My Gaming Memories - SEGA Dreamcast

Yep it's Happy 20th Anniversary of SEGA Dreamcast, one of the finest video game console that we are going to celebrate the system this year which brings us our wonderful gaming nostalgia that we never forget how amazing this system that puts a smile to our faces.

It's been for 20 years since the launch of the SEGA Dreamcast had hit the gaming market that had caught many attention to gamers, fans, and journalists were very impressed with the quality game system that are being capable of running all arcade titles based on SEGA's arcade board such as SEGA Naomi.
The reason why this hardware system is so much straightforward to game developers because it was PC hardware based running on Windows CE making easier to develop not just the arcade based games, but also the third-party support games for SEGA Dreamcast.
It's one of the first system that supports online functionally running on built-in modem for internet browsing and online play which is way ahead of the time that influencing online gaming services for later game consoles such as Xbox Live for Microsoft's Xbox Originals. The system has it own devices called VMUs, the virtual memory units that plugs into the controller for save functionally, but also has ability to transfer save files, some in-game features and downloading additional mini-games.
The SEGA Dreamcast has their own libraries of arcade games that defined the system such as Ikaruga, House of the Dead 2, Crazy Taxi, Virtua Tennis, Marvel vs Capcom 2, and Soul Calibur are the biggest examples of being arcade perfect that shows off the system's powerhouse, and it also has their own groundbreaking libraries of games filled with many different kinds of genres such as Metropolis Street Racer, Skies of Arcadia, Grandia 2, Virtua Tennis, Jet Set Radio, Sonic Adventure, Resident Evil Code: Veronica, Space Channel 5, and of course the biggest AAA title goes to Shenmue series are highly regarded as being the greatest game of all-time.

SEGA Dreamcast starting out pretty decently at the launch release in year 1999 due to great selection of launch games and system's retail price were cheaper, until SONY took over the gaming market in year 2000 with their Playstation 2 which was the reason why SEGA had start given up with their hardware business in 2001 which sadly causing them to discontinued Dreamcast as the last final SEGA's console.
Despite the failed hardware sales, the SEGA Dreamcast still remains their legacy as being one of the greatest game consoles which filled with quality games libraries, introducing online functionally, and VMU Support that adds our nostalgic moments which really made this system so amazing and innovative at the times.

I decided to make my very first gaming nostalgia to discuss my history on gaming consoles that I've own back then, so without go further do here is my gaming memories on SEGA Dreamcast.




My Gaming Memories - SEGA Dreamcast:


In September of year 1999 as age of 7 where I currently had SNES, N64 and GBC at my brother's bedroom.
I remember at the time where me and my brother always go to convenient store to grab a gaming magazines such as Game Master which filled with gaming news, previews, reviews, top 10s and of course small cheat guide book.
As I start reading the gaming magazines, there was a image of two upcoming game consoles that caught my attention such as SEGA Dreamcast and SONY Playstation 2 which mean't to be a exciting game system that I really to look forward to seeing the new killer titles and mind-blowing graphics.
In year 2000, My brother was currently planned to get a PS2 at the year 2000's launch date, but I much rather prefer to choose SEGA Dreamcast over the SONY's next-gen console because I really liked the SEGA's own libraries of games including Sonic The Hedgehog are the main reason why I wanted to persuade my brother to pick up the game console that I want it for my 8th birthday, so my brother has started to agreeing with me as we planned to go to electronic store in Burnley to pick up the SEGA Dreamcast console and of course two games titles such as Power Stone and Sonic Adventure.
To tell you truth is that before I finally got the Dreamcast, it was my cousin who first bought the system a 3 months way before me as I remember seeing my cousin playing Sonic Adventure which was the reason why I was so impressed with the SEGA's own quality game. It has superior looking graphics, the VMUs features, and has epic 3D platforming action and story which made me want to pick up the Dreamcast on my 8th Birthday.

As I finally got the game system at my home, I first started to play Power Stone which is a Capcom's fighting game similar to Nintendo's own fighting game Super Smash Bros in 3D perspective. It has their own selection of playable roster, the 2-player versus mode, and more unlockables content. The game is easier to get into featuring with 3D fighting style, wacky stages, filled with attackable items, and collecting 3 gems to become powerful fighter with 2 finishing options which really made the game so much fun to play.
Then I finally playing Sonic Adventure which is a 3D platforming game where you get to play as Sonic and his friends through out the story mode. It has 3 open-world area to explore with many action levels, bosses, and some mini-game in this game. It's one of the first Sonic's games which included the in-game cutscenes for its story and characters which made the game quite interesting to me as a kid back then.

I also had a chance to try out a demo disk that were included on console's bundle, so this is Dream On Vol 1 which is a first volume of demo CDs which contains the list of playable demos and trailers that we had a chance to try out a game's prototype before we are considering to get a full version of the game at the retail release, so I think its pretty much like we normally get the SEGA Saturn's demo disks from the gaming magazines in mid-90's and I'm glad that they did a same with the SEGA Dreamcast that we had a go with some of the demo games that I first played on the Vol 1 disk such as Trickstyle, Toy Commander, Ready 2 Rumble, Incoming, and Monaco GP Racing Simulation 2. It also has own gaming trailer which shows the upcoming titles coming soon to the Dreamcast such as Virtua Fighter 3TB, Tokyo Highway Challenge, SEGA Rally Championship 2, UEFA Striker, and others were included in the disk.
I also discovered another disk called DreamKey is a online based software which are used for internet browsing, so as a kid I have no idea what is the internet in general? so at the time that I didn't have an access to the internet services which requires dial-up connection to get it work, I started to have fun by messing with the navigation menus, virtual keyboard, and other random stuff that didn't do anything on this software browser.   

My first impression on the system is starting out pretty positive which I had enjoyed the two games that I had it from the electronic stores, so we decided to go to the rental stores to tryout some Dreamcast games that I wanted to play such as Marvel vs Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes which is a Capcom's 2D fighting game crossover featuring fighting roster from Marvel Universe takes on Capcom's favourite fighters which got me really impressed to see how Capcom are able to make a great licenced fighting game based on Marvel Universe and then it got really better with the sequel called Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes which offers over 50 playable rosters, 3 on 3 fighting matches, fully smooth animation, catchy jazz-style soundtrack, and has unlockable content in the game.
I also enjoyed other Capcom's fighting games such as Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike which is a great follow-up to predecessor featuring new roster, brand new 2D fighting mechanics with many combos and specials, and it also has great graphics and soundtrack that Capcom has to offer for the fans of the franchise.
The Power Stone 2 is definitely a better sequel to the originals featuring some new characters, 4-player mode, and has more variety of fighting stages which is a strong follow-up title that the fighting game fans should be able to appreciated.
The fighting game that had got me attention was Namco's Soul Calibur which was highly regard as being the best and most influential 3D fighting game in history which received many acclaims from the critics and fans. Its one of my very first weapon-based fighting game that I got blowned away with crispy graphics running on whomping 60fps showing off Dreamcast's system powerhouse and this console version made improvements over the arcade counterpart for featuring brand new game modes, more characters and costumes, and gallery mode.
There are some great fighting games that I also enjoyed playing with like Dead or Alive 2, Plasma Sword, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, and Ultimate Fighting Championship which are nice addition to Dreamcast Libraries.

There are some arcade games that I attended to enjoy playing such as Crazy Taxi which is a action-driving game where you get to play as four insane taxi drivers are aiming to gain more cash by dropping passenger off as fast as possible during the time limits. The game is easier to get into once you're mastered with crazy driving controls and it has pretty straightforward objectives that you can only drop them into right destination by following the huge ass green arrow on top of the screen. You can't go wrong with Crazy Taxi did also have the best licensed soundtrack by punk rock bands such as The Offsprings and Bad Religion which fits perfectly for driving action.
As a light-gun shooter fan, The House of the Dead 2 is a light-gun horror game as a follow-up to original 1997's game where my cousin had the copy for the Dreamcast. At the time that we didn't own the light gun controller which is kinda shame, but we still had a fun playing it with the standard Dreamcast controller while shooting bunch of zombies is what making the game so entertaining with 2-players co-op mode, 6 levels, and even bosses.
There are great 3D beat-em-ups title such as Dynamite Cop which is a sequel to Saturn's Die Hard Arcade by SEGA AM2. Its one of the first game that didn't own the rights of the Die Hard Franchises, so it is now completely entirely original with different character names and some non-Die Hard related stuff which is kinda sounds bummer, but I still liked the game for its hand to hand combat with arcadey fighting style and has 3 main mission along with other 3 unlockable missions with fair amount of replay values.
At the times where I wasn't the fan of the sports games in general, but there are an acceptation title that are easier to get used too was Virtua Tennis is a arcade-style tennis game which featuring real-life tennis player as a playable roster. I did enjoy both the arcade and exhibition mode with my cousin and sister when we got so too addicted with this type of sports game with incredible gameplay style, amazing soundtrack, and has cool new mode called world circuit which is a great addition to console counterpart.

There are several of great multiplayer titles featuring online support such as Chu Chu Rocket is a first game that my brother got it for free under the online services called Dreamarena. Its one of the puzzle game where you had to guide these cute little mice by highlighting the pointing arrows into the rocket while evading them from deadly cats. It has single-player puzzle mode, a puzzle editing mode, a cooperative challenge mode, and competitive multiplayer modes including online play which is very addicting and fun for those who are got into with this kind of genres. I remember playing with my brother or sister and cousins in local 4-player modes where we always take our two controllers at my cousin's house just to play 4-player modes along with other types of multiplayer games such as Quake III Arena, NBA on NBC Showtime, and Worms Armageddon which really adds our gaming nostalgia that we never forget back then.

The SEGA Dreamcast has fair shares with amazing RPGs, horror, and platforming title that made the system so unique and special is the reason why we loved the system. My very first RPGs game was Time Stalkers which is a Turn-Based RPGs game that I never actually played or heard of any turn-based games before, but my first impression is that after renting this game from the rental store I'm wasn't being good at these kinds of game that didn't live up my expectations as a kid, but until I got used with other two turn-based RPGs that I also rented from the store such as Skies of Arcadia and Grandia 2 are definitely my step forward to liking the genres as I really liked how the turn-based system actually works in these kinds of games featuring story-driven plot, innovative RPGs mechanics with great use of command systems and specials, and being able to gain more skilled levels is really made my gaming experiences so positive.
I got to love a graffiti-based platforming game such as Jet Set Radio which had caught my attention due to colourful-styled graphics are looking so impressive for the Dreamcast's hardware could able to handle cel-shaded animation, so I liked the looks of the characters, the stages, and of course the graffiti art style is looking pretty rad that made the presentation look appealing. It has awesome playable characters, epic stages to choose from, performing cool tricks and moves to learn, funky music, and you get to create your own graffiti is what made the game quite fantastic.
There's one of the survival horror title that I really liked on the Dreamcast is Resident Evil: Code Veronica which I did experienced with previous Resident Evil games for SEGA Saturn and Nintendo 64, but this game is vastly superior to the previous installiment which has full storylines and memorable characters, horrific atmosphere with creepy sequences, and amazing mix of horror gameplay with survival and puzzle aspects is the reason why it got to be the best horror title I've seen on the system.
The very last recent game that my cousin had it for his 12th birthday was Shenmue is a open-world adventure game was created by Yu Suzuki's SEGA AM2 as I first remember when my brother had previously rented this game earlier before my cousin had finally got the full copy of the game.
This is the game that me and my cousin had always played on the Dreamcast because Shenmue is a very special game that we grew up with due to cinematic story plot with full voice dialog, gameplay mixed with interactive QTE sequences and brawling battles, and has open-world area are full of exploration featuring convenience store, antique shop, drinks vending machine, capsule toys machine, arcade game places, warehouses, streets and of course finding sailors which really influenced the open-world sandbox genres that are considered to be a technical achievements for Dreamcast's hardware system as it is one of our favourite Dreamcast game of all time.   
     
In the year 2001 where SEGA had declared discontinuing the support of Dreamcast making it a final console of SEGA's console family, I kinda got really sad that the Dreamcast are no longer continuing on as they stopped producing the games going further.
It's a shame that SEGA had no attention of making a console hardware business is because of the success of SONY Playstation 2 at the launch release in year 2000 had taken over the gaming marketing had sold over a million units is the main reason why SEGA had suffered with financial loss due to the sales of the hardware did not meet with the SEGA's expectations.
Despite the system's discontinuation I still able to continuing buying several of Dreamcast games adding to my collection, so games like Super Magnetic Neo, Millennium Soldier: Expendables, Virtua Tennis 2, Crazy Taxi 2 and so on.
I remember at the time where my cousin had an issue with his Dreamcast had suddenly stopped working due to annoyingly random reset is where it randomly shuts off the game as he did his best to get his console working after two attempts of repairing and cleaning in which we don't know what the main cause of random reset issue until my later age in mid-2000s where YouTube existed on internet which I began to discover the video guide to how to clean and repair the game consoles that I finding the video guide on gaming channel is very useful whenever we need to fix our game console in the future. 

I was still surprised to hear the Dreamcast still has a small support of indie developers began to make their own homebrew and games for Dreamcast which I think it sounds pretty cool to see these kinds of people that still giving support to old retro gaming nowadays. You can always find out the news from the certain of Dreamcast's fan community from the sites, forums and etc.

To conclude my story, I had such a great memories of this piece of hardware that bought into our tears and joyful is why this system had to be a underrated masterpiece. With all the great selection of games libraries, online support, gaming accessories, and has more to offer that SEGA Dreamcast is one of my favourite SEGA's console of all times.
I'm very glad that I am grateful that I had this system for over 20 years and I decided to play the system again to revisit my gaming nostalgia that I had from the past and I will never forget the moments that the SEGA Dreamcast is still lives in our childhood gaming.


 

               
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This is Zeeshan Mirza's Blog and I'll see you next time, happy blogging everyone.