What would be considered the Big 5 on Sega Saturn?

[MrOldSchoolCool]

Not necessarily your personal favorites. What would the community think?

I would think that games like Dodonpachi and Strikers 1945 II would be on the list were it not for them being less than stellar ports... and more expensive games like Blast Wind and Hyper Duel, while good games, are more rare than they are fantastic games.

I always considered the following 5 games to be:

Battle Garegga
Radiant Silvergun
Layer Section
Batsugun
Soukyugurentai

[Squire Grooktook]

Hyper Duel is fantastic though, probably my favorite game from Technosoft hands down. Stands the test of time more than Thunder Force IV imho.

I haven't gotten around to playing it yet, but from what I hear Guardian Force deserves a spot on the list.

[ACSeraph]

Needs more Darius Gaiden and Metal Black

[neorocker]

All five slots taken by Guardian Force.

Realistically though I'd take Souky out of your list and replace it with either Darius Gaiden or Metal Black.

[BulletMagnet]

Garegga and Batsugun are definitely on there, as they both got nice Saturn editions and were never ported anyplace else; your other three are fine choices too, though IMO more subject to argument. Personally I'd be tempted to lean in the direction of the two Cotton games and the (best, IMO) port of Twinkle Star Sprites, but I'm definitely in the minority there.

[Pretas]

Note that the Saturn version of Batsugun is missing all slowdown, making it noticeably harder.

[broken harbour]

I'd replace Layer Section w/ Dodonpachi personally, even though the port isn't perfect.

[sevensevenseven]

I'd replace all 5 of those with Cotton Boomerang. Seeing as how it's objectively the only good STG ever conceived and all.

[Zorator]

OP you've probably nailed it, as far as community perception goes. I haven't played Darius Gaiden, Guardian Force or Metal Black though.

What's wrong with the Strikers 1945 II port?

Am I missing something that makes Twinkle Star Sprites a great port? I only played it once on Saturn because I found the slowdown unbearable. Is there a way to turn it off? Or is that actually how the PCB is in versus mode? (I had previously only played single player)

[sevensevenseven]

Am I missing something that makes Twinkle Star Sprites a great port?

All the neat extra stuff that's exclusive to the Saturn version(a new character, voice acted cutscenes, enhanced graphics, new opening/ending sequences).

If the slowdown bothers you, the Dreamcast port has an option to completely remove it. Though you can remove most of the slowdown in the Saturn version by selecting "Cut" under the "Shoryuichi" option.

[Jeneki]

Silvergun is not for me. Put Guardian Force in its place and that's a pretty accurate list of my Saturn favorites.

[Pretas]

I would say that the Saturn port of Silvergun has been obsoleted by the 360 XBLA version, which is a massive improvement in every way besides the omission of the Merry Dog collection screen. I'm not a fan of the retouched graphics in the 360 version, but you can disable them.

The Saturn version of DDP shouldn't be placed on a pedestal above Layer Section, even if one likes DDP better. The former is a notoriously low quality port, the latter is a perfect one, at least in tate mode (yoko is noticeably missing some of the more advanced scaling effects).

Cotton 2 is a gem of the Saturn STG library that seems to usually get overlooked in favor of its flashier, more accessible, but inferior semi-sequel Cotton Boomerang.

[MrOldSchoolCool]

I'm not sure why I asked actually. The top 25 shmups of all time polls tell me what the community thinks.

[replayme]

I'm one of those people who only really likes shooters made by Hiroshi Iuchi. Which is a bit like saying that I only like Nintendo (Miyamoto developed) platformers in the platforming era of the Super Nintendo. As such, I only really like Radiant Silvergun, even if I have played all the other shmups in the OP's list.

[Squire Grooktook]

I would say that the Saturn port of Silvergun has been obsoleted by the 360 XBLA version, which is a massive improvement in every way besides the omission of the Merry Dog collection screen. I'm not a fan of the retouched graphics in the 360 version, but you can disable them.

Doesn't the xbla version have an extra frame or two of input delay though?

[gray117]

Gah! Just get as many as you can because there's many good games; accounting for personal preferences and pick up price.

