Do you ever start something and think to yourself; "I really don't know what I'm doing here..."? Well I think that is the starting point for this brief consideration of platform games on the Saturn. As I started, I realised I didn't really have the exhaustive knowledge necessary to write this article, that I was unaware of all examples of the genre available for our 32 Bit obsession, and that I hadn't even played any of these games sufficiently to actually pass judgement on them.
SO - please look upon this written passage as a way for you to dip your toe in the waters of Saturn platforming, rather than an exhaustive deep dive into the ocean of up and down, left to right and occasional back and forth...
My initial consideration was about the exact type of game I should include... should I include games such as Sonic 3D, NiGHTS or Burning Rangers? Should I include Castlevania or Metal Slug - both of which contain platforming elements - the directional side to side and up & down movement, being integral to both games? Should I include Clockwork Knight - (by far my most played Saturn platformer, but also one which I had highlighted before?) In order to cover myself on all fronts, let's just re-brand this article as "5 Platform Games On The Saturn (Part 1)" implying there will be careful consideration of other games in the future!
Okay, caveat over, we'll dive straight in...
Rayman - Released by a young Ubi Soft in 1995, Rayman is perhaps the most impressive platformer on the Saturn. Impressive for so many reasons, visually, musically, in terms of slick development and level design and in terms of character creation and overall awesomeness. Not an easy game by any means, but one which will keep you coming back, time and time again, simply to spend time in it's graphical magnificence. The story (briefly) is of a harmonious word being overturned by a malevolent force and the quest to undo the damage it causes. Rayman himself is a magical creature, a cartoon-like being, presented with disembodied hands and feet. Rayman can run, jump and punch, plus "float with style" occasionally. The game invites you to traverse a series of visually opulent lands, collecting "tings" and rescuing fellow creatures. The game even has some shooter elements and some great bosses to battle. Painfully hard, the title is not for the faint hearted, but pracstise makes perfect, 'continues' are generous and the game itself will make you want to keep trying. This was a hugely popular game and was given a sequel on The Dreamcast. The music is sublime too! For a great review of the game watch the video above!
Like Rayman it includes some side scrolling shmup elements. And like Rayman, it's excellently designed levels can be challenging on initial playthroughs, until enemy attack patterns and safe routes are learned. Whilst platforming, you will be bothered and pestered, by an assortment of creatures who look deceptively cute, so it's great that you can grab one of the large comedic hammers scattered throughout the levels, with which to thwack them over the head. See if you can spot the only bit of feminist dialogue to be found on the Saturn, during a cut scene involving Rami and some Sumo wrestlers!
I enjoyed my Japanese import copy of Keio Flying Squadron so much, I wanted the PAL version so I could understand the story... but in truth it's not that amazing, so I'm not recommending you follow my lead. What is important is that you stick with it, learning the patterns and level design, no matter how difficult or frustrating that learning curve is!
Astal
In my mind (though not actually related in any actual way...) Astal makes the third in a trilogy of Saturn games, with the two other games just highlighted, in the preceding paragraphs. A trilogy of beautiful and imaginative side scrolling 2D platformers, whose inventive use of graphics and colour, original characters, and psychedelic game worlds is unsurpassed on any system. Astal tells the rather perplexing story, of a Goddess that creates children from jewels, who then get into some bother or other and have to find each other (or some such mystical nonsense...) - If you're interested, you can read the full and unexciting story here.
The resultant game, created by Sega, is a joy to behold, with a sweeping soundtrack and a collection of slightly annoying character noises. The protagonist Astal, is a rather tough little guy, who stomps grumpily through levels, throwing crystal inspired creatures over his shoulder or smashing them into the ground with his fists. A combination of the D-Pad and the B button cause Astal to breathe in a large gulp of air, then exhale so sharply that he literally blows enemies away.
In truth, like so many other titles, I've not had the patience to stick with this one, so I've seen little of later levels, But if anyone is looking for a game which shows off the Saturn as a console, you could do worse than looking at this beautiful 2D masterpiece.
