This might sound strange coming from someone who grew up in the early 90's off of the Sega Genesis and would play their cousin's Master System as well, but as the big Sega kid that I was, the Dreamcast is kind of a hole in my gaming history. I ended up getting one from a friend in high school a year or two after it was officially dead but never had more than maybe 2 or 3 games. If I wanted to go back and play through a lot of those games and really see what that system was all about, what would you say are essential games to cement the system in my mind and become educated on it?
Dreamcast
Platform »
The Dreamcast is the fifth and final console developed by Sega and the first of the sixth-generation of consoles to release. As the first 128-bit system, it was the first to offer truly arcade-quality 3D graphics. It is famous for being the first console to include worldwide online capability, its game library, and its unexpectedly short life span.
What are essential Dreamcast games to play?
If you have a couple of controllers and know anyone else who would be interested in your experiment, I can recommend Power Stone. It's some of the best chaotic fun I had with the Dreamcast.
Skies of Arcadia, though the GameCube version is perhaps slightly better due to additional content. SoulCaliber, absolutely. All the 2K sports games are all terrific, but especially Virtua Tennis/Tennis 2K2. Crazy Taxi is really good and the Dreamcast version is (I think) the only place to get the original Offspring soundtrack. Maybe Sonic Adventure or Shenmue just to see them, as they are often referenced on the Bombcast. Resident Evil: Code Veronica was good, but is also available elsewhere. Powerstone (1 or 2), if you can get some friends together for local multiplayer.
I remember REALLY liking the Spawn game. Besides that, we mostly played Power Stone (1 and 2) and Soul Calibur.
Power Stone, Soul Calibur, Shenmue, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Space Channel 5, Seaman, Sonic Adventure, and Sambo de Amigo are the big ones I remember when it comes to the Dreamcast, but you could probably skip playing Sonic Adventure. I guess Phantasy Star Online was also a big Dreamcast thing, but I mostly associate that with PC. Still, original PSO is great.
Man, the Dreamcast was kinda cool.
Sword of the Berserk: Guts Rage
The Giant Gram Wrestling games
Oh and maybe Maken X? Its a shitty game but its worth a try if you are an Atlus/SMT fan.
If you have a couple of controllers and know anyone else who would be interested in your experiment, I can recommend Power Stone. It's some of the best chaotic fun I had with the Dreamcast.
Seconding this. Of all the amazing fighting games on that system, I easily had the most fun with Power Stone. Granted I think the PSP version of the original game is the definitive version since you can play as Pete.
Otherwise: Tech Romancer, Grandia 2, Shenmue games, Seaman (RIP Leonard Nimoy), and pretty much any fighting game by Capcom. The Dreamcast version of Rayman 2 is arguably the definitive version.
Most of the stuff I would recommend has already been stated, but so far one has been missed.
@planetfunksquad: But the XBLA version of Rez is so much better.
Chu Chu Rocket! Quick Look!
While I understand you may want to make this into conversation, you can actually just type in Google 'best games on Sega Dreamcast', and the list of video games frequently mentioned will pop up, and that list is about as detailed as most people would probably get when it comes to the best games to play on Dreamcast. The games I'd recommend are on there too.
There are some great suggestions in this thread. I will throw in a couple of my favourite dreamcast games that have not been mentioned yet:
- San Fransisco Rush 2049 - This x 1000 this is the best game on the system.
- Metropolis Street Racer - This game is basically Proto-Project Gotham Racing and I think is much better than that series.
- The Record Of Lodoss War - This was the best console diablo game up until Diablo III came out last year.
- Shadow Man - I remember this being the best version of the game. It is one of the best 3D metroidvanias of all time.
- Evil Dead: Hail to the king - I remember this game being stupidly difficult, but it was a fun afternoon for me.
- Street Fighter Vs SNK 2 is still my favourite fighting game of all time.
- Princess Maker Collection - Get your perv on.
Zombie Revenge is a very important game. It's the next step when it comes to beat-em-ups, sort of like Fighting Force crossed with the style of House of the Dead.
@csl316: Zombie Revenge. Man, that brings back memories. The Dreamcast is an underrated local co-op and multiplayer system.
As with a lot of people I really recommend playing Power Stone. I'm going to list some more games. Some of these game are good/may not hold up/have been released and re-released on other platforms but you should experience it.
@yi_orange: Where in the hell is my current-gen online Chu Chu Rocket?
The whole point of playing dreamcast games is to play the really weird stuff.
Chu Chu Rocket
Powerstone
Sword of Berserk
Bangai-O
Canon Spike
Elemental Gimmick Gear
Record of Lodoss War
Giga Wing 1/2
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Karous
Looney Tunes: Space Race
Mars Matrix
Project Justice
Puyo Puyo 4
Tech Romancer
No matter what anyone says, do not play Shenmue, Sonic Adventure, or Crazy Taxi. At the time they were good but they have aged horribly.
Give the Space Channel 5 games a go!
They are not very long but really fun and very quirky. Really enjoyed the presentation and the crazyness of it all. Plus the music is great
@horseman6 I remember playing the Playstation 2 version of Crazy Taxi back in the day and even then didn't have a great time with it. Really felt like it should have just stayed confiened to arcade cabinets.
Jet Set Radio!!!!!!
Power Stone
Shenmue
SKIES OF ARCADIA <---------------One of the best JRPGs ever.
Soul Calibur is still fun I bet.
If you happen to track down a copy D2 was a wonderful, weird, depressing experience.
If you can find a Dreamcast mic, Seaman is a curiosity that you should at least try.
@fisk0: dude, i remember playing incoming all the damn time when I was like 8!! I still have the PC disc.. I was a kid so I didn't care that I never got past the first couple levels cause i was just blasting UFOs! Haha man, blast from the past. Wow.
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