The Sega Saturn was not well known for its platforming games. This is a shame because on the Sega Genesis developers like Treasure, Capcom and even Sega themselves invested heavily on the genre. The main issue here is that 3D platformers had taken off in a big way. The Sega Saturn was the least powerful console that generation and struggled to render these large worlds and complex physics. Some developers tried their hand at it and the Saturn managed to amass a decent library of platformers. Unfortunately most people haven’t played them. That’s why today we’re going to be highlighting the Top 20 Best Sega Saturn Platformers of All Time. Let’s get started!
#20. – Clockwork Knight
This ‘big’ launch game Sega unleashed with the console was kind of a head scratcher to be honest. For one thing it used digitized characters in an age of polygons. It also starred a wind-up toy knight and had a strange Christmas theme to it. This is Clockwork Knight. I didn’t play it til years later and while it was hardly impressive the game did have some charm to it. Clockwork Knight is a 2.5D platformer wherein your main enemies consist of toys. Additionally the setting for these stages is a kid’s room and it’s decorated with lots of innocent looking hazards. While Clockwork Knight is mildly enjoyable it’s a bit clunky. Jumps are hard to time just right, and the sense of momentum feels off. Regardless it’s a fun romp while it lasts.
#19. – Croc: Legend of The Gobbos
Interesting fact about Croc. This was originally pitched to Nintendo as a Yoshi game. Obviously they turned it down and the developer changed out the character and released the game for the other consoles. Croc: Legend of the Gobbos was, for the longest time, the big Sega Saturn 3D platformer. It’s kind of sad if you think about it. There’s nothing outwardly wrong with Croc. It just isn’t spectacular in any way. In this game you navigate the title character through a series of 3D environments while battling against enemies and solving some super light puzzles. The stages aren’t particularly large nor are they wide open. What they are however is 3D, and for the hardware and the time the engine is fairly impressive. Croc is clearly aimed at the younger gamers but there’s some entertainment to be gleaned from this one.
#18. – Astal
At this time Sega was still investing in trying to start new franchises instead of focusing on the old ones. We didn’t get a new Sonic game near launch. Instead we got things like Astal. That’s not to throw shade or anything. Astal is a very impressive looking and beautiful 2D side scrolling platform game. Astal is bright, colorful, and the sprite work is absolutely insane. It also helps that the animations are highly detailed. It’s a beautiful game but how does it play? Well this is where things get into the questionable range. As Astal you can pick up and throw objects/enemies. That’s the character’s gimmick. Unfortunately the level designs are quite short and there’s too much empty space at times. It’s a decent game but probably one you won’t be bothered to replay. Astal is almost worth it just for the graphics alone.
#17. – Clockwork Knight 2
Hopefully you haven’t had your fill yet of the toy knight Pepperouchau because he had a second outing on the Sega Saturn. This is actually the final game to be released in the short lived series. Clockwork Knight 2 is more of the same. Literally. This could have been released as an expansion to the first one. Gameplay is nearly identical with you guiding the wind up toy knight through various toy themed stages while striking your enemies with his key sword. The platforming and physics are still a little off, but the stages offer enough variety to keep things interesting. There are now forced scrolling segments where Pepperouchau rides his trusty steed and instead of striking foes with his sword you shoot the horse’s head forward. These offer at least a little variety to gameplay. I’m not the biggest fan of Clockwork Knight but this one is more enjoyable.
#16. – Pandemonium!
Man, talk about an off-putting cover. It really makes me wish the developers had not changed the game so much during the localization. Pandemonium is a 2.5D side scrolling platformer with lots of 3D elements. You begin by selecting from one of two characters; a jester and a girl. Both have a special move and these are pretty significant for the gameplay. The jester can perform a spinning attack while the female character can do a double jump. The gameplay is fairly entertaining and the game has some decent level designs under its belt. Unfortunately the graphics are distracting. On a technical level this is a fairly impressive Sega Saturn game. It’s the art style that’s the problem. If you’re looking for a decent platformer and can handle an assault on the senses Pandomium is a decent choice.
#15. – Sonic 3D Blast
This was a big time monkey paw release. Gamers were hungry for 3D Sonic, but not like this. Sega apparently was scrambling to release a Sonic title for the platform and rather than finish up what they were working on decided on an enhanced port of the Genesis release. The end result is an isometric platformer utilizing digitized graphics. It’s hardly the grand Sonic adventure everyone wanted. Regardless the game is decent. Sonic 3D Blast has you exploring various environments as the blue blur with the main goal being to rescue flickies. These are Sonic’s animal friends, and they can be released by defeating enemies. One of my main beefs with this game is how difficult precision jumping is. The isometric viewpoint does the gameplay no favors. The mascot’s trademark sense of speed is also all but gone here. This one has been largely forgotten, but it’s worth playing.
