The SEGA Saturn (HST-0004), launched by SEGA in Japan on November 22, 1994, was a powerful 32-bit console intended to succeed the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive. It aimed to compete with the Sony PlayStation and later, the Nintendo 64, ushering in a new era of 3D gaming. The Saturn's architecture was complex, utilizing dual CPUs and multiple processors, a design choice intended to provide developers with flexibility but which ultimately proved difficult to master, contributing to its struggles in the marketplace.
Despite its technical challenges, the Saturn boasted impressive 2D capabilities and was home to a wealth of classic arcade ports and unique titles. Games like Virtua Fighter 2, SEGA Rally Championship, and Guardian Heroes showcased the system's graphical prowess. However, a combination of factors, including a surprise early launch in North America, a higher price point than the PlayStation, and inconsistent marketing, led to the Saturn's commercial underperformance. While it garnered a dedicated fanbase and is remembered fondly for its unique library, the SEGA Saturn marked a turning point for SEGA, ultimately paving the way for the Dreamcast and the company's eventual exit from the console hardware market.
1994
SEGA
SEGA SATURN (HST-0004)
📜 History & Legacy
⚙️ Specifications
- ❖ CPU: Two Hitachi SH-2 32-bit RISC processors @ 28.6 MHz
- ❖ GPU: SEGA Custom VDP 1 32-bit Video Display Processor and SEGA Custom VDP 2
- ❖ Sound: Yamaha FH1 sound processor (SCSP) @ 22.6 MHz
- ❖ RAM: 2 MB of RAM, 1.5 MB of VRAM, 512 KB of sound RAM
- ❖ Storage: None built-in; save data stored on cartridges or Memory Cartridges (sold separately)
- ❖ Media: CD-ROM
🎮 Top 10 Games
- ★ Virtua Fighter 2
- ★ SEGA Rally Championship
- ★ Guardian Heroes
- ★ Panzer Dragoon Saga
- ★ Nights into Dreams...
- ★ Street Fighter Alpha 3
- ★ Burning Rangers
- ★ Grandia
- ★ Astal
- ★ Shining Force III
🎥 Video Review
💡 Curiosities
- ? Did you know...? The SEGA Saturn was originally intended to be a 2D powerhouse.
- ? The surprise early launch in North America, known as 'Saturn Saturday', angered retailers who weren't prepared and alienated consumers.
- ? The Saturn had a hidden game, 'Athlete Kings', accessible by inserting the game disc upside down.
- ? Many of the Saturn's best games were never released outside of Japan.
- ? The Saturn's controller was a six-button design, influenced by the arcade fighting game scene.
- ? SEGA of America's president, Tom Kalinske, left the company shortly after the Saturn's launch.
- ? The Saturn's dual-CPU architecture made it difficult for developers to optimize their games.
- ? The NetLink adapter allowed Saturn owners to play online multiplayer games.
- ? The SEGA Saturn was the last console developed entirely in-house by SEGA before the Dreamcast.
- ? There are several different SEGA Saturn models, with the later models having slight hardware revisions.