What's so great about the Dreamcast?

[alpha5099]

Don't get me wrong, I love my Dreamcast. It's home to several of my all time favorite games.

But the way some people talk about it, it's as though it's Sega's greatest consoles. Fuck, the way some people talk about it, the Dreamcast is the second coming of Christ.

I just don't understand why it's so highly regarded. It's library doesn't seem that impressive to me, there seems to be far more available for the Genesis and the Saturn. Maybe if the system hadn't been axed prematurely, it could've reached the pinnacle of Sega console-dom, but it just seems to me it was a lot of great potential that got cut down in its prime.

There's what, a dozen or so shmups, 2 or 3 great RPGs, a buttload of fighting games, Jet Set Radio, Rez? Am I missing some X-factor that endears so many people to the final Sega console? What about the Dreamcast leads it to be the second most popular system, on that poll over in the mainthread, behind the PS2?

[Ganelon]

Same here, never understood the DC fervor. There's few games I find interesting on the DC (mostly the fighters). And nearly all of that stuff can be found on other systems. I basically got my DC solely for Marvel vs. Capcom and nowadays the only stuff I play on it are Langrisser Millennium and Gundam Side Story 0079:RFTA. I find the Saturn and even PS far more appealing.

[FatCobra]

I guess I feel the same here too, I never really saw why people rave over the DC, much like the way they rave over the next yearly update of Madden or that overrated FPShite called Halo. To me, the Dreamcast is a weird little console with weird Japanese games. I find the Saturn much more interesting.

[sethsez]

I prefer it to the Saturn, but I still don't think it's all that it's cracked up to be.

[Rob]

Am I missing some X-factor that endears so many people to the final Sega console?

Unlike the Saturn, they seemed to be putting out unique and fun games for themselves for the first time since the early 90s. Add quality shooters.

Shenmue.

[BulletMagnet]

It's not my personal favorite console either, but to its list of likable factors I'd add that it's cheap to get and can play import stuff relatively easily, which can't be said for quite a few other systems.

[sethsez]

It's not my personal favorite console either, but to its list of likable factors I'd add that it's cheap to get and can play pirated stuff relatively easily, which can't be said for quite a few other systems.

Edited for (unfortunate) accuracy.

[Turrican]

Am I missing some X-factor that endears so many people to the final Sega console?

Unlike the Saturn, they seemed to be putting out unique and fun games for themselves for the first time since the early 90s. Add quality shooters.

Shenmue.

Yeah. I like the idea behind Dreamcast and Sega's creativity there. It would have been definitely better than the Saturn given the premises. It only needed to last a year more than it did. As it is, it's a failed experiment and only takes space in the room.

Hey alpha5099, are you going to do a thread for every console now?

[alpha5099]

Hey alpha5099, are you going to do a thread for every console now?

Sigh, I guess I have to now. I've already got the DC, GC, and GameBoy covered. Genesis next, I guess.

[MadSteelDarkness]

Some really great exclusives, plus native VGA support.

Yep, that's why I loves my Dreamcast. But then I love all of my consoles, save maybe for my dedicated Sin and Punishment player. And I still like that one, too.

[Diabollokus]

The dreamcast delivered the goods and continues to do so. axed down in its prime when it had the potential to outshine any of the next gen consoles. The library of great games for it is bloody massive, name a bunch of truly great ps2,GC and xbox games, very short list.

[Turrican]

I love all of my consoles, save maybe for my dedicated Sin and Punishment player. And I still like that one, too.

LOL, very funny!

[CMoon]

Well I feel like in its hayday the DC was THE console, when it was running against PS2, it had a better line up, cheaper games, and many of their titles actually looked better than the PS2 titles that were then available.

There really was a point where there was a new incredible AAA title or two out for the DC every month, so these were great times!

The problem is, MOST of the DC goodness got ported to other consoles eventually with a few glaring exceptions. Worse, some of these ports are better than their original DC versions, eliminating most of the reasons for playing the DC at all.

What remains are the nich titles that were never picked up, and while some of these are great, many are just sort of weird (Seaman).

My other issue with it is that while it has a good shooter collection, it isn't as deep as others make it out, especially if you aren't a Takumi fan boy (I have rather lukewarm feelings toward their games and I know I'm not the only one). There's also a great deal of debate surrounding the quality of games like Psyvariar 2 and Chaos Field (nevermind that these, Shiki 2 and Ikaruga were ported elsewhere). In truth, exclusive titles boil down to the amazing Border Down, Zero Gunner 2, the Gigawings & Mars Matrix, Trizeal and perhaps Bangai-O if you count it (perhaps even Cannon Spike).

True, the DC really was 'the little white box that could', but 5 years later, its terribly short lifespan is evident with a library that has been made even shallower due to numerous ports on other consoles.

So yeah, I do love the console and maybe it is even hard to move on, but there aren't enough games to keep me on the console consistantly.

[alpha5099]

and perhaps Bangai-O if you count it

If you count it among shmups, because it's a borderliner? Or if you count it among exclusives, because it's an N64 port?

[Ganelon]

Does it really matter which?

[Andi]

I stopped regretting the sale of my Dreamcast the day my roommate got Phantasy Star Online for Gamecube.

[Neon]

The Gamecube port of Ikaruga doesn't count

I don't like the exclusives as much as I used to, it's still got the best port of Ikaruga, Gunbird 2, and Mars Matrix, so I'll keep it around, but meh.

Dunno how you can make a thread praising gamecube while bashing this system though. GC's got nothing.

[Ganelon]

LOL, the irony... well, GC does have a lot of mainstream games.

[alpha5099]

Dunno how you can make a thread praising gamecube while bashing this system though. GC's got nothing.

