Impressive to say the least (Dreamcast in general)

Member Name: VOODOO MAN

Product:	Dreamcast in general
Date:	26/09/01 (121 review reads)
Rating:

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The Sega Dreamcast is a very impressive little games console, which effectively kick started the next generation of gaming, bringing us away from the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 era, and linking it to the new PS2 versus Game Cube versus X Box age. Sega obviously would have liked the DC to be in direct competition with these new consoles, but due to extreme losses, and quite frankly a dire promotional campaign for the console, it’s sales figures never reached a high enough figure to make production worthwhile. Thus Sega is now a multi format software company, making games for all the new consoles.

However, don’t think that the Dreamcast was a poor machine, it’s probably one of the best games machines of all time, and if you don’t have one and are thinking about getting one then act fast – stock is running out! A really good deal is the Dreamcast + game bundle for around £80, which represents exceptional value. You get a game, which can be played online as well as offline, and a 128bit games console/CD player, which naturally has a built in modem so you can surf the web and play games online. Not bad eh? It’s a relatively basic modem, and browser, but still, a nice inclusion, and unique selling point.

The Dreamcast is a very compact little machine in ‘the right shade of grey/white’ colour, and looks very well designed. It’s around 8 by 8 by 2.5 inches and won’t look out of place beside your television or on top of a VCR or DVD player. Taking Nintendo’s approach to multiplayer gaming, the Sega Dreamcast has four control ports, allowing more of you to play at once, pending on the game player limits of course. This really is a big advantage over the PlayStation 2, for more than 2 of you to play on that, you have to purchase a multi tap device, spending out even more.

The control pads are big and robust, extremely well designed – very ergonomic and aesthetical too. They lo
ok better in different colours instead of the plain grey/white, but these will be hard to find. It’s an advanced controller too, although it doesn’t boast the built in rumble feature that the Sony Dual Shock pads claim, the Dreamcast controller has a d-pad, shoulder triggers (which are superb for racing, acceleration and brake), analogue stick, four front mounted buttons (+ a start) and most ingeniously you can slot a VMU or two into it! That’s clever.

A VMU is the memory card, with an LCD screen, so as well as saving your games on it, you can also play some via it! During play you may need to make some tactical changes, perhaps in a football simulation, so it’s handy to be able to do this using the VMU, while it’s still in the pad – so the other player/s cannot see. Nice! You don’t get a memory card with the console pack, but I would strongly advise getting one – they’re exceptional value, at £20 or below, as they really do act as a mini games machine too, with such titles like Snake and Pac-man available to download for it.

The console is capable of some amazing graphical effects, and superb crystal clear sound, and thanks to the range of top titles available for it, you won’t get bored in a hurry – here’s my top 5 games for the console:

Soul Calibur – an exquisitely supreme looking and playing weapons based fighting game, possibly the best of all time;

Shenmue – an RPG style free roaming, adventure kind of game, with so many different styles of gameplay, amazing graphics and an emotional, groundbreaking storyline;

Virtua Tennis – probably the best multiplayer game ever, and one of the freshest looking and playing titles on any format.

Tony Hawk’s 2 – great extreme sports title, not many are more addictive than this. In a word, superb!

MSR – it’s a top racing game that you will either lov
e or hate. There’s no denying it’s a top class title though.

There are many more games available, but the aforementioned are undeniably some of the greatest. The Dreamcast is a superb console and for under £100 and pick up another top title with the change. 10/10

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