Is the Sega Saturn overrated?

[RyaNtheSlayA]

OK, now I'm unsure what console you mean. I was thinking maybe the Sega 32X as it had 5 CD-32X games which you may be counting as a different system... I can't think of any other console with only 5 games and backwards compatibility.

But the CD-32x games suck.

[Inazuma]

I can only think of one console that only has five games. One is just okay, another is good, the other three are great or excellent.

I therefore judge the console as absolutely amazing, because it is backwards compatible with the console that proceeded (and, strangely, succeeded it).

I'm racking my brain and I have no idea what system you're talking about here.

64DD and Supergrafx come to mind. Both of those have around 5 games I think.

[Para]

If anything I would say the system is very underrated. I've never seen it as a popular or overrated system in my life.

I only know one person that actually owned one and it is very hard to find games for it around here.

[Weekend_Warrior]

Sega Saturn in America = Overrated

Sega Saturn in Japan = Underrated

[flamepanther]

At this point, I've decided there is just an unrectifiable misunderstanding of what "overrated" means in this thread.

Let's try one more time to clarify: when something is "overrated" it does not mean it was disappointing, or bad, or not as good as it should have been. It means that it receives more attention and higher public opinion than it deserves. Whatever the popular opinion of that thing is, you're saying it's too high. Let's see how that applies in the cases people have been using it in this thread...


In North America: North American reception of the Saturn is one of indifference--a resounding "Meh." We rejected, ignored, and forgot about it, hence the system's abysmal failure. To state that the Saturn was overrated in North America is to suggest that the platform deserved worse than our indifference and rejection. This was a system that, while expensive, had exceptionally high quality hardware. It had a library that, while weak, still had a number of unique, high-quality, overlooked titles. It had the very best arcade ports during a time when that was still worth something. Why you would want to suggest that we should actively hate the system (what else is lower than indifference?) I can't fathom.

In Japan: I haven't seen anyone suggest the system is overrated in Japan, so we'll skip this. Good job.

Among die-hard Sega and retro fans: This is a group of people that has an unusual and relatively specific idea of what it wants from their games and hardware. The fact of the matter is that the Saturn meets the criteria of this group exceptionally well. There are few platforms, if any, that you could suggest to these gamers that has a more perfect library of arcade games and quirky Sega properties, or hardware more perfectly tuned for high-octane 2D gaming. It's not an inflated opinion, it's just that the platform meets a very specific need almost perfectly. These people certainly rate the Saturn more highly than most other people would have any reason to do, but among these fans the Saturn cannot possibly be overrated. Outside of this small group, their opinion is not an appropriate basis for judging what is or is not overrated, as it relates to them only.

[Opa Opa]

But the CD-32x games suck.

Don't be talking bad about Corpse Killer!

[RyaNtheSlayA]

But the CD-32x games suck.

Don't be talking bad about Corpse Killer!

Okay, you got me. I'll admit I enjoyed Corpse Killer.

The rest suck though.

[Breetai]

I can only think of one console that only has five games. One is just okay, another is good, the other three are great or excellent.

I therefore judge the console as absolutely amazing, because it is backwards compatible with the console that proceeded (and, strangely, succeeded it).

I'm racking my brain and I have no idea what system you're talking about here.

64DD and Supergrafx come to mind. Both of those have around 5 games I think.

Good job.

The NEC Super Grafx had only 5 games released for it. It was a stand-alone system, unlike the 32X-CD or N64DD. It was fully backwards compatible with the PC Engine (JP Turbografx-16) and had a port to attach the CD-ROM add-on to. It could play every single PC Engine game and CD game.

The five games are: Ghouls 'n Ghosts (shits all over the Genesis version), 1941: Counter Attack (awesomeness), Aldynes (a very nice shoot 'em up), Granzort (fun, but sooo difficult. Kind of like the underground parts of Keith Courage, except much better.) and Battle Ace (generic 3D shooter). Possibly the best good-to-crap ratio of every console.

It also upgraded the graphics on the two Darius games that don't have "Alpha" in their title.




Back to the Saturn:

Among die-hard Sega and retro fans: This is a group of people that has an unusual and relatively specific idea of what it wants from their games and hardware. The fact of the matter is that the Saturn meets the criteria of this group exceptionally well. There are few platforms, if any, that you could suggest to these gamers that has a more perfect library of arcade games and quirky Sega properties, or hardware more perfectly tuned for high-octane 2D gaming. It's not an inflated opinion, it's just that the platform meets a very specific need almost perfectly. These people certainly rate the Saturn more highly than most other people would have any reason to do, but among these fans the Saturn cannot possibly be overrated. Outside of this small group, their opinion is not an appropriate basis for judging what is or is not overrated, as it relates to them only.

This makes total sense. ...but how anyone can not love Astal is beyond me.

[Weekend_Warrior]

In North America: North American reception of the Saturn is one of indifference--a resounding "Meh." We rejected, ignored, and forgot about it, hence the system's abysmal failure. To state that the Saturn was overrated in North America is to suggest that the platform deserved worse than our indifference and rejection. This was a system that, while expensive, had exceptionally high quality hardware. It had a library that, while weak, still had a number of unique, high-quality, overlooked titles. It had the very best arcade ports during a time when that was still worth something. Why you would want to suggest that we should actively hate the system (what else is lower than indifference?) I can't fathom.

The Saturn had an EXTREMELY BAD library of games in North America when compared to the mighty PS1. Then when you add in the initial high price of the console, you have an overrated/over-priced piece of shit. Of course, it can be had for $20 to $20 used these days. But the U.S. library is still shit next to the PS1... maybe even the N64's library as well. So unless everyone who claims that the Sega Saturn was an awesome machine has a mod chip or 5-in-1 region adapter, then I'm saying the system was overrated in this part of the world.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

In North America: North American reception of the Saturn is one of indifference--a resounding "Meh." We rejected, ignored, and forgot about it, hence the system's abysmal failure. To state that the Saturn was overrated in North America is to suggest that the platform deserved worse than our indifference and rejection. This was a system that, while expensive, had exceptionally high quality hardware. It had a library that, while weak, still had a number of unique, high-quality, overlooked titles. It had the very best arcade ports during a time when that was still worth something. Why you would want to suggest that we should actively hate the system (what else is lower than indifference?) I can't fathom.

The Saturn had an EXTREMELY BAD library of games in North America when compared to the mighty PS1. Then when you add in the initial high price of the console, you have an overrated/over-priced piece of shit. Of course, it can be had for $20 to $20 used these days. But the U.S. library is still shit next to the PS1... maybe even the N64's library as well. So unless everyone who claims that the Sega Saturn was an awesome machine has a mod chip or 5-in-1 region adapter, then I'm saying the system was overrated in this part of the world.

It didn't have a terrible library here though, it just wasn't as extensive as it was in Japan. We got most of the high profile releases and there are more than enough localized games to justify it's stance among Sega fans today.