Ignoring that, my personal order:

1. Radiant Silvergun
2. Soukyugurentai
3. Dodonpachi
4. Battle Garegga
5. Darius Gaiden

The xbla Radiant Silvergun does have an amount of input lag - perfectly adjustable, but noticeable. There's a lack of slowdown, and I think there's some sizing/aspect issues with the play area... Sure, it's still a nice port and that's not x10 price difference to most players, but if you're happy to pay the price I'd option the saturn RS is still the absolute definitive version. And besides it was built to the saturn/stv system specifically and embodies a style/time/approach/nostalgia which, imho, are something of a factor when considering a system defining 'big 5' games.

[SuperDeadite]

1. Cotton 2
2. Sokyugurrentai
3. Guardian Force
4. Twinkle Star Sprites
5. Game Tengoku

And every shooter fan needs a copy of Planet Joker. Grab a beer, sit back and enjoy the fail.

[moh]

HYPER DOOL

[RaidenViper]

1: Battle Garegga
2: Battle Garegga
3: Battle Garegga
4: Battle Garegga
5: Hyper Duel

[Ed Oscuro]

Unreleased Raiden Fighters ports sweep the top three!

Guardian Force
Hyper Duel
Garegga
Batsugun
Darius Gaiden (I GUESS)

In The Hunt
Souky
X-Multiply (Arcade Gears)
Metal Black
Shippu Mahou Daisakusen

[Blackbird]

Not a single mention of Thunder Force V!? Geez, tough crowd!

[Pretas]

I would say that the Saturn port of Silvergun has been obsoleted by the 360 XBLA version, which is a massive improvement in every way besides the omission of the Merry Dog collection screen. I'm not a fan of the retouched graphics in the 360 version, but you can disable them.

Doesn't the xbla version have an extra frame or two of input delay though?

Yes, but it has Ikaruga Mode, which is a much more enjoyable way to play Silvergun and not available in any other version. Chaining feels natural and fluid, rather than constrained and arbitrary.

I think Thunder Force V is more commonly thought of as a Playstation game in the West, even if it's an inferior port, because it was the only version to be localized.

[broken harbour]

I find I can't get used to the button layout of Silvergun on XBLA, the game feels made for the Saturn controller layout.

[Pretas]

Use an arcade stick, problem solved.

[LSU]

The lack of proper 4:3 fullscreen CRT support was a deal breaker for me on the XBLA port of Silvergun. Shame on them, for never addressing that for us slack jawed CRT using old school folks!

It's pretty difficult to choose just five games for a system that has such an amazing catalogue though... "I don't always choose just five top games for the Sega Saturn, but when I do, I'd probably have to agree with the OP".

(Perhaps trying to somehow also crowbar TFV in there somewhere..?)

[Obiwanshinobi]

Guardian Force is the shmup that justified owning Saturn in my book. Souky rocks hard too. There are many other shmups worth playing on the thing, but as much as I favour Sonic Wings Special, it's at least as good on the PSX. Same with the Shienryu port on PS2. (PS2 component output is a big deal for those few NTSC-landers who keep adequate CRTs.)
Gun Frontier gets an honourable mention for the soundtrack (makes for one hell of an album when played as audio CD).

[BIL]

There is only the BIG 1, Hyper Duel. Everything else is SMALL TYME.

*ultimate r@rez, go home small tymers
*$uper ca$h Saturn exclusive mode with non-fugly character portraits and locking aim
*has perfect PCB conversion too but a disc is smaller and more aerodynamic, eat that PCB scrubs
*rivaled only by Saturn TFIV in the Tecno Soft "inexplicably good" stakes

I will also chuck in RSG, Souky and Baregga for further deluxe plus home conversion, and Rayer Section for immensely high value vs price score. Saturn has no good original shooters besides Planet "Raystorm Reprogrammed By Inebriated Chimps" Joker!

[DMC]

No love for Metal Black? Go to bed, BIL!

[BIL]

I do love VING's Saturn MB but it's avowedly no-frills AND it ain't cheap! It's still smaller and more aerodynamic than an F1 PCB though! ^_~

[Ed Oscuro]

But who would ever put a spoiler on a shiny coaster? F1 is big enough that you gotta find some way to counteract its massive lift forces.