#14. – Mega Man X3
I’ll start off by saying that this is one of my least favorite Mega Man X games. That’s how good the series is as a whole. Mega Man X3 is an enhanced port of the Super Nintendo game, but largely not much has been changed. We do get a new redbook audio soundtrack and honestly that’s enough for me. The music is amazing. While Mega Man X3 was one of the best looking SNES games the graphics in the Saturn release are dated. If it was upgraded in any way then I missed it. The worst part about this game is the fact that it was never released in North America. You have to import this one from either PAL regions or Japan. The gameplay however is still fun. Mega Man X3 features inventive level designs, cool enemies, and great weapons acquired by defeating each boss.
#13. – Keio Flying Squadron 2
The first Keio Flying Squadron was released as a Sega CD exclusive. It goes without saying that no one played it. For this sequel the developers largely abandoned the shmup gameplay and instead went with a 2D sprite based platformer. The results are pretty decent actually. Fans of the first game will be happy to know that there are even a few shooter based stages. Gameplay in general has you hopping and bopping your way through various colorful set pieces. The main character, Rami, can even pick up objects and throw them. There’s also a simplistic weapon based system but she loses these when damaged. Keio Flying Squadron 2 borders on overly cutesy, and I’m not a fan of the character design. Regardless it’s a pretty good time. Unfortunately it’s another game that wasn’t released in North America, but importing is pretty easy.
#12. – Ninpen Manmaru
Most gamers thought that the Sega Saturn simply lacked the sophisticated hardware to render large worlds in 3D. Ninpen Manmaru would have proven them wrong had it not been a Japan exclusive. This platformer is based on an anime license, and features a ninja penguin as he works his way through various obstacle course-like stages to reach the end-goal. The strange thing about this game is that the character has no way to fight back against enemies. He is a ninja, isn’t he? You must simply avoid enemies instead of engaging. The refreshing part of this game is that it’s not a collect-a-thon. Your goal is simply to make it to the end of each stage. The graphics are super impressive for the platform. Ninpen Manmaru looks better than the majority of platformers on the PS1. It could have been a contender had it been released in North America.
#11. – Gex
This green gecko was once poised to be the mascot for the 3DO console. Obviously that stint didn’t work out and his first adventure was quickly ported to the Sega Saturn and PS1. The game is a 2D side scrolling platformer that makes heavy use of digitized graphics. It takes clear advantage of the CD format by including tons of voice acting. Gex was given proper 90s ‘tude by constantly spouting off one liners. These are mildly funny, but haven’t aged particularly well. The character was voiced by comedian Dana Gould which was a fairly big name for a video game back then. One thing I really like about this game is its theming. It’s based on television. Each world is based on a different genre of media. I especially like the horror based levels in the beginning. Gex is actually pretty fun to play even now.
#10. – Mega Man 8
Capcom was determined to keep the original Mega Man alive even after the X series took over. Mega Man 8 retains the classic gameplay with challenging platforming, tough bosses, and an assortment of useful weapons. The developers did have some mishaps with this one however. For starters they decided to make it even more family friendly. I actually love the more colorful graphics, but character designs took a serious hit. Mega Man himself looks and sounds overly cutesy here. Many of the robot masters feel recycled like Aqua Man and Frost Man. Others are just plain weird. Clown Man I’m looking at you. As long as you can get past the saccarine aesthetic here Mega Man 8 brings a lot of fun new level designs to the table. While the console is renowned for it’s prowess as a 2D powerhouse there are no big upgrades here from the PS1 release.
#9. – Christmas NiGHTs
I’m stretching this list a bit by including Christmas NiGHTs on it. For one thing this is a glorified demo disc. It contains only the first level of NiGHTs into Dreams on it, and was released as a free promotional bonus. Secondly NiGHTs Into Dreams is pretty light in platforming elements, but they are there, so here we are. Christmas NiGHTs is really neat in that it reads from the Sega Saturn’s internal clock. When you play it normally it’s just a demo. As Christmas approaches however the world of Nightopia gets covered in snow and adorned with holiday lights. This is really cool in my opinion. Furthermore the game is all about getting presents. You are awarded these with each run through the stage. These include various promotional materials for the game, but one in particular, the ability to play as Sonic the Hedgehog, is simply amazing.
#8. – Mr. Bones
Who’s ready for something spooky? Okay so Mr. Bones isn’t actually scary, but I love the campy horror theme in place here. This package is full of mini-games, but most of these involve everyone’s favorite activity. That’s right, platforming. During these sequences you lose bones from your body as you take damage. Pretty soon Mr. Bones is reduced to just a spinal cord and head. It’s a fun gimmick that I really liked. The level designs are a lot of fun and there’s plenty of variety on offer here. The full motion videos blend real life footage with CGI. They look campy and goofy, but I’ll be darned if it’s not ultimately charming. Mr. Bones is a great game to play around Halloween, but I’ll be darned if it doesn’t have a lot to offer year round.
