Mega Drive or Sega Saturn...

I am stuck. I do not know if I should buy a Mega Drive or Sega Saturn, I do not own either one. If I got a Mega Drive I would most likely get the Yu Yu fighting game and Gunstar Heroes to start out with. If I got a Saturn i would most likely get Dodonpachi, and Guardian Heroes as my first games. What do you think is the better buy if you do not own either? I like them both the same!

Obviously you should get both.

So the real question is: Which should you buy first?

Agreed with the above. Both are musts, but I'd definitely get a Mega Drive first if you don't already have one. Reasons:

Contra Hard Corps
Elemental Master
Castlevania Bloodlines
Gleylancer
Bare Knuckle 1 & 2
Ex-Ranza
El Viento
Musha Aleste
Kujaku-Oh
List goes on and on..

Don't get me wrong: the Saturn is one of the best systems ever, with a ton of great software, but the MD/Genesis has that total cult feel that made the 16bit era the greatest.

Mega Drive

---without a doubt man. Pure 16-Bit goodness. SATURN can wait it out man. There's simply too many good 2-D sprite filled/parallax insanity to be had still. I'll not list the games but everyone knows first on the list is PULSEMAN!

Megadrive, I decided that Im gonna go with the Megadrive (no pun intended).

Do you think that:

El Viento
Gunstar heroes
Yu Yu Hakousho(sp)

Are good titles to start with? These look the most appealing to me.

I am buying a JP megadrive 2 off ebay. Is this a ok system? Or should I get a megadrive 1. Also, does it matter what region? Thanks.

As far as I know, you'll have to mod your jp MD if you want it to work with an american Sega-CD, other than that, you're fine (of course the usual electric resistance and etc of the product should be verified, but you already know that )

Other MD games:

-Castlevania Bloodlines (my favorite gameplay in the series, this one is actually fast!)
-SoR 1-3 (my favorite is 1, with 3 close behind it. I used to love 2 when I was younger, but now it feels weird... )
-Golden Axe 2 (well, I like it better than the port)
-Altered Beast (if you're into 2D nostalgia and all - I love this game, but it seems a lot of people hate it... I say give it a shot in emulation, then see if you like it)
-Fatal Fury 1 (if you already own the NG version, you'll be surprised to know that... the Genesis port plays better than the original! Even the special move inputs were different... A lot of fun!)
-Shining Force 1-2 (BEST strategy rpg series that EVER EXISTED!!)
-Sonic 1 (a classic that amazes me, how could all that fit a mere 4-Meg cartridge??)
-Sonic 2/3/ & Knuckles (nothing really new added, only more of the same, but when it comes to Sonic, that's more than enough for me )
-Alien Soldier (2D insanity by the same folks who created Gunstar Heroes, IIRC)
-Contra: Hard Corps
-Castle of Illusion (considered by many a classic)
-Phantasy Star 2-4 (there was also a port of PS1, but it's japanese-only)
-Langrisser 1-2 (strategy rpg, more technical - and slow - than Shining Force, but if you're into srpg, you'll love it. Only part 1 was released in the US, though, renamed Warsong)
-Daimakaimura (Ghouls 'n' Ghosts... Addictive!)
-Strider
-X-Men 1-2 (Everyone says 2 is the best, but I still prefer the original)
-Quackshot (Hey, this game was good! The graphics are still nice)
-Revenge of Shinobi, Shadow Dancer, Shinobi 2 (good games, Shinobi 2 got curiously renamed in the US as Shnobi 3 :P)

And there's more, but I'd be giving you MY favorites list. I believe the majority of people here will agree with most games I posted.

Get Bare knuckles 3 (aka Streets of Rage 3), one of the best games/beat em ups ever imo. I've lost count of how many times I've finished the damn thing.

Also, get the JP version if you get the chance to.

The US cart had a lot of stuff censored from it, and they (????) changed the heroes' uniform colours... I wonder why.