Part 1
The other week I posted an article on the top 25 Dreamcast games and two thoughts entered my mind – 1) F*ck, it’s really tough to narrow this down and 2) I’m going to miss off so many great games, that will no doubt piss off some fans. So, because the Dreamcast is in many ways my favourite console, for one time only, I’m going to discuss some of my favourite games that just didn’t quite make the Top 25. Maybe I should have done a top 50, but oh well… Perhaps one day I will.
So it’s time to start the article, which will be split into two parts. Make the jump for part 1.
Headhunter
Headhunter is an awesome game, albeit one that has aged quite a bit since its release. What Headhunter does well though (and in this respect, reminds me a little of Shenmue), is it authentically creates a world with great detail. The gameplay is a little clunky at times and it did arguably rip off other popular games (noticeably Metal Gear Solid), but it also implements many of its own ideas that make it an experience to play.
Headhunter is set in the future and the story is about a new initiative where criminals are punished for their crimes by not just being imprisoned, but also by having their internal organs surgically removed to benefit the wealthier sector of society. You play as protagonist, Jack Wade, who awakes in a secret laboratory and escapes. He eventually finds out he was a Headhunter and has amnesia. He regains his Headhunter licence and embarks on a murder investigation, as well as trying to remember more about his past.
The game features a hub world, a large open world city, that Jack can explore on his motorbike (this is pre-GTA3 and therefore rather impressive for the time). Once you reach your location, the action based gameplay is a mix of Resident Evil style puzzles, Metal Gear Solid stealth and general third person shooting mechanics.
TrickStyle
TrickStyle, like many early generation titles (I believe it was a launch title for the Dreamcast), is ambitious but, in many respects, flawed and, thus, not often remembered. Which is shame, because buried in TrickStyle is a reasonably fun and entertaining game.
TrickStyle is a futuristic racer that centres around the sport of hoverboarding. There are two different elements to the game, with there being modes focusing on performing tricks (similar to the Tony Hawk games) or performing in races. The problem that lies with TrickStyle is that the racing is a little slow when compared to games like F-Zero and Wipeout and the stunt modes aren’t as accomplished as the Tony Hawk games. But regardless, it’s an interesting mix of styles that remains fun to play nonetheless and a there’s plenty of enjoyment to be had in multiplayer as well.
D2
Written and directed by the late Kenji Eno, D2 is another early Dreamcast game that was both ambitious, yet flawed. Kenji was always trying to create unique games and although a lot of his ideas didn’t quite work previously, D2 was probably his best game.
The game is set in the Canadian wilderness, where the player is free to explore. The gameplay is similar to that of Resident Evil, featuring puzzles and boss battles, but it also has random battle encounters and leveling up, similar to a RPG. When a random encounter occurs, the viewpoint changes to first person and you must shoot at the monsters, but you are unable to move (for some strange reason). In addition to shooting monsters and puzzle solving, you can also hunt animals which will provide health in addition to the first aid sprays you can find. The gameplay can be a little off at times, but graphical presentation, music and deep storytelling was enough to keep me engaged to the end. It has its flaws, but D2 is still well worth giving a shot.
Samba De Amigo
Before Nintendo engaged people of all ages, genders, races, colours and creeds with motion controls in gaming, Sega successfully pulled it off with the rhythm game, Samba De Amigo on the Dreamcast.
If you thought playing the Wii made you look silly, imagine using controllers shaped like maracas. The goal of the game was to use the maracas to match a series of patterns displayed on-screen. It can be played by one or two players simultaneously and was a lot of fun for multiple people to play in large groups.
Space Channel 5
Both this game and its sequel (released exclusively in Japan, but later released for PS2 in Europe and Steam, PSN etc worldwide) are two other bizarre rhythm games found on the Dreamcast. The original Space Channel 5 was very popular, with the lead character, Ulala, kind of becoming the Dreamcast’s unofficial mascot.
Set in the future, you play as a news reporter who must stop an alien invasion, through the power of dance (or something…). During gameplay, the aliens perform a sequence of moves to the beat, such as steps and shots, which you must reproduce with corresponding button presses. It’s fun, if not a little repetitive and short.
Guilty Gear X
As gorgeous as Capcom and SNK’s 2D fighters are on the Dreamcast, Ark System Works win the prize for most visually stunning 2D fighter on the system, thanks to Guilty Gear X’s beautiful large characters and detailed backgrounds.
In terms of its gameplay, Guilty Gear X plays like a lot of fighting games, with all the usual modes, combos and special moves. The combat is smooth, precise and highly addictive though.
