At Your Service: An Alternate Console War
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A bit late but what a stellar lineup of launch titles the Saturn of TTL has. IMO, this is what Sega should have done IOTL, putting all of their focus on the Saturn instead of the unnecessary 32X/Neptune/Mars project.
One question, does the Saturn get a port of Star Wars Arcade (which was ported to the 32X IOTL?)
Thanks! Delaying the Saturn let SEGA planet all out - the launch titles, all that (eh, eh?) They were like ‘Why waste the games that costed time and money to make and already are done?’ Plus it’d help supplement what was going to be a small lineup.
Yes siree it was! Was a Nov 95 title.
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December 1996
December 1996
The N32 had a decently strong holiday line-up this month in both America and Japan.
In America, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, Tobal No. 1, Resident Evil, and NBA Hangtime were released.
Although Shadows of the Empire was still released in December, it was delayed a couple of weeks to fix faulty camera angles and unweildy controls.
In Japan, Mario Kart R and Mega Man 8 were released.
Mario Kart R is the second Mario Kart title and the franchise’s first 3D installment.
It features a roster of 10 playable characters including Kamek and Daisy. It has 6 cups, and 24 courses in total. The Cape Feather, an item from the original game, makes a return, and can be used as a hang glider that traverses faster than the normal carts. When playing multiplayer, it uses a split-screen.
2 of the cups include:
The Leaf Cup is the second hardest cup, the courses are Going Green Factory, a 3D adaptation of Donut Plains, a 3D adaptation of Vanilla Lake, and Tanooki Forest (a forest level with Tanooki).
The One-Up Cup is the hardest out of all of the cups. The courses include of an altered Rainbow Road, Dino Dino Jungle, Jumpman Sewers (a sewer like course with red scaffold piping, and references to Donkey Kong), and a 3D adaptation of Ghost Valley.
After a long time waiting, SEGA finally released the first main 3D Sonic title - Sonic Saturn. Sonic Saturn started its life as “Sonic X-Treme”, but following the cancelling of the 32X - Sonic X-Treme made its way to the Saturn where it under went some changes.
It follows the current fight betweeen Sonic and Dr. Robotnik being taken to space. Sonic is separated from his friends and eventually crashes down onto the jungle planet of Jadegully. After meeting a small band of Wispies (the planet’s inhabitants who’ve been captured by Robotnik) - Sonic agrees to stop Robotnik and continues with his plan to destroy the rebuilt Death Egg (dubbed by the fans as the “Death Egg II”). What makes this Death Egg different from the original version, is this one has enough gravity to rip planets out of their orbits; causing armageddon. In order to save the planet, Sonic must first free the rest of the Wispies from captivity. As only they can get Sonic off of the planet.
While doing so, he meets a refugee from a Death Egg II victim planet, Tiara Bobowski. The player can switch between Sonic and Tiara during levels.
After the two rescue all the Wispies, they are sent on a ship to the Death Egg II to defeat the doctor in one action-packed showdown. Once Robotnik is defeated, he initiates the Death Egg II’s self-destruct sequence and escapes through an escape pod. Leaving one left behind. Tiara pushes Sonic into it, and sends him back to the planet below. An emotional scene in which Tiara goes down with the Death Egg II as it explodes (But, some have theorized that she survived) soon follows. The game ends after Tails and the gang reunite after beaming up an unconscious Sonic in his drifting escape pod
There are 25 levels in total, 20 taking place on Jadegully, and the last 5 on the Death Egg II.
Sonic Saturn introduces gameplay elements that would become the staple for 3D Sonic - as Sonic slowly increases in speed, when he reaches maximum speed he can preform one of three attacks (each progresses in damage): a homing attack, a kick attack, and his classic spin dash. Sonic can also dodge left/right as well as being able to preform limited parkour such as running up walls.
Tiara has a special blaster that can shoot laser beams while she runs - it does damage in between Sonic’s kick attack and Spin Dash. She is less aerobic than Sonic but is smaller and can fit in tighter spaces.
