best non shmup sega saturn jpn imports

[Soldier Blue]

Liked Elevator Action 2, Nekketsu Oyako, Vampire Savior, Mizubaku Daibouken.

Heard good things about: Street fighter Zero 3, Astra Super Stars.
Some of the best games can be very pricey just like the shumps.

[foxhound1022]

KOF series, Warriors of Fate, Steamgear Mash

[ninjainspandex]

perhaps you all could describe why these games are so awesome to import not just list titles haha. i started this to discuss

[Breetai]

Other than shoot 'em ups? Yeah, 2D fighters are at the top. Look up the ones that required 1MB or 2MB RAM expansion.

Puzzle games, as has been mentioned (Puyo Puyo games, Magical Drop 3, etc.).

A few 2D action games, like Taromaru. Symphony of the Night is cool, since it is a bit different from the PSX version.

Lots of Sega Ages games, too. The US/EU only got three, AFAIK (the Outrun/Space Harrier/After Burner set on one disc). There were a lot more in Japan, and the three I mentioned are all separate and offer more content than the US/EU release.

[Retrozoa]

Wachenroder. Yeah, it's a strategy rpg, but it's incredible linear, so with the right translation faq, the whole game is basically readeable. Probably one of my favorite srpg's, with an incredibly dark story.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Princess Crown, son!

Kind of a action/beat-em-up game with some light RPG elements. Should be playable without any Japanese language knowledge. The graphics are gorgeous, it's the precursor to Odin Sphere and Muramasa: The Demon Blade.

It can be a bit pricey for some ($45 or so), so I have held off on buying it for myself.

[pakopako]

If you don't mind a translation guide next to you, Sakura Wars is pretty nostalgic. The strategy portions are woefully easy, but the dating segments are kind of amusing. You can't beat the price: US$15

Leynos 2 is a sequel to Genesis title Target Earth / Assault Suits Leynos, and side-series to the SNES/PS2 series Valken (aka Cybernator).

Never know why people don't play more Keio Flying Squadron 2 aka Keio Yuugekitai Katsugekihen‎. Sequel to the SegaCD shooter, Vic Tokai turned this into a platformer tour-de-force. This is one of the best 2D platformers out there, PERIOD. It's zaniness is somewhere between than of Metal Slug and Parodius. There was a EU/AU release of the game, but all versions are now equally expensive (US$70+).

Also, speaking Parodius, even though they are shmups, you should check out Gunbird and three Parodius titles. Gunbird (a bargain at US$10) is a simple vertical shooter with 1P and 2P story-modes. Even though it's in Japanese, there's plenty of slapstick involved. The Parodius Deluxe pack was release in EU and JP; it contains the first two PCE games (which were altered and ported to the SNES, GB, and NES) and is still cheap (about US$20?). The other games, 32-bit remake of the SNES Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius, and arcade-port of Sexy Parodius are still fun horizontal cute'em ups, but they do cost twice as much.

[Curlypaul]

Gunbird! I'll put that on my wants list as a cheap shooter to start me off. Thanks

This isn't my thread but I've been watching it as I'd like to get into those Saturn Imports too

[ninjainspandex]

haha i have gunbird and most of the shmups for the saturn i made this thread so i can expand my collection a bit

[pakopako]

How about Bulk Slash, a slightly uncommon 3rd person shooter in the vein of Robotech or Descent?