First person shooters on the Saturn!

[Deleted]

Hey all,

Been curious about the Saturn FPS library. I know these games were subject to a lot of praise back in the day, and were among the highest rated games in OSSM. They loved their shooters. I've always been hesitant to play these games mainly because of the Saturn controller, and back when i had a PlayStation I remember how cumbersome it was playing FPS games using the classic pre-analog PS pad.

I recently picked up a Nights/3D pad for the Saturn, so I think I've got the right tool for these games!

Since I have zero experience with shooters on the Saturn, I was wondering what you guys think about those games, in particular I am interested in how well they have aged in performance, design etc.

I love old school FPS, I used to play them a lot on the PC but it has been a very long time. In particular I am interested in Exhumed/Powerslave. I have heard nothing but praise among the Saturn elite, but at the same time I've heard a lot of criticism from gamers outside the Saturn circle.

There's also Doom and Hexen, I imagine these games would have aged poorly and heard reports of performance issues on the Saturn.

I am interested in shooters that got a Japanese release (since I have a Japanese Saturn collection OCD!) but open to games like Quake and Duke Nukem 3D if they are swell. infernalcombustion and NeGeo not long answered some questions I had about Saturn Quake so I'm pretty convinced that it is one of the highlights of the system

So yea...Exhumed/Powerslave is the one I am most curious about..

[Deleted]

Robotica - YOU KNOW IT IN YOUR HEARTS TO BE TRUE!

Ok, seriously...Quake probably fits the bill.

I predict most will say Exhumed/ Powerslave, which is a very well made game, and yet, it never clicked with me.

However, now that I have a 3D pad, this reminds me that maybe I need to go grab at least one FPS for the Saturn... however, they're not easy to come by in Japan.

Fellow forum member (or ex-forum member) Yuji, and I, went looking for Exhumed everywhere in Kyoto and Osaka, and couldn't find it anywhere.

The game does exist though:

www.amazon.co.jp/BMG%E3%83%93%E3%82%AF%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC-%E8%A5%BF%E6%9A%A61999-%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%A9%E3%82%AA%E3%81%AE%E5%BE%A9%E6%B4%BB/dp/B000069TRU/ref=sr_1_2?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1370763370&sr=1-2&keywords=%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%A9%E3%82%AA%E3%81%AE%E5%BE%A9%E6%B4%BB

[MIK]

Deadalus in Japan aka Robitica is a great game in it's own right. In short your a Robot shooting other robots in a simple 3D shooter but it's played out with roughrlike elements in maps design so it's different everytime you play it. A couple of fixed levels added in tho. If you take to it your enjoy it.

Your have to look at release dates but anything released before Nights will not use the 3D pad. Exhumed does not work with the 3D pad, I don't think Doom or Hexen do either, could be wrong the later 2... Exhumed does not tho nor will Deadalus.

Duke Nukem 3D & Quake do.


Quake, Duke & Exhumed go without saying and in that order. All 3 are must haves.

Doom is a broken game on Saturn. They messed the code up so the guns have a priority to shoot over any slow down meaning it feels alien to play even next to the 32X version and you can storm levels without the enemy really hitting you hard at all as the AI can't keep up. Grab it for PSone if you want an disc console version.

Hexen was better port than Doom, massive game but a little slow paced compared to Doom. I always got fed up with it before getting that far into it if I honest. Worth a look tho. I would rather play Robotica, but that's me.

[NeoGeoNinja]

LIMITED SELECTION...
but nevertheless a great selection of FPS's on Saturn.

Like MIK said, the main 3 you should be looking at are: Quake, Duke3D & Exhumed. As for which is the best? It will literally come down to personal preference.

I will confess that I have never played far enough through Exhumed to have a proper opinion on it, but from the 5 or more levels I have played, it was very good, although, the constantly raiding ceramic pots for ammo/health doesn't work as well for me vs dedicated health and ammo pick ups in Doom/Quake/Duke etc.

For me, I think Quake is the best FPS on Saturn. It looks well, it plays well and is quite the technical achievement for the Saturn tbh. It also has the kind of atmosphere and feel I look for in an FPS - desolate, dark, beyond hope etc... like Doom basically. My preferred FPS scenario.

Interestingly though, by contrast, Exhumed is unique as far as I'm aware (in terms of story, approach).

In terms of wanting something different, fast and fresh, Exhumed might work for you as the first port of call. It's an impressive looking FPS and flies at blistering speed. I'd probably recommend starting here tbh.

