Topic: Let's Talk SEGA Dreamcast

If any of you have taken a look at this week's installment of "What Are You Playing This Weekend", you may have noticed that Ken and I are both fans of the Dreamcast. While I can't speak to the extent of Ken's love for SEGA's arcade-perfect console, I myself am a MASSIVE fan.

From Shenmue to Speed Devils, SEGA Bass Fishing to Power Stone, there really was no shortage of quality titles available for the late console, in any genre. It was the promise of true arcade experiences in the living room that initially captured my attention, but genre defining games like Sonic Adventure, Soulcalibur and Skies of Arcadia kept me on board for the long run.

Another reason I feel this topic is relevant, is because in a recent forum comment, @Gamer83 compared the quality of Xbox One's launch lineup to that of the Dreamcast, and I happen to agree with the similarities in not only quantity, but also quality.

What about you guys? Any launch memories, favorite games, or worst experiences? Do you still have your Dreamcast hooked up and readily available, or is it off in a box somewhere, collecting dust?

This is the place to talk all things SEGA Dreamcast!

I myself am a massive Dreamcast fan. At one point, I set out on a mission to try and collect every one of the PAL releases. I ended up putting it on the back burner, but I'll pick it up again.

My collection looks like this at the moment...

It's not much of a collection - used to have about 4 times as much, including Japanese and US releases, but got rid of a lot of it. I LOVE the arcade stick.

As for memories of the system....where to start? MS-R was just amazing. Crazy Taxi, spent too long on it. Skies of Arcadia was absolutely amazing. Virtua Tennis and the sequel - just brilliant. But the top of the tree for me was Shenmue. There had just never been anything even remotely close to that game at the time. It dominated my life.

I just loved the fact that even though Sega's own games were generally shortlived, you knew that if you picked one up, it would be at the very least, an above average game.

Great machine. Easily my favourite console of all time.

DUDE...I NEED that arcade stick! I've never seen that before, do you know if it's compatible with US units? That's a nice collection overall. I'm not quite sure I even have that many games anymore - traded bunches away years ago, and regret it.

Speaking of Shenmue, I have the BEST memories of playing through that one right when it came out. I didn't have the money to buy it, so I hassled my local rental shop to call me as soon as it came in...and thankfully they did. I played ALL weekend, barely left my room. That may have been one of the most engrossing gaming experiences of my lifetime. Truly spectacular game.

It's so hard for me to say what my favorite console of all time would be. I know that it's between SNES, N64 and Dreamcast, with GameCube sitting not too far outside (can't explain it, just love that machine).

What about hidden gems? Anything not so in the spotlight that you had a fantastic time with? Speed Devils (which I know we've talked about), Fur Fighters, and Toy Commander come to mind for me.

I have one that I bought from a retro game store in my area for $30.  The only game I have is Shenmue which I picked up from my local Goodwill.  I mean to start a collection but I keep getting sidetracked and with the PS4 arrive here soon it will probably be awhile till I get back to it.

During the initial launch of the system I didn't own one opting instead for a Playstation 2 and Gamecube that Gen.

If you're going to only have one game for the Dreamcast, you can't go wrong with Shenmue. Have you spent any time with it yet?

Wow.  You guys across seas got WAY better game cases for your DC.  If there's one thing I hate about that system (which is also the only thing I hate about it!) it's that in the U.S. they came in jewel cases.  They break so easily!

Unfortunately no.  I am in the process of moving so right now my retro setup is in shambles.  I have a CRT tv which I use for all my old systems but its not hooked up to anything right now.  There is quite a few games I do want to get on the DC but as like I said I dont have the money right now to expand on that plus I guess the area to play it at all.

I ended up getting a Dreamcast with two controllers, a memory card, and Virtua Tennis at my local Salvation Army for $25 a while ago. Best deal ever. I've gotten a few games since, including Jet Grind Radio, Dead or Alive 2, Crazy Taxi, Skies of Arcadia, and Legacy of Kain, among others. Wonderful system, and way ahead of its time.

Oh well, when you finally get around to playing you'll appreciate it all the more.

Totally ahead of its time, no doubt about that! Such good games you've got there, and SO many more to choose from if you want to expand the collection. Have you played Power Stone yet? Phenomenal.

@DRL I've been meaning to get Power Stone 2, but it's pretty pricey. During the next drought period, I may get it, because if there's a game that I want to add to my collection for Dreamcast, it's that one.

Yes, price is certainly an issue. I used to own Power Stone 2 but sold it years ago. So, so, SO much fun when playing with friends. Probably my favorite 4-player game for the system. If you see it for a reasonable price, don't pass it up.

@DRL:  Totally.  I have come close to hooking it up though so who knows maybe sometime here soon I will break down and check it out.  Out of curiosity what other games are good on the DC?  The only ones I ever hear that are must have are Shenmue and Marvel VS Capcom 2.

I know that Skies of Arcadia is good cause I have that on the Gamecube so I wont be needing that one.

There are SO many awesome games for Dreamcast, but it really depends what genre you're into.

If you can snatch up the fishing rod peripheral, both SEGA Bass & Marine Fishing can be great ways to kill some time. Sword of the Berserk is an odd, yet engrossing hack-n-slash title. I go to Speed Devils, Rush 2049, Sega Rally 2 and Hyrdo Thunder for racing. Then there are games like Space Channel 5, Toy Commander and Fur Fighters to offer a break from the norm.

I really could go on all day.

Our cases do LOOK better, but they break even easier than the jewel cases. I'm talking about if you open them up to take the manual out, the hinges snap. Pretty much every case I have (including some of the sealed games, somehow!) has snapped hinges. It's a real shame, as the cases are really nice to look at, otherwise!

As far as I'm aware, it's compatible with US units, yeah. It works on my Japanese DC, so I assume the US one would be the same!

All man thats great to know looks like I made a smart choice picking up a DC.  Might have to start my collection here soon.

I found that pretty much any of the SEGA NAOMI-based arcade titles are well worth the money. Crazy Taxi, Virtua Tennis, 18 Wheeler, Virtua Athlete...I could go on. In short, if it was an arcade game that was ported to the DC (some of them weren't even ports, they were the same disc as the NAOMI system used, with menu modifications), it was worth a go.

Dave mentioned Hydro Thunder and Skies of Arcadia, too. Skies is probably my favourite turn-based RPG, after Final Fantasy VII and Fire Emblem 3DS. Superb game. Looking to pick it up again on GC or DC, but second hand copies of it are more expensive than a new game over here in the UK!

I've been trying to find Skies of Arcadia (GCN) locally for an affordable price with no luck. Traded in the Dreamcast version towards a GameCube console back in the day. That day I traded in so many games that I didn't have to spend a dime out of pocket for a Cube and Smash Bros Melee. Getting a "free" console was awesome, but I get inconsolably depressed when I think about what I gave up. Sonic Adventure 2 and Shenmue being a couple others that come to mind. :/

@DRL: I was lucky.  I was able to find my copy of Skies of Arcadia on the GC at a Gamestop in my area back during the GC era and picked it up for $9.99 used.  I heard so many good things about this game on the DC that when I saw it at that price I knew I had to get.  Still have it to this day.

Salting my wounds, eh? That's not nice.

At one point GameStop was selling Cube games for dirt cheap, and great ones to boot! I capitalized on it for a short time before they were pulled from local stores. I remember getting Prime for $3.99, Star Fox Adventures for $7, and Mario Golf for $5 (just to name a few). Heck, I think I even purchased my Dreamcast Fishing Rod there for something like $2.