In November 1994, Sega released its fourth home console, the Saturn. Despite being the first 32-bit game system released by a major company, it did not sell well. Its physical reliability and sophisticated graphics did not make up for its expensive architecture and complicated programming language. Most game designers preferred to produce games for the Saturn's less powerful but simpler rival, the Sony Playstation. It also lagged behind the Nintendo 64, despite taking advantage of CD-ROM technology while Nintendo continued using cartridges. The Saturn boasted a large gaming library, which contained such popular hits as Nights into Dreams and the Virtua Fighter franchise, but that was not enough to save the system. Sega ceased production of the Saturn after only three and half years, selling a mere 9.5 million units, compared to the 50 million PlayStation units sold in the same time period. Developers considered the Saturn a commercial failure, contributing to a loss of $450 million in 1998 alone. Sega produced one final console, the Dreamcast, which sold little better. Following this, Sega withdrew from the console market entirely, returning to its position as a software-only production company.
This game, released in the US as Mega Man 8, is part of a large collection of Sega Saturn games in The Strong?s collection that represent nearly 100% of all games released for that system.