Oops, shoulda read the last post. About the Netlink? It's not entirely useless, as there are very few other ways to get shared save files onto a real Saturn. The Netlink is smart enough to call a line with no dial tone if you tell it to, so you can set up a RAS server on your home PC and connect to the Internet that way. I can't remember the link off the top of my head, but there's a Planetweb page somewhere out there that has saves for every last Saturn game you can download. I've had this back burner project for abstracting out a dial-up server and getting all the components on a single chip. Theoretically, you could have a FXS phone port on one end and an RJ-45 port on the other, and turn any modem into a DHCP-enabled network card that talks to your LAN like any other device. That would make Netlinks, X-bands and Dreamcast modems more useful in current home computing environments.
Msh Vs Street Fighter is definitely one of my favorites, though I was first interested in the supposed best port of SFZ3. However I loved Msh Vs SF on Saturn and think it's a fantastic port. But I now own the actual Msh Vs SF arcade boards so it isn't a big deal to have it on Saturn now. There's lots of goodies for Saturn besides the obvious ones like SFZ3 and Metal Slug. I just wish SNK had done King of Fighters 98 with the 4MB cart.
Shining Force III is a great reason to get a Saturn. There is also a group currently working on translating Scenario II and III to English over at Shining Force Central. There is also a program call Satconv you can use the change the region of any game to US so all you technically need is a modchip to play games from other regions. The shooters are fun and addicting to. Virtua Cop and Area 51 are fun to play. I managed to get a copy of Panzer Dragoon disc only for pretty cheap so not all hope is lost of getting a good deal on rare games unless you insist on having everything complete.
the saturn port of Quake 1 is also great if you can find it. The Slave-driver engine is amazing for its time, and I dare say that it's my favourite version of quake 1 (even over the n64 version). Naturally, the Saturn's best (imo) FPS is none other than Exhumed (AKA Powerslave, nothing to do with the Iron Maiden Album/song however), also made by Lobotomy. I really miss playing that game.
NOW if the battery in the saturn dies so do my saves? And what about the 4 in 1 does that have a battery that'll eventually die too?
u can always buy a backup-cartridge, although be warned that the connector is crappy and u need to exercise caution when removing or inserting the option pack.
Yup, you'll need a backup cart or something. I second Quake! Saturn version is great. Same with Duke Nukem. Cheap too.
Yes, if the battery dies your saves do as well; the battery should last over 5 years though, plenty of time to backup your saves to a better memory card. The EMS ARP 4-in-1 doesn't have a battery but uses EEPROM or Flash. That's normally a good thing but in the ARP's case it's not since the saves are compressed and are stored in the same memory as the cheat codes and BIOS.
well there's always the unreleased Hi Def Bomberman at gameshows.. so u did know of another 10 player bomberman- u just havent played it
About the cartridge slot in the Saturn? It's not that it's crappy, it's that the card connectors have to have a tapered edge. First-party save carts and memory expansion carts have this tapered edge, which reduces wear and tear on the slot. Third-party carts like the four-in-one have a squared-off edge and will tend to push the connectors further out than they're designed to go. Since the Saturn is so easily modded with a region switch, if you have a regular four meg cartridge it doesn't make sense to use the four-in-one for region compatibility.
same here I barely ever take the arp cart out I don't want to destroy the connectors toatlly by taking it out and in and so on I do however have all my saves backed up to is but I think ill eventually buy another in better condition this one wasn't good to begin with Managed to clean it up still not great though. Since you can put the cart into a parrallel port I might do that sometime when I get a chance. But unless you have the time and the ability for the switch( no time or I would do it) the cart is just as good.
Nah, I'm a big Saturn fan who's been using them since day one of Japanese release and even I say the cartridge port is really poor on them. I had 1 Saturn that used nothing but official cartridges. That soon stopped working first time you insert a cart after a few months. In fact the only cart that I have that works first time 90% of the time is the Action Replay Pro. The Saturn cartridge slot is awful! I ended up bending all the pins out to get a decent connection even on a brand new machine. Yakumo
