Dragon Ball-Inspired Homebrew Beat 'Em Up Shines on Sega Saturn, Developed by NaiSan

Brazilian Developer NaiSan Unveils Dragon Ball-Inspired Beat 'Em Up for Sega Saturn Homebrew Scene The homebrew community for retro consoles continues to thrive, and one of the latest highlights is an ambitious fan project that brings the Dragon Ball universe to the Sega Saturn.

Brazilian developer and YouTuber NaiSan has presented an impressive new homebrew beat 'em up demo inspired by the iconic Dragon Ball anime series, capturing the attention of classic gaming enthusiasts and fans of the franchise alike. A Personal Developer Challenge NaiSan, known for his dedication to both development and retro hardware, shared the origins of this passion project.

Recounting his motivation, NaiSan stated that he challenged himself at the end of 2023 to develop a beat 'em up game for the Sega Saturn.

Choosing the Dragon Ball universe was a natural fit based on his admiration for the series and its enduring popularity.

Since commencing work five months ago, NāiSan has navigated a variety of technical hurdles, emphasizing that the greatest difficulties involved not just game development, but also overcoming the constraints and bugs found within the homebrew SDK, and enhancing the software with brand-new features where none previously existed. Technical Achievement and Resourcefulness Utilizing assets from the Game Boy Advance hit 'Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure,' and leveraging Johannes Fetz's open-source Jo Engine alongside the Sega Saturn's native Saturn Graphics Library (SGL), NaiSan has managed to deliver a demo that offers surprisingly polished sprite work and smooth scaling animation, especially notable on vintage hardware like the Sega Saturn.

The project draws further credibility with its mention by the respected retro gaming community outlet Sega Saturn Shiro. A Glimpse of the Future Despite its inspiration and recognizable cast, NaiSan has made it clear that this Dragon Ball motif is only the starting point.

Once development of the current demo is completed and polished, the foundation will be repurposed for an all-original game with brand-new characters and universe, steering away from licensed properties for the full release.

This approach reflects both respect for intellectual property and a drive to innovate within the constraints of retro development. Legacy and Appeal Projects such as this are a testament to the enduring appeal of both the Dragon Ball series and the Sega Saturn platform.

Banpresto and Bandai Namco, long-time stewards of the Dragon Ball game franchise, have seen their properties repurposed by dedicated fans in the growing homebrew scene.

The effort put forth by NaiSan, from mastering tools like Jo Engine to the skilled adaptation of GBA assets, highlights the creativity and technical prowess present in the retro gaming community. While the current homebrew demo may be an early glimpse, its quality and ambition have already captured the attention of fans of both Dragon Ball and Sega Saturn homebrew.

It stands as a promising sign of what’s possible when classic hardware meets modern development techniques, and gamers can look forward to seeing how NaiSan’s original vision evolves in the months ahead.

Sega Sega Saturn Saturn Homebrew NaiSan Bandai Namco Banpresto Dragon Ball Sega Saturn Shiro Johannes Fetz Jo Engine Saturn Graphics Library Dragon Ball Advanced Adventure