RGB on a Japanese Saturn

P.P.A. · Post by **P.P.A.** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:46 am

So my white (<3) Japanese SEGA Saturn arrived yesterday and I love it. However I have encountered two problems: The first one is something totally unexpected and unforeseeable- All the menus are in Japanese!! But no, the reason I made this thread was that I am using the RGB cable of my PAL Saturn to hook the console up to my TV, but it doesn't output RGB, only normal composite. Do I need a special Japanese RGB cable?

EDIT: Oh, and can I use my European power cable or would that toast the Saturn? I'm using a step-down converter right now and have no troubles with it, I just wanna know.

Isuka · Post by **Isuka** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:18 am

I can't remember if it was in the Japanese Saturn BIOS, but there was an option to change the system's language somewhere.
I believe the output format has to do with the console's colour standard being incompatible with either the RGB cable or your TV set. It'd be in your best interest to get a Japanese RGB or S-Video cable.

As for the power adapter, it should work fine as long as your adapter outputs the exact same voltage as the Japanese model requires, check out your console's model so to be sure before you try anything.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:08 pm

See, now if you had a first run gray Saturn, then I would be impressed. If you had a Hi-Saturn, I would marry you.

What games do you have for it?

P.P.A. · Post by **P.P.A.** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:17 am

Currently I have: Sonic R, Gungriffon: The Eurasian Conflict (Satakore), Puyo Puyo SUN

, SEGA Rally Championship, Daytona USA Circuit Edition, Clockwork Knight 2 and Fighters Megamix.

Also thanks Isuka! I somehow totally forgot about the language option, haha. Now I can actually read the menus. :O
Okay, I shall look for a Japanese RGB cable then. Though I read somewhere it would have some problems with noise?
Oh, and my PAL Saturn was one with the oval buttons while the Jap. one has rounds ones. But seeing how the power cords don't have a transformator at the front, I guess I'll stick to the step-down converter for now just to be sure...

Shadow Hog · Post by **Shadow Hog** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:47 am

Clockwork Knight 2. <3

If you have a bazillion bux, you HAVE to check out Radiant Silvergun. It's probably Treasure's finest work. Honest to God.

That and Panzer Dragoon Saga. Those are probably the only two "hey let's jack up prices on eBay due to demand!" games that catch my interest (well, maybe Shining Force 3, and I technically already own Guardian Heroes, so...)

Isuka · Post by **Isuka** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:30 am

Shit, I'm late for "In B4 Hog recommending RS and PDS".

You should also try Battle Garegga, it's like Blazing Angels only not gay and totally badass.

Dasher · Post by **Dasher** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:39 am

In PSU the Sega consoles are all room decorations you can buy for your character's room, and the Saturn is the most expensive one! (in Offline NPC shops) its description says "A mysterious artifact from an old RELICS site. Said to have provided endless entertainment."

They haven't appeared in online shops yet, however you can buy em in offline mode.

Post by **G.Silver** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:49 am

If you enjoy it (it hasn't aged well), GunGriffon has a sequel on Saturn that I think is really excellent (though I doubt it's aged well either). The PS2 title isnt bad either but by that point I think I was losing patience for that game style and it failed to resonate with me in the same way, and the control system is totally different, more like a traditional FPS. They are really, really hard!

Shadow Hog · Post by **Shadow Hog** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:50 am

Hey, what can I say? I'm obsessed. Kind of like how Dasher's obsessed with how 4Kids "ruined" Sonic, but hopefully less persistent.

