Best Sega Saturn RPG

Key Takeaways

• The Sega Saturn got off to a rough start due to competition from the PS1, but had a good lineup of RPGs.
• Great RPGs include:
  Super Robot Wars F, Luna: Silver Star Story Complete,
  and
  Magic Knight Layers.
• Notable Sega Saturn RPGs:
  Princess Crown, Dragon Force, Shining Force 3, Tactics Ogre.

of the story sega saturn It is both fascinating and tragic. It was released in Japan in 1994, followed by North America in 1995. Unfortunately for Sega, Sony had a more promising console at a cheaper price in the PS1, which was released in the same year, 1994.

This certainly didn't give the Sega Saturn a good starting point, and over the years it only got worse from there despite a good lineup of games. There were a lot of great things RPGs on Sega SaturnFor example, those created by our own and third-party teams. From platformers to RPGs, many games remain lost to time because most of their libraries never left consoles. For now, let's focus on some of the great RPGs from the Sega Saturn era.

Updated on October 3, 2024 by Gerardo Molina: It shouldn't be overlooked that the Sega Saturn has some great titles in a variety of genres, despite Sony completely crushing the competition with the original PlayStation upon launch. It's very difficult to buy a Sega Saturn in good condition these days, but there's still a market for the console and the games released for it.

Not only did the Sega Saturn's RPGs give players hours of entertainment, they helped further define the genre in the late '90s, and in the early 2000s, they paved the way for other titles as well as modern games that are immensely popular today. I opened it.

9 Shining Holy Ark

One of the best dungeon crawlers on the Sega Saturn

• platform: sega saturn
• Released: December 20, 1996
• developer: Camelot Software Plan
• Genre: Role Playing Video Game, Dungeon Crawling

shining ark is a first-person dungeon crawler game released in 1996. This title shining The series follows a group of adventurers as they explore various caves, forests, and villages, ultimately trying to stop an evil force from emerging and taking over the world. With turn-based combat and a variety of elements for players to utilize during combat, there's always fun to be had in this title.

shining ark It also features puzzle solving that fits well with other dungeon crawler game mechanics.

8 shining wisdom

A refreshing change from the classic first-person perspective of other brilliant games.

• platform: sega saturn
• Released: August 11, 1995
• developer: Camelot Software Planning, Sega, Sonic Team
• Genre: Action role-playing game, action-adventure game

As a predecessor Make the holy ark shine, shining wisdom It features a top-down view format that sets it apart from other formulas. shining Games are generally based on a first-person perspective. The goal of the game is simple. Travel the world, embark on a variety of adventures, and ultimately thwart the efforts of the evil dark elf wizard Pazort.

The title features real-time strategy combat combining a variety of weapons, magic, and abilities useful when fighting enemies or solving puzzles required to progress through the game.

7 Super Robot Wars F

Crossover RPG for mech fans

• released: September 25, 1997 (Japan)
• developer: Winky Soft
• publisher: Banpresto

The point is Super Robot Wars The series brings together several mech-based anime and game franchises to create one massive crossover tactical RPG. It's not often that the series' main entries or spin-offs leave Japan. Super Robot Wars F. But this is an important item in the franchise. Neon Genesis Evangelion For the first time.

Another great addition is gunbuster, This was another anime that was a bit more obscure compared to the Gainax anime. Evangelion. Other animations in the game contain a variety of content. Gundam like a season G Gundam and gundam Wing, together Mazinger and Getter Robo. It's difficult to play in Japanese, but it's still a good RPG.

6 Complete the Lunar: Silver Star story

A classic turn-based epic

Moon: Silver Star is the first entry in the series to debut on the Sega CD in 1992, followed by a North American release in 1993. Complete the Lunar: Silver Star story was an improved add-on for the Sega Saturn in 1996 that added more content and changed gameplay. This version was not playable in North America until the PS1 port in 1999.

