The 100 Greatest Sega Dreamcast Games of All-Time! PART THREE - #060-041

The 100 Greatest Sega Dreamcast Games of All-Time!

Counting Down #060 to #041...

HEY! If you're looking for the first two installments of the countdown, you can find part one (counting down games 100-81) right HERE and part two (counting down games 80-61) right HERE

It’s been 13 years to the month since the Sega Dreamcast was released in North America, and to commemorate the console’s birthday, I decided to embark upon a journey to quantify and rank the 100 greatest titles the system had to offer. It was a gargantuan assignment, obviously, but it was also an absolute blast to take such an all-encompassing trip (really, more of an extended vacation) down memory lane; if you have half as much fun reading it as I had writing it, than I know I’ve made Ecco the Dolphin and Seaman proud.

At this point, what more can be said about the Dreamcast? It was the Kurt Cobain of gaming consoles, that amazing, stellar vision that arrived, changed the industry forever, and then faded away long before its time. It was radical, it was revolutionary, it was, for lack of a better term, freaking awesome, and believe you me - narrowing the list down to just 100 games was a challenge in and of itself.

Before we get down to business, a few notes about the countdown:

1. To make things less complicated, I tried to list ONLY Sega Dreamcast games that were given North American releases WHILE the console was still in production. So, if you’re wondering why games like “Giant Gram 2000” and “Rent a Hero No. 1" didn’t make the list…that’s why.

2. There’s no real set criteria for my rankings. Simply put, I just weighed the overall quality of the games with their influence on my youth, and arranged the countdown accordingly. Your list, most certainly, would differ.

3. Note that this is a list of the GREATEST Dreamcast games ever and NOT the best (which, by the way, is not an interchangeable term for “favorite,” either.) You may think some of my selections are weak, and that’s totally cool. If you disagree, feel free to drop a comment or two. Just try to be civil about it, OK!

4. And lastly, who out there kinda' wants to make a necklace out of an old VMU memory card? There's got to be somebody on Etsy that's game for that kind of commission, right?

And with the fine print out of the way, who is ready to party like it’s 9/9/99?

#060

Armada

How about this for an underserved subgenere: shoot ‘em up role playing games!

There really aren’t too many SHMUPRPGs in the marketplace, and “Armada” is certainly one of the finest I’ve ever encountered. For those of you that dig real time strategy games, you might really like this game, and if you enjoy hardcore space shooters, you will DEFINITELY love this one. All you purists that moan about the lack of “MUSHA” quality 3D SHMUPS really need to give this game a try, as it has some of the most INSANE fire fights I have ever experienced in a video game. 

This is a really deep, rich game, with a downright fantastic combat system. Even if you don’t have any friends, the single-player mode is robust enough to keep most players gaming for months, and if you do have some SHMUP loving comrades? The multiplayer in this game is among the most AWESOME you will find on the Dreamcast, providing a chaotic, anarchic hootenanny easily on par with multi-man ass kickers like “Cannon Spike” and the “Power Stone” titles. 

#059

Bangai-O

“Bangai-O” is just old-school, hardcore arcade fun, through and through. The visuals, despite being minimalist, are very colorful, and the gameplay - although very, very straightforward - results in some sublimely addictive gaming runs. 

“Bangai-O,” essentially, is all about explosions, never letting go of the fire button, and collecting lots and lots of outer space apples. There are some pretty enjoyable boss fights, but nothing too severe on your table - although the latter stages can get incredibly frustrating, though. 

It’s really hard to explain what makes this game so unbelievably awesome. In fact, showing a video of the gameplay doesn’t really do the title justice, either. This is just one of those games that you’ll have to experience for yourself to see what all the hubbub is about - and I’m almost 100 percent certain that you’ll be extremely pleased you went through the effort of tracking this cult classic (brought to you by the same geniuses that  blessed us with “Gunstar Heroes” and “Radiant Silvergun”) down. 

#058

Giga Wing 2

Four-player, 2.5D SHMUP action, with some of the most awesome visual effects and tricks to be found on the Dreamcast. Really, do I even NEED to go any more in-depth as to why this game is awesome?

