Panzer Dragoon Saga

"Those fools. They cannot even handle normal weapons."

Source // Wikipedia

What the Sega Saturn really needed in the tail end of the 1990s was a huge 3D RPG spanning four discs and based on an on-rails shooter. It doesn't make sense when you write it down, does it? However, if we replace 'an on-rails shooter' with 'Panzer Dragoon', an on-rails shooter where you pilot giant dragon things that shoot lasers, then you might just be onto a winner by giving that idea some room to breathe in an RPG.

Enter Panzer Dragoon Saga, a story of war and dragons, where science fiction meets ancient civilizations. It's a bit different, is what it is...

Burning Rangers

Say 'Hello' to Big Landman.

Source // Wikipedia

If you weren't already aware, the Sonic Team development team developed Sonic The Hedgehog, which has taken them on quite the rollercoaster, it has to be said. What you may not be aware of is that they also make games that don't feature any blue mammals, and Burning Rangers is one such title.

I had no idea of Burning Rangers' existence, mostly owing to the fact that it was exclusive to the Sega Saturn, and came out when the console had already been stomped by the Sony PlayStation. It was a title that simply didn't set the world on fire, despite being a game where the world is literally on fire, and you are a futuristic firefighter with a water pistol. Kinda.

It's definitely not what I was expecting...

Source // noidentity/GameFAQs

Shining Force III

Rain Thunder!

Source // Emuparadise / Baffou

The Sega Saturn has a kinda-3D turn-based tactics fantasy RPG, along the lines of Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics, so large in scale that it was split into three parts, only one of which made it outside of Japan and onto the 1001 list.

Its name is Shining Force III, and specifically Scenario 1, aka 'God Warrior of the Kingdom'.

I have a good history with the Saturn, aka 'not a chance in hell of being able to play this game'.

Saturn Bomberman

Dynamite down the pants, explodo!

I thought that Super Bomberman could not be improved upon. It had everything it needed and looked good doing it. Why, then, would you ever need another Bomberman title on the 1001 list? Because Saturn Bomberman is better.

Look at that map. That's the story mode. Saturn Bomberman has a story. So did Super Bomberman but it's crap when compared to this. The Bomberman grid is there but is hidden amongst trees and lamp posts and you're blowing up ice cream, for some reason. It doesn't matter, it looks fantastic.

It looks so good in fact that I resolved, there and then, to try and get Sega Saturn emulation working - or working better for me in any event - just so I could play Saturn Bomberman.

Did I succeed?

Guardian Heroes

"Does he obey our commands? This is gonna be fun!"

Source // NeoGAF

Do you like side-scrolling beat 'em ups? Do you like role-playing games? Do the stories you enact simply have to include branching paths and multiple endings? Do you only have a Sega Saturn with which to experience all these things, and must have them all appear in one game? Then it looks like Guardian Heroes is for you and your weirdly specific preferences.

Four young warriors have stumbled across an epic sword, and then the troubles really start, as they find themselves brought into a battle between spirits of the Earth and the Sky. And I thought it was just a button masher.