The Sega Saturn is one of the MOST supported retro consoles when it comes its selection of available ODEs and Flash Carts! However, with so many differences between the available options out there, it might be hard for some folks to decide which device is best for them
While some might prefer to make a beeline straight for cheapest option available, others may want to weigh the pros & cons, selecting a device that best suits their individual needs and use case.
Whether youre just discovering Sega Saturn for the first time, dipping your toe back in after a long time away, taking your trusty console on the road and putting it to work at cons or even developing games for the machine, theres a unit thats perfect for you! Thanks to our good friends
Derek Pascarella (aka Ateam)
&
privateye
for helping us compile this definitive feature comparison chart to help you make your decision:
| RHEA | PHOEBE | FENRIR | MODE | SATIATOR | SAROO |
|---|
| Released
| 2015
| 2015
| 2020
| 2020
| 2020
| 2023
|
| Creator
| Deunan
| Deunan
| Ced
| TerraOnion
| Abrasive
| Tpunix
|
| Cost
| ~$150, 130
| ~$150, 130
| ~$60, 50
| $260, 200
| $200
| ~$35 $85
|
| Availability
| Preorder Form
International
| Preorder Form
International
| Buy New
International
,
US
,
UK
,
GR
| Buy New
US
,
EU
| Buy New
US
| Buy New
US
,
CN
|
| Form Factor
| Internal PCB
| Internal PCB
| Internal PCB
| Internal PCB
| VCD Slot Card
| RAM Slot Cart
|
Console
Hardware
Compatibility
| 20-Pin
(all, excluding HiSaturn Navi)
| 21-Pin
(all, excluding HiSaturn Navi & Prologue21)
| 20
&
21-Pin
(all, excluding HiSaturn Navi)
| 20
&
21-Pin
(
all, excluding HiSaturn Navi
)
| 20
&
21-Pin
(all, excluding Prologue21)
| 20
&
21-Pin
(all, excluding Prologue21
*
modification
to SAROO or console necessary
to address audio pops/freezes
on following revisions:
Severe:
VA0, VA0.5, VA0.8
Moderate:
VA1, VA2, VA3, VA4, VA5
Minor:
VA9
|
Plug & Play
(soft-mod)
| No
*(install requires modification of console)
| No
*(install requires modification of console)
| No
*(install requires modification of console)
| No
*(install requires modification of console)
| Yes
| Yes
|
| Retain CD-ROM Drive?
| Yes
*(with
WUXI
CD/ODE switch)
| Yes
*(with
WUXI
CD/ODE switch)
| Yes
*(with
WUXI
or
Saturn Switcher
no longer sold)
| No
| Yes
| Yes
|
| Supported Media Storage Formats
| SD Card
| SD Card
| Micro SD Card
| Micro SD Card
SATA
USB
| SD Card
| SD Card
|
| Supported Disc Image Formats
| CDI
CCD/IMG/SUB
MDS/MDF
ISO
| CDI
CCD/IMG/SUB
MDS/MDF
ISO
| CCD/IMG/SUB
CUE/ISO
CUE/ISO/WAV
CUE/BIN
CUE/IMG
| CDI
CCD/IMG/SUB
MDS/MDF
ISO
CUE/ISO
CUE/ISO/WAV
CUE/BIN
CUE/IMG
| ISO
CUE/ISO
CUE/BIN
CUE/IMG
CUE/ISO/WAV
| CUE/BIN
CUE/ISO*
*(with reported tweaks necessary)
|
| Supported Media Type Formats
| Saturn Software
Video CD*
*
(w/MPEG card)
Audio CD
Audio CD+G
| Saturn Software
Video CD*
*
(w/MPEG card)
Audio CD
| Saturn Software
Video CD*
*
(w/MPEG card)
Audio CD
| Saturn Software
Video CD*
*
(w/MPEG card)
Audio CD
Audio CD+G
| Saturn Software
Audio CD
| Saturn Software
|
| Retail Game Compatibility
| 99.99 %
*(except for Virtua Racing
audio bug
affecting all devices except Saroo.
Fix Patch
)
| 99.99 %
*(except for Virtua Racing
audio bug
affecting all devices except Saroo.
Fix Patch
)
| 99 %
*(few
documented issues
remain)
| 99 %
*(few
documented issues
remain)
| 99 %
*(few
documented issues
remain)
| ~75-85
%*
*(claims vary, see
community maintained tracker
.