This game is just insane arcade fun, and one of my all-time favorite multiplayer experiences on the console. There’s just so much to love about this game, from the killer operatic soundtrack to the absolutely mind-melting boss fights to the never-ending (and I do mean absolutely freaking ceaseless) blasting action. The only thing keeping this title from being ranked even higher is that it’s EXTREMELY short. As in, you can probably blow through the main arcade mode in less than 20 minutes. 

Despite being absurdly brief, this is just a ridiculously fun game, and the sort of pick-up-and-play masterpiece that you can hop into pretty much whenever you feel like. That, and the game probably breaks some sort of record for highest possible score in ANY video game - believe it or not, there are people out there that have registered scores in the QUINTILLIONS on this one!

#057

4x4 EVO

A truck racing game sounds about as much fun as a root canal. A bunch of gas-guzzlers, chugging along at a snail’s pace, through brown terrain? That’s cool, I’d rather go sort my socks or something instead.

“4X4 EVO,” however, takes what sounds like a less than exciting prospect and turns it into a downright kick-ass sim-arcade hybrid, with tons of cars, a wealth of game modes (including an astoundingly in-depth career mode) and even network play, which at the time, provided some of the most seamless online racing to be found on the console market. 

True enough, the game has some detractions. The soundtrack is pretty lame, and the visuals are nowhere near being the console’s best. That said, the gameplay here is just so intricate and smooth, and the multiplayer remains some of the most cerebral to be found on the Dreamcast. Seriously, who would’ve thought that racing sport utility vehicles through rainy trailer parks and mountainous islands would have been this much fun?

#056

Super Magnetic Neo

As perhaps the definition of a criminally underrated console, there were SCORES of criminally underrated games to be found on the Sega Dreamcast. In that, “Super Magnetic Neo” is not only one of the most absurdly underappreciated hidden gems on the console…it’s also one of the most absurdly underappreciated platforming games of the early 2000s.

“Super Magnetic Neo” is a game that, simultaneously, feels really familiar and totally cutting-edge. While the rudimentary gameplay is quite comparable to games like “Klonoa”  and “Crash Bandicoot,” the title also throws in all sorts of aesthetic and mechanical wildcards - at times, feeling like the veritable precursor to games like “Psychonauts,” “Katamari Damacy” and even “Super Mario Galaxy.”

The game looks downright terrific, and while the audio is a tad repetitive, I still think it’s pretty decent, overall. I guess the thing I dig most about the title is that it’s one of the very few truly challenging 3D platforming games on the Dreamcast - as fun as it may be, be forewarned: you will be dying ALL THE TIME when you play this one. 

#055

Metropolis Street Racer

Oh, Bizarre Games…we hardly knew ye. 

Unless you’re an absolutely bitter Sony fan boy, you probably really, really enjoyed the “Project Gotham Racing” series on the Xbox and Xbox360. And if you didn’t…you, good sir, have horrible taste. Of course, this game was, in many ways the “first” PGR game, as it was not only designed by the same people that later made the Microsoft titles, but featured many gameplay components that became hallmarks of the franchise (namely, the “Kudos” system.)

In addition to looking absolutely gorgeous, the game played like an absolute dream, too, with smooth controls, tons of game modes and racing mechanics that remain some of the best among arcade titles on the Dreamcast. If you’re a racing fan - or hell, if you just like enjoyable things, period - this is a disc you DIRELY need to have wedged in your Dreamcast ASAP. 

#054

The House of the Dead 2

While nobody really remembers this game as a technical masterpiece, there is no denying that it’s still a fun, twitch-based shooter. That, and it holds a pretty special place in my heart, as it was the very first Dreamcast game I ever got an opportunity to play. 

Which you see is pretty much what you get with this, one of the marquee games released on the system’s launch. It’s certainly not up to snuff with some of the other 09/09/99 games (certainly, its graphics have not aged all that well), but the gameplay is just so satisfying that it’s hard to hold anything against the title. 

This game is just cheesy fun, through and through, with ridiculous boss fights and even more ridiculous voice acting One word of warning, though: although you can play the game with a standard VMU controller, I HIGHLY recommend using the MadCatz blaster if you can, as it totally changes the game dynamics for the better. 

