits games for the Saturn? I already have Darius Gaiden, but it is the domestic version. I know of the seller, "The West Exit" also, because I like to look around his shop for good deals on Turbo Duo games.

Also, to the other poster about Dodonpachi, even though I'm a VGM fan, I don't want to spend much more for better sound and visuals. I think the Saturn version would be better for me, especially if I can find it at a price that Lonesage listed for it.

[Ganelon]

Yes, Satakore (Saturn Collection) is the SS version of Greatest Hits. Soukyugurentai Otokuyo is not part of the Satakore though.

Anyway, SS DDP always goes $40-50 (except for the Satakore version, which is even cheaper) so you should have no trouble finding it. Then again, it's not particularly hard to find PS DDP for $60 either with some patience and luck.

[iatneH]

There's a spinecard-less Batsugun on eBay right now for a $50 Buy It Now.

^%#$^*@$#*^@$%&*&$ since I just bought a spinecard-less one two weeks ago for $67...

[SAM]

There's a spinecard-less Batsugun on eBay right now for a $50 Buy It Now.

^%#$^*@$#*^@$%&*&$ since I just bought a spinecard-less one two weeks ago for $67...

If I were you I would bought the $50 one and sold it again at $67.

Just to make it even. Silly?

You are no mistaken that I am a silly cat.

[louisg]

Somebody already mentioned Galactic Attack/Layer Section, so I thought I'd mention the only other domestic shmup: Darius Gaiden. You can find it for $10 or less if you're patient, and it's a fantastic game.

Only other? What about Deep Scan?!

Kidding, rando!

[neorichieb1971]

Bulletmagnet says Rayforce is Gallactic Attack, everyone else says Layer section is Gallactic Attack.. The latter is true right, from my understanding.

Rayforce is the 3D game on Playstation I think.


I think Dodonpachi, Batsugun, layer section (Gallactic attack) and Souky are the best shooters on the Saturn. I really do like the game paradise as well, its technically a marvel to look at and its not a bad game at all. Wether it would make your top 5 is a different story

[iatneH]

Bulletmagnet says Rayforce is Gallactic Attack, everyone else says Layer section is Gallactic Attack.. The latter is true right, from my understanding.

Rayforce is the 3D game on Playstation I think.

You're thinking of RayStorm and RayCrisis. THOSE are the 3D games on Playstation

I'm pretty sure Layer Section = Galactic Attack = RayForce

[neorichieb1971]

Are you serious, 3 names for 1 game

[iatneH]

Yeh.. this is where my knowledge gets fuzzy...

Layer Section (ARC) -> RayForce (ARC)
Layer Section (SAT) -> Galactic Attack (SAT)

Then there's a PC version also but I can't remember if it's called Layer Section or Galactic Attack.

Anyway... Batsugun, cheap. Somebody buy it!

[louisg]

Layer Section (JP home) = Galactic Attack (US home) = RayForce (JP arcade?) = GunLock (world arcade?)
Layer Section II = RayStorm (afaik)

4 names! I'm not sure if RayCrisis has an alternate title or not.

Steer clear of the PC Layer Section unless you have a 486 still-- it'll run too fast, even if you set refresh to 60 (if anyone has a working setup of this, I'd like to hear). It might be better to try GunLock in MAME instead.

[Axon]

Meh, if you noticed my posts I use the word "if" when talking about a Saturn. I hoped I would be able to get one, but the seller never replied to my e-mail, guess I'll just have to wait for another one. I hope import Saturns at a good price from a domestic seller aren't uncommon.