• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Sega Saturn vs 32X and CD

J

Jonneh3003

Banned
Despite their reputation I love the Sega CD and the 32X. I also love the Saturn but was the library superior to the two Mega Drive addons combined?

There are so many good games for the platforms: CD: Sonic CD, Lunar Silver Star and Eternal Blue, Snatcher, Road Avenger, Shining Force CD.
32X: Knuckles Chaotix, Doom, Space Harrier, Mortal Kombat 2, Virtua Fighter, Blackthorne.

Both systems have a bunch of enhanced Mega Drive ports and can be rather expensive to collect for but then again the same is true for the Saturn.

Saturn of course has Panzer Dragoon Saga, Panzer Dragoon and Zwei, Shining Force 3, Dragon Force, Nights into Dreams, Saturn Bomberman, Fighters Megamix and so many many more.

There's no question that they're all fantastic systems but are the 32X and CD combined equal to the Saturn? For me...kind of. The Saturn is one of my all time favourite systems and while both the 32X and CD have a lot of mediocre games certain ones like Lunar are in my all time favourites. So what about you guys?
 
Even though I love the Saturn it would be really hard to argue it outstrips the Genesis/Sega CD combo. 32X is pretty forgettable.
 
I don't think the CD/32X even come close to the Saturn...especially when you look at the JP Saturn library.
 
Mega CD is great. Love it. Absolutely worth getting into.

32X I tried hard to like but it doesn't have much to recommend it beyond the first-party arcade ports, which are easy to get elsewhere.

Saturn rules. JP library is essential though. Oh, and deep pockets.

So if 32x/CD were able to beat Saturn, it would be mostly the CD doing the heavy lifting. The same way a spaceship powered by a outboard motor and a nuclear fusion engine is mostly powered by the latter.
 
I have never been quite as much into video games since Sega left the hardware business. I personally put the Saturn above the Sega CD/Genesis because of all its fantastic Model 2 arcade ports like Virtua Fighter 2, Daytona USA, Sega Rally, Virtua Cop, etc., and the original titles like Panzer Dragoon, Astal, DecAthlete, and Nights.
 
Jonneh3003 said:
Despite their reputation I love the Sega CD and the 32X. I also love the Saturn but was the library superior to the two Mega Drive addons combined?

There are so many good games for the platforms: CD: Sonic CD, Lunar Silver Star and Eternal Blue, Snatcher, Road Avenger, Shining Force CD.
32X: Knuckles Chaotix, Doom, Space Harrier, Mortal Kombat 2, Virtua Fighter, Blackthorne.

Both systems have a bunch of enhanced Mega Drive ports and can be rather expensive to collect for but then again the same is true for the Saturn.

Saturn of course has Panzer Dragoon Saga, Panzer Dragoon and Zwei, Shining Force 3, Dragon Force, Nights into Dreams, Saturn Bomberman, Fighters Megamix and so many many more.

There's no question that they're all fantastic systems but are the 32X and CD combined equal to the Saturn? For me...kind of. The Saturn is one of my all time favourite systems and while both the 32X and CD have a lot of mediocre games certain ones like Lunar are in my all time favourites. So what about you guys?
Click to expand...

Depends on what regions you are including. The Saturn got kneecapped in NA but in JP it had a much larger catalog. Including the more complete versions of Lunar SS and EB. Shining Force 3 1-3 are better games than Shining CD. Not to mention great variety with Princess Crown and Shining in the Dark. In NA it's much closer but in JP Saturn is probably the better console.
 
Saturn is so much better than 32x, cd it isn't even fair.

On a pure games leve, saturn has a ton more and super great games. Tons of games like winter sports , summer heat that people don't even know about.
 
I remember getting the 32X at Toys R US for $20 on clearance. Loved the games I got for cheap back then. Played a ton of VF.

Never had CD or Saturn. After the 32X my next Sega system was the Dreamcast.

Still have both.

Jonneh3003 said:
Both are fantastic systems if you ever get round to them, I would personally suggest a Saturn but the Sega CD has some amazing stuff.
Click to expand...

I've come close to picking up a Saturn multiple times. I just don't have the time for playing/enjoying it though. Life is very busy now, maybe down the road.
 
shandy706 said:
I remember getting the 32X at Toys R US for $20 on clearance. Loved the games I got for cheap back then. Played a ton of VF.

Never had CD or Saturn. After the 32X my next Sega system was the Dreamcast.
Click to expand...

Both are fantastic systems if you ever get round to them, I would personally suggest a Saturn but the Sega CD has some amazing stuff.
 
Playing Project X Zone 2 right now and Sega Saturn wins by a landslide solely because it had this! And no, it is not the Segata Sanshiro videos, even though those are similarly awesome.
 