#053

Illbleed

This game was just SO freaking awesome, and it pains me so to know that only me and about four other people on the planet have ever played it. 

If you love horror (and if you don’t, something is very, very wrong with you), you will absolutely adore this super-duper-innovative survival-action game, which incorporates influences of everything from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and Tobe Hooper’s “Funhouse” to, if you can believe it, “Unsolved Mysteries” and “Scooby Doo.”

As I was saying, this is a really creative survival-horror game, which entails exploration of these gigantic, haunted carnival worlds. The game space is littered with all sorts of death traps, which you can detect using a really ingenious “senses” system - so you can literally SMELL your way out of precarious predicaments. With an unorthodox (although enjoyable) combat system and some of the spookiest atmospherics on the Dreamcast, “Illbleed” is a game that is pretty much required gaming come Halloween time - or really, any other major holiday, I suggest. 

#052

Virtua Fighter 3tb

The “tb,” in case you were wondering, stands for “team battle,” - which is a component of the game that allows players to create “stables” of fighters, for no other reason, I suppose, then the fact that the “Marvel Vs. Capcom” games were really, really popular at the time. 

“Virtua Fighter 3” is a really undervalued entry in the series, wedged between the outstanding second game and the absolutely sublime fourth installment (which I consider, pound for pound, to probably be the best fighting game ever made.) While this game isn’t quite as legendary as its older and younger siblings, it’s still a really sound fighting game - and perhaps the best technical fighter to be found on the console. 

There’s a lot of really neat additions to the gameplay, like the inclined stages, the ability to toy with the camera mid-fight and even the ability to knock apparel of your adversaries (who goes into a karate death fight wearing fedoras, anyway?) By now, we all know that “Virtua Fighter” equates fantastic fighting action, and this installment is certainly no exception. Besides, everybody needs to see sumo wrestlers take on blondes in mini skirts and knee high boots every now and then, don’t we? 

#051

Chu Chu Rocket

While there wasn’t necessarily a surplus of great puzzle games on the Dreamcast, I think this game is certainly the console’s towering achievement within the genre. And if not, there’s no denying that it’s the absolute kookiest, that’s for sure. 

I guess the best way to describe “Chu Chu Rocket” is Mouse Trap…on drugs. Lots and lots of psychotropic drugs. As the player, it’s your duty to drop these little tiles on the game space, which direct the mice around the board. The object of the game is to round up as many mice in a rocket as possible, which is complicated just a bit by an in-game spinner that occasionally drops predatory cats on the board, as well as a random shifter that either speeds up or slows down the tempo of the game. The single-player experience is an outright trip, but just you wait - this thing supports FOUR PERSON MULTIPLAYER, too. 

This is a downright phenomenal party game, and one of the most addictive titles to be found on the Dreamcast. Simply put, I’ve never played anything quite like it before or since…which is reason alone, I suppose, to give this cult classic disc a spin. 

#050

Samba de Amigo 

Long, long before “Guitar Hero,” “Rock Band,” and even “Donkey Konga,” there was this off-kilter Dreamcast original, which had players rocking out to Ricky Martin alongside a maraca shaking simian. And of course, the game came bundled with a set of plastic maracas, making the experience twenty thousand times more surreal…and in hindsight, pretty damn revolutionary, too. 

I guess the gameplay of “Samba de Amigo” explains itself, but at the time, it was one of the most staggeringly unique games to be found on the market. The graphics were also really well done, and the rhythm action gameplay was complex enough to provide a challenging, yet accessible, experience for pretty much everybody that played it. 

And then, of course, there’s the soundtrack, which remains one of the absolute best on the console (and believe you me, that is definitely saying something.) Banging some plastic equipment, while blaring Chumbawamba, Reel Big Fish and Richie goddamn Valens at full volume - really, does life get any better than that?

#049

Space Channel 5

You know, there just aren’t that many space-spoof-dancing-satires about broadcast journalism out there, and I don’t necessarily think that any developer out there could produce a better title within the sub-sub-sub-sub-genre than “Space Channel 5.”