The game receives rave reviews and sells a little less than SM32 did.
The game is controversial among fans for having started an intense shopping war - Samy (SonicxAmy) v. Tiaranic (SonicxTiara).
Sony revealed that a show based off their hit summer game, Crash Bandicoot, was in production.
The N32 had a decently strong holiday line-up this month in both America and Japan.
In America, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, Tobal No. 1, Resident Evil, and NBA Hangtime were released.
Although Shadows of the Empire was still released in December, it was delayed a couple of weeks to fix faulty camera angles and unweildy controls.
In Japan, Mario Kart R and Mega Man 8 were released.
Mario Kart R is the second Mario Kart title and the franchise’s first 3D installment.
It features a roster of 10 playable characters including Kamek and Daisy. It has 6 cups, and 24 courses in total. The Cape Feather, an item from the original game, makes a return, and can be used as a hang glider that traverses faster than the normal carts. When playing multiplayer, it uses a split-screen.
2 of the cups include:
The Leaf Cup is the second hardest cup, the courses are Going Green Factory, a 3D adaptation of Donut Plains, a 3D adaptation of Vanilla Lake, and Tanooki Forest (a forest level with Tanooki).
The One-Up Cup is the hardest out of all of the cups. The courses include of an altered Rainbow Road, Dino Dino Jungle, Jumpman Sewers (a sewer like course with red scaffold piping, and references to Donkey Kong), and a 3D adaptation of Ghost Valley.
After a long time waiting, SEGA finally released the first main 3D Sonic title - Sonic Saturn. Sonic Saturn started its life as “Sonic X-Treme”, but following the cancelling of the 32X - Sonic X-Treme made its way to the Saturn where it under went some changes.
It follows the current fight betweeen Sonic and Dr. Robotnik being taken to space. Sonic is separated from his friends and eventually crashes down onto the jungle planet of Jadegully. After meeting a small band of Wispies (the planet’s inhabitants who’ve been captured by Robotnik) - Sonic agrees to stop Robotnik and continues with his plan to destroy the rebuilt Death Egg (dubbed by the fans as the “Death Egg II”). What makes this Death Egg different from the original version, is this one has enough gravity to rip planets out of their orbits; causing armageddon. In order to save the planet, Sonic must first free the rest of the Wispies from captivity. As only they can get Sonic off of the planet.
While doing so, he meets a refugee from a Death Egg II victim planet, Tiara Bobowski. The player can switch between Sonic and Tiara during levels.
After the two rescue all the Wispies, they are sent on a ship to the Death Egg II to defeat the doctor in one action-packed showdown. Once Robotnik is defeated, he initiates the Death Egg II’s self-destruct sequence and escapes through an escape pod. Leaving one left behind. Tiara pushes Sonic into it, and sends him back to the planet below. An emotional scene in which Tiara goes down with the Death Egg II as it explodes (But, some have theorized that she survived) soon follows. The game ends after Tails and the gang reunite after beaming up an unconscious Sonic in his drifting escape pod
There are 25 levels in total, 20 taking place on Jadegully, and the last 5 on the Death Egg II.
Sonic Saturn introduces gameplay elements that would become the staple for 3D Sonic - as Sonic slowly increases in speed, when he reaches maximum speed he can preform one of three attacks (each progresses in damage): a homing attack, a kick attack, and his classic spin dash. Sonic can also dodge left/right as well as being able to preform limited parkour such as running up walls.
Tiara has a special blaster that can shoot laser beams while she runs - it does damage in between Sonic’s kick attack and Spin Dash. She is less aerobic than Sonic but is smaller and can fit in tighter spaces.
The game receives rave reviews and sells a little less than SM32 did.
The game is controversial among fans for having started an intense shopping war - Samy (SonicxAmy) v. Tiaranic (SonicxTiara).
Sony revealed that a show based off their hit summer game, Crash Bandicoot, was in production.
IGN said:
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There was? That’s pretty cool! I thought Universal just made some cutscenes but they went unused. But it’s pretty awesome that there actually was a pilot.
