As I age, I realize more and more the sheer number of games that I missed out on. Let’s get one thing clear: the Sega Saturn is a perfect console. Any home console that has Saturn Bomberman is automatically the winner of any Best Console war. But I digress. Today, we’re talking about two classic City Connection games that have a longer history than the Saturn release they’re based on. Steam-Heart’s & Advanced Variable Geo Saturn Tribute each have PC Engine versions that fans will likely recall having more mature scenes. However, let me say at the outset of this review that while City Connection dropped the ball on preserving these titles for generations through these releases, that has nothing to do with the actual games, which are fantastic.
Steam-Heart’s Saturn Tribute: A Fun but Flawed Shmup
So let’s first discuss Steam-Heart’s Saturn Tribute. This is a shmup with a Story Mode that features lengthy cutscenes between and before stages. However, I don’t know what the hell is going on because City Connection failed to include a dub. This is the same for Advanced Variable, which I feel is a huge missed opportunity, especially for Western fans hoping for an official Western translation. Further, cutscenes from the Saturn version have been slightly altered to show the characters wearing more clothing or having a different fatial expression. I should say that Saturn Hearts was initially an eroge before it received its toned-down Saturn release, but this version is altered further. I think the combination of a lack of an English dub and altered cutscenes means you can probably skip the story portions altogether. I’ll also peddle back and say that the alterations weren’t significant in my eyes, but they also didn’t seem necessary.
Regardless, Steam-Heart’s is an incredibly fun shmup that blends cute em-up chaos within a more grounded design. This is a shmup that seems to want the player to succeed more than frustrate them and run through their quarters. You see, ships have HP, and there’s a generous amount of HP capsules across each stage. Further, ships can be upgraded excessively, with additional arsenal collectibles that let you plant turrents on the field or unleash homing strikes. It’s an incredible time and I even used the Rewind feature to practices some of the more complicated parts of the stages.
I found the control to be perfect, and each power-up caused some crazy cool effects on the screen. That said, this game suffers from extreme frame dips across each stage. I don’t think there was one stage that didn’t suffer from stuttering or slow down. Now, when I was younger, I used to love it when R-Type slowed down, as it gave me time to think, but I don’t think that’ll fly in 2025. I also need to mention that on Normal difficulty, the bosses can be disposed of rather quickly. Playing on the Arcade Mode does adjust the difficulty a little, and it also removes the cutscenes. Still, you’ll likely be increasing the difficulty petty quickly.
As for modes, you have a local co-op and Score Attack, along with options for borders and graphics. I played with the scanlines mostly because I wanted the authentic look of the game, but I still can’t get over the lack of an English dub for these cutscenes.
Advanced Variable Geo: A Dated but Charming Fighter
Advanced Variable Geo is another previously unreleased eroge PC Engine game, but this time, it’s a fighter. Within the fighting genre, you’ll find a handful of pretty girl fighters. They seem to be more straightforward than traditional fighters, but Advanced Variable Geo does have some combos for players to master across the roster of female characters, and the unlockable characters add some replay value, but honestly, the fighting here hasn’t aged well. There is a significant power imbalance across the characters, and some of the result is the AI opponent spamming the same few moves over and over. Regardless, it is fun to get good at, but I think the future releases of this series might have been a better move.
Sadly, again, the Story Mode contains no English dubs, so you’re stuck watching these honest pixel animated cutscenes and don’t know what the hell is going on. Why do all this work and port a game, but not allow for subtitles? It’s an incredibly bold move from the developer, which suggests a lack of confidence in these releases. Still, this release does include Arcade Mode, which, to my knowledge, doesn’t have the end screens censored, so it’s up to you to decide which version you want to play.
Visuals & Presentation: Pixel Art Brilliance, Modern Shortcomings
Visually, I find both games to be brilliant. They’re a product of incredibly detailed pixel work working with the constraints of early 90s PC hardware, and I think they stand out because of it. These developers were cooking here and not letting limitations on animation and sound effects limit what they could deliver to players. Each game brought a unique level of fun, and while I think players will get more mileage out of Steam Hearts. Advanced Variable Geo is still a decent, pretty girl fighter that you should play, though. Importing these games is a nightmare, so I’m glad I was able to play them in my lifetime. I just wish I knew what was going on in the stories so I’d have more to tell you about the characters. Further, City Connection needs to approach these collections with a little more care if they are going to continue to return to their retro catalog.
Final Verdict: Worth Playing, But with Caveats
Steam-Heart’s & Advanced Variable Geo Saturn Tribute brings together two games that I’ve been seeing screenshots of since I was 12. I never thought I would get to play the games, and I’m really happy that I was able to through this release. However, the lack of an English dub for two games with significantly long story cutscenes, stuttering, frame drops, and altered scenes makes it challenging to recommend to players who want the most out of these games. Visually? Beautiful. Gameplay? Creative and unique for both titles. Modern presentation? The worst I’ve seen in a while.
Steam-Heart’s & Advanced Variable Geo Saturn Tribute (PC)
6
Fair
Steam-Heart’s & Advanced Variable Geo Saturn Tribute offers a nostalgic return to two cult Japanese classics with solid gameplay and charming retro visuals, but suffers from technical issues, censored content, and a lack of localization support that limits its appeal to a wider audience.
The Good
Unique Retro Experience: Delivers a rare chance to play two cult Saturn-era Japanese titles in one package.
Strong Visual Style: Beautiful pixel art and authentic retro aesthetics bring classic 90s game design to life.
Fun Shmup Gameplay: Steam-Heart’s features accessible yet satisfying shoot-‘em-up mechanics with customizable upgrades.
The Bad
No English Localization: The lack of subtitles or dubbing severely limits narrative accessibility for non-Japanese speakers.
Censored Content: Alterations to original scenes may disappoint fans seeking authentic versions of the games.
Technical Performance Issues: Frame drops and stuttering disrupt the gameplay experience, especially in Steam-Heart’s.
Missed Preservation Potential: City Connection’s minimalist effort in porting fails to honor the legacy of these cult titles.