Getting a Sega Saturn Saroo next month. Any English translation recommendations

[TrixieMoanz]

I'm really nostalgic for the Sega Saturn. My cousin had one when I was a kid and I have so many memories playing it. So I have decided to get one console, two controllers so my live in girlfriend can play, an AV to HDMI adaptor, and a Saroo cart. I'm wanting to go beyond the NA library so what English Fan translation and english friendly imports would you recommend for someone curious about the Japanese side of the console?

 

[prnzoDraGoonZweiOrta]

Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight if you want to hit SotN again but with some added features

I was big on Sega CD n still am so the translated Saturn Lunar & Lunar 2: Eternal Blue are decent enough JRPGs for their time. maybe you'd want the un-Working Designs version (undub?) but I haven't tried any of those revisions yet. also Magic Knight Rayearth got a re-translate that I gotta get around to checkn out

Policenauts. Hideo Kojima 1P-Adventure or Point n Click or Visual Novel. somethin like that. definitely a must if you enjoyed Snatcher - but if you haven't played Snatcher it's probably not a necessary precursor required to enjoy Policenauts

Falcom Classics - an Ys compilation. legendary to me - great if you want to try formative action-RPG pioneering

the extra Shining Force III scenario offshoot discs. Tactics Ogre n Sakura Taisen/Wars? or for realtime tactics style try Dragon Force II

I have to go through my stuff to remind me of more to rec' you but I'm doin that for next few days anyway. hope these help for now

 

[middler]

I would refer you to This Thread as a good starting point. Lots of good recommendations in there.

 

[Yousef Yousef]

Utena has one that got updated
Sakura Wars too

 

[Eclipse14]

Linkle Liver Story is a pretty good Action-RPG that got a translation a few years ago. Likewise for Princess Crown, but that one was within the past couple months and I think is still being worked on.

Beyond fan translations, the Japanese side of the system is a shoot-em-up haven. Hyper Duel is one of my favorites but very expensive. On the cheaper end of things, Gradius, Salamander, and Thunder Force all had compilations on the system (Thunder Force had two of them).

 

[TrixieMoanz]

Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight if you want to hit SotN again but with some added features

I was big on Sega CD n still am so the translated Saturn Lunar & Lunar 2: Eternal Blue are decent enough JRPGs for their time. maybe you'd want the un-Working Designs version (undub?) but I haven't tried any of those revisions yet. also Magic Knight Rayearth got a re-translate that I gotta get around to checkn out

Policenauts. Hideo Kojima 1P-Adventure or Point n Click or Visual Novel. somethin like that. definitely a must if you enjoyed Snatcher - but if you haven't played Snatcher it's probably not a necessary precursor required to enjoy Policenauts

Falcom Classics - an Ys compilation. legendary to me - great if you want to try formative action-RPG pioneering

the extra Shining Force III scenario offshoot discs. Tactics Ogre n Sakura Taisen/Wars? or for realtime tactics style try Dragon Force II

I have to go through my stuff to remind me of more to rec' you but I'm doin that for next few days anyway. hope these help for now

Ah snap, I completely forgot about Policenauts. I know it's a popular cult classic being an early Kojima game. Ill have to give it a shot. I can enjoy a well written VN

 

[Viviana Santos]

Grandia (1997) has a fan translation that uses the original PS1 translation without the censorship from the original translation, it's a great game that I highly recommend.

 

[RustySK]

I see Shining Force 3 has already been mentioned! All is as it should be.

I'll add Bulk Slash:

https://retrogametalk.com/repo/sega_saturn_isos/bulk-slash-japan/

(It's still so crazy to me that they actually hacked in Twin Stick support)

And Stellar Assault SS:

https://retrogametalk.com/repo/sega_saturn_isos/stellar-assault-ss-japan/

Two of the most impressive fan translations or rather fan localizations ever made. I say this without hyperbole.

 

[fake-chan]

Dodonpachi is good.

 

[prnzoDraGoonZweiOrta]

Grandia (1997) has a fan translation that uses the original PS1 translation without the censorship from the original translation, it's a great game that I highly recommend.

I considered sayin Grandia but I forgot the translation script difference

Post automatically merged: Jan 14, 2025

Dodonpachi is good.

do you know where I can get a translated Donpachi or Dodonpachi? they seemed to have slipped past my spidey-(non)sense

Post automatically merged: Jan 14, 2025

Edit: wait, is that frowned upon to ask where a specific rom/iso might be hosted?

 

[Viviana Santos]

I considered sayin Grandia but I forgot the translation script difference

The two translations are basically the same, just no longer censored, One example of censorship in the game is that in the American translation they censored alcohol and replaced it with coffee.

 

[RustySK]

do you know where I can get a translated Donpachi or Dodonpachi? they seemed to have slipped past my spidey-(non)sense

Are there even translated Roms for those games out there? I only know the originals are on the repo.

 

[fake-chan]

Are there even translated Roms for those games out there? I only know the originals are on the repo.

They're aren't translated, but you don't need to read Japanese to play them.