Ultimately, the game is nothing more than a glossy, higher-tech variation of “Simon Says,” but there is just so much style and weirdness alongside the gameplay that this game is almost impossible to resist. From the pink-haired protagonist (who may or may not be that one chick that sang “Groove is in the Heart”) to the dénouement in which it’s your duty to rescue Michael Jackson (yes, the same one that was in “Ready 2 Rumble Boxing 2”) from outer space terrorists, you just know you have your hands on something special right here.

Granted, the gameplay is probably a little too basic for you kids that grew up on “Call of Duty” and “Halo,” but it remains a pretty fun - and quite challenging - experience today. Besides - how many go-go dancer-space-shooters-tabloid-journalism-technology-parables-in-video-game-form are out there, exactly?

#048

Crazy Taxi 2

While the sequel to the much-beloved Sega arcade game had considerably less “All I Want” in it than the original, it was still a very, very good game - in fact, in many areas, it can be considered a marked improvement over its predecessor. 

For one, you have more playable characters, which is always a positive. And the newly designed city - this time around, a stand-in for New York City as opposed to a facsimile for San Francisco - is far more diverse than the locale in the first title. 

Sega changed pretty much NOTHING about the gameplay here (outside of the newfangled ability to make your car “jump” over obstacles), which is definitely a good thing. There really wasn’t anything broken about the original, and I think Sega made the right call by making this game, essentially, the exact same as the original. In that, the title is more or less “more of the same,” but really…when the “same” is this damned satisfying, who cares if it lacks all that ingenuity? 

#047

Sega Marine Fishing

So maybe bass fishing isn’t the most exciting thing in the world to you, but you have one of those Dreamcast reel and rod controllers lying around the place anyway. Might I suggest this entry in Sega’s arcade-fishing series to put that peripheral to good use? 

As with the “Sega Bass Fishing” games, “Sega Marine Fishing” is a relatively simplistic game to grasp, but one that remains infinitely enjoyable because the core gameplay is so satisfying and addictive. The graphics are also pretty great, and the audio is way better than you’d expect it to be. All in all, this game looks and sounds better than most of the first party Wii games out there.

I really have a hard time establishing just how addictive this game is. The allure of reeling in a new record for heaviest marlin is, in and of itself, pretty tempting, but once you factor in all of the unlockables and mini-game challenges, this game becomes staggeringly compelling. Oh, the man hours that went into FINALLY unlocking the Sonic the Hedgehog jig, my friends…

#046

NHL 2K

As a gargantuan hockey fan, this was a game I was absolutely pumped to play. Although the loss of the EA series on the Dreamcast was a very big blow, this first-party offering from Sega was probably just as good - if not better - than the Electronic Arts NHL games from the same time frame. 

For one thing, the goaltending in the game was just superb, and on the highest difficulty setting, this thing became positively riveting. I really didn’t have that many memorable multiplayer experiences with the game (primarily, because all of my friends in junior high weren’t into hockey), but as far as single player experiences go? Good lord, did I get my money’s worth out of this one. 

Since Sega skipped a year to release an update of the game, I ended up gleefully playing this one for a solid two years, in the process guiding the Red Wings to THREE consecutive undefeated seasons and ultimately guiding the Kings (back when they had STEPHANE FISET in goal) to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Needless to say, this is a game you definitely need to check out if you have even the slightest interest in the National Hockey League. 

#045

NBA 2K2

“NBA 2K2” was one of the last true must-have releases for the Dreamcast, and it remains one of the system’s finest sports games today. 

For starters, the defensive schemes were completely changed up, so actual man-to-man coverage could now be a possibility. The inclusion of double-team options and half-court traps really moved the series closer towards being a technical basketball sim, and it made games - especially online - far more strategic and cerebral affairs. 

Of course, there was still plenty of fun to be had on the offensive side of the ball, especially with the newfangled ability to call in-game offensive plays, like picks and crossovers. And since the game had a litany of NBA legends on the roster - including heavies such as Michael Jordan, Dr. J and Magic Johnson - there were definitely some entertaining fantasy match-ups going down at my place all the time. Heck, even if you’re not a through-and-through NBA fan, you can still have tons of fun with the “Street Ball” mode - which cut into so many hours of homework time way back when that I kind of feel shameful reflecting on it. 