Fire Pro Wrestling D
The Fire Pro Wrestling series has a bit of a cult following from hardcore wrestling fans and the games attract a rather more niche crowd than the more mainstream WWE series of games. Although some of the WWE games have been good (No Mercy, Here Comes the Pain, to some extent the 2006 and 2007 games), most have been fairly poor, stuck in the ‘annual release’ rut and don’t offer gameplay that is technical enough for some fans. The Fire Pro Wrestling games, on the other hand, are always strong and, for that reason, it’s a shame most have not seen Western releases.
So for those who aren’t too aware of the series and may be skeptical, I guess the first thing to say is to not let the old school graphics put you off (the chances are, if you’re reading this article, they won’t anyways), as the game is far from simplistic. Wrestling fans will be astounded by the number of options and wrestlers available, but the gameplay is also fantastic too, featuring weak, medium and strong grapples and a number of more technical options. Fans of the late 90s/early 00s American wresting will also be happy as there’s plenty of ECW, WCW and WWF (WWE) wrestlers to choose from, albeit with their names changed for legal reasons (but, because of all the editing options, you can change their names).
Although wrestling games have moved on a lot since Fire Pro Wrestling D, the wealth of options, match types, attention to detail, depth, great gameplay and customisation on offer make it well worth checking out.
Seaman
And the award for the game that has led to the highest number of sexual innuendo jokes as a result of its release goes to…. Seaman. Ugh, what a weird game. I mean, sometimes I enjoy to play with Seaman, but boy does it get me some weird looks from my wife…
Serving as another showcase of how far ahead of its time the Dreamcast was, Seaman was a pet simulator game that allowed you to communicate and build a relationship with ‘Seaman’ through the power of the Dreamcast’s microphone accessory. Seaman is a fish type man thing that evolves through a number of stages as you interact with it and eventually you can conversations with it. It’s a weird ass game and not really a lot of fun (in my opinion) unless there’s a crowd of you, you’re all high or drunk and you all have a weird sense of humour. But for its time, it was kind of revolutionary.
Finally, it should be noted that the game is narrated by the legendary, Leonard Nimoy. R.I.P.
WWF Royal Rumble
Poor old WWF Royal Rumble received a rough ride from some fans and most critics upon release, back in the year 2000. You see, back then wrestling games were really starting to improve and fans were expecting more and more each year, in terms of match types, career modes and number of wrestlers. WWF Royal Rumble, on the other hand, was originally an arcade title and it shows…
The game has 19 wrestlers (21 including two unlockables) and two modes of play. You read that correctly… Only 21 wrestlers and 2 game modes. You can either play the Royal Rumble mode or an exhibition mode that has you fighting one on one matches (although you can pick a partner to help you out via interference options).
So onto the good, I find if you go in with the mindset that this is an arcade game and not a traditional WWF (WWE) game, then you will enjoy it much more. The graphics are very bright and vibrant and the gameplay is fast paced and easy to get into. I had some fun, sleepless nights playing through the Royal Rumble mode with friends when I was a teenager, so multiplayer is definitely the best element of the game. The most impressive part of Royal Rumble though, is it allowed up to 9 wrestlers to appear on the screen during a period when only 4 was traditionally the most allowed.
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future
Ecco the Dolphin is a series that is most well known for the original two Genesis/Mega Drive games, but Defender of the Future is a very successful transition into 3D for the series. The gameplay is very similar to the the earlier games, with the main difference being that it is in 3D rather than 2D. The graphics are jaw dropping and absolutely stunning and showcased the power of the Dreamcast back in 2000.
Mars Matrix
Mars Matrix is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game developed by Takumi in 2000. The game was then later ported to the Dreamcast in 2001, in North America and Japan and was published by Capcom.
The gameplay is incredibly tough and what makes this shooter unique, is the mosquito ability of your ship. There is a meter at the bottom of the screen that tracks this ability and when it is full, you are able to use the ability to suck in enemy fire. You can then use the enemies’ bullets and send them back to the enemies with a quick motion of the D-pad.
Gunbird 2
Gunbird 2 is the sequel to Gunbird (surprising, huh?) and is a shooter with big beautiful sprites. Admittedly, the above image doesn’t really illustrate the graphics particularly well, due to my laziness to find a better image. Regardless, it does look wonderful and, not only that, it plays incredibly well. what I like about this shooter is it is really accessible for newcomers to the genre (or people like me who just suck), as it offers a wide array of difficulty settings and options.
Street Fighter III: Third Strike
To be honest, it would be easy for a lot of people to fill a top 25 Dreamcast games list purely with 2D fighters. So I was fairly selective with the 2D fighters I put in my list. Street Fighter III: Third Strike is still a great game though. It’s just when you’re not exactly the biggest 2D fighting fan out there, it can be more difficult to distinguish between the games. I mean there’s like three different versions of Street Fighter III. They still do that kinda crap now with fighting games and it still confuses the hell out of me. From what I can gather though, this third version of Street Fighter III (the only version I own) has a larger roster and few gameplay refinements, making it the best version.
