The Saturn’s First Year

32 Bits is an ongoing series charting gaming history by playing the games of the past and looking at how gaming evolved at the dawn of the modern, 3D era. This week, I’m considering selected titles from the Sega Saturn’s first year.

Today: We close out 1995 with brief thoughts on several other Saturn games, and the system’s year as a whole; plus I crown the Saturn’s game of the year for 1995.

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Saturn #14:

Dark Legend

Developed and published by Data East

Released: October 1995

Dark Legend is a 2D fighting game based on the Chinese novel Water Margin – also the inspiration for Suikoden. A weapons-based fighter, your weapons degrade every time you block – you can also throw your weapon away, dizzying your opponent. Sadly, this is the only real innovation in an otherwise forgettable game.

Of note: three of the characters are brothers – so the same general sprite is given a new head; Data East was a notable NES developer, who created such games as Bad Dudes and BurgerTime. Another Data East foray into fighting games was Fighter’s History  – a game so similar to Street Fighter II that Capcom sued Data East for copyright infringement.  Capcom lost the case – though Fighter’s History never shook the reputation of being a Street Fighter knockoff, the court found that the game mechanics cited by Capcom are ideas that cannot be copyrighted.
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Saturn #15:
SteamGear Mash

Developed by Tamsoft, published by Takara
Released: September 29 1995 (Japan only)

Steamgear Mash is a Japan-exclusive isometric action game. You play as a robot who must rescue the girl who…owns them? Befriended them? Raised them? Anyway, you can jump, shoot and discover new abilities in a colorful world.

Unfortunately Steamgear Mash falls prey to the perspective issues inherent in isometric graphics. Yet the jaunty score and charming art, plus special shooter stages, make Steamgear Mash appealing.

Of note: SteamGear Mash is from the same developers who made Battle Arena Toshinden.
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Saturn #16:
Tadaima Wakusei Kaitakuchuu!

Developed and published by Altron
Released: November 3 1995 (Japan only)

Tadaima Wakusei Kaitakuchu! is another Japan-exclusive that I played basically at random. I can’t review it, because I never figured out how to play it – there’s a dearth of information available, and other players seemed just as confused as I was.