#044

Headhunter

OK, so technically, this game was PAL-only release (despite being ported to the PS2 in the States shortly after the Dreamcast’s demise), but it’s such an awesome, insanely underrated action game that I simply couldn’t assemble a list of the system’s best offerings and leave it off the table. 

For the most part, the gameplay elements of “Headhunter” are cobbled together from any number of gaming franchises. You have the stealth element from “Metal Gear” and “Syphon Filter,” the open-world exploration of “Grand Theft Auto,” and even some light-puzzle solving, a la “Resident Evil.” The gun play feels a lot like “Max Payne,” which is pretty peculiar, since this game came out a good year before Rockstar’s title. 

But the real reason to play “Headhunter” is the story. If you’re sick of the generic, “Matrix” and “Buffy” level elementary plot structures of most early 2000s games, then this game - basically, a politically charged “Blade Runner” - is a refreshing change of pace. There aren’t too many Paul Verhoeven quality social satire sci-fi action games out there about class warfare and corporatism - and off the top of my head, “Headhunter” is the only one I can think of that’s actually any good. 

#043

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Well, you have to give Capcom all the credit in the world - when they include the word “bizarre” in the title of one of their games, that make DAMN SURE it’s going to live up to the namesake. 

This game is actually something of a compilation disc, as it contains two separate fighting games (the eponymous offering and an earlier iteration called “JoJo’s Venture.” Both games have multiple gaming modes - a story mode, a challenge mode, and of course, some multiplayer options. “JoJo” is a very solid fighting game (it’s made by Capcom, how could it not be?), but that’s not necessarily THE reason why you should check it out. That reason, you may be pondering? Because this game may very well be the most messed up fighting game I’ve ever played, that’s why.

The attacks in this game are so out-there that, by comparison, it makes “Guilty Gear” look like “Fight Night.” That, and the cast is absolutely amazing, from a naked gypsy named after Bette Midler that throws tractors, scissors and Cadillacs as projectiles to a dude that lets his octopus-shaped shadow do all the fighting for him to an Indiana Jones facsimile to a puppy that attacks you with its dragon aura. Really, what more could you want out of a 2D brawler than that?

#042

NFL 2K2

The last football game released on the Dreamcast by Sega, “NFL 2K2” was our final opportunity to hear “Dan Stevens” and “Peter O’Keefe” call 78-0 blowouts on the system the “2K” series was intended for. Even today, it’s a bittersweet event booting this little sucker up.

Admittedly, there wasn’t that much innovation here, as the online integration and gameplay was pretty much the same as it was in 2K1. That said, I really like how some of the menus were redesigned (especially the play-selection screen), and some of the minor tweaks to the offensive side of the ball (particularly the run game), made the game an immensely enjoyable experience (albeit, one that routinely led to games with Arena Football League scores, but what the hell ever.)

Of the three 2K games released on the Dreamcast, this is definitely the one I played the least (probably because I never owned it in middle and high school.) Well it didn’t have the appeal that the first two games in the series had for me, there’s no denying that it’s a deeply rewarding and addictive football game - and one that plays just as fantastically as it did more than a decade ago. 

#041

The Typing of the Dead

Just the concept here is reason enough to include it on the countdown. If I lived to be a million, not once would I have ever thought of merging “The House of the Dead” with “learning to type” edu-software - once and for all proving that the masterminds at Sega are no doubt some insane geniuses. 

When Sega brought out it’s Seganet Keyboard, I don’t think anybody really expected a “House of the Dead 2” relaunch to be the peripheral’s “killer app,” but what do you know? Not only is “Typing of the Dead” an astonishingly weird idea for a game, it actually results in a pretty damn enjoyable title, too. 