If it sounds like I’m moaning about the game though, make no mistake, I’m really not. It’s a damn fine game. I am simply explaining why it was omitted from my top 25 list, but it does deserve a mention, so hence why it’s made the honourable mentions.
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, despite being a multi-platform release, was a popular launch title for the Dreamcast. Really, the DC version is the only edition worth owning, with it really showing off the power of the system, thanks to some nice graphics and fantastic effects, that see boxers getting bruised up, going black and blue, the more they’e pummeled. It plays really well and it’s easy to see why it was a popular launch title, but it gets repetitive quickly and has aged over the years. Because of this, it’s better played in small doses. The sequel, Round 2 was arguably a little better, but was less successful, critically, due to it being largely the same repetitive gameplay.
Sega Rally Championship 2
Sega Rally 2 plays a lot like its predecessor, but with graphical improvements, new vehicles, circuits and environmental settings. There was also a 10 year Championship mode to add longevity to the console release. Sega Rally 2 is a must for rally racing fans.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver was a hugely popular title for the original Playstation and the Dreamcast port was handled beautifully, making it the superior version. For those who don’t know, it’s an Action Adventure game, with the player assuming the role of vampire type dude, Raziel.
Rayman 2
Although Rayman 2 is technically a multi-platform release, the game differs greatly between versions. The Dreamcast version is the definitive (or was… latter ports might surpass it?) version though, thanks to it utilising the superior Dreamcast hardware to create jaw dropping graphics, larger environments, more collectibles and more levels. Rayman 2 was a very strong transition into the third dimension and is a fun platformer, but the release of Origins and Legends over the last few years proves that Rayman is undoubtedly his best when he’s in 2D.
Le Mans 24 Hours / Test Drive Le Mans
Le Mans 24 Hours (released as Le Mans 24 Hours in North America) is another game that was released for multiple platforms, but differed widely between versions. The Dreamcast version, again, is the one to own, even surpassing the PS2 version. It’s a strong racing game with its biggest selling point being it contains a real 24 hour racing mode, in real time, with realistic weather and night and day transitions. Don’t worry, by the way, if you don’t have 24 hours free to do nothing but sit in front of the TV playing your Dreamcast, you can simply save your game at pit stops and continue another time.
Sword of the Berserk: Gut’s Rage
I love Sword of the Berserk. Sure, it had repetitive gameplay. Sure, the combat was simplistic. Sure, the huge ass sword was a pain in the backside if you were fighting in enclosed areas. Sure, the checkpoint, auto saving feature was annoying and too few and far between. Sure, 40-50% of the game was made up of cutscenes and sure, sometimes you would have sit and watch like 20 minutes of cutscenes before you’d get to actual gameplay, but I still freaking love the game. I mean, the graphics are drop dead gorgeous, the voice acting is superb and the story is fantastic. In fact, it’s so good, I really don’t mind sitting through endless cutscenes (just pretend it’s an episode of the anime show – which, by the way, is awesome too).
So the game is based on the manga (if you haven’t heard of it and you’re a manga/graphic novel fan, I highly recommend it). It’s basically an action, hack and slash game. You play as Guts as you head on an adventure to find out more about a disease that is affecting the local population, turning people into monsters going berserk. As I mentioned previously, the story is really strong (and it would be, as it’s based on a story arc from the awesome manga).
Toy Commander
Toy Commander has divided critics over the years, with many praising the interesting concept and unique gameplay, which involves you playing as various toy vehicles, completing missions in household locations. It was a really interesting game, but some of the press criticised the game for having clumsy and frustrating gameplay. Nevertheless, the game has a cult following by a reasonably large fanbase, even to this day.
There’s also a decent multiplayer battle mode.
The House of the Dead 2
The second game is probably my favourite title in the series. My mates and I used to waste hours pumping zombies with led back in the 2000s. We could also never quite work out if House of the Dead 2 was being intentionally hilarious or if it really was so badly scripted and badly acted. Either way, the sight of a young girl running away from zombies that want to eat her to death, probably shouldn’t result in me laughing in hysterics and she exclaims “don’t come…. don’t come… don’t come… noooooooo”, but it does.
House of the Dead 2 is a zombie themed on rails shooter, best when played with lightguns. To add to the replayability, the game features multiple paths you an take through out the game.
The Typing of the Dead
The Typing of the Dead is essentially the same game as The House of the Dead 2, but instead of shooting enemies to death, you… erm… type them to death, with a keyboard. It is a lot more fun and way more addictive than you would expect. It’s also educational, because it teaches you to type quickly.
So that’s it for Part 1. If you’re still waiting for your favourite game to be mentioned, well who knows? Maybe it will be in part 2, which will be posted whenever I can be arsed to finish it.
Video Game Top Lists 
2 thoughts on “Top Dreamcast Games: Honourable Mentions (Part 1)”