What are your favorite ST-V games

[infernalcombustion]

What are your favorite 3 games from the ST-V arcade system?

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Before this section becomes a bundle of memories of yore highlighting the golden years of Sega arcade cabinets, I thought I'd concentrate on the ST-V system itself.

Most people here will have heard of Sega's hybrid Saturn/Jamma board ST-V system. Indeed a few major releases here in the west were either ported from an ST-V version (eg. Baku Baku, Athelete Kings etc.) or were released on the system after a Saturn version had been completed (eg. Virtua Fighter Remix and Steep Slope Sliders).

Anyway, I'm sure I'm not the only one who's played on one of these in an actual arcade (Although Die Hard Arcade and Athlete Kings are the ONLY 2 titles I've ever seen). However, I presume that very few of us outside of Japan ever got to play most ST-V games on an actual cabinet - which is a real shame. Therefore this thread will allow you to pick your favorite ST-V games based for the most part on Saturn conversions.

Incidentally, I don't know (or particularly care) about the specs of the system - we're all here for the games right? ;D

The ST-V system was manufactured in both Japan & America with some modification of the bios and with many titles having alternative titles for the United States. Not all games supported by the ST-V system were released on the Sega Saturn. In most cases it's pretty obvious why - i.e The usual Arcade only cabinet types such as mole whacking, sit in children's rides & sticker print variety. Never-the-less there are more ST-V titles available for the Saturn than most people are aware of. Here's a list of all of the converted games (at least as far as I'm aware).

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ST-V releases by year (available for the Saturn in the indicated regions):


1994:
Golden Axe : The Duel [Sega] JP/US/UK

1995:
Decathlete / Athlete Kings [Sega] JP/US/UK
Funky Head Boxers [Sega] JP
Pro Mahjong Kiwame S [Athena] JP
Sando-R: Puzzle & Action / Treasure Hunt [Sega] JP
Shanghai : The Great Wall / Shanghai : Triple Threat [Sunsoft/Activision] JP/US
Virtua Fighter Remix [Sega] JP/US/UK

1996
Baku Baku Animal [Sega] JP/US/UK
Batman Forever [Acclaim] JP/US/UK
Suiko Enbu / Outlaws of the Lost Dynasty [Data East] JP/US
Purikura Daisakusen [Atlus] JP
Puyo Puyo Sun [Compile] JP
Soukyugurentai / Terra Diver [Raizing] JP
Virtua Fighter Kids [Sega] JP/US/UK
Youen Denshi Mahjong Yuugi Gal Jan [Warashi] JP
Zenkoku Seifuku Bishojo Grand-Prix : Find Love [Daiki] JP

1997
All Japan Pro Wrestling Featuring Virtua [Sega] JP
Columns '97 [Sega] JP
Cotton 2 [Success] JP
Dynamite Deka / Die Hard Arcade [Sega] JP/US/UK
Groove On Fight [Atlus] JP
Hanagumi Taisen Columns : Sakura Wars [Sega] JP
Shienryu [Warashi] JP
Virtual Mahjong [Micronet] JP
Winter Heat [Sega] JP/US/UK

1998:
Astra Super Stars [Sunsoft] JP
Cotton Boomerang [Success] JP
Elan Doree : Legend of Dragoon [Sai Mate] JP
Guardian Force [Success] JP
My Fair Lady : Virtual Mahjong II [Micronet] JP
Radiant Silvergun [Treasure] JP
Steep Slope Sliders [Victor/Cave/Capcom] JP/US/UK

1999:
Final Fight Revenge [Capcom] JP

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No doubt most people here will have Radiant Silvergun as one of their favorites (well, it's probably regarded as THE major release for the ST-V arcade system). However, personally I find the two shooters below more enjoyable and besides my favorites are based on enjoyability/re-playability not prescribed popularity.

Anyway Here are my favorites:

Soukyugurentai - a very tough shooter that begs for one more go!!
Shienryu - old school shooter with some great weapons.
Baku Baku - such a simple idea, yet utterly addictive in multiplayer mode.

SO - What are your 3 personal favorites and why?


*edited for layout
** added Columns '97

[mick_aka]

+1 for Baku Baku, what a ridiculously addictive game, it's probably had more play out of my STV titles than anything else when I actually had it all set up.

[NeoGeoNinja]

Sept 30, 2012 18:21:53 GMT infernalcombustion said:

Anyway Here are my favorites:

Soukyugurentai - a very tough shooter that begs for one more go!!
Shienryu - old school shooter with some great weapons.
Baku Baku - such a simple idea, yet utterly addictive in multiplayer mode.

SO - What are your 3 personal favorites and why?


*edited for layout

DUUUDE...
Nice thread btw. I like this game

My choices are near enough the same as yours, but we've discussed our similar tastes before, eh?

Soukyugurentai - 2nd fave shooter on the Saturn after BGaregga. enough said?
Shienryu - underrated and really solid shmup imo. Love the attention to detail in this game, the simplicity of the gameplay itself and of course, the soundtrack!
Athlete Kings - Oh yes. Still the best athletics game to date imo

HONOURABLE MENTIONS...
go to (in order) - Guardian Force, Golden Axe and DHArcade

[infernalcombustion]

Sept 30, 2012 23:17:53 GMT NeoGeoNinja said:

My choices are near enough the same as yours, but we've discussed our similar tastes before, eh?