Lunar SS was the first JRPG I played. My father bought me a Sega Genesis/CD not long after my parents divorced, and I would play Lunar on Sundays, and spend the rest of the week dreaming about what could be coming up in Alex's quest to become a Dragonmaster. So even though it's not a terribly long game, it took me months to complete with my limited play-schedule.

I was so young I didn't see Ghaleon as a potential bad guy, and when he killed Quark I almost cried. Ahhh childhood, to be so innocently dumb.
 
Well, as a Sega fan I believe the 32X should have never existed beyond an experimental sketch in some engineer's scrapbook.

And the Mega CD should have never been released in the West.
 
Never really saw the appeal in Chaotix. I think the whole partner mechanic really pushes the game engine beyond what it could practically handle with regards to speed. I seemed very prone to getting stuck in floors/walls and such when playing it. That, and the level design felt a bit barren.
 
In terms of game library, Saturn decimates them both combined (which isn't saying much for the other two, aside from their general standouts like Sonic CD, Tempo, Snatcher, Kolibri, Virtua Racing etc).

In terms of processing power it gets more interesting. I didn't know until just recently the 32X had the same dual-SH2 setup as Saturn, just slightly slower is all. And of course it lacks Saturn's GPU abilities. But the biggest thing holding it and the CD back are reliance on the 68K processor, video output capabilities etc. of the Genesis and relying on the Genesis's main bus.

So it'd be very interesting to see a game pushing Genesis/CD/32X and Saturn to their limit, and see how close they got to one another.
 
jhmtehgamr20xx said:
In terms of game library, Saturn decimates them both combined (which isn't saying much for the other two, aside from their general standouts like Sonic CD, Tempo, Snatcher, Kolibri, Virtua Racing etc).

In terms of processing power it gets more interesting. I didn't know until just recently the 32X had the same dual-SH2 setup as Saturn, just slightly slower is all. And of course it lacks Saturn's GPU abilities. But the biggest thing holding it and the CD back are reliance on the 68K processor, video output capabilities etc. of the Genesis and relying on the Genesis's main bus.

So it'd be very interesting to see a game pushing Genesis/CD/32X and Saturn to their limit, and see how close they got to one another.
Click to expand...
agree
 
If we are not counting native Genesis games, and are looking at worldwide output, I don't see how this is even debatable. Even the Saturn's North America output was better than Sega CD + 32X.
 
Dragon1893 said:
This reminds me I never played Knuckles Chaotix.That game really tempted me to get a 32X back then.
Click to expand...

Don't worry, you're not missing out on anything special. It's like sonic only worse. The levels are bland and empty and the control scheme is terrible. It's probably the worst 2d sonic game, even including the gba and ds games (not sure about sonic 4 though).
 
Sure, it isn't in English and it's somewhat of a shoddy port, but Saturn had Snatcher so that's one less arrow in SCD/32X's quiver.

SSFront.jpg
518188-snatcher-sega-saturn-screenshot-note-the-stylistic-change.png
Click to expand...

Really though it's the Saturn, no contest. Just the arcade ports alone makes it a match for Sega CD and 32X. Add in the 3D action game and RPGs and it becomes clear that the mere idea of a matchup with the Genesis add-ons is an insult to the Saturn.
 
Like some other posters here, the only reason that I would like to get hold of a 32X is so I can play Knuckles Chaotix, which I missed out on at the time.

As an aside - any UK GAFfers ever read Sonic the Comic back in the day? Their Knuckles Chaotix story was awesome (Brotherhood of Metallix), and is responsible for me still wanting to play the game to this day!

Was it the Mega CD or the Saturn that had the superior port of X-men vs Street Fighter? Another one I'd like to play, having only played (and enjoyed) the PS1 version.
 
A few of the (debatable) great titles you mention for the CD or 32X have a superior version on the Saturn, so when you scratch those out: no, Saturn wins.

But it wins even if you count those. Yes the CD has a solid dozen-plus great games, the 32X might have a couple worth playing... but the Saturn has a really amazing library, and that's just the US releases. Add in imports and it wipes the floor with the CD/32X combo.
 
There are other usual suspect Sega CD gems I like, but for me it's really Snatcher and Lunar games (as they were) versus some of my absolute favorite games of all time.

Legend of Oasis (Story of Thor 2) is my second favorite game only after Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Guardian Heroes is probably #5 these days, and Dragon Force slips in and out of the Top 10, but always stays there. Spring and summer 1996 with those three games, plus Dark Savior and Three Dirty Dwarves, was probably my favorite time in gaming. The Saturn is 90% why I love 2D so much.
 
Saturn completely destroys Sega CD and 32X even with the kneecapped U.S. lineup.

We still got the Panzer Dragoon series, Shining Force 3 scenario 1, Burning Rangers, VF2, Virtual On, Daytona Circuit, SFA2, Darius Gaiden, Nights, Guardian Heroes, Dragon Force, etc.

