Sega Saturn

Sega · 1994 – 1998

The Sega Saturn's surprise early launch at $399 and complex dual-CPU architecture hampered its Western performance, but it produced brilliant 2D games and a devoted Japanese fanbase. Home to Panzer Dragoon Saga, Guardian Heroes, and NiGHTS into Dreams, the Saturn's cult status has only grown with time.

Designed primarily as a 2D powerhouse to compete with Neo Geo-quality arcade conversions, the Saturn's architecture — dual Hitachi SH-2 CPUs and multiple graphics processors — proved difficult to program for 3D games when the PlayStation demonstrated superior polygon performance. Sega's decision to launch the Saturn at $399, four months earlier than announced and without warning retailers or third parties, generated immediate ill-will and gave Sony's $299 PlayStation an advantage it never relinquished. In Japan, however, the Saturn maintained a strong position through 1997 on the back of arcade ports — Virtua Fighter 2, Daytona USA — and RPGs. The Saturn's 2D capabilities were genuinely superior to the PlayStation for sprite-based games, and titles like Guardian Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, and Panzer Dragoon Saga are among the most acclaimed games of the decade.