(Here’s what’d look like: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1t_4YclrGqM, If anyone’s wondering)
Yea, it’s much easier to play OTL.
Definitely.
Thanks!
Maybe those were, Stiller from untold story commented universal have Big plans maybe Got mixed but did was talked OTL.
So did NBC's Saturday cartoon block get revived with this show or did it never go off the air
NBC’s Saturday Cartoon Block get’s revived. Ended originally around it’s OTL time (1992 I think?) but now it’s back.
January 1997
January 1997
January was more of a slower month, it always had been. Though some major games did get released. Final Fantasy VII was released in Japan for the N32, while Mega Man 8 was brought to America but was also being ported to the Saturn.
Though some major news did came in. Sega and Bandai were set in talks of uniting. Many sources cite that the deal is in unsteady waters at the moment and could collapse at anytime. Though SEGA is very adamant on obtaining Bandai due to its plethora of IPs as well as allowing SEGA to get into the toy business. If the deal were to go through, the companies would undergo reorganization and be renamed Sega-Bandai.
Nintendo also announced that it bought a 15% stake in Midway in the midst of WMS spinning the company off - keeping many future Midway games as N32-only. Some market analysts predict that Nintendo could eventually buy the whole company in the near future. Sumner Redstone of Redstone Amusement was looking to buy a stake but has since been dissuaded. Midway was a rising star for the video game industry, set to be in the Top 5 best-selling video game companies by 2001.
Following Midway, Nintendo is expected to secure Rareware, Inc. (a close studio that is at risk of being bought by another company)
January was more of a slower month, it always had been. Though some major games did get released. Final Fantasy VII was released in Japan for the N32, while Mega Man 8 was brought to America but was also being ported to the Saturn.
Though some major news did came in. Sega and Bandai were set in talks of uniting. Many sources cite that the deal is in unsteady waters at the moment and could collapse at anytime. Though SEGA is very adamant on obtaining Bandai due to its plethora of IPs as well as allowing SEGA to get into the toy business. If the deal were to go through, the companies would undergo reorganization and be renamed Sega-Bandai.
Nintendo also announced that it bought a 15% stake in Midway in the midst of WMS spinning the company off - keeping many future Midway games as N32-only. Some market analysts predict that Nintendo could eventually buy the whole company in the near future. Sumner Redstone of Redstone Amusement was looking to buy a stake but has since been dissuaded. Midway was a rising star for the video game industry, set to be in the Top 5 best-selling video game companies by 2001.
Following Midway, Nintendo is expected to secure Rareware, Inc. (a close studio that is at risk of being bought by another company)
Yup, many are making moves.
And they’re set to increase - in a way. A big one is set for 2000.
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February 1997
February 1997 saw Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and Blast Corps come to the N32.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is a first-person shooter by Iguana Entertainment, loosely based on the comic series of the same name.
The plot of the game follows Tal’Set, the next Turok, on a quest to stop the Campaigner; an evil overlord that seeks a weapon, the Chronoscepter. The Chronoscepter was broken into 12 pieces, which are scattered across the twelve areas of the Lost Land.
Three of the areas include of the Age of Ice, the Fiery Rings, and Great Seaboard.
The Age of Ice is an Ice Age-themed level, there are many large icy protrusions sticking out of the ground.
The Firey Rings is a volcano level, there is one big volcano set in the center of the level, with multiple large pools of lava surrounding it. Occasionally the volcano will spit out balls of fire.
The Great Seaboard is a big bay beach-area with many tide-pools - and of course, water-based enemies such as a cyborg Sarcosuchus, which acts as the boss of the region.
There are 15 weapons that can be used including the Chronoscepter, and the ever-so-popular Tomahawk.
There are 50 animal enemies total that Tal’Set will encounter, these include of the Brachiosaurus, Killer Fish, Moschops, Pteranodon, Saber-Tooth Tiger, Wooly Mammoth, and the Palaeeudyptinae.
