If possible: 1) Get both AND keep the PS2. 2) Get both 3) Get Dreamcast (just because it's easier to get games, if you know what I mean...) But honestly, you really should get both. The Saturn is simply an amazing machine that I think, still today, that was underrated back in the day. Also: The Dreamcast may sometimes be troublesome due to hardware, but most of the times the fix is easy: 1) calibrate GD-ROM 2) fix the fuse(?) in the daughterboard of the remote controls I agree that if possible, test it at the shop, and if some warranty is provided, better.
Saturn is the better choice, even though the DC has an amazing library. Don't bother with the PS2 - the build quality in those is so shitty it's just a matter of time before it craps out. Dump it while it's still worth something.
What? Except laser (like all CD consoles) and drive chip on certain models they do not break easily. Dreamcast has much more problems.
If I could only have one of the two, Saturn wins easily. The DreamCast does have some great titles, but Saturn just outnumbers it. Ofcourse if you are going to be purchasing games rather than burning them then DreamCast probably is cheaper. I'd still pick the Saturn. The PS2 is a great console as well. It has a huge library. Maybe some of the titles that were once popular don't hold up well anymore, but plenty of them do.
OP shouldn't sell the PS2 nonetheless. Get a Network Adapter, an IDE hard drive. FTP into that thing, set for a LOONG time.
Personally I would go with Saturn for the shiny low poly goodness that it had on it. I found Dreamcast to have its textures very dingy and unexpressed.
What this man said, you would probably only get pennies for a PS2 anyway. They aren't exactly hard to come by
Both is certainly not a silly suggestion... unless money is REALLY an issue. Nor is keeping the PS2. It has something like 2,000 titles available - more than the Saturn and way more than Dreamcast. It DOES come down to personal preference, really. You can't ask this question, especially with such little info to go on. How much space do you have to place a console(s)? How much money do you have to spend on top of the console? How many games do you envisage buying for it? Are you collecting the system or just buying to play games you like? What games DO you like? What genres do you like? What genres do you dislike? Where will you be buying games? Are there any local shops that sell Saturn games? Are there any local shops that sell Dreamcast games? Do you mind 2D games? Do you like 3D games? Do you mind older 3D based on triangles? Will you only be playing US games, or will you want to import? Only you know the answer to all those questions, because you didn't provide enough information. If money is an issue, Dreamcast games will probably have a much lower average cost. The Saturn has a decent library, especially if you import Japanese games, but it's older and not as good at 3D. Both certainly sit next to each other nicely in a gamer's room - their games are different and each has titles worthy of playing. So does the PS2. And yeah, genre is an important factor. Any retro gaming shop that doesn't test consoles when they come in DESERVES to go bust. You CANNOT buy in an untested console. Likewise, all decent shops will give some form of warranty.
Both of them, i personally got the Saturn first but couldn't stand the temptation to have a Dreamcast too lol
I prefer the DC for availability of games , and the fact that a bunch of old games are (re)adding online support thanks to fans, and that there's some new games coming out for it soon. Not to mention, Skies of Arcadia, Jet Grind Radio, Grandia 2, and all the superior ports of psx / n64 games(THPS2, Rayman 2, Resident evil, Dino crisis, Revolt). Easy to set up emulators are a nice bonus too.
Dreamcast, that system was ahead of it's time. The fighting games were innovative as heck, also James Bond.
I you can answer Retro's questions, it will be great. It's a cool set of questions to know why you came with the idea of buying one of these two consoles. At least tell us what you want to do with the console. Is it to "show" to friends? (like in a retro vibe) Or is just to "know" about their libraries of games? But if you want because of the "youtube vibe", them don't do it please. The world doesn't need more video reviews and you are really late to the party... right? =P
I agree with get both and keep the PS2. Maybe start with the Dreamcast because it's cheaper and more accessible, but definitely follow up with the Saturn because you won't be disappointed in it either. PS2 is an amazing console, there's such a massive library of games with some of the best from that generation getting rid of it would be silly, unless it breaks of course.
IMO, the Dreamcast, i've bought in 2010 and I've felt the happines and joy that i've had playing PS1 and PS2, its probably the third console that I used to spent a lot of hours in a day. The Saturn is a good console too, actually the first console that i've played in my life was a Saturn, but since it died out pretty fast in the West, it lacked many 3D games which ended being the trend, even when it was alive there it was a lack of these titles compared to the PSX, 64 and PC, but far as I know, if you like 2D and japan exclusive games (which were the majority of its library) it is a good machine, it was the second favorite console there, and fighting games tend to have better ports thanks to the 4MB Expansion Cart.
I have both these systems, and they're both my most frequently used consoles. If I had to make a choice between either of them, I'd have to look at a couple of the (remaining) exclusives I spend the majority of my time on them with. So for me, I'd have to decide between Shenmue 1 and Project Justice against the Panzer Dragoon series. You can't go wrong either way. I might lean a little toward the Saturn since as Yakumo said, it's an unsung hero (at least in the west). The Dreamcast gets a lot of love, and most of it's notable titles have been ported to other systems and are still widely available. Panzer Dragoon Saga is an experience not to be missed. I'd ultimately go for a Saturn (unless you're dying for Shenmue).
I was sure i voted, but i guess it slipped through my mind... Saturn all the way. What you had on DC you can experience in many other consoles nowadays. Saturn is still up to today more unique.