I love the Sega CD because I was able to score one cheap in the mid 90s and it had enough of a library that I still play those games. I love 16-bit CD based games. For some reason, they still feel like the future lol.
 
It's not even a competition. Most Sega CD games were crappy FMV titles, or Genesis ports with a couple extras.

32X lacked games period. Star Wars Arcade and maybe a couple others are all that's worth playing.

Saturn on the other hand had a great library of fighters, arcade ports, shooters, RPGs, etc... No contest.
 
sir_kevith said:
I love the Sega CD because I was able to score one cheap in the mid 90s and it had enough of a library that I still play those games. I love 16-bit CD based games. For some reason, they still feel like the future lol.
Click to expand...

Same. My parents couldn't buy me everything, and I finally got a Sega CD in 1997 for probably $25... also picked up Snatcher, the Lunar games, Sonic CD, Misadventures of Flink, Shining Force CD, Heart of the Alien and the save cartridge all for $3 to $6 each, CIB. Those were the days... fuckin' ebay, man.

Never got to own Popful Mail, or some of the other cool stuff, but I have played them through other means, at least. My Sega CD finally crapped out in 2006, I think.

Totally agree about the future. That Sega CD boot up, the distinct sound and crispness, and stuff like the Snatcher intro being burned into my brain. It's why I'm looking forward to Read Only Memories:
 
There are two games on 32X that I really love: Motherbase and Virtua Racing. That's not a large library. I never played any Mega CD-specific games but thinking about the games I know exist for the platform doesn't exactly make me fill me with confidence that there's enough to even come close to the Saturn.
 
ShinUltramanJ said:
It's not even a competition. Most Sega CD games were crappy FMV titles, or Genesis ports with a couple extras.
Click to expand...

43 out of the 205 releases were FMV or hybrid FMV titles. That's far from most of them. The disproportionate marketing they received from Sega of America really misrepresented the system.
 
Dreamwriter said:
Saturn had like 450 games, it blows away the Sega CD and 32X libraries.
Click to expand...

Yeah the saturn simply destroys them when it comes to games. Besides there's hardly anything worth playing on the 32x tbqh. Even the supposed gems in its library aren't really gems at all. I used to own one, and kind of enjoyed doom on it despite the reduced play window, crap framerate and reduced number of levels. At least it was playable, unlike the SNES version. It was cool to have a 32x if you didn't have access to some games like virtua fighter or doom any other way,but even then you were playing crap ports of much better games.
 
NinjamicWZ said:
Totally agree about the future. That Sega CD boot up, the distinct sound and crispness, and stuff like the Snatcher intro being burned into my brain. It's why I'm looking forward to Read Only Memories:
Click to expand...

I'm really hoping they get that Japanese version of Shadowrun translated some day. It's got good RPG vibes and the futuristic 16-bit setting.
 
The Saturn continues to be underrated. This isn't even a contest.

Saturn > Jaguar + 3DO + Sega CD + 32X + CDi + any other mid-90s garbage together
 
I still have my Saturn hooked up so I can play Marvel Super Heroes, Xmen vs Street Fighter and Marvel Superheroes vs Street Fighter.
 
I honestly don't see how this is even debatable.

32X is a terrible system with almost nothing worthwhile to play on it. Even games like Knuckles Chaotix only stand out because its library is a wasteland.

SEGA CD is, of course, much better than 32X but its library features many "enhanced" ports of Mega Drive/Genesis games and lots of FMV crap. There are a few great exclusives like Sonic CD, Snatcher, Lunar, Popful Mail, Lords of Thunder etc., but they aren't anywhere near enough compared to what Saturn has to offer.

Saturn, even without counting the JPN-only releases, has tons of great games. A vastly superior library in terms of 1st party releases (Sega Rally, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Virtua Fighter 2, NiGHTS, Shining Force III, Virtua Cop 2, Virtual On, Panzer Dragoon Zwei, Dragon Force, Guardian Heroes etc.), as well as many great 3rd party games.

Honestly, it's not even close. Saturn completely destroys the SEGA CD and 32X.
 
What a strange question. I have to wonder if the OP really has much Saturn experience.

At this point, I think my Saturn library is approaching 250 games - possibly the largest collection I have outside of PS2. There is an insane number of really slick games on there. It's a fantastic system but one you really need to dig into in order to find the best stuff.

Sega CD is also solid, but it doesn't have many hidden gems. All of the good stuff is well known and the overall number of great games is still limited by its short life.

32x, though? I really just think it's a terrible platform. I have a 32x but I can't say there is a single truly great game on the platform. Knuckles Chaotix looks and sounds great but is a mess of a game and the arcade ports are all limited in various ways. The rest of the library is just garbage. It's fascinating, but not good.

