Sonic Adventure
I love sonic I much prefer him over Mario and when I was growing he was my boy. Originally released at launch for the Sega Dreamcast, Sonic Adventure was the first entry in the main series since Sonic & Knuckles, this outing would see you take control of up to 4 characters as you take on the adventure mode that consists of two areas, The adventure field consists of many events that you encounter throughout the duration of the story… in order to advance the plot… whilst completing action stages that become available depending on your progress. One of the most exciting aspects of the game is its story which is surprisingly strong for a sonic game and deserves some praise but It was always going to be an issue moving a beloved blue friend in to the realm of 3D and for the most part Sonic team did a great job with the controls, but you still end up slamming in to walls which is mainly due to the incredibly annoying camera… Which just randomly decides to violently swing around or get stuck or something and there are even parts of the game where the camera just blatantly doesn’t work. But where the game fails in one area it more than makes up for it in another… The amount of variety in this game is astonishing, sure you can call it an adventure game, but you’ll also find yourself racing around in Karts, screaming downhill on snowboards, playing some pinball and even raising creatures through the Dreamcast’s VMU whilst away from the main game.
Street Fighter 3 3rd Strike
Released in 2000 and brought to us by capcom Street Fighter 3 Thrid strike was the final update to the Street Fighter 3 series and saw many changes to the base game. Extending the character roster by including 5 new characters in to the mix as well as the previous combatants receiving new stages and endings that continue the plot from where the first two iterations left off. The main change Street Fighter 3 Thrid strike brought with it was the way in which throws are performed as well as universal overheads for each character. The single player mode sees you fighting 10 characters, which include a character specific rival as well as the games boss Gill, but the most important inclusion is the mini game fans all know and love from street fighter 2 And that is the crush a car mini game…. What better way to get out some frustration between rounds. Street fighter 3rd strike is my essential go to fighter for the system and if you don’t fancy picking it up for the Dreamcast, Capcom released a version for the PS3 and 360 which also includes online play.
Shenmue
Here's a good drinking game for you, when playing Shenmue every time Ryo says the word sailor... take a drink... believe me when i say... you'll be fucking fat chicks in no time. In all seriousness though unless you have the attention span of a carrot your probably fully aware of how much this series means to me. Shenmue was a deeply personal experience.. If I could some it up in one word... that word would be magical and no I'm not trying to sell you something from apple... but describing Shenmue to someone who potentially has not yet had the chance to play it is really tricky. Released in 1999, Shenmue introduced a new type of gaming, a world in which you are free to pursue what you want… may that be just heading down to the in game arcade to play some of sagas classics… Spending your time collecting toy capsules or just exploring the world which is absolutely teeming with life.
Although not perfect, the game does deliver. on its premise and introduces an epic tale of a young man on a quest too seek his fathers murderer. Shenmue raised the bar and showcased what the Dreamcast was capable of, unfortunately is would not be enough to turn the Dreamcasts fortunes around but has it gone on to establish an incredible fanbase with nothing but love for the game.
F355 challenge
F355 challenge was originally developed for the arcades and later ported to the Dreamcast, what makes this game so special is the inclusion of Yu Suzuki, who directed the game and even want as far to use data from his own Ferrari for the game… Now thats dedication. As many know Yu Suzuki is the man behind many of Sega’s greatest titles and F355 is no exception, including over 10 courses for you to race on the game is considered to be the most accurate simulation of the F355 and the closet peasants like my self would ever get to driving one in real life. The most striking thing about F335 is the games graphics and it is abundantly clear that a lot of time has been put into the the simulation aspect of the game, even down to inability to change your view whilst driving… this game takes its simulation serious and you’ll be wishing you could just pop into a third person view just to take in the games beauty. Delivered a t a solid 60fps, F355 is undeniably a masterpiece, Yu suzuki set out to deliver a premier Ferrari driving experience and he did just that.
Blue Stinger
Now Blue Stinger is one of those games that went by largely unnoticed, mainly due to the negative reception it received upon its release and for good reason… The camera was a mess and the game did feel repetitive at times, but somewhere buried underneath the layers of crap was a game trying to tell a very cool story and in that aspect it delivered. The game takes many of its cues from tomb raider and resident evil and it really feels that the guys over at Climax must have been playing nothing but those games when creating blue stinger. Released in 1999 the action survival horror would see you exploring dinosaur island as you unravel the plot and confront the monsters who have occupied the island, you gain new weapons and items from the various vending machines placed around the world by using coins that are dropped by the games enemies. As mentioned earlier the camera can be a bit of a pain and to make matters worse the original japanese release featured a cinematic style camera system that was swapped for the standard third person view… In my opinion I prefer the original camera system as I felt it added a lot to the tension and went a long way in helping the games atmosphere become more engrossing.
Outrigger
Also originally developed for the arcades, outrigger was brought to the Dreamcast in 2001 and introduced us to one of the systems greatest games, a first and third person shooter, Outtrigger gave you the choice of up to 4 characters each with there own specific weapon and attributes. You pitted against each other set out across a variety of stages where you shall pick up powers that give you an advantage such as the ability to see through walls or weaponray that can turn the tide of a battle like the plasma cannon that shoots balls of energy which bounce off the walls. What made it so special was the ability to play the game online all at a blistering 60fps, back in 2001 outrigger really gave quake and unreal tournament a run for there money. But James you say your insane how could a console shooter hold up to such greatness… Well outtrigger includes keyboard and mouse support which is one of the essential aspects of the experience. If you going to pick this one up I highly suggest investing a bit more in the control scheme as playing with a controller can become annoying nut not to the point of unplayability.
