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As I'm sure nearly everyone on this particular forum would agree, the Dreamcast was a tidy little machine. Now that the last titles have been squeezed from production, here's my verdict on the essential games to snap up before they disappear all together.
BEAT 'EM UPS:
1)Street Fighter 3: Third Strike.
The most recent SF game of the series. Tight, crisp, colourful graphics. Very demanding gameplay, one for the true Street Fighter afficionado.
2)Ready 2 Rumble: Round Two
A deservedly popular caricatured boxing game. With intuitive controls, colourful characters and top-notch presentation. A light-hearted approach to boxing that could stand next to titles on any next gen machine.
3)Dead Or Alive 2
Another cross-platform game that easily compares to its PS2 counterpart. Graphically, this is the most attractive DC beat 'em up avaiable. Not least because of the jiggling mammaries in the usual DOA tradition.
DRIVING GAMES:
1)Metropolis Street Racer
The much acclaimed pre-cursor to Project Gotham Racing on the X-Box. Frankly, it's almost as good. Loooooads of cars, brilliant tracks(perfect-mapping of London street circuits!) and the excellent 'Kudos' based twist to the gameplay. Probably the best game on the DC?
2)Crazy Taxi 1 or 2
Y' know the score. Just so typically Dreamcast, the most Sega game Sega have ever made. It's Cerr-aaaaaaazy.
3)Wacky Races
This is just a Mario Kart style clone, but with characters like Dastardly and Mutley alongside the WR crew really appeals to my nostalgic side. It's also suprisingly tough in 1 player. And unsurprisingly tops when in multi-player.
SPORTS GAMES:
1)Virtua Tennis
This is still the best sports game on any platform as far as I'm concerned. It cannot be faulted. When Sega manage these arcade perfect ports of perfect arcade games, y'know it's a classic. The best 4 player game ever made.
2)Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2
With the usual top-notch THPS gameplay, this is a must-have for any skate game fan. The graphics are only slightly inferior to those seen on THPS3, and the actual game courses could easily have been swapped round without anyone noticing.
3)Sega Marine Fishing
OK, this is only on import, and it's hardly a sport, and everyone hates fishing. Even I hate fishing. But this game is undoubtedly a superb post-pub game if you can find the accompanying fishing rod peripheral. Go and reel in a shark, it's fun... honest.
ROLE PLAYING GAMES:
1)Shenmue
This is a bit of a landmark gaming moment that everyone just, kinda, forgot. Amazing visuals and sound, an immersive, free-roaming 3d world, loads of interactive characters and some slightly bizarre gameplay. I still go back to this just to play Space Harrier and Super Hang-On in the arcades.
2)Phantasy Star Online
A top notch offline RPG in its own right, but online, this really is a special game. The first console title to come close to creating a proper online community.
3)Skies Of Arcadia
This is at heart a very traditional RPG. But with beautiful graphics, huge worlds and, well, flying pirate boats it's an inspiring example. I'm not such a fan of these games myself, but this still managed to intrigue me.
SHOOT 'EM UPS:
1)Cannon Spike
I only recentley got my mitts on this, but dang! it's hella cool. It's an extremely Capcom kinda game (I'm sure you all know that the title is also the name of one of Cammy's moves in SF2). It's an overhead affair, with big bosses, big guns and big moves. In my opinion, you can't beat games like this.
2)Power Stone 2
Another bizarre Capcom freakshow of a game, it's also extremely difficult to describe this game in a few words. 4-player beat 'em up style shoot 'em up, with tanks and millions of weapons and moving game environments, plain stupid characters and stupid special moves, luminous colours and general looniness. Just buy it.
3)Zero Gunner 2
Another import-only I'm afraid. But it is very good. Helicopters, more power ups than you can believe, a boss type thing to shoot every minute or so, more shooting, more scrolling, more shooting, more helicopters, more power ups... this game is intense, believe.
MISCELLANEOUS:
1)Jet Grind Radio
What a wicked concept for a game, and the first to kick off all this cel-shaded shenanigans. Basically a futuristic rollerblading graffiti-tagging arcade style adventure. Highly original and highly entertaining, with a heavy 'urban' soundtrack to boot.
2)Ooga Booga
Another diamond that never reached these shores. This is a 4 player online caveman Olympics style arcade game. Hit each other with sticks, throw shrunken heads at each other, chase your opponent around a desert island on a wild pig. You can even play football with a massive boulder, while you're riding a wild pig. Cool... and cel-shaded with a caveman-rare-groove-jazz-fusion-tribal-beat soundtrack.
3)Touken Retsouden 4
A really weird Japanese wrestling game. Much more entertaining than your WWF, WWE, WTF nonsense.
BEAT 'EM UPS:
1)Street Fighter 3: Third Strike.
