Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
My Music Channel @VØLTEKAS
Support This Channel on: Patreon - patreon.com/RetronomiconGames
Visit my site for Reviews and Info: Retronomicon - retronomicongames.com
Gameplay recorded by Retronomicon (NVSGamer)
Game Name Psyth
Region Japan
Console SEGA Saturn
Game Release 1996
Genre Hack, Shoot 'Em Up
Publisher Konami
Languages Japanese
Game ID T-9504G
Psyth on the Sega Saturn is one of the strangest hidden gems in Konami’s library because it is not a normal standalone Saturn release. It is a hidden shoot-’em-up included inside the Sega Saturn version of Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You. In the game, it is tied to the computer club route, and sources describe it as an unlockable bonus for becoming the computer club master.
The funniest thing about Psyth is how unexpected it is. Tokimeki Memorial is a dating/life simulation game, but hidden inside it is a surprisingly polished horizontal shooter that feels like Konami made a tiny lost arcade game and buried it as a reward. It is not just a throwaway joke either. For a bonus mini-game, Psyth has real structure, solid controls, and enough personality to stand on its own.
The gameplay is classic side-scrolling shoot-’em-up action. You pilot a small ship through enemy waves, dodge bullets, collect power-ups, and fight bosses. The pacing is quick, but not overwhelming, making it feel more approachable than Konami’s heavier shooters like Gradius or Thunder Cross. It has that clean Konami arcade feel: simple to understand, responsive, and satisfying once the enemy patterns start clicking.
One of the strongest parts of Psyth is its presentation. For something hidden inside another game, it looks surprisingly good. The sprites are clean, the backgrounds have a strong sci-fi look, and the action runs smoothly. It feels like more effort went into it than players would expect from a bonus mode.
The music and sound effects also help sell the experience. It carries that mid-90s Konami energy, with a soundtrack that fits the shooter action nicely without feeling out of place on the Saturn. It may not have the legendary status of Gradius or TwinBee, but it absolutely feels connected to Konami’s arcade shooter DNA.
The biggest downside is accessibility. Since Psyth is hidden inside the Saturn version of Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You, most players will never find it naturally. It was also not carried forward into later versions, and one source specifically notes that the Saturn version’s PSYTH bonus was not included in later PlayStation-based remakes. That makes it feel like a lost Konami shooter trapped inside a dating sim.
It is also short. As good as it is, Psyth is still a bonus game, so players expecting a full-length shmup may come away wanting more. The mechanics are fun, but they do not reach the depth of Konami’s major shooter franchises.
Overall, Psyth is a fascinating hidden Sega Saturn shooter and one of the coolest surprises inside Tokimeki Memorial. It is short, obscure, and easy to miss, but for fans of Konami shooters, Saturn oddities, or games-within-games, it is absolutely worth checking out.
Score: 8/10
#retronomicon #segasaturn #psyth #tokimekimemorial #konami #retrogaming #shmup #retroreview #shootemup #saturngames #hidden gem
My Music Channel @VØLTEKAS
Support This Channel on: Patreon - patreon.com/RetronomiconGames
Visit my site for Reviews and Info: Retronomicon - retronomicongames.com
Gameplay recorded by Retronomicon (NVSGamer)
Game Name Psyth
Region Japan
Console SEGA Saturn
Game Release 1996
Genre Hack, Shoot 'Em Up
Publisher Konami
Languages Japanese
Game ID T-9504G
Psyth on the Sega Saturn is one of the strangest hidden gems in Konami’s library because it is not a normal standalone Saturn release. It is a hidden shoot-’em-up included inside the Sega Saturn version of Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You. In the game, it is tied to the computer club route, and sources describe it as an unlockable bonus for becoming the computer club master.
The funniest thing about Psyth is how unexpected it is. Tokimeki Memorial is a dating/life simulation game, but hidden inside it is a surprisingly polished horizontal shooter that feels like Konami made a tiny lost arcade game and buried it as a reward. It is not just a throwaway joke either. For a bonus mini-game, Psyth has real structure, solid controls, and enough personality to stand on its own.
The gameplay is classic side-scrolling shoot-’em-up action. You pilot a small ship through enemy waves, dodge bullets, collect power-ups, and fight bosses. The pacing is quick, but not overwhelming, making it feel more approachable than Konami’s heavier shooters like Gradius or Thunder Cross. It has that clean Konami arcade feel: simple to understand, responsive, and satisfying once the enemy patterns start clicking.
One of the strongest parts of Psyth is its presentation. For something hidden inside another game, it looks surprisingly good. The sprites are clean, the backgrounds have a strong sci-fi look, and the action runs smoothly. It feels like more effort went into it than players would expect from a bonus mode.
The music and sound effects also help sell the experience. It carries that mid-90s Konami energy, with a soundtrack that fits the shooter action nicely without feeling out of place on the Saturn. It may not have the legendary status of Gradius or TwinBee, but it absolutely feels connected to Konami’s arcade shooter DNA.
The biggest downside is accessibility. Since Psyth is hidden inside the Saturn version of Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You, most players will never find it naturally. It was also not carried forward into later versions, and one source specifically notes that the Saturn version’s PSYTH bonus was not included in later PlayStation-based remakes. That makes it feel like a lost Konami shooter trapped inside a dating sim.
It is also short. As good as it is, Psyth is still a bonus game, so players expecting a full-length shmup may come away wanting more. The mechanics are fun, but they do not reach the depth of Konami’s major shooter franchises.
Overall, Psyth is a fascinating hidden Sega Saturn shooter and one of the coolest surprises inside Tokimeki Memorial. It is short, obscure, and easy to miss, but for fans of Konami shooters, Saturn oddities, or games-within-games, it is absolutely worth checking out.
Score: 8/10
#retronomicon #segasaturn #psyth #tokimekimemorial #konami #retrogaming #shmup #retroreview #shootemup #saturngames #hidden gem
