Powerslave

Powerslave is one of the titles that proves the Saturn could pull off a proper first-person shooter, even though its library held far fewer of them than rival platforms. Lobotomy Software built the game around Egyptian mythology – the player finds themselves in the future, where ancient gods resembling alien monstrosities are awakening, and must carve a path through winding temples, pyramids, and underground complexes full of traps, guardians, and hidden chambers.

Unlike the era's linear Doom-style shooters, Powerslave leaned on a more elaborate, exploratory level design where the player frequently returned to the same locations with new equipment to unlock previously inaccessible paths – an approach closer to Metroidvania style than a pure arena full of enemies. The game also offered a solid arsenal of weapons, from a classic pistol to a shotgun to more exotic, Egyptian-themed pieces suited to different types of opponents. The Saturn version further benefited from the hardware leap over older machines, delivering atmospheric, more richly colored environments than many contemporary FPS titles on other platforms.

The game became one of its studio's more technically interesting achievements, and even years later it's praised precisely for its unconventional, exploration-driven structure and the dense atmosphere of ancient ruins that sets it apart from the flood of corridor shooters of the mid-1990s. This is reinforced by a soundtrack full of dark, orientally tinged melodies that underscores the feeling of wandering long-forgotten temples full of danger.

Why play it: Egyptian mythology, interconnected levels to explore, and an unusually exploratory approach make Powerslave a distinctive alternative to the straightforward FPS games of its time.