'90s 'Tude Inspired Platformers...
If you have no idea, what "'Tude" is, then enjoy one of my favourite episodes of the excellent GameSack, featured above. The 90s was a time when advertisers, magazines, music moguls, fashion designers were all searching for 'TUDE... Short for "attitude", the very word 'tude denotes the very feeling it is meant to evoke...Carefree, unrestricted by convention, cheeky, bold and daring - all served up with a side order of razor sharp wit and snappy catch-phrases... 'Tude was embodied by Sega's mascot Sonic... but as the Saturn failed to deliver us either an original 2D or 3D platformer, I'm afraid our blue tinged spike rat doesn't make the cut. Instead we'll deliver you a couple of Saturn substitutes, starting with a certain juiced up insect...
Bug and Bug Too!
Bug was an original IP developed by Real Time Associates and published by Sega. Like Pandemonium and Clockwork Knight, Bug represents a "2.5D platformer". By 2.5D we mean the illusion of a 3D environment, produced on a 2D plain. As well as going left to right and up and down, Bug has the ability to venture "into the screen" and "out again", providing depth, as well as back and forth and up and down. Bug is a cartoon like adventure, set in a world entirely populated by creepy crawlies.
The game centres around Bug, a Hollywood actor (the game parodies the movie industry), who has to defeat the evil Queen Cadavra as part of his quest to become a star. Bug has enemies to stomp and juice to collect, as well as powerups and coins. As well as running and jumping, Bug will have to crawl and slide, timing his actions just right in order to avoid (frequent) death... The game is pun laden and cute looking, but is also LONG and unforgiving. Bug Too is more of the same, with a particularly good horror level, apt for the time of year, titled "The Weevil Dead"...
Heavy on humour, that doesn't always hit the spot, Bug and it's sequel are difficult games. A running theme could be that I have not seen the conclusion or even later levels, as death comes quickly and easily for our six legged friend. Definitely worth a go if you've never played them, but more tricky than this particular gamer could handle.
GEX:
Gex was originally a 3DO title, published by Crystal Dynamics, which Saturn owners were lucky enough to have ported to the system in late 1995. The game receives a very healthy write up in wikipedia, where you can find out all of the stuff you're dying to know and I am too lazy to tell you. Read about it here...
Horror themed and stuffed full of 'Tude, Gex is not a million miles away from Bug in it's aesthetic, but very different gameplay due to the titular reptile's tail spin and ability to traverse vertical and even upside down surfaces. Zombie creatures are out to get you as you move through the levels, but you can whack them with your tail to get rid of them. The levels have secret traps and dimensional portals which zap the player to hidden parts of the game-world, necessary for the collection of TV remote controls, which are your tickets to progressing to the next channel. Snappy and humorous, this is another great looking game, but like it's contemporary 2.5D partners, it looks far more dated than it's "pure 2D" platform rivals.
So there you go! Five of the Saturn platformers which I enjoy. What are your favourites? What should I include next time? Do you know of any obscure Japanese platformers that we all might enjoy? Let me know!!!
3 comments:
Question, would you consider NiGHTS and Burning Rangers platformers? Great article, by the way.
Thank you sir! I would certainly consider Burning Rangers an action platformer. NiGHTs I see more as a time attack racing game... obviously, the racing opponents are oneself and the clock. In fact now I think about it, it's hard to put NIGHTs into a genre...
Great article. Saturn platformers are often left by the wayside, but the system has a nice collection of them, as this article highlights.
That said, Bug is so bland and boring it doesn't deserve to be in the list. The Clockwork Knight games would be a better fit since they are 2D platformers like the remaining games.
For me, Rayman is awesome in every way but very challenging; Keio is whacky, creative and colourful; Astal is beautiful to look at and listen to but a bit average, yet still really fun, in terms of gameplay; and Gex is a mostly enjoyable platformer if you can get past the constant one-liners.
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