It was ahead of its time in turn-based games because it added tactical elements, such as getting up close and directly attacking enemies before combat began. Players could see monsters in the dungeon, and there was also an auto-battle feature. There have been many ports over the years, but the Sega Saturn version is the best of them all.

5 princess crown

Vanillaware's Forgotten Prototype

• released: December 11, 1997 (Japan)
• developer: Atlas
• publisher: Atlas

princess crown Although developed by Atlus, I am a big fan of Vanillaware games such as: Odin Sphere You will find very similar things. Director George Kamitani left Atlus to help found Vanillaware. princess crown There were several Odin Sphere-like scenarios and the combat was action-focused in 2D plain like many Vanillaware games.

Random battles played out like a fighting game of sorts, as they were usually against a single enemy or, at most, multiple enemies. Unfortunately it was never released in the UK and there are no fan patches for this version, the PSP port or the PS4 port. It's disappointing, especially for Vanillaware fans because they looked and played great RPGs on the Sega Saturn.

4 Magic Knight Layers

Really good animation action like Zelda

• released: December 11, 1998 (North America)
• developer: Sega
• publisher: work design

Magic Knight Layers It is based on the cartoon and animation of the same name. The manga began in Japan in 1993 and was followed by an animation a year later. A year later, in 1995, this Sega Saturn game was released, followed by a long wait for North American players in 1998. The story follows three teenagers, Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu, who are swept into a fantasy world in Japan.

This is a classic isekai setting and the gameplay is The Legend of Zelda franchise. It's a top-down world filled with treasure, monsters, and dungeons. Players can swap between three girls, each with different weapons and abilities. For example, Fuu used wind magic and carried a bow.

3 dragon force

Pre-war on Saturn

• released: November 1996 (North America)
• developer: J-Force, Sega
• publisher: work design

dragon forceNot to be confused with the power metal band, was released in Japan and North America in 1996, which was virtually unheard of in the 90s. The tactical gameplay was similar to Nintendo's Advance Wars series, where players could choose which army to follow. They placed their armies around the map and conquered territory as they moved.

The design had a board game-like nature, and although combat was mostly automatic, it was epic with tons of sprites on screen. The game was released as a PS2 port in Japan in 2005, but has never been released in the West. There was also a sequel for the Sega Saturn in 1998, but this too has not yet left Japan.

2 Shining Force 3

Even before the golden sun, there was a shining power

• released: July 31, 1998 (North America)
• developer: Sonic! Software planning, Camelot software planning
• publisher: Sega

that shining The series is one of the most prolific on Sega consoles. Shining Force 3 It continued the tradition of tactical grid-based gameplay that fans have come to know and love since the Sega Genesis. It was co-developed with Camelot, which currently works almost exclusively with Nintendo. mario It's a sports title, but before that golden sun.

Players can make many comparisons to S.Hinning Force 3 and golden sun Beyond Character Design In Japan, the game was released in three episodes between 1997 and 1998. golden sunData may carry over between games. Unfortunately, North America only got its first episode in 1998, but thankfully for fans there are fan patches for the other two scenarios. It's difficult, but it's all worth it as a good tactical RPG.

1 Tactical Ogre: Let's Hold It Together

Prologue of Final Fantasy Tactics

Tactical Ogre: Let's Hold It Together It started out as a tactical RPG on the SNES. It later debuted on the Sega Saturn in Japan in 1996, and was first seen in North America in the PS1 version in 1998. The majority of the Quest Corporation team Final Fantasy Tactics For Squaresoft after this. It's funny when you think about it Tactical Ogre: Let's Hold It Together It was released after Final Fantasy Tactics It came out first officially, but in North America it was pushed out by a few months.

Maybe some players thought this way. Tactical Ogre: Let's Hold It Together It was an imitation, not a prototype. Final Fantasy Tactics Great game. There's a political story, grid-based gameplay with a class system, and plenty of other familiar features. The best way to experience this moment is through remastering. Tactical Ogre RebirthOn consoles like the Switch. But make no mistake. This is an absolute powerhouse of an RPG on any console, from SNES to Sega Saturn and beyond.