I started that thread thinking I might very well chuck the GC. This thread started with glowing praise of the Dreamcast. You've got it reversed. When I was considering chucking the GC, most of the games I would sell I would have bought back on the DC.

[ST Dragon]

Don't get me wrong, I love my Dreamcast. It's home to several of my all time favorite games.

But the way some people talk about it, it's as though it's Sega's greatest consoles. Fuck, the way some people talk about it, the Dreamcast is the second coming of Christ.

I just don't understand why it's so highly regarded. It's library doesn't seem that impressive to me, there seems to be far more available for the Genesis and the Saturn. Maybe if the system hadn't been axed prematurely, it could've reached the pinnacle of Sega console-dom, but it just seems to me it was a lot of great potential that got cut down in its prime.

There's what, a dozen or so shmups, 2 or 3 great RPGs, a buttload of fighting games, Jet Set Radio, Rez? Am I missing some X-factor that endears so many people to the final Sega console? What about the Dreamcast leads it to be the second most popular system, on that poll over in the mainthread, behind the PS2?

I thought Doom3 was considered the 2nd coming of Christ

[D]

Dreamcast is the FIRTS 128-Bit console.
It has great emu's SNES/NES/Megadrive/Master System/GG.
The sega emu run superb, then intendo run a little less good, but hey
It has Propeller arena
You don't have to mod your dreamcast........

The Saturn is way better imho. Just for the amount of arcade games released for it.

[neorichieb1971]

DC was always over rated. The only games I enjoyed on it when it first came out were Resident evil Code Veronica, Sega Rally 2 and Hotd 2.

Then I enjoyed Fur fighters and Rayman 2. But I think thats it. It wasn't until I started buying shooters that I started to buy for the system again.

Oh, I did buy some Capcom fighters on the system at some point.

[Nei First]

Dreamcast is the FIRTS 128-Bit console.
It has great emu's SNES/NES/Megadrive/Master System/GG.
The sega emu run superb, then intendo run a little less good, but hey
It has Propeller arena
You don't have to mod your dreamcast........

The Saturn is way better imho. Just for the amount of arcade games released for it.

Ummm, no actually the GEN/SNES emulators for the DC arn't good at all. The sound quality for the GEN is real screwed up, and SNES emu jerks way too much. The only good ones I've seen are the NES, Master system and Game gear emu, they work flawlessly on the DC.

I know the PS2 has a very good GEN emulator though.

I love the Dreamcast!

[Turrican]

Dreamcast is the FIRTS 128-Bit console.
It has great emu's SNES/NES/Megadrive/Master System/GG.
The sega emu run superb, then intendo run a little less good, but hey
It has Propeller arena
You don't have to mod your dreamcast........

Oh, yeah! The Dreamcast and the Xbox, they STEAL other systems' classic games via emulation, so they become the best consoles!!!

Yeah, the Dreamcast was a real legend, it is capable of running SMS' Alex Kidd! I can't still believe how PS2 conquered the market against it.

/sarcasm.

[nullstar]

Hey alpha5099, are you going to do a thread for every console now? :wink:

Sigh, I guess I have to now. I've already got the DC, GC, and GameBoy covered. Genesis next, I guess.

With an indecisive answer like that...sounds like you need to conduct a poll! ;)

[jp]

Don't get me wrong, I love my Dreamcast. It's home to several of my all time favorite games.

But the way some people talk about it, it's as though it's Sega's greatest consoles. Fuck, the way some people talk about it, the Dreamcast is the second coming of Christ.

I just don't understand why it's so highly regarded. It's library doesn't seem that impressive to me, there seems to be far more available for the Genesis and the Saturn. Maybe if the system hadn't been axed prematurely, it could've reached the pinnacle of Sega console-dom, but it just seems to me it was a lot of great potential that got cut down in its prime.

There's what, a dozen or so shmups, 2 or 3 great RPGs, a buttload of fighting games, Jet Set Radio, Rez? Am I missing some X-factor that endears so many people to the final Sega console? What about the Dreamcast leads it to be the second most popular system, on that poll over in the mainthread, behind the PS2?

IMO it isn't as good as the Saturn, but it was the last great huzzah for niche/hardcore gaming.

[Turrican]

It was downhill since Megadrive guys. It's sorta sad but can't be helped.

[Specineff]

The Dreamcast didn't sell out to corporate crap, unlike some other companies. Even though it costed Sega its hardware division, I'd much rather have Seaman, Ooga Booga, PSO, Tech Romancer, Jet Set Radio, Typing of the Dead, VOOT and such great games versus another Madden and FIFA Rehash.

And if that is not enough, Speci-f***ing-neff in VOOT. ( I mean the robot.)

And that it's not dead yet. And that when it does, it shall do it with no regrets.

[ST Dragon]

I like the DC mainly for it's cool JPN shmups. Most other games for it aren't that special.

[sffan]

Don't get me wrong, I love my Dreamcast. It's home to several of my all time favorite games.

But the way some people talk about it, it's as though it's Sega's greatest consoles. Fuck, the way some people talk about it, the Dreamcast is the second coming of Christ.

I just don't understand why it's so highly regarded. It's library doesn't seem that impressive to me, there seems to be far more available for the Genesis and the Saturn. Maybe if the system hadn't been axed prematurely, it could've reached the pinnacle of Sega console-dom, but it just seems to me it was a lot of great potential that got cut down in its prime.

There's what, a dozen or so shmups, 2 or 3 great RPGs, a buttload of fighting games, Jet Set Radio, Rez? Am I missing some X-factor that endears so many people to the final Sega console? What about the Dreamcast leads it to be the second most popular system, on that poll over in the mainthread, behind the PS2?

I thought Doom3 was considered the 2nd coming of Christ

Around here, Mushihime will be the 2nd coming, or rather, "cumming." Huh huh.