~50 games still need patches, and ~120 games require specific per/game configurations.)
|
| Active Updates
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
,
Alt
|
| Load Speeds
| High-speed loading option available
| High-speed loading option available
| Standard 2x CD-Rom
| Standard 2x CD-Rom
| Standard 2x CD-Rom
| High-speed loading option available
|
| In-Game Reset Back to Menu
| Stock RMENU
Rhea Menu Kai
| Stock RMENU
Rhea Menu Kai
| Stock Fenrir Menu
Fenrir Menu Kai
| M.O.D.E Menu
| Satiator Menu Kai
Rings Menu
| Stock Saroo Menu
martinx72 Menu
|
| In-Game Multi-Disc Swapping Support
| Yes
| Yes
| No
(must save and reboot only Rampo and Tengai Makyou: The Apocalypse IV are affected)
| Yes
| Yes
*(open and close console lid to cycle disc images in a folder)
| Yes
*(eject & reinsert MicroSD Card to cycle disc images in a folder)
|
| Cheat Cart Support
| Yes
*Cheats may also be used without a cart via Menu Kai
| Yes
*Cheats may also be used without a cart via Menu Kai
| Yes
*Cheats may also be used without a cart via Menu Kai
| Yes
| Yes
*Cheats may also be used without a cart via Menu Kai
| No
*(Cheats may be used via
ROM hacks
(assembly code patches) configured on a per-game basis
|
| Per-Game Save
| Yes
*(with
Gamers Cart
)
| Yes
*(with
Gamers Cart
)
| Yes
*(with
Gamers Cart
)
| No
| Yes
*(with
Menu Kai
or
Rings Menu
)
| Yes
|
| Support for Save Data Dump / Backup
| Yes
with
Gamers Cart
for Full RAM & Individual Save Dump to SD
| Yes
with
Gamers Cart
for Full RAM & Individual Save Dump to SD
| Yes Full RAM Dump to SD via Stock Menu and Individual Save Dump to SD via
Save Data Manager
| Yes Full RAM Dump to SD via Stock Menu
| Yes
Slinga
s
Save Game Copier
and
Save Data Manager
offer Full RAM & Individual Save Dump to SD
| Yes Full RAM Dump to SD via Stock Menu
|
| 1M/4M RAM Expansion Cart Compatible
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| No
*(includes 4M RAM onboard may have trouble with SNK fighters requiring 1M cart)
|
| VCD Card Compatible
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| No
*(Satiator occupies VCD slot)
| No
|
| NetLink/XBand Compatible
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| No
*(SAROO occupies cart slot)
|
| Wi-Fi Capable
| No
| No
| Yes
| No
| No
| No
|
| Menu
Customization
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
*(with
Menu Kai
or
Rings Menu
)
| Yes
|
| Cover Art in Menu
| No
| No
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
*(with
Rings
no longer a recommended menu option)
| Yes
|
| Has Kai Menu / Loader
| Rhea Menu Kai
| Rhea Menu Kai
| Fenrir Menu Kai
| No
| Satiator Menu Kai
| No
|
| Region Free
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
| Extra Features
| | | Homebrew developers may push new code/ builds directly to Fenrir over Wi-Fi
Streaming Games from SMB Network Share via Wi-Fi is possible, though the feature is still a WIP and only appears to work for some folks
| Doubles as Dreamcast ODE
| Soft Modchip feature allows booting of burned CD media
| Soft Modchip feature allows booting of burned CD media
Built-in Expansion RAM
Built-in virtual ROM cart data for Ultraman and KOF 95
|
| Notable Shortcomings
| Produced in limited quantities with only a few available sale dates per year
Common CUE/BIN disc image format not supported, although convenient conversion tools exist to aid users
SD card management is not drag-and-drop, requiring the use of third-party tools
| Produced in limited quantities with only a few available sale dates per year
Common CUE/BIN disc image format not supported, although convenient conversion tools exist to aid users
SD card management is not drag-and-drop, requiring the use of third-party tools
Requires jumper soldering on the Phoebe PCB for the three different 21-pin variants, though the device creator does this for customers before shipping
| Some CUE/BIN images where multiple tracks are merged into a single BIN do not work, and the merged BIN must be separated into individual tracks
Some games do not behave correctly in CUE/BIN format and work better in CCD/IMG/SUB format, while the opposite is true in other cases
Firmware updates are released via Discord channel
| Device requires registering in order to download firmware updates
Device is power-hungry and many users report needing to recap their consoles before it functions without issues
| Because device occupies rear expansion port, the MPEG card cannot be used
Presently a bug exists where device intermittently fails to boot, though not frequently, and is expected to be addressed in a future update
| Performs on-the-fly game patching in order to achieve compatibility, breaking some titles
Due to open source nature of the device, there is no single source of support for a purchased unit, although the maintainer of the Saroo project has provided as much user support as possible
Reportedly picky with disc images formats, sometimes requiring them to be reauthored
Cannot be used in conjunction with MPEG card.
Cheat cartridges cannot be used
|
