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The Essentials: Dreamcast

Welcome to an ongoing series that I'm so eloquently dubbing.... The Essentials. Across the coming weeks, I'll be bring what I consider to be the group of games best representing the console in question. One console will be feature a week.

There are a few criteria:

1. Only one game per franchise. (Otherwise I could make an entire list of only two franchises.... like the Playstation 2 otherwise could be almost entirely Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy games. Instead, the game most representative of the franchise on the console will be listed).

2. I'll try my best to avoid ports. Multi-console release games are okay, but if a game was originally on a different console and brought over to the addressed console later, I'll do my best to avoid it.

3. There will be a minimum of five games, and a maximum of ten. This is based majorly upon the life cycle of the console.

4. Games are not in any particular order.

This week we'll be looking at the Sega Dreamcast. A cult, fan favorite, the Dreamcast proved to be Sega's final entry in the hardware world, but it was a groundbreaking one that people still looking upon fondly. So what games are essential to the Dreamcast?

List items

Skies of Arcadia

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Overworks
Released: November 13, 2000
GameRankings: 90% [Dreamcast Ranking: 13]
Released in 2000, in the middle of the Dreamcast's life, Skies of Arcade is one of the definitive games for the console. On a console not known for many high quality RPGs, Skies of Arcadia was a home run for Sega. Great graphics, a epic story, and memorable characters combined for a game that would have undoubtedly launched a franchise if it were released on a different, more successful console.
If you love RPGs and haven't played give Skies of Arcadia a shot, give it a look especially if you have a Dreamcast still. The game was also brought over to the Nintendo Gamecube with additional content. Sadly, copies of the game can get pricey to land, but what you get for the money is worth every cent.
Shenmue

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega AM2
Released: November 8, 2000
GameRankings: 89% [Dreamcast Ranking: 21]
If you you were to ask a Dreamcast owner what one of their most anticipated games were for the console, most would probably tell you Shenmue. Designed and produced by the amazing Yu Suzuki, Shenmue's hype train was unstoppable as it was being touted as earth shattering and completely game changing. Go anywhere and do anything as you attempt to avenge your father's murder while combining RPGs with fighting games.
While the game may not have lived completely up to the ridiculously high expectations, it was still a pivotal game for Sega. It was the most expensive game at the time of it's release, and it shows. The graphics are astounding and brought the world to life. The gameplay was slow at times, but it was one of the first game worlds that truly felt alive.
Shenmue was the first in a planned series of games, that sadly did not completely come to fruition. Shenmue II was released for the Dreamcast only in Japan and Europe, while eventually coming to America on the Xbox. Sadly, the story was left unresolved as the final chapter, Shenmue III was never released. Rumors have been persisting for years as fans outcry for the final entry hasn't stopped.
Grandia II

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Game Arts
Released: December 6, 2000
GameRankings: 88% [Dreamcast Ranking: 22]
The original Grandia was released for the Sega Saturn in Japan and the Playstation in America, Sega brought the sequel exclusively over to the Dreamcast. Increased graphical display, a new, original story, and the fantastic battle system from the first game made the sequel a smash hit.
If you were a RPG fan with a Dreamcast, you almost assuredly had a copy of Grandia II. It pairs with Skies of Arcadia as some of the finest turn based RPGs to come to the States. After the Dreamcast was discontinued, a port was brought over to the Playstation 2 and Windows. Sadly, the port was much less well received and saw much lower sales rates. Regardless, Grandia II is still the best in the series.
Jet Grind Radio

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Smilebit
Released: October 30, 2000
GameRankings: 91% [Dreamcast Ranking: 9]
Who would have thought to combine street games, graffiti, cel shading, rollerblading, and some sweet hiphop beats? Sega and Smilebit thankfully. Jet Grind Radio was one of the first games to prominently use cel shading, and still games can't seem to match it.
Playing as different members of the GGs street gang, as they rebel against the oppressive government while competing with opposing gangs. You got to dash across town on your roller blades, pulling off tricks while tagging various buildings, walls, and objects with your gangs tag. All of the action was backed by one of the finest, most catchy soundtracks seen.
Since release, a sequel was released exclusively for the Xbox. The original was also later released in an HD format for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Windows under it's original name of Jet Set Radio. If you haven't play Jet Grind Radio yet, there's no reason not to now.
Phantasy Star Online

