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The Saturn has a robust selection of shooters, but relatively few of them left Japan. One that people should definitely examine is Galactic Attack, known as Layer Section in Japan, a vertically-scrolling affair with lock-on attacks. It’s a solid port that has some great action, crisp visuals, and a great soundtrack.
The original Panzer Dragoon debuted with the Saturn’s launch, and it was quite an impressive title. The sequel amped up everything good about its predecessor, adding some stunning environments and a cool dragon evolution dynamic. It’s one of the top releases for the console and one that everyone should play.
Master System owners looking for a new shooter may want to check out the import-only Submarine Attack. The game boasts some cool presentation and decent gameplay, and it was never released in North America. It may not be the most riveting shmup out there, but it’s solid enough to satisfy that 8-bit itch of those looking for another game in the genre.
Opa-Opa’s second adventure on the Master System may not be as classic as his first, but it’s still some quality shooter action. Great gameplay and solid design overcome some hardware shortcomings (particularly regarding sound) and make for an excellent addition to anyone’s Master System library.
Sega’s classic shooter Space Harrier has graced virtually every hardware platform the company made, starting with a port on the Master System. While it isn’t as good as some of the later versions because of hardware limitations, it’s still worth spending some time with. Welcome to the Fantasy Zone!