#7. – Super Tempo
Anyone remember Tempo? Oh you don’t? That’s probably because the original game was released on the Sega 32X. Unfortunately Super Tempo never stood much of a chance either. Not only was this a sprite based 2D platformer in the age of 3D but it was also only released in Japan. This one is much like the original only bigger and prettier. Here you play as Tempo. He’s a musical bug type… thing. You play through various stages blowing bubbles at enemies as your main means of attack. The level designs are more on the simple side, but the graphics are absolutely gorgeous. Seriously, Super Tempo might just be one of the best looking games on the platform. Something like this probably wouldn’t have found an audience overseas. That doesn’t stop me from wishing it was localized.
#6. – Rayman
Here’s a little known fact. Rayman started out as an Atari Jaguar exclusive. Only after it flopped on that platform did developer Ubisoft release it on the PS1 and Saturn. This 2D platformer had beautiful graphics, a unique main character, and challenging level designs. What’s more is that it was plain and simple fun. What I like about Rayman is how simple it starts off, and that the complexity ramps up the farther you get. In the beginning Rayman can only walk, jump and climb. As you progress he gains the ability to throw punches at enemies, glide in the air using his spinning ears, and more. Despite the family friendly presentation Rayman is a very difficult game. Controls are responsive which is surprising given the amount of animation in every movement you make. The momentum (or lackthereof) causes some issues but the game is perfectly playable even today.
#5. – Silhouette Mirage
Treasure has always been a big name on Sega consoles. That tradition continued with the Sega Saturn. One thing about their games is that they were always highly experimental and very interesting. Silhouette Mirage is no different. This is a 2D combination action game and platformer. You play as a character that has a separate color on each side. These are designated as silhouette and mirage. Enemies are weak to one of these sides and invulnerable to the other. This may sound insignificant but it shakes up gameplay in some pretty significant ways. Basically you have to be facing the correct direction to damage foes. This means sometimes you’ll need to get behind them. True to its lineage the game is pretty difficult, but very well designed. It’s unfortunate that this Sega Saturn version was never localized.
#4. – Tryrush Deppy
By now we have seen tons of different mascots come and go. Various animals with attitude, inanimate objects, and even a glove. So why not a car then? We got this with Tryrush Deppy. Our protagonist isn’t just a car though. He’s an anthropomorphic car. This means he’s got eyes and his wheels kind of function like limbs. It’s cute. Gameplay is surprisingly solid for what initially looks like a shovelware release. The main character can move super fast (he’s a car after all) and must navigate a series of obstacles in each stage. The level designs are inventive and fun to play through. Tryrush Deppy has an unusual art style, but the developers really stuck the landing when it came to theming. Unfortunately this is yet another Japan exclusive. Thankfully you don’t need to speak the language to enjoy this one.
#3. – Mega Man X4
By the time the Sega Saturn launched Mega Man X had all but taken over the franchise. This was the first installment to be released on a non-Nintendo platform, and it’s also one of the best ones. Mega Man X4 was interesting because while it has all of the classic trappings of the X series for the first time you could play through the entire adventure as Zero. He used his Z-saber by default so combat was quite different. Both he and Mega Man are equally fun to play as. I especially like the line-up of mavericks (think rogue robots) that you fight. The weapons gained from them are some of the best in the series as well. Mega Man X4 benefits greatly from the increase in power the Sega Saturn brought with it. The redbook audio sounds amazing, and the characters animate far better than ever before.
#2. – Burning Rangers
I’m sure to get some hate for this one. Burning Rangers might primarily be an action game, but it has more than enough platforming elements to be considered a platformer too. The game stars a group of futuristic firefighters called the Burning Rangers. Their missions involve navigating 3D environments putting out fires (with energy guns, oddly enough) and rescuing survivors. In between starting and reaching the exit you’re going toto be doing a whole lot of navigating platforms and narrow walkways. The Sega Saturn wasn’t well known for it’s 3D processing power, but Burning Rangers looks and plays remarkably well. It looks better than a lot of PS1 games. Even ones released after this. If you’re willing to stretch the definition of a platformer a bit then Burning Rangers makes a great choice for those looking to hop and bop.
#1. – NiGHTs Into Dreams
Again we’re using the term platformer liberally here. NiGHTs Into Dreams isn’t a traditional platformer. It’s more of a time attack arcade flying game. Thing is there are more than a few platforming mechanics in play. At the beginning of each stage (before taking control of NiGHTs) the characters can freely navigate 3D space. This mechanic is in place just to require you to return to where you can take control of NiGHTs again, but it can be pretty challenging. Especially with that giant clock enemy chasing you. Regardless NiGHTs Into Dreams is a once in a lifetime magical experience. The game just oozes personality and classic Sega magic. Its arcade style of gameplay is also highly addictive, and the level designs are amazing. Forget Sonic, it’s NiGHTs that I think of when classic Sega crosses my mind. This is easily one of the best Saturn games of all time.