I suppose I could recommend games that AREN'T those two, then... Both Clockwork Knights (but the second > first by far), BUG! (I guess, it got a bit tiring after a few levels - the levels are too long and the checkpoints too sparse), NiGHTS (duh), Burning Rangers (actually pretty enjoyable), Guardian Heroes, Mega Man 8 (best version out there), Mega Man X4 (similarly good), Shining the Holy Ark (if you don't mind dungeon-crawling), Street Fighter Collection (Super SF2 Turbo and Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold on a console known for being awesome with fighters - what more could you ask for?), the first two Panzer Dragoon games (like Star Fox 64, except there are no free-roaming segments, and enemies are ALWAYS coming at you from all angles... oh, and dragons; you like dragons, right?), Magic Knight Rayearth (a good licensed title, very similar to Zelda), WipEout (well, I might be a bit biased since this was one of the few games I owned for my Saturn that was actually worth playing it until I hit up eBay many years later, but it's a competent racer, so), Rayman (if you haven't played it already, you have to. Plain and simple. Just be sure to abuse the "infinite continues" code because the game's impossible otherwise)... The list goes on and on. And that's just from MY collection.

I've also heard X-Men vs. Street Fighter and Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter are tight. Miles better than their PS1 brethren, certainly (which only allowed tag team battles if both teams were EXACTLY THE SAME - here, it works just as in the arcade). You might need the RAM expansion cartridge, though.

Oh, and although the game's awful, Pebble Beach Golf Links has some VERY relaxing music.

Isuka · Post by **Isuka** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:03 pm

You just reminded me, I never, ever, EVAR was able to beat Space Mama in the PC version of Rayman. That was really irritating.
I also played X-Men vs. Street Fighter on PSX recently. I can't believe Capcom actually released such a piece of laughable crap, a Genesis port of Metal Slug would have been more faithful and played better than that.

And I'll give that the Saturn is the single most sexy-looking console that doesn't sport boobs on its design. I mean, it's 14 years old already and it still looks like it comes from the near future, or something.

P.P.A. · Post by **P.P.A.** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:51 pm

@Shadow Hog: I'm a bit low on money right now so I doubt I can afford those at the moment. :p
I didn't know that Thunder Force 5, Dungeons & Dragons Collection, Game Tengoku and Marvel SH vs. Street Fighter were so rare/expensive too.

Once I get some money again though (reminds me that I still wanted to sell ym PAL Sonic CD and my seco- third Saturn along with some games (Bug!, Tomb Raider, Shell Shock, Shockwave Assault, a 2nd Fighting Vipers) I don't want), I already have my eyes on Sonic 3D Flickies' Island, Rayman, Astal, Panzer Dragoon Zwei (I might be getting Orta which iirc has the first one included), Cotton (2 or Boomerang), Detana Twinbee Yahho ! Deluxe Pack, Layer Section, various Capcom fighting games... Is Burning Rangers playable in Japanese, with all the conversations?
Also I'll re-buy some games (NiGHTS, Christmas NiGHTS, Sonic Jam, Fighting Vipers, Virtua Fighter 2) I already have in the PAL version (which in turn I'll then sell on ebay). For the sake of 60hz; and the Japanese jewel cases are much better than the horrible European boxes.

Do Saturn (and any other) lightguns work with LCD TVs?

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:29 pm

I've still got the original limited edition bundle of Grandia, with the bonus soundtrack CD and cloth map and stuff. It's one of my most prized possessions. I wonder if it's worth much?

Isuka · Post by **Isuka** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:09 pm

I'm not sure, the Memorial Package goes for sixty bucks tops.

@P.P.A.: Check out Willy Wombat, it's a pretty neat isometric platforming/ puzzle game with some seriously cool music and it's rather affordable.

Cuckooguy · Post by **Cuckooguy** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:24 pm

Have you defended Feena's panties from would-be pantie snatchers?

Locit · Post by **Locit** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:29 pm

Shining Force 3 is super fun! I've nearly beaten it twice, and one day I hope to play through the whole thing before something comes up and I have to leave it for a while and the little battery that powers the system's memory dies.

Shadow Hog · Post by **Shadow Hog** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:33 pm

P.P.A. wrote:I already have my eyes on Sonic 3D Flickies' Island

It's good. Prolly the best version out there, graphics and music-wise (ESPECIALLY music-wise). Of course the critics still hate it, but screw the critics.

P.P.A. wrote:Rayman

Good man.

P.P.A. wrote:Astal

Decent game. VERY gorgeous, but it's a smidgen shallow.

