Articles by Peter Malek

Best Of Saturn

Gunbird #BestOfSaturn

Gunbird is a Psykio arcade conversion released exclusively in Japan very late in 1995. One or two players choose from five characters and blast their way through this vertical scrolling…

Best Of Saturn

DonPachi #BestOfSaturn

Developed by Cave and hitting the Japanese Saturn courtesy of Atlus in early 1996, DonPachi is a bullet-hell shooter and the first game in the DonPachi series. Select one of…

Best Of Saturn

Johnny Bazookatone #BestOfSaturn

Early 1996 saw Johnny Bazookatone land on the Saturn. A tough little 2D platformer with some run-and-gun elements, it sports pre-rendered visuals that scream “made in the 1990s.” Johnny’s out…

Best Of Saturn

Silhouette Mirage #BestOfSaturn

Silhouette Mirage appeared on Japanese Saturns in late 1997 courtesy of fabled software house Treasure. A fast-paced action platformer, the gimmick here is that the heroine possesses traits of both…

Best Of Saturn

Fantastep #BestOfSaturn

April 1997 saw the Japan-only release of Jaleco’s Fantastep, a 3D adventure game featuring 2D sprites. Heavy on the language barrier, the adventure is more of a point-and-click affair and…

Best Of Saturn

ThunderForce V #BestOfSaturn

Technosoft’s awesome ThunderForce series arrives to 32-bit gaming, with the fifth installment featuring all-new 3D visuals coupled with traditional 2D gameplay. Master your forward and rear shots and take advantage…

Best Of Saturn

Iron Storm #BestOfSaturn

Iron Storm is a World War II battle simulation game that supports the Saturn mouse. Players command armies and participate in various clashes from WW2. The play field is a…

Best Of Saturn

Riglordsaga 2 #BestOfSaturn

A direct sequel to Mystaria/Blazing Heroes, Riglordsaga 2 never left Japan, sadly. Set years after the events of the original, you play as Mieu and must help a princess escape…

Best Of Saturn

Psychotron #BestOfSaturn

The Psychotron is a 1995 Japan-only port of a 1994 American PC FMV game. The in-game text and original English voices were translated / dubbed, meaning the language barrier is…

Best Of Saturn

Bulk Slash #BestOfSaturn

Many of the Saturn’s best games remain locked away in Japan… until they receive the fan translation treatment! Bulk Slash is the hybrid arcade action mech dating simulator you never…

Best Of Saturn

Doom #BestOfSaturn

Doom… A revolutionary game comes home on Saturn, however, at the insistence of John Carmack, the game is written primarily in software and the result is a low framerate, missing…

Best Of Saturn

Sky Target #BestOfSaturn

Sky Target is an arcade Model 2 experience with a Saturn port released in the first half of 1997. Converted by Appaloosa (Ecco series), the title is like a slow…

Best Of Saturn

Wing Arms #BestOfSaturn

A seldom-mentioned arcade-style flight game, Wing Arms is set in a fictional timeline shortly following the conclusion of WW2. Fly various planes through six missions that focus on dogfights as…

Best Of Saturn

Alien Trilogy #BestOfSaturn

Alien Trilogy hit the Saturn in mid-1996 to positive reviews. Based on the events of the first three Aliens films, the game is a first-person missions-based shooter. The game features…

Best Of Saturn

Arcana Strikes #BestOfSaturn

Arcana Strikes is a 1997 Japan-only hybrid RPG / card battling game. You are drawn into an ethereal world where people’s dreams give power to cards… but people have stopped…

Best Of Saturn

Primal Rage #BestOfSaturn

2D one-on-one fighting games exploded in popularity in the mid-90s, thanks to the immense success of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Keen to grab a slice of gamers’ dollars, Atari’s…

Best Of Saturn

Discworld #BestOfSaturn

An entry in the long-gone point-and-click genre, Discworld released in Japan and Europe in 1996. Terry Pratchett’s world comes alive in this adventure that sees the player take control of…