I could spend the next 10,000 words trying to explain to you the inherent weirdness/awesomeness of the game, but it’s to no avail. Basically, you’re getting all of the rapid-fire arcade gameplay and B-horror cheese that you’d get from a typical “House of the Dead” title, only with the characters running around with Dreamcasts tied to their backs and lugging around electro-keyboards that blast away zombies when you type in “Pickles” and “Tongue Mashing.” The boss fights are particularly surreal, as you blast away giant baddies by spelling out pun-loaded sentences and absolutely bizarre phrases such as “open up your fruit cage.” As unfathomable as it may sound, a degenerate version of “Mavis Beacon” really did become one of my all-time favorite Dreamcast offerings - too bad the console died out before we got “Altered Beast” revamped as a “Math Blaster” clone…

And that folks, is our update for this week. Be sure to tune in next Friday for the fourth installment of the countdown, where we will countdown #040-#021 on our ever-dwindling list of the greatest Sega Dreamcast games of all-time. Until then, don’t forget: it’s still thinking…

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The 100 Greatest Sega Dreamcast Games of All-Time! PART TWO - #080-061

The 100 Greatest Sega Dreamcast Games of All Time! Counting Down #080 to #061...

HEY! Part One - counting down #100 to #081 - can be can be found right here.

It’s been 13 years to the month since the Sega Dreamcast was released in North America, and to commemorate the console’s birthday, I decided to embark upon a journey to quantify and rank the 100 greatest titles the system had to offer. It was a gargantuan assignment, obviously, but it was also an absolute blast to take such an all-encompassing trip (really, more of an extended vacation) down memory lane; if you have half as much fun reading it as I had writing it, than I know I’ve made DJ Professor K and Big the Cat proud. 

At this point, what more can be said about the Dreamcast? It was the Kurt Cobain of gaming consoles, that amazing, stellar vision that arrived, changed the industry forever, and then faded away long before its time. It was radical, it was revolutionary, it was, for lack of a better term, freaking awesome, and believe you me - narrowing the list down to just 100 games was a challenge in and of itself. 

Before we get down to business, a few notes about the countdown: 

1. To make things less complicated, I tried to list ONLY Sega Dreamcast games that were given North American releases WHILE the console was still in production. So, if you’re wondering why games like “Ikuraga” and “Segagaga” didn’t make the list…that’s why. 

2. There’s no real set criteria for my rankings. Simply put, I just weighed the overall quality of the games with their influence on my youth, and arranged the countdown accordingly. Your list, most certainly, would differ. 

3. Note that this is a list of the GREATEST Dreamcast games ever and NOT the best  (which, by the way, is not an interchangeable term for “favorite,” either.) You may think some of my selections are weak, and that’s totally cool. If you disagree, feel free to drop a comment or two. Just try to be civil about it, OK!

4. And lastly, did you know that if you put most first-party Dreamcast games in a CD player, you'll oftentimes get a brief, humorous message telling you not to do that shit? Well, you will. 

And with the fine print out of the way, who is ready to party like it’s 9/9/99? 

#080

Hydro Thunder

“Hydro Thunder” was a launch window release for the Dreamcast, so understandably, most people assumed it was going to suck. As it turned out, however, the arcade port was actually one of the great, unheralded titles released in 1999, and a “Wave Race”-style game that remains pretty damn fun today.

This racer is no frills gaming at its best. Forget things like “customization” and “fine tuning,” with “Hydro Thunder,” it’s a select screen, a level select, and then, balls out arcade fun, While the graphics look a little harsh these days, the controls are still intuitive and the tracks are just as fun as they were during the latter days of the Clinton Administration…even if the seat with a sub-woofer installed in it wasn’t included on the home version.

There are only a few vehicles at your disposal, but the levels are very diverse (everything from an arctic landscape to a post-apocalyptic New York) and there’s definitely a lot of replay value. As with many other Midway titles of the timeframe, this game was an absolute hoot as a multiplayer experience - so if you and your best buds haven’t experienced it before, I think you’re all long-overdue for a play through or two on this one.

#079

Maken X

“Maken X” is pretty much what would happen if Alejandro Jodorowski was commissioned to design a first person shooter. And the game itself, I assure you, is every bit as awesome as that premise sounds.

