What's special about a Japanese Sega Saturn?

[Allenkazaam]

i was wondering why its better to have the japanese system rather than us?

[executioner]

There's a lot of great games only realeased in Japan like shmups and fighters and some games for which the japanese version are cheaper like bomberman. Some people don't want to mess with installing a modchip and patching game regions or even buying a cart for playing imports. And the number one reason is just that japanese systems are very sexy in white and grey.

[jfe2]

They look awesome!

I totally plan on replacing one of my Saturns with a white Japanese console in the future.

[GamerMON]

If I didn't have a boxed US Saturn with an Action Replay Plus, I would buy a white one (then a white PS2 so all my systems matched.

[Allenkazaam]

i see cuz i was thinking about getting a saturn but i was gonna mod it so i can play burned games cuz a lot of those games are quite expensive...

[Dylan]

It's pretty much a well known fact the Sega really pulled it's punches here in the states (assuming you live here, I can't speak for PAL but they usually get treated pretty poorly by the industry so I'm not sure about that), so really if you want to play a lot of the Saturn's best games you have to import (or burn).

i see cuz i was thinking about getting a saturn but i was gonna mod it so i can play burned games cuz a lot of those games are quite expensive...

Yeah, if you're going to mod it then there isn't really any need for you to get Japanese one.

[Inazuma]

The Japanese Saturn is better because Japanese Saturn games are better. It's simple really. I recently sold my American Saturn along with all my games, and bought tons of Japanese versions to replace them. Not only are there a hell of a lot more games for the Japanese system, but they tend to be superior to the American versions (well, at least if you can understand the Japanese language).

Because of my love for video games, I decided to take the time to learn the language. Now that I can play Japanese games with little trouble, it feels so good. Being able to play and enjoy the original versions is awesome.

tl;dr
Shining Force III Scenarios II, III and the premium disc were never released outside of Japan. That's enough reason right there.

[Xonticus]

(well, at least if you can understand the Japanese language).

And that reason alone is preventing me from getting a lot of good import games. I usually buy what I can actually play and understand. Someday I need to learn moonspeak.

[Wintermute1981]

The main reason why I purchased my Japanese Saturn was for the color. I love the look of the Saturn in White. I already had access to Japanese titles by downloading, region patching and burning games so that was not even a factor in my decision. I will say it is nice to have access to original copies of games without having to use an ST-Key or Action Replay as an added bonus.

[Breetai]

i see cuz i was thinking about getting a saturn but i was gonna mod it so i can play burned games cuz a lot of those games are quite expensive...

Even this is (or was, when I had a modded Japanese Saturn back in 1999-2001). The Saturn is not region-free and a mod-chip WILL not get around this. Even if you have a US (or PAL) system modded, you STILL need a Pro Action Replay 4 in 1 cart or something similar to play games from a different region (unless that's not the case anymore... my experience is outdated by about 8 years).

The best games are Japanese, and the cheapest games are Japanese. Unless you are heavily into RPGs on the Saturn, a Japanese system is the way to go.