The most recent SF game of the series. Tight, crisp, colourful graphics. Very demanding gameplay, one for the true Street Fighter afficionado.
2)Ready 2 Rumble: Round Two
A deservedly popular caricatured boxing game. With intuitive controls, colourful characters and top-notch presentation. A light-hearted approach to boxing that could stand next to titles on any next gen machine.
3)Dead Or Alive 2
Another cross-platform game that easily compares to its PS2 counterpart. Graphically, this is the most attractive DC beat 'em up avaiable. Not least because of the jiggling mammaries in the usual DOA tradition.
DRIVING GAMES:
1)Metropolis Street Racer
The much acclaimed pre-cursor to Project Gotham Racing on the X-Box. Frankly, it's almost as good. Loooooads of cars, brilliant tracks(perfect-mapping of London street circuits!) and the excellent 'Kudos' based twist to the gameplay. Probably the best game on the DC?
2)Crazy Taxi 1 or 2
Y' know the score. Just so typically Dreamcast, the most Sega game Sega have ever made. It's Cerr-aaaaaaazy.
3)Wacky Races
This is just a Mario Kart style clone, but with characters like Dastardly and Mutley alongside the WR crew really appeals to my nostalgic side. It's also suprisingly tough in 1 player. And unsurprisingly tops when in multi-player.
SPORTS GAMES:
1)Virtua Tennis
This is still the best sports game on any platform as far as I'm concerned. It cannot be faulted. When Sega manage these arcade perfect ports of perfect arcade games, y'know it's a classic. The best 4 player game ever made.
2)Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2
With the usual top-notch THPS gameplay, this is a must-have for any skate game fan. The graphics are only slightly inferior to those seen on THPS3, and the actual game courses could easily have been swapped round without anyone noticing.
3)Sega Marine Fishing
OK, this is only on import, and it's hardly a sport, and everyone hates fishing. Even I hate fishing. But this game is undoubtedly a superb post-pub game if you can find the accompanying fishing rod peripheral. Go and reel in a shark, it's fun... honest.
ROLE PLAYING GAMES:
1)Shenmue
This is a bit of a landmark gaming moment that everyone just, kinda, forgot. Amazing visuals and sound, an immersive, free-roaming 3d world, loads of interactive characters and some slightly bizarre gameplay. I still go back to this just to play Space Harrier and Super Hang-On in the arcades.
2)Phantasy Star Online
A top notch offline RPG in its own right, but online, this really is a special game. The first console title to come close to creating a proper online community.
3)Skies Of Arcadia
This is at heart a very traditional RPG. But with beautiful graphics, huge worlds and, well, flying pirate boats it's an inspiring example. I'm not such a fan of these games myself, but this still managed to intrigue me.
SHOOT 'EM UPS:
1)Cannon Spike
I only recentley got my mitts on this, but dang! it's hella cool. It's an extremely Capcom kinda game (I'm sure you all know that the title is also the name of one of Cammy's moves in SF2). It's an overhead affair, with big bosses, big guns and big moves. In my opinion, you can't beat games like this.
2)Power Stone 2
Another bizarre Capcom freakshow of a game, it's also extremely difficult to describe this game in a few words. 4-player beat 'em up style shoot 'em up, with tanks and millions of weapons and moving game environments, plain stupid characters and stupid special moves, luminous colours and general looniness. Just buy it.
3)Zero Gunner 2
Another import-only I'm afraid. But it is very good. Helicopters, more power ups than you can believe, a boss type thing to shoot every minute or so, more shooting, more scrolling, more shooting, more helicopters, more power ups... this game is intense, believe.
MISCELLANEOUS:
1)Jet Grind Radio
What a wicked concept for a game, and the first to kick off all this cel-shaded shenanigans. Basically a futuristic rollerblading graffiti-tagging arcade style adventure. Highly original and highly entertaining, with a heavy 'urban' soundtrack to boot.
2)Ooga Booga
Another diamond that never reached these shores. This is a 4 player online caveman Olympics style arcade game. Hit each other with sticks, throw shrunken heads at each other, chase your opponent around a desert island on a wild pig. You can even play football with a massive boulder, while you're riding a wild pig. Cool... and cel-shaded with a caveman-rare-groove-jazz-fusion-tribal-beat soundtrack.
3)Touken Retsouden 4
A really weird Japanese wrestling game. Much more entertaining than your WWF, WWE, WTF nonsense.
My personal Dreamcast classics are:
Shenmue I&II - still the best graphics I've seen, can't wait for the 3rd installment.
Crazy Taxi 2 - better than the original, more hardcore.
Jet Set Radio - the original classic.
Rez - I'm just mesmerized by this game.
Soul Calibur - it has a certain style and panache that is beyond any other fighter.
Illbleed - peculiar and comical survival horror [import only].
