To buy or not to buy: Saturn RPGs

[Retrogamer0001]

Hi guys, just wondering on everyone's thoughts regarding shelling out serious cash for some of the best games on the Saturn, namely Panzer Dragoon Saga, Dragon Force, Burning Rangers, Guardian Heros, Shining Force III, and a few others. I use Ebay for most of my purchases as Saturn games (especially these ones) are not to be found where I live, and the average price is around 100 each, and 250 for PDS. What I really want to know about is whether any of these games will be re-released in the near future and if it is worth the money buying these now. I realize no one really knows, but there has been a trend for re-releases from Sega over the past few years (the Genesis Collection on PS3/360 comes to mind). Thoughts/opinions?

[Breetai]

What I really want to know about is whether any of these games will be re-released in the near future and if it is worth the money buying these now.

...no one really knows...

I think you just answered your own questions.

I realize no one really knows, but there has been a trend for re-releases from Sega over the past few years (the Genesis Collection on PS3/360 comes to mind). Thoughts/opinions?

For the most part, Saturn games have not been re-released. Radiant Silvergun is one of the few exceptions. If you want to play those classic Saturn games, you pretty much have for fork out the money for them (unless you want to be a douche about it).

Since you seem to have a Saturn, do you have the Pro Action Replay 4-in-1 cartridge (available on this site)? If not, you need to get it. It allows you to play imports. There is an absolute treasure trove of great Saturn games that never made it out of Japan that you NEED to play. A lot of the games that came out in the US/EU, but are really expensive, are really cheap in Japan. Burning Rangers, for example, is generally under $10 in Japan (less than $1 if you are physically in Japan and have the time to look around). Dragon Force is that cheap as well. Guardian Heroes is usually $30-50 or less.

[Zandengoff]

Saturn re-releases although they happen are very rare. I would judge each game on it's own, but I have found the RPGs on Saturn to be quite good. PDS is one if not the best game I have ever played. Defiantly the best game on the Saturn in my opinion. There is a reason that it still sells for the price that it does.

[flojocabron]

I own dragon force, shining force 3, shining wisdom, legend of oasis, and Albert oddysey.

The Saturn is too obscure to get re-releases here in the US.

I bought them years ago when they weren't expensive like they are now!

dragon force is kinda hard, for me at least. shining wisdom is kinda like link to the past. Albert oddysey is a straight up RPG, Shining force is a tactics rpg.

I really want to play panzer dragoon saga but I am a cheapskate, and I wouldn't dare shell out hundreds of dollars for them now!

If I had the cash I would get Shining force 3 and albert Oddysey, Thats my opinion tho. I beat SF3 and came close to beating albert. ITS ENDING IS DAMN HARD!

In the end, its your money and be happy because we can spend money on little silver discs!

[brunoafh]

Buy Dragon Force. Rejoice.

Alternatively: Buy a mod chip. Rejoice.

[lisalover1]

If you like a Zelda-esque games with a bit more of an RPG edge (traditionally called Action RPGs/ARPGs), then you absolutely must track down Magic Knight Rayearth. Spectacular 2D visuals, excellently-crafted music, tight controls and gameplay, and is overall just a very good game. The voice acting leaves something to be desired, but that is the only glaring flaw, and it doesn't show up that often. Otherwise, it is a stellar RPG, and definitely one of the best ones for the Saturn to make it over to US shores. I know that I couldn't stop playing it when I started until I 100%ed the game, which I did.

[cookie monster]

If you can live with just getting disk only games then the prices are not to bad i got a albert oddessey that is only the disk going on ebay for 30.00 but the rpg can be had if you stalk ebay and craigs list

[Betagam7]

Hi guys, just wondering on everyone's thoughts regarding shelling out serious cash for some of the best games on the Saturn, namely Panzer Dragoon Saga, Dragon Force, Burning Rangers, Guardian Heros, Shining Force III, and a few others. I use Ebay for most of my purchases as Saturn games (especially these ones) are not to be found where I live, and the average price is around 100 each, and 250 for PDS. What I really want to know about is whether any of these games will be re-released in the near future and if it is worth the money buying these now. I realize no one really knows, but there has been a trend for re-releases from Sega over the past few years (the Genesis Collection on PS3/360 comes to mind). Thoughts/opinions?

Three things I'd point out.

1. Panzer Dragoon Saga will never be "re-released" it might be "remade" or even "reimagined" but a port will not be happening. Reason: The source code for the game has been lost and it is extremely unlikely that it will ever be rediscovered.

2. A game being "re-released" will not diminish the value of your collectible original copy. There will always be an interest in owning and playing the original game on the original hardware. Radiant Silvergun getting an XBLA release won't effect the original's ebay value one iota: It's not about having the means to play the game, it's about owning the game. Which leads me to..

3. You buy the game and don't like it? You sell it on at the same price or better. These titles are investments that never lose their value. I had no qualms about buying PDS because I knew I'd always be able to get my money back and really...what are we looking at, the price of two new modern games?

PDS is worth the price of two new modern games. It's every bit as fantastic as the hype says it is.

[jfrost]

PDS is worth the price of two new modern games. It's every bit as fantastic as the hype says it is.

There are really not many new games that sell for 125 dollars.

[Betagam7]

PDS is worth the price of two new modern games. It's every bit as fantastic as the hype says it is.

There are really not many new games that sell for 125 dollars.

I'm English and got the PAL version of PDS for £80 via ebay. This week I could have spent the same amount on Portal 2 and Mortal Kombat in some UK high street stores. In Sweden, a European country I used to live in, those games would have retailed even higher, as much as 500 SEK each, so it depends where you look.

In both cases, shopping around is advised. Inflated market values exist everywhere, but there are alternatives both in retro gaming as in modern gaming.