So, my order would run: Quake, Exhumed, DN3D
My recommended order would be: Exhumed 1st, then Quake, then DN3D

(I voted Quake btw)

[captainkael]

the best has to be alien trilogy... kidding even though I did enjoy that game alot. The only ones I have really played are alien trilogy and quake and I have to toss a vote for quake. I haven't played very much of it recently but it is an impressive fps for its time (I'm not the biggest fan of old fps my first fps was on the original xbox so I guess I got to used to being able to move the crosshair and walking at the same time ) I did find the gameplay in quake very enjoyable though but the game also kicked my ass. Maybe I will give it another run soon.

[Deleted]

OH, yes, of course, Alien Trilogy! How could I forget that one? Very fun game, with a great atmosphere, and very true to the films. Pity that the game was so rock hard, and no multiplayer.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the detailed responses everyone!

Based on responses and recommendations, I decided to order Powerslave/Exhumed. As based on what everyone is saying this looks like the best place to start. I am also intrigued by its rich level design, something that you just cannot find in modern shooters.

I also ordered Deadalus/Robotica, despite some mixed opinions on the game, MIK convinced me when he said it was similar to a rogue-like...and I'm a sucker for those type of games. It should be cool!

Both are Japanese version, from the same ebay seller so that was pretty convenient

Alien Trilogy was quite good! I played it on the PSone but Alien Resurrection (which came out in 2000) was a far superior game. I was so amazed by the graphics engine as it really pushed the PSone to near Dreamcast levels, and the gameplay and atmosphere was absorbing too. Really enjoyed that game back in the day.

BTW Terramax, I found two copies of the Japanese version of Powerslave/Exhumed. I bought the unsealed one, but here is the factory sealed copy.

www.ebay.com.au/itm/EXHUMED-PowerSlave-Seireki-1999-SAT-Sega-Saturn-JPN-Import-/150871453901?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item2320a3b0cd

[MIK]

lol how did we forget Alien Trilogy! Not in the same league as Quake, Duke & Exhumed as it's a bit simple in comparison but yeah the atmos is good and it moves well. Nice FMV too. Not a Saturn classic but one for the shopping list if you intend to grab them all in FPS form.

I'm sure your enjoy the atmos in Deadalus/Robotica too!

Have fun when they come.

[Deleted]

I'm not sure what you're going to think of Deadalus. The game is very fun to begin with, but the fact the every gosh-darn level feels the same, all the way until the last level (level 42, or something, right), with only different wallpaper to change things at all after every 10 or so levels...seriously, has anyone here actually played that game all the way to the end in one sitting (seeing as you can't save midgame, from what I remember)?

The atmosphere is great, and it moved smoothly though.

EDIT: HOLY COW VIRTUA! That's expensive!

Honestly, my advice to anyone it to never buy new Japanese games, unless they're some sort of limited edition, or come in card cases that wear easily. Most 2nd hand Japanese games are like new condition anyways. Sometimes it's hard to tell if anyone's ever played the game.

[mancity]

I can vouch for second hand JPN games being pristine condition, unless they've spent a few years in the UK first though!

[MIK]

Jun 10, 2013 8:11:55 GMT @zippy said:

...seriously, has anyone here actually played that game all the way to the end

Nope, I always die in the end just like you would in any rougelike game, the likes where your out to grab as much gold as possible and play just to see how far you can get lol. The deeper you get the harder it gets of course in Deadalus. Some times every thing goes your way for a while and your down there for ages, but other times it's out to get you and left clearing whole levels with no hope of finding the exit.

Obviously not one I play all the time, no one would but has served me well over the many years picking at it and makes a pleasant change from the norm.

[NeoGeoNinja]

ONLY THING THAT'S ANNOYING...
about the Japanese version of Exhumed is that all the language and menu's have been faithfully translated and localised into Japanese!

Better off with a western copy imo...

[smithyz]

Quake gets my vote. Don't get me wrong Duke was great back in the day, but given the choice between the two now with my limited playing time it would be Quake every time. Powerslave good also, but no Quake killer.

[tn0w]

Quake for me !! A very well done port. I never liked Duke Nukem back then and I don't like it now.
Alien trilogy is a good port as well, a descent shooter IMO.

[NeoGeoNinja]

NEVER ACTUALLY LIKED...
Alien Trilogy. Even back when there was a great deal of buzz surrounding it, I still fired up AVP on my Jag > ATril, because I preferred it. I mean, I could use a goddamn Predator for Gods sake! Also, the whole being able to see your bullets mid-fire (like in Agent Under Fire) never sat well with me either. You could see them slowly travelling through the air. Weird.

Muser's spot-on about Resurrection though: absolutely great game. The first title I EVER played that utilised twin sticks for FPS gameplay prior to the next gen. See, Quake II tried it, but royally f*cked it up with no invert and no ability to swap stick functionality