Shenmue I&II - still the best graphics I've seen, can't wait for the 3rd installment.
Crazy Taxi 2 - better than the original, more hardcore.
Jet Set Radio - the original classic.
Rez - I'm just mesmerized by this game.
Soul Calibur - it has a certain style and panache that is beyond any other fighter.
Illbleed - peculiar and comical survival horror [import only].
As I'm sure nearly everyone on this particular forum would agree, the Dreamcast was a tidy little machine. Now that the last titles have been squeezed from production, here's my verdict on the essential games to snap up before they disappear all together.
BEAT 'EM UPS:
1)Street Fighter 3: Third Strike.
The most recent SF game of the series. Tight, crisp, colourful graphics. Very demanding gameplay, one for the true Street Fighter afficionado.
2)Ready 2 Rumble: Round Two
A deservedly popular caricatured boxing game. With intuitive controls, colourful characters and top-notch presentation. A light-hearted approach to boxing that could stand next to titles on any next gen machine.
3)Dead Or Alive 2
Another cross-platform game that easily compares to its PS2 counterpart. Graphically, this is the most attractive DC beat 'em up avaiable. Not least because of the jiggling mammaries in the usual DOA tradition.
DRIVING GAMES:
1)Metropolis Street Racer
The much acclaimed pre-cursor to Project Gotham Racing on the X-Box. Frankly, it's almost as good. Loooooads of cars, brilliant tracks(perfect-mapping of London street circuits!) and the excellent 'Kudos' based twist to the gameplay. Probably the best game on the DC?
2)Crazy Taxi 1 or 2
Y' know the score. Just so typically Dreamcast, the most Sega game Sega have ever made. It's Cerr-aaaaaaazy.
3)Wacky Races
This is just a Mario Kart style clone, but with characters like Dastardly and Mutley alongside the WR crew really appeals to my nostalgic side. It's also suprisingly tough in 1 player. And unsurprisingly tops when in multi-player.
SPORTS GAMES:
1)Virtua Tennis
This is still the best sports game on any platform as far as I'm concerned. It cannot be faulted. When Sega manage these arcade perfect ports of perfect arcade games, y'know it's a classic. The best 4 player game ever made.
2)Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2
With the usual top-notch THPS gameplay, this is a must-have for any skate game fan. The graphics are only slightly inferior to those seen on THPS3, and the actual game courses could easily have been swapped round without anyone noticing.
3)Sega Marine Fishing
OK, this is only on import, and it's hardly a sport, and everyone hates fishing. Even I hate fishing. But this game is undoubtedly a superb post-pub game if you can find the accompanying fishing rod peripheral. Go and reel in a shark, it's fun... honest.
ROLE PLAYING GAMES:
1)Shenmue
This is a bit of a landmark gaming moment that everyone just, kinda, forgot. Amazing visuals and sound, an immersive, free-roaming 3d world, loads of interactive characters and some slightly bizarre gameplay. I still go back to this just to play Space Harrier and Super Hang-On in the arcades.
2)Phantasy Star Online
A top notch offline RPG in its own right, but online, this really is a special game. The first console title to come close to creating a proper online community.
3)Skies Of Arcadia
This is at heart a very traditional RPG. But with beautiful graphics, huge worlds and, well, flying pirate boats it's an inspiring example. I'm not such a fan of these games myself, but this still managed to intrigue me.
SHOOT 'EM UPS:
1)Cannon Spike
I only recentley got my mitts on this, but dang! it's hella cool. It's an extremely Capcom kinda game (I'm sure you all know that the title is also the name of one of Cammy's moves in SF2). It's an overhead affair, with big bosses, big guns and big moves. In my opinion, you can't beat games like this.
2)Power Stone 2
Another bizarre Capcom freakshow of a game, it's also extremely difficult to describe this game in a few words. 4-player beat 'em up style shoot 'em up, with tanks and millions of weapons and moving game environments, plain stupid characters and stupid special moves, luminous colours and general looniness. Just buy it.
3)Zero Gunner 2
Another import-only I'm afraid. But it is very good. Helicopters, more power ups than you can believe, a boss type thing to shoot every minute or so, more shooting, more scrolling, more shooting, more helicopters, more power ups... this game is intense, believe.
MISCELLANEOUS:
1)Jet Grind Radio
What a wicked concept for a game, and the first to kick off all this cel-shaded shenanigans. Basically a futuristic rollerblading graffiti-tagging arcade style adventure. Highly original and highly entertaining, with a heavy 'urban' soundtrack to boot.
2)Ooga Booga
Another diamond that never reached these shores. This is a 4 player online caveman Olympics style arcade game. Hit each other with sticks, throw shrunken heads at each other, chase your opponent around a desert island on a wild pig. You can even play football with a massive boulder, while you're riding a wild pig. Cool... and cel-shaded with a caveman-rare-groove-jazz-fusion-tribal-beat soundtrack.