Soukyugurentai - 2nd fave shooter on the Saturn after BGaregga. enough said?
Shienryu - underrated and really solid shmup imo. Love the attention to detail in this game, the simplicity of the gameplay itself and of course, the soundtrack!
Athlete Kings - Oh yes. Still the best athletics game to date imo

HONOURABLE MENTIONS...
go to (in order) - Guardian Force, Golden Axe and DHArcade

Well, what a complete and unexpected surprise!!

Ok. Not really lol!!

I've been playing Guardian Force a fair bit recently and think it's pretty good too. I quite like the variety of the levels (with the combination of horizontal & vertical gameplay) and weapons (even if some of them seem far less useful than others) , although graphically it all seems a bit uninspired and samey throughout (Do bear in mind here that I haven't actually completed it yet!!). I also like the Cotton games - again from Success - Although Boomerang is just a re-jig rather than a different game, so it pretty much makes Cotton 2 redundant.

Also, I must admit that both Athlete King & Winter Heat are both truly great sports titles - I honestly struggle to put one ahead of the other. But at a push I think I'd go with Athlete Kings as all of the events are pretty much perfect (something that alas can't be said of its sequel).

Finally, I can't honestly remember the last time I played Golden Axe : The Duel but it was definitely a few years ago now!! I can only really hold the strong selection of Capcom & SNK fighters up as an excuse I guess. Anyway. I think I'll have to fish it out again and take another look.

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UPDATE - As a mate popped in earlier, I thought I'd give Golden Axe a quick play - after all, I really think multi-player is the real test of any VS fighter.

Anyway, it's not as bad as I remembered - The character design and graphics are quite likeable and the way that you can pick up the potions is still a nice touch. However combo possibilities seem somewhat limited compared to the usual big hitters. Despite this, it did manage to keep us occupied for 30-40 minutes - probably due to the generic street fighter control system (Not necessarily a bad thing) that makes it very easy to pick up and play.

Never-the-less I can't see it ever being a title that I will return to regularly, especially when there are so many outstanding fighters available for the Saturn. So overall, I'd say that while it's certainly nowhere near the bottom of the pile of 2D fighters on the system, I think that it's just far too average for its own good.

[planktonwarrior]

I like Golden Axe The Duel,
Radiant Silvergun and Virtua Fighter Kids

[RealBlue]

Slightly ashamed to admit this but Batman Forever was quite fun in short bursts with two people.

[infernalcombustion]

Updated list with Columns '97 - which I wasn't aware was also released on the Saturn as part of the Sega Ages : Columns Arcade Collection.

@retsub

I haven't tried playing Batman Forever with another player - YET!! - As I must admit that I was pretty disappointed playing it solo. However, as I've just pointed out in another thread some games become a far more enjoyable experience with other players involved. So I'll definitely give it a go.

[mancity]

From that list, there are at least 5 games better than RSG.

[infernalcombustion]

Oct 24, 2012 21:09:24 GMT mancity said:

From that list, there are at least 5 games better than RSG.

So, as in topic - just what are your favorites buddy and why?

[mancity]

Well, although I have played most of them, I only currently own 5 as they are the ones
I want to keep -

1. Shienryu - Excellent game, love the music especially

2. Soukyugurentai - Again, love it, just too difficult once you get to the asteroid level

3. Puyo Puyo 2 - Only just got this one, but I know I will like it

4. Goldenaxe the Duel - Again, only just got this and I dont like fighters, but I aim to give it a good go as I really like the style of it.

5. RSG - Got it as SHMUPS are my favourite genre and it is considered a classic. I just dont consider it that way. I understand what it has to offer, but currently, it doesn't float my boat... maybe it will one day though, which is why I decided to keep it.

[NeoGeoNinja]

Oct 24, 2012 21:09:24 GMT mancity said:

From that list, there are at least 5 games better than RSG.

I ONLY COUNT ONE, PERSONALLY...

Soukyugurentai.

Although I prefer others on the list, I wouldn't have said certain preferred titles were better

[mancity]

Like I say, I can understand why people rave about it, but for me it's not really a SHMUP, it feels more like a puzzle game (which in itself isnt neccessarily a bad thing).

But, given the chance of an evening, there's about 60+ other JP saturn titles in my collection id rather play before I picked up RSG.

[ixisnaugus]

1. Radiant Silvergun

2. Die Hard Arcade!

3. DecAthlete

I wish I could afford Soukyogurentai It looks extremely fun

[Oho]

1. Die Hard Arcade
2. Soukyugurentai
3. Tie between Cotton Boomerang and Steep Slope Sliders.

[infernalcombustion]

I always thought that Dynamite Deka/Die hard Arcade was a solid game (at least with 2 players), but the regular loading (at least on the Saturn) always spoiled the whole experience somewhat as far as I'm concerned. Still, good to see it getting some love on the forums.