Fun tidbit: EVERYONE in the U.S. version of this game is acted by the person who later went on to be Rouge the Bat (pre-4Kids). What, that not good enough for you? Okay, fine, here's something more recent: same actor is Lucas in Brawl.

P.P.A. wrote:Panzer Dragoon Zwei (I might be getting Orta which iirc has the first one included)

It does. I'm not sure it has all of the bonus cheat thingies the Saturn version has (including a mode where your dragon is non-existant - I guess it'd be apt to call this "Space Harrier" mode), but it does nevertheless.

P.P.A. wrote:Cotton (2 or Boomerang), Detana Twinbee Yahho ! Deluxe Pack, Layer Section

Never played, actually. I need to mod my Saturn to be import-friendly (I'd just buy the cart, but I already have an official one in there and the cartridge slot is too sensitive to go swapping them out on a regular basis)...

P.P.A. wrote:various Capcom fighting games...

Capcom FTW

P.P.A. wrote:Is Burning Rangers playable in Japanese, with all the conversations?

Probably, but I'd not reccomend it. The stages are usually pretty linear, fine, but more often than not you'll eventually need to ask what's-her-face (Chris?) for help. And unless you speak Japanese, it won't be very helpful in the Japanese version.

P.P.A. wrote:Do Saturn (and any other) lightguns work with LCD TVs?

AFAIK, no. Except the Wiimote, but that's not exactly a lightgun.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:36 pm

It's not the Memorial Package, it's the original print with bonus schlock. I paid over $70 for it, which at the time was the most money I'd ever spent on a game product other than the Sega-CD.

P.P.A. · Post by **P.P.A.** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:30 am

So yesterday evening (or night), I turned on my Saturn (after a few days of not playing with it) to watch Puyo Puyo SUN's opening before going to sleep (it's so fun to watch). However instead of the Act Against AIDS screen followed by Carbuncle spitting the Compile logo in my face I was greeted by this screen (with the game refusing to do anything else): http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/184/ramppsju6.png
I booted Sonic R for a test but also faced a screen with similar writing on it (no pic). Confused and a little scared I tried a couple of things, primarily reinserting my Saturn memory card (which doesn't go in very smoothly by the way). Nothing helped, eventually I just pressed Reset after seeing the cryptic messages about RAM, L, and R yet another time. And suddenly, it worked and PPS played again! It still seemed a bit fishy, but as I was tired I didn't want to further look into it for the time being for the sake of sleeping.
Skip to today. I felt like playing a bit of Daytona USA, but expecting a ROLLLING STAAAART I got yet again another error screen: http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9627 ... accpm9.png Though PPS and Sonic R played fine this time. (I didn't bother to check other games yet.) Is that the punishment of Segata's ghost for not using my Saturn a couple of days?!

tl;dr I keep getting these error messages, what is happening?

Isuka · Post by **Isuka** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:11 pm

Well, after checking out your KISS'd post, it looks like the RAM cartridge is either broken or has its data corrupted. You should boot to the BIOS and try to re-format the cartridge, or get another one... the worst case scenario would probably be that the cartridge slot itself has wore out too much, but it's somewhat unlikely.

First of all, try to boot a game without the RAM cartridge. If everything seems to go fine, remove the game disc and insert the cart, then turn on the Saturn and look where's the formatting option.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:20 pm

I think that happens inevitably. I remember reading that the Saturn's cartridge port is pretty low-quality and wears out quickly. That seems to be what happened to mine.

P.P.A. · Post by **P.P.A.** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:27 pm

That could be it. Last time I looked into it, it looked pretty dirty (or rusty, I dunno). Should I try to clean the metal with a cotton swab and perhaps some alcohol?
Because the memory card itself seems to be fine. I managed to access it in the Saturn's BIOS and could freely move around the saves. Sonic R could also read and write data from during the time it worked.

Post by **G.Silver** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:51 pm

That's what's happened with my cartridge slot as well, it doesn't read for games every time anymore, but the Saturn BIOS has no trouble.

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