Burning
Rangers was always a game I kind of knew about back in 1998 reading gaming
magazines. The SEGA advertising with a fireman in a kiddy pool always stood out
but I don’t think in the way SEGA intended. I was never sure what the game play
was like due to lack of video at that time. Around this time last year I saw a
local ad for Burning Rangers, I knew it was rare and expensive as one of the
last US Saturn releases but it was in very good shape and cheaper than eBay. I
took a small risk since I had no clue what it was like just that if I didn’t like
it I could sell it or trade it. Built as a show piece as to say “Here is what
Saturn can do in the right hands.” it’s little more than a glorified tech demo
with some anime cut scenes. Luckily I love what’s here, I decided I wanted to
share my new found joy with like minded people and I had recently joined the
Junkyard by ways of the Dreamcast Junkyard in hopes to finally connect with
people who like Saturn and want to talk about it.
It was
wonderful as I shared my new found love for Burning Rangers it turned out other
people also shared their love of Burning Rangers and it turned into quite the
phenomenon. A warm inviting atmosphere where people shared tips, memories and
maybe have even started some small friendly competitions. It was then I knew
yes this was worth joining this group. Talking with the admins and seeing the active
role they play in the community is impressive. The way there is always an
active member ready to share their Saturn experience. As I learned things about
Saturn and played more games I returned the kindness and shared whatever I
could, engage in whatever activities I could. Like in April when Sonic R stole
the show and warmed our hearts with sunshine. I hadn’t a Saturn copy to join in
the group time trials so I used my Game Cube copy in a pinch just to see what
all the fuss was about. I’m glad I did because it opened my eyes to how good a
game Sonic R is.
It’s the
passion and energy that you feel from Titancast, the YouTube team and the
Facebook group that can make you look at a game in a new way that makes you
revisit it with new perspective and that’s what’s so great about the Saturn
Junkyard, people making games exciting even some of the lesser known US games
like Casper or obscure Japanese exclusives like Cotton. The last year in ways
has felt like it’s 1996 and I’m ten years old again talking about games on the
schoolyard. Getting a boxed Saturn, getting Dragoon Saga and experiencing all
the games I saw in magazines and more has been a mixture of surreal and
childlike glee. Every Saturn game I buy is a new adventure, a new experience I
can’t wait to share with friends and hopefully in 2019 we’ll continue to make
more deep lasting memories around Saturn.