From the opening cinematic of the game - in which a gaggle of anime characters bring a cybernetic sword “to life” before an army of literally sharp-tongued Neo-Nazis invade a research facility - you just know you are in store for all kinds of awesomeness. “Maken X” is a rare entry in the first person slicer genre - so although the game takes place through the “eyes” of the character you are playing, you’re actually wielding huge assed cutlery as opposed to your standard firearms and whatnot. The graphics are stellar, and the swashbuckling gameplay is extremely satisfying. In addition to some truly kick ass boss fights, let’s just say that the narrative takes a LOT of unexpected twists and turns as the game unfolds. If you’re looking for a game that breaks away from all those boring ass action-game conventions, this is one title you definitely need to add to your queue.

Of course, most analysts will tell you that the original Japanese version of the game is the best way to go, and they’re probably right. Not only does that version have much improved voice acting, it also has a lot of material that ended up getting cut from the Western release…including a pair of swastika-headed enemies and even a boss fight inside the Vatican…against the Pope himself!

#078

Sword of the Berserk: Guts’ Rage

I’ve never been a big fan of anime or manga, so I really don’t know the first thing about the “Berserk” franchise. Additionally, I’ve never really been that big a fan of the hack and slash genre, but there’s just something about “Guts’ Rage” that jumps out at me…and no, it’s not just the copious amount of plasma flying all over the gaming landscape.

If you’ve ever played a “Dynasty Warriors” game, you know what to expect here. The gameplay is very smooth, and the graphics are generally pretty good. The game also implemented a lot of neat little hooks, including a “rage mode” that gave you super-duper powers when you were at death’s doorstep, as well as series of quick-time-events that actually had bearings on the outcome of the story.

Admittedly, the story is a little generic, and there’s probably way too many cut scenes in the game, but overall, “Guts’ Rage” is a fun, hyper-violent title with plenty of action, kick-ass swordplay, and some of the dopest boss battles to be found on the Dreamcast. If you’re in need of a good bloodbath - and definitely if you are in need for a challenging single-player experience - then “Guts’ Rage” is a title you definitely need to give a try.

#077

Silent Scope

For awhile, it seemed like the Dreamcast was going to be an absolute haven for light gun shooters. I mean, shit, this is the same company that gave us “Virtua Cop” and “The House of the Dead”…how could the company’s newfangled console NOT be glutted with such genre offerings?

Well, unfortunately, the aftermath of the Columbine tragedy insured that our offerings on the Dreamcast were to be limited, and as a result, this port of the Konami arcade hit DOESN’T support light gun gameplay in ANY regard. It’s a loss, no doubt, but thankfully, the gameplay here is still solid and addictive, making the title a worthy addition to any Dreamcast owner’s library, anyway. And hey, at least they included jump pack support for us.

There’s not really too much to talk about in “Silent Scope.” There are a ton of levels, with a wealth of game modes to run through, including a pretty entertaining (and challenging) story mode and a few time trial modes that will really keep you glued to your VMU. That, and if you’re wondering where Chris Nolan got the idea for the football stadium scene in “The Dark Knight Rises”…

#076

Ooga Booga

“Ooga Booga” was an online game that played out, basically, like an amalgam of “Worms” and “Pikmin”…with just a little bit of “Super Smash Bros.” and “MDK” thrown in for good measure. And if that’s not enough to pique your interest? One of the playable characters is Honest Abe himself.

Thankfully, “Ooga Booga” has an offline mode, so you can still play the title now, and if you never tried it out back in the day, you really don’t know what you’re missing. Not only is this one of the most absurdly underrated games on the Dreamcast, it’s also one of the finest party games to be found on the console.

If you want some insane death matches, this game delivers just such an experience and then some. Forget running around grey corridors and shooting each other with laser cannons, this game allows you to run around an entire archipelago, blowing the hell out of your best friends with all sorts of kooky weapons. The graphics are very well done, the audio is tremendous, and the gameplay is simplistic, yet immeasurably satisfying. And if you think “Halo” was the first multiplayer game to allow players to run each other over in warthogs…well, think again (and much, much literally, as well.)

#075

Toy Commander 

I am willing to bet my entire bank account that this game was ignored when it was initially released simply because gamers thought it was a part of the underwhelming “Army Men” series. And that is a deep, deep shame, because “Toy Commander” