Friday Discussion: Overlooked Dreamcast Titles Special @ Gaming Target

Written by Ryan Smotherman on September 07, 2001

Special: I know, I know, the Dreamcast itself was overlooked; I'm sick and tired of hearing that!

Our first Friday Discussion debuted two months ago here at Sega Target. We used it to fill in gaps for a recently vacant Dreamcast game market. Through the months we covered a variety of Sega topics, including our favorite Dreamcast games, the upcoming battle between Sega Sports and EA Sports, along with a multitude of other topics. You're probably wondering why I'm explaining all this, so I'll go ahead and let it out, this is to be our final Friday Discussion. Gaming Target is about to go through a huge change, which includes the termination of the Sega Target section, in exchange for a new Xbox Target one; it's simple evolution people! Anyways, in our final Friday Discussion we will take a look at some of the Dreamcast games that we feel have been overlooked. In continuing our need to keep you Dreamcast fans doused in games, here are a few titles that you might have overlooked yourself. Enjoy.

Ryan's Pick: Jet Grind Radio
What you say? Jet Grind Radio wasn't overlooked? I beg to differ. I think Jet Grind Radio is easily the most overlooked Dreamcast game in terms of its sheer quality. Like Daniel mention's below, the game has a cult following, but just as in any cult following, the sales are very low, only the cult members are usually the one's who purchase it. Which explains the games poor sales.

So why exactly was it overlooked by the mainstream gamers? It was just too different, especially for the American gaming audience, I was actually surprised when Sega announced a U.S. release. This game oozes Japanese, from its character designs to its funky soundtrack, but at the same time this is what makes the game so great. The style and gameplay are flawlessly combined to create one of the most enjoyable game experiences ever. And don't forget about the cel-shaded graphics, Jet Grind pioneered this nifty technique, which is now catching on everywhere, even in some high profile games (Bomberman, Zelda, and Cel Damage).

In my opinion, you have no reason not to own this game. And if you didn't know it by now, the game sells brand new for only 10 freakin' dollars, hell, I bought it for $50 and it was worth every penny. Thankfully, even though Jet Grind Radio wasn't a commercial success on the Dreamcast, they went ahead and started development on a sequel, Jet Grind Radio Future, which is set to hit the Xbox in February 2002. This is also one of the main reasons why I am purchasing the box.

Daniel's Pick: Hydro Thunder
The most overlooked DC game. That's a hard question, because some of the best games didn't sell very well (Seaman), but were extremely innovative. Others sold moderately well (Shenmue) and were critics darlings. Others (Jet Grind Radio) have a rabid cult following. Maybe I'm taking the wrong approach to this. Let me go and take a look at my Dreamcast collection and see what I have that everybody else thought was garbage.

*runs downstairs*

Ok Ц I'm back. I don't have that many games that people have panned. My collection reads like a list of УSega's GreatestФ. I have Crazy Taxi (not #2), Jet Grind, Skies of Arcadia, Sonic Adventure (both), and more. There is one title by Midway that I have, though that most people seem to forget about, Hydro Thunder. This title came out earlier in the lifespan of Sega's console of love. While it may not have been the greatest game the Dreamcast ever had, it sure was fun. Wait a minute, it still is fun, my son and I were playing it just the other day. Finding the shortcuts, getting the turbo, all the standard УarcadeyФ racing fare.

This title definitely is worth a purchase if you can find it; especially since the average price for a DC title has dropped down lower than used N64 games. Hydro Thunder is something that can take up a bunch of time. It's fun, and if that isn't the underlying purpose of a videogame, then I'll go back to working at Kinko's.

Thomas's Pick: Vigilante 8: Second Offense
Ryan, my editor, has informed me that I am to write several hundred words concerning overlooked games on the Dreamcast.

I feel that this is more than a little foolish. As I'm sure someone else will point out, the general public overlooked the Dreamcast itself, a good system with good games condemned to death by an insufficient marketing budget and a general populace that is firmly in bed with Sony. I could sum up this entire Friday Discussion with the succinct phrase "All of them," with the possible exception of the ones that are getting or have been ported (Grandia II, Carrier, Code Veronica X, Crazy Taxi, Phantasy Star Online, Dead or Alive 2), and go out for a drink, bask in the warm glow of a completed assignment.

That said, though, I suppose Ryan wants me to say something about a specific game. I shall do so. I shall now tell you children about Vigilante 8: Second Offense.

Now, the Twisted Metal series started this whole vehicular combat trend. Sure, there had been racing games where you hit people or tried to mess up the other contestants before TM, but Twisted Metal had that strange apocalyptic feel that the kids love. Then 989, damn their shriveled little black hearts, got a hold of the TM license, and proceeded to drive it into the ground like a Valujet flight. Sure, TM3 was playable, but it didn't touch TM2.

Meanwhile, over in a little corner, other people were trying to recapture that same feel with their own vehicular combat games. One of those was the 1970s-flavored Vigilante 8, which, as far as I'm concerned, beat Twisted Metal at its own game. While TM was busy blowing up landmarks, V8 was equally busy being insane and self-parodying all at once, blending addictive gameplay with excellent environments, eccentric characters, and one of the few games with a soundtrack that can truly be called "unique."

Fast-forward to the Dreamcast launch, and we get Vigilante 8: Second Offense, which improves on the original in just about every way. It's far and away the best car combat game on the Dreamcast (not that that particular genre is exactly overburdened with choices), and makes up for its shortcomings (a wonky physics engine, a couple of ridiculous mission objectives, a couple of very cheap special weapons) with a feel and atmosphere all its own. Better yet, with all the secrets you have to unlock, and the fully upgradeable car chassis, there's plenty of gameplay to be had into the bargain. If nothing else, it's funny as hell, and manages to stake out an entirely different territory than the dark world of Twisted Metal: Black. I've played both games, and both games are good, but it's difficult to think of them as being part of the same genre.

In short: anyone who is currently wetting themselves with glee over Twisted Metal: Black should check out V8:2O right now. Luxoflux and Activision managed to put together a solid game, which was unfortunately lost in the shuffle somewhere along the line, and seemingly ceased to exist around the time Jet Grind Radio came out. Check it out.

Adam's Pick: Skies of Arcadia
Of all the great Dreamcast games released in the marvelous fall of 2000, the most overlooked of them all was the great Overworks RPG, Skies of Arcadia. Perhaps because it had to compete with that УotherФ RPG of the fall, Final Fantasy IX, SOA was ignored for the most part, despite lavish praise and general hoopla. And that's too bad, because Skies is hands-down the best RPG I've played in a very long time. Sure I haven't played a lot of RPG's, since they aren't my taste, but none of them have drawn me in like Skies of Arcadia.

For one, the story is extremely well done and addicting Ц even at the very beginning of the game, the story of Vyse and company leaps out at you and grabs you in like very few RPG's can. No slow beginnings in this one. The battle system isn't radically different, but the lack of emphasis on magic points (while using Spirit Points instead) is quite dissimilar and makes the focus more on strategy instead of making sure you have enough magic points. The real high mark is the incredible ship battles that are similar to a Battleship type turn-based system that creates an epic experience. Plus, that story keeps on growing with well-done twists and turns, and some fun side-quests as well.

It's too bad that an RPG (or any game, really) this well put together was so ignored by even a lot of Dreamcast owners Ц it's not on the level of the legendary Panzer Dragoon Saga, but SOA is one of the all time best RPG's, and definitely the best RPG on Dreamcast. And unfortunately it's probably in your local bargain bin, where it definitely doesn't belong. Do me a favor and pick it upЕ I promise you'll think as highly of it as I do, and see why it's a shame it got to be so overlooked.