Rayman Pirate-Community

I ask because at one time the Rayman 2 game, (both the unreleased 2D version and possibly the 3D version) where once planned for a release on the Sega Saturn based on the games long development, and the fact it showed up as late as 1998 from a Japanese Saturn catalog listing in late 1997.: https://segaretro.org/Rayman_2_(Saturn) so this got me thinking and asking one question could have a downgraded Sega Saturn port of the released 3D version been possible if it was based on the already downgraded/compromised PS1 version namely with the aid of the Sega Saturn 4MB RAM cart as a Japanese/Asian/Korea import? Or would have it not worked very well namely looking and running properly as the Sega Saturn had underpowered 3D capabilities, not helped with the system being very difficult to develop for, and mind you a demanding 3D 3rd person Action/Adventure platformer game like Tomb Raider barely ran on the stock Sega Saturn hardware and that game was demanding for late 1996 standards on PC/PS1 along with Saturn. And given that Rayman 2 the 3D version is even more demanding combined with the fact that the N64/PS1 versions where already downgraded/compromised compared to the PC/Dreamcast/PS2 versions due to the aged underpowered hardware combined with the fact that the N64 version had choppy framerate and the PS1 version being cut short compared to most versions, it would have been a massive challenge to get it to run on stock Sega Saturn hardware even with the aid of the 4MB Ram cart? Your guys 2 cents?

This is a tricky question, because to this day Saturn development, homebrew or not is...

Well, it isn't exactly in a highly advanced stage yet. People ARE gradually getting there, though, with entire SDKs and everything.

As you've said, while developers like Jon Burton and Nextech could get the Saturn to sing, the scope for games were usually rather limited (not to mention the Saturn's nightmarish architecture) simply because the programmer couldn't wrap their heads around pushing the unusual limits that were weirdly set by Sega. If it wasn't a beastly 2D game, several games simply didn't get made, or if they did they came out like the returning horse without its rider.

However, I believe Rayman 2 as we know it could run on the Saturn, with mostly everything being intact. Mostly. If the PS1, DS, and N64 versions are proof, the core game is indeed possible to run on hilariously stripped hardware like the Saturn. That being said, the optimization, large level problems, and framerate front is a whole another can of worms. I can't even begin to imagine the Prison Ship sliding level with like... 10 FPS and with cuboid geometry. They even took out the final boss section on PS1 in favor of a shmup section!

The only real answer I can say for sure is yes, but only if someone insane enough can take on the task. At least Saturn ODEs exist. today! I think at worst it'll be like the DS version but with a slower framerate.

poberteii wrote: Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:54 pm This is a tricky question, because to this day Saturn development, homebrew or not is...

Well, it isn't exactly in a highly advanced stage yet. People ARE gradually getting there, though, with entire SDKs and everything.

As you've said, while developers like Jon Burton and Nextech could get the Saturn to sing, the scope for games were usually rather limited (not to mention the Saturn's nightmarish architecture) simply because the programmer couldn't wrap their heads around pushing the unusual limits that were weirdly set by Sega. If it wasn't a beastly 2D game, several games simply didn't get made, or if they did they came out like the returning horse without its rider.

However, I believe Rayman 2 as we know it could run on the Saturn, with mostly everything being intact. Mostly. If the PS1, DS, and N64 versions are proof, the core game is indeed possible to run on hilariously stripped hardware like the Saturn. That being said, the optimization, large level problems, and framerate front is a whole another can of worms. I can't even begin to imagine the Prison Ship sliding level with like... 10 FPS and with cuboid geometry. They even took out the final boss section on PS1 in favor of a shmup section!

The only real answer I can say for sure is yes, but only if someone insane enough can take on the task. At least Saturn ODEs exist. today! I think at worst it'll be like the DS version but with a slower framerate.

Good points as it would be a challenge indeed.