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Released: January 29, 2001
GameRankings: 89% [Dreamcast Ranking: 16]
Online gaming on a console was rare, if not unheard of, in 2001. However, the barrier was broken down when the Dreamcast launched with a built-in modem, with a broadband adapter released later. To take advantage of it, Sega revived the old RPG series Phantasy Star.
Allowing for either offline or free (prior to the release of Phantasy Star Online V2) online play, players took their created avatar onto the surface of Ragol to fight various enemies while collecting new gear throughout their journey. While online, players formed parties of four to complete dungeons and quests for increased money and gear drops.
Being able to dungeon crawl with players all over the world was something completely new for the console seen. It's still looked back as one of the best experiences on the Dreamcast. The PSO series saw a second release in Phantasy Star Online V2, the first console online RPG expansion. Later on Episodes I and II were ported over to the GameCube, followed by a card based Episode III. Since then, a proper sequel in Phantasy Star Online 2 was released for the PC in 2012 and Playstation Vita in 2013... however only in Japan.
Crazy Taxi

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Hitmaker
Released: January 24, 2000
GameRankings: 90% [Dreamcast Ranking: 14]
Yes, Crazy Taxi was originally an arcade game in 1999 but it found greater success and recognition on the Dreamcast. It also is one of the most iconic games from the system. It's influence can be seen in games such as the Taxi sidejob from the Grand Theft Auto series.
The game was simple, as a Taxi driver pick up various fares across town and get them to their destination as soon as possible. The faster you got them there, the more money you received. Devoid of any real overarching plot, the game was just fast paced, destructive fun. The city was interesting and had many different ways to get anywhere you needed to go.
If you wanted a fun, quick way to kill time, you couldn't go wrong with Crazy Taxi. Later on, Crazy Taxi was ported to Playstation 2, Gamecube, and Windows in 2001 and 2002. It also saw release on Playstation Network and Xbox Live in 2010
Soulcalibur

Publisher: Namco
Developer: Project Soul
Released: September 9, 1999
GameRankings: 97% [Dreamcast Ranking: 1]
Similar to Crazy Taxi, Soulcalibur was originally an arcade game, but nearly everyone remembers it as the must-have Dreamcast game. It's hard to argue against it. One of the finest fighting games released that launched an equally successful franchise.
Soulcalibur did almost everything right for fighting fans, while allowing people to finally move in all eight ways. I don't mean just allowing for side stepping and rolls, but full fledged running. It mechanics also allowed for truly skilled players who mastered the battle system to show their skills.
And let's not forget the roster, which has some iconic fighters in the genre, such as Ivy, Nightmare, Voldo, and Taki. Every fighter felt different from each other, and finding the fighter that matched a players abilities made for some fantastic fights. It's hard to argue Soulcalibur's place in fighting game history.
Power Stone 2

Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Released: August 23, 2000
GameRankings: 87% [Dreamcast Ranking: 30]
Technically brought over from the arcades as well, it's yet another game that found it's true home and recognition from the Dreamcast. The first game in the series was a fast paced fighting game allowing for either one on one battles or four player battle royal matches. Playable in either story mode or multiplayer, Power Stone 2 did everything the first game did but better.
Battles were incredibly dynamic and no two battles were the same. Stages were interactive and changed over time, all while being littered with various weapons to wield and power stones to hype up your fighter. Speaking of fighters... each was was interesting and unique without falling into the cookie cutter cliches that sometimes plagued fighting game characters at the time.
The Power Stone series was truly a fantastic party game, which was unique for a fighting game at the time.
NFL 2K1

Publisher: Sega Sports
Developer: Visual Concepts
Released: September 7, 2000
GameRankings: 95% [Dreamcast Ranking: 3]
These days if you wanted to play as a game of video game football, Madden is the only real game in town. However, long before that you had Tecmo Bowl/Super Bowl, Joe Montana Football and the early John Madden Football games. The options were rare once the 3D age came around, but Sega continued to throw it's hat into the ring and scored a touchdown with their NFL 2K series.
Developed by Visual Concepts, who have proved to be masters of the sports game, NFL 2K1 proved to be the biggest threat EA's Madden series ever had. The graphics were crisp and realistic for the time. The gameplay was deep, yet accessible. The game also benefited from grabbing the ESPN license for use in their user interface.
The NFL 2K series went on to be what could have been a Madden killer, had EA not signed an exclusive deal with the NFL. In such a fantastic series, NFL 2K1 still stands out as one of the best in series, if not one of the finest sports games created.
Sonic Adventure

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Released: September 9, 1999
GameRankings: 87% [Dreamcast Ranking: 31]
Sega's mascot, Sonic, starred in someone of the finest 2D platforming games for the Genesis. Sonic Adventure was one of the first major 3D release for Sonic. It was almost to Sonic what Super Mario 64 was to Mario.
While most recent entries in the Sonic series have been on the downswing, Sonic Adventure was fast, Sonic fun as usual and it worked well. At times the camera could be an issue, but the personality of the game and the soundtrack more than made up for it.
It was the Sonic game to own for Dreamcast owners, and it didn't disappoint. The game was later ported to Gamecube, Xbox Live and the Playstation Network. It also saw a proper sequel in Sonic Adventure 2, which while not completely living up to the original, was more Sonic 3D fun.