Segas fifth generation console, the Sega Saturn, had a number of issues, from its competition to technical problems. There was just so much wrong with the console, and it hurt Sega's future endeavors in making hardware. The console still has a legacy behind it, much like Dreamcast, which came out a few years after, but the Dreamcast was a different story.
This somewhat helped the struggling console maker stay in the race, in terms of relevance. However, both Sony and Nintendo really put the nail in the coffin for Sega. But regardless of its image, the Sega Saturn still has a lot to offer, although it also was victim to a handful of downfalls that ultimately hurt the console.
5 Beating Nintendo
Sega lost in the global market, coming in last place when it comes to sales. Being inferior to Sony and Nintendo, it has more ground to cover in the West. However, in Japan, it came in second place in the end, beating Nintendo and holding its own against Sony during this time.
Beating Nintendo on their own turf ushered in a new era of well-regarded Japan-exclusive games, like Bomberman Wars. Much like today's console war between Xbox and Playstation, the war between Sega and Nintendo pushed them both to do better.
4 Its RPGs
This was an area where the Sega Saturn could shine, and their RPG back catalog outdid itself. The N64 didn't have much to offer in terms of high-quality RPG games and with the exception of Paper Mario and the slew of Zelda games, there wasn't much to offer fans overall. For Sega, it was a rather different story and Saturn owners could enjoy a plethora of triple-A RPG games.
With Dragon Force One and Two and the whole series of Lagriser, there was something there for everyone. Unfortunately, these two titles were Japan-only releases, but are still beloved by fans. Many argued that had Sony not come through with Final Fantasy, the Sega Saturn would have been the go-to for these types of games.
3 The Library
Near the tail end of the generation, Sony dominated Sega when it came to games. However, in the midst of the generation, the Sega Saturn had a bunch of games that came out. Developers didn't have to worry about the processing power of the Sega Saturn and games came out consistently and with a diverse range.
The console had something for everyone. This motivated developers to make games on the Dreamcast and in turn gave the Dreamcast a slew of great games.
2 2D Games
The Sega Saturn was a powerhouse for 2D games. The colors and the graphics looked amazing on this console and its games were no different.
Other consoles were still in the early stages of 3D during this time and it was a rough patch for 3D during this time, but for consoles that could do 2D games well, it was a great time. Everything 2D looked better on the Sega Saturn and this even helped bring more people back to the console today, since 2D games have made a comeback.
1 Hardcore Games
Since Sega's main competitor was Nintendo, who featured many kid-friendly games, like Mario, it made sense that they marketed the Nintendo 64 to a younger audience. Sega, on the other hand, looked at a more mature audience and games like Mortal Kombat did really well.
The unfiltered, adult-friendly games that Sega was known for made it over to the Sega Saturn. The console was the more serious one that featured all the more mature games.