The PlayStation received Contra: Legacy of War and Crypt Killer, both Konami games.
The Saturn meanwhile received FIFA 97.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is a first-person shooter by Iguana Entertainment, loosely based on the comic series of the same name.
The plot of the game follows Tal’Set, the next Turok, on a quest to stop the Campaigner; an evil overlord that seeks a weapon, the Chronoscepter. The Chronoscepter was broken into 12 pieces, which are scattered across the twelve areas of the Lost Land.
Three of the areas include of the Age of Ice, the Fiery Rings, and Great Seaboard.
The Age of Ice is an Ice Age-themed level, there are many large icy protrusions sticking out of the ground.
The Firey Rings is a volcano level, there is one big volcano set in the center of the level, with multiple large pools of lava surrounding it. Occasionally the volcano will spit out balls of fire.
The Great Seaboard is a big bay beach-area with many tide-pools - and of course, water-based enemies such as a cyborg Sarcosuchus, which acts as the boss of the region.
There are 15 weapons that can be used including the Chronoscepter, and the ever-so-popular Tomahawk.
There are 50 animal enemies total that Tal’Set will encounter, these include of the Brachiosaurus, Killer Fish, Moschops, Pteranodon, Saber-Tooth Tiger, Wooly Mammoth, and the Palaeeudyptinae.
The PlayStation received Contra: Legacy of War and Crypt Killer, both Konami games.
The Saturn meanwhile received FIFA 97.
Nice the bigger turok thanks to cd, Nice ideas for That one, seems was a n32 month with PS1,.
Pretty Nice update
March 1997
(Sorry for the hiatus!)
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March 3rd, 1997 saw the N32 open up to a new market, Europe. Although Europe was primarily fought for between Sony and SEGA, the N32 did sell well in its first days. European launch titles include of Super Mario 32, Pilotwings USA, Mortal
Kombat Trilogy, Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey, Killer Instinct 2: Gold Edition, Tobal No. 1, Cruis’n USA, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, and Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire.
Midway also released Doom Absolution for the N32, a sequel to Final Doom, including every demon from the original games as well as new levels and four player multiplayer.
Konami released Vandal Hearts and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the PS1. The PS1 also received Need for Speed II.
The Saturn received a port of the PC game, Hexen, plans for PS1 and N32 ports were also planned but were eventually scrapped in the end. While the PS1 had more major 3rd-party supporters (Namco and Konami being two notable ones) overall, the Saturn was a very popular console to port PC games to. But, the Saturn did have its own fair share of 3rd-party developers such as Eidos and the Nintendo-leaning Capcom. The Saturn was also supported by a strong first-party, arguably stronger than Sony’s, and name recognition - so it is far from a flop. As time went on it became apparent that the Saturn had potential to outsell the Genesis.
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March 3rd, 1997 saw the N32 open up to a new market, Europe. Although Europe was primarily fought for between Sony and SEGA, the N32 did sell well in its first days. European launch titles include of Super Mario 32, Pilotwings USA, Mortal
Kombat Trilogy, Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey, Killer Instinct 2: Gold Edition, Tobal No. 1, Cruis’n USA, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, and Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire.
Midway also released Doom Absolution for the N32, a sequel to Final Doom, including every demon from the original games as well as new levels and four player multiplayer.
Konami released Vandal Hearts and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the PS1. The PS1 also received Need for Speed II.
The Saturn received a port of the PC game, Hexen, plans for PS1 and N32 ports were also planned but were eventually scrapped in the end. While the PS1 had more major 3rd-party supporters (Namco and Konami being two notable ones) overall, the Saturn was a very popular console to port PC games to. But, the Saturn did have its own fair share of 3rd-party developers such as Eidos and the Nintendo-leaning Capcom. The Saturn was also supported by a strong first-party, arguably stronger than Sony’s, and name recognition - so it is far from a flop. As time went on it became apparent that the Saturn had potential to outsell the Genesis.
All three consoles Will face a fierce battle, but seems Sony feels the odd man out till nintendo gains ground, amazing update.