3DO and Jaguar are both superior to the 32x, I'd say.
 
I own two different Genesis systems (original and model 2), Sega CD, 32X and Sega Saturn. Looking at my console collection the model 2 Genesis/Sega CD/32X combo looks like a festering tumor sitting on my shelf.

I have lots of nostalgia for the Saturn, Sega CD and Genesis but man that 32X was poop. I own three games on it and the only one I rather enjoyed playing was Doom and I can play that on a million other platforms.

I do need to try to snag a copy of the 32X version of Blackthrone though. That game was the bomb.
 
Shion said:
There are a few great exclusives like Sonic CD, Snatcher, Lunar, Popful Mail, Lords of Thunder etc.,
Click to expand...

The only true exclusive among that batch nowadays is Snatcher. Sonic CD has the remade port, Lunar ditto, and Lords of Thunder had a superior Turbo CD version. I'd venture that the best SCD exclusive next to English Snatcher is Shining Force CD. Complete package compared to the compact Game Gear entries
 
PassiveObserver said:
The only true exclusive among that batch nowadays is Snatcher. Sonic CD has the remade port, Lunar ditto, and Lords of Thunder had a superior Turbo CD version. I'd venture that the best SCD exclusive next to English Snatcher is Shining Force CD. Complete package compared to the compact Game Gear entries
Click to expand...
I actually quite love Sega CD Snatcher. I've also played it on Saturn but I felt that many of the art modifications were for the worse.

Sonic CD is the big one, though, the Taxman port is just too damn good. The Sega CD version is rather poor next to it. Unlike the Genesis games, it's loaded with constant slowdown. It really feels unpolished and unfinished on a Sega CD whereas the port feels truly complete.
 
PassiveObserver said:
The only true exclusive among that batch nowadays is Snatcher. Sonic CD has the remade port, Lunar ditto, and Lords of Thunder had a superior Turbo CD version. I'd venture that the best SCD exclusive next to English Snatcher is Shining Force CD. Complete package compared to the compact Game Gear entries
Click to expand...
Popful Mail on SCD is basically a different game from the PC88/PCE and SFC versions. It's also the only one you can play in english.

I think the Lunars are best on SCD too. Each successive remake just seems to get worse.

For another great exclusive I'd nominate Keio Flying Squadron. The SCD version of Dungeon Explorer is also an exclusive.
 
dark10x said:
What a strange question. I have to wonder if the OP really has much Saturn experience.

At this point, I think my Saturn library is approaching 250 games - possibly the largest collection I have outside of PS2. There is an insane number of really slick games on there. It's a fantastic system but one you really need to dig into in order to find the best stuff.

Sega CD is also solid, but it doesn't have many hidden gems. All of the good stuff is well known and the overall number of great games is still limited by its short life.

32x, though? I really just think it's a terrible platform. I have a 32x but I can't say there is a single truly great game on the platform. Knuckles Chaotix looks and sounds great but is a mess of a game and the arcade ports are all limited in various ways. The rest of the library is just garbage. It's fascinating, but not good.

3DO and Jaguar are both superior to the 32x, I'd say.
Click to expand...

My Saturn library consists of Alien Trilogy, Sega Rally, Daytona USA, Sim City 2000, Fighters Megamix, Panzer Dragoon, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Nights into Dreams, The Story of Thor 2, Sonic Jam, Sonic R, Wipeout, Soviet Strike, Dragon Force and Virtua Fighter 2. Still got a lot of games to try out as i'm nowhere near the 250 figure you have but I have a fair bit of Saturn experience and love the console.

I'm not saying it's similar to either 32X or CD i'm seeing if anyone thinks the addons surpassed the console in terms of game quality. I personally don't think they do.
 
Crisium said:
The Saturn continues to be underrated. This isn't even a contest.

Saturn > Jaguar + 3DO + Sega CD + 32X + CDi + any other mid-90s garbage together
Click to expand...
Hell depending on where your tastes are, Saturn beats N64 and PS1.

But again, at the end of the day in terms of those comparisons it's completely subjective.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

In think that the Sega Mega CD was one year too early, and the 32X one year too late
2 3 4
164
849
RAIDEN1 replied
The games that defined the Sega Saturn...
Opinion Retro Hardware  2
53
864
Togh replied
Sega Trip; a lost console add on for Saturn Shenmue and VF3 was real
43
924
Don Carlo replied
Mike Fischer (Former Sega of America VP): "I've heard that [Sega is] remaking Sonic CD"
Opinion Rumor Game Dev 
1
42
Witchilich replied
Wii, DS, and Sega CD coming to Nintendo Switch Online
Rumor Retro Platform  2
86
1K
MrCunningham replied
Top Bottom