3)Touken Retsouden 4
A really weird Japanese wrestling game. Much more entertaining than your WWF, WWE, WTF nonsense.
BEAT 'EM UPS:
1)Street Fighter 3: Third Strike.
The most recent SF game of the series. Tight, crisp, colourful graphics. Very demanding gameplay, one for the true Street Fighter afficionado.
2)Ready 2 Rumble: Round Two
A deservedly popular caricatured boxing game. With intuitive controls, colourful characters and top-notch presentation. A light-hearted approach to boxing that could stand next to titles on any next gen machine.
3)Dead Or Alive 2
Another cross-platform game that easily compares to its PS2 counterpart. Graphically, this is the most attractive DC beat 'em up avaiable. Not least because of the jiggling mammaries in the usual DOA tradition.
DRIVING GAMES:
1)Metropolis Street Racer
The much acclaimed pre-cursor to Project Gotham Racing on the X-Box. Frankly, it's almost as good. Loooooads of cars, brilliant tracks(perfect-mapping of London street circuits!) and the excellent 'Kudos' based twist to the gameplay. Probably the best game on the DC?
2)Crazy Taxi 1 or 2
Y' know the score. Just so typically Dreamcast, the most Sega game Sega have ever made. It's Cerr-aaaaaaazy.
3)Wacky Races
This is just a Mario Kart style clone, but with characters like Dastardly and Mutley alongside the WR crew really appeals to my nostalgic side. It's also suprisingly tough in 1 player. And unsurprisingly tops when in multi-player.
SPORTS GAMES:
1)Virtua Tennis
This is still the best sports game on any platform as far as I'm concerned. It cannot be faulted. When Sega manage these arcade perfect ports of perfect arcade games, y'know it's a classic. The best 4 player game ever made.
2)Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2
With the usual top-notch THPS gameplay, this is a must-have for any skate game fan. The graphics are only slightly inferior to those seen on THPS3, and the actual game courses could easily have been swapped round without anyone noticing.
3)Sega Marine Fishing
OK, this is only on import, and it's hardly a sport, and everyone hates fishing. Even I hate fishing. But this game is undoubtedly a superb post-pub game if you can find the accompanying fishing rod peripheral. Go and reel in a shark, it's fun... honest.
ROLE PLAYING GAMES:
1)Shenmue
This is a bit of a landmark gaming moment that everyone just, kinda, forgot. Amazing visuals and sound, an immersive, free-roaming 3d world, loads of interactive characters and some slightly bizarre gameplay. I still go back to this just to play Space Harrier and Super Hang-On in the arcades.
2)Phantasy Star Online
A top notch offline RPG in its own right, but online, this really is a special game. The first console title to come close to creating a proper online community.
3)Skies Of Arcadia
This is at heart a very traditional RPG. But with beautiful graphics, huge worlds and, well, flying pirate boats it's an inspiring example. I'm not such a fan of these games myself, but this still managed to intrigue me.
SHOOT 'EM UPS:
1)Cannon Spike
I only recentley got my mitts on this, but dang! it's hella cool. It's an extremely Capcom kinda game (I'm sure you all know that the title is also the name of one of Cammy's moves in SF2). It's an overhead affair, with big bosses, big guns and big moves. In my opinion, you can't beat games like this.
2)Power Stone 2
Another bizarre Capcom freakshow of a game, it's also extremely difficult to describe this game in a few words. 4-player beat 'em up style shoot 'em up, with tanks and millions of weapons and moving game environments, plain stupid characters and stupid special moves, luminous colours and general looniness. Just buy it.
3)Zero Gunner 2
Another import-only I'm afraid. But it is very good. Helicopters, more power ups than you can believe, a boss type thing to shoot every minute or so, more shooting, more scrolling, more shooting, more helicopters, more power ups... this game is intense, believe.
MISCELLANEOUS:
1)Jet Grind Radio
What a wicked concept for a game, and the first to kick off all this cel-shaded shenanigans. Basically a futuristic rollerblading graffiti-tagging arcade style adventure. Highly original and highly entertaining, with a heavy 'urban' soundtrack to boot.
2)Ooga Booga
Another diamond that never reached these shores. This is a 4 player online caveman Olympics style arcade game. Hit each other with sticks, throw shrunken heads at each other, chase your opponent around a desert island on a wild pig. You can even play football with a massive boulder, while you're riding a wild pig. Cool... and cel-shaded with a caveman-rare-groove-jazz-fusion-tribal-beat soundtrack.
3)Touken Retsouden 4
A really weird Japanese wrestling game. Much more entertaining than your WWF, WWE, WTF nonsense.