The last Blade 2
The last blade 2 is a port of a neogeo 2d fighting game made by snk, but before you moan and groan this is nothing like street fighter, marvel vs capcom or any other beat em up that hit the dreamcast for that matter. What distinguishes The last blade 2 from its comtemparies is the inclusion of weapons and several mechanics such as repel that works like a counter as well as being given the option to choose a fighting style which range from power, speed hidden. All of these aspects add up to one of the most enjoyable fighting experiences I’ve ever had. Announced as SNK’s last game for the dreamcast, it was received well amongst the gaming press of the time and continues to hold up until this day. One of the best aspects of the game has to be its sound design… Believe to or not but some of the stages have absoultley no music, instead the enthisis is placed on the enviromental sounds such as the wind blowing or houses burning in the background sliced with the characters usual sounds helps to create a really ambient atmosphere when playing the game and in my opinion was a total success.
Tokyo Extreme Racer 2
Developed by Genki and released for the system in 2000, Tokyo Extreme Racer 2 improves upon the original in every way and ended up being the most enjoyable racing experience on the system in my opinion. As the title suggest, the game offers you the chance to become a part of the underground extreme racing that takes place in Tokyo. You are allotetd a specific amount of funds to buy an old banger and then head out on to the streets… What makes it unique is the ability to just cruise around the highway until your hearts content but where the game really shines is upon encountering a rival. By simply flashing your headlights at the rival initiates a race right at that moment, instead of the usual start here finish there… Tokyo Extreme racer 2 gives the player an energy meter and it is this meter that determines the winner, the car behind will have the meter drain slowly and the first to have there bar emptied looses. By winning races you shall receive in game currency to spend on upgrading your vehicle, from adding parts, new paint jobs and stickers the customisation is impressive. To be honest I just found myself driving around Tokyo and taking everything in at my own pace… Its a surprisingly relaxing practice.
Project Justice
The dreamcast is well known for the amount of amazing fighters that blessed it… This really is a dream console for fighting fans and with games like Project Justice… It’s really hard to argue that fact. Developed by capcom and released in 2001, Project justice is the sequel to rivals schools which released for the original playstation back in 98… Building upon the foundation that made the original so great, Project Justice continues to be a team fighter but instead of commanding a team of two, the notch is now turned up to three. And allows you to execute devastating Party up attacks that see all three characters taking out your opponent. Another aspect carried over from the original is the ability to create your own character that can be used in all of the games modes apart from single player. Also including a pretty robust story mode that offers branching paths for your fighters due to various decisions you are greeted with throughout its duration.
Armada
Many labeled this game as one of the worst Dreamcast games and at the time it was understandable I mean here we had a console with 128bits of Sega power and this game kind of looks like it belongs on the ps1… The old saying gameplay over graphics has b=never been more iplicable than here! Armarda is a top down view shooter with an RPG style storyline, it is based on a level based experience system and as you blow shit up and and clear missions you get to upgrade your ship of choice as well as a currency system to acquire items to aid you in your quest. The game was originally penned to include a massive multiplayer experience with an endless universe of cooperative online play but due to the limitations of the Dreamcasts network setup, this solution was shaped for a more intimate local multiplayer experience. And taking on this game with up to 3 other players is a fucking blast… The screen literally litters with enemies and is the perfect game to play when you have your mates around… Fuck Fifa Armada is where its at.
Cosmic smash
As like many Dreamcast titles, Cosmis smash was originally an arcade game that eventually found a home on the Dreamcast in 2001. The game is highly influenced by squash but instead of facing another player it is your job to dissolve different shapes by knocking the ball back and fourth between yourself and the object. Each level introduces a different variation of the blocks that all come in exciting shapes and colours… The darker blocks require more force in order to be knocked over where as the clear blocks cannot be toppled and act as a barrier. The experience all feels a bit claustrophobic but that is not something that takes away from the game, the simplistic but vibrant visuals more than make up for the lack of space, the surprisingly deep gameplay promises rewarding anyone who is willing to put the time into learning the games several mechanics that will offer you an edge when participating in each level. Whilst the game is incredibly fast, fun and simple, I would say it is best played in short bursts as it can quickly become repetitive due to the nature of the arcade structure but still none the less a great game for the system you should totally check out.
Cannon Spike
If your a Capcom fan your probably aware of this little gem, another arcade port, Cannon spike is a love letter to capcom fans… Far into the future, a rogue group of terrorist robots wreak havoc on the world and it's citizens. The Anti Robot Squad Special Forces has been created to overthrow these radical robots. You take control as one of six characters with an arsenal of weapons and and a set of high powered motor boots, tasked with taking them out. Bringing six characters from the various franchises that make up the company, Cannon spike is a multidirectional shooter and is quite similar to commando, a game released way back in 1985 by capcom. Becoming increasingly rare to find nowadays the game pits you against enemies across levels that include two areas, in order to prgress you must take them all out as well a boss that appears at the end of each. This game is literally about shooting the fuck out of everything on screen… Do not go in expecting anything more or less, there is no exploration, no platforming and no driving just pure shooting, the only aspect I would say where the game fails is not including any extras from the arcade port, this is basically a no frills port and as a consequence feels quite short but with the game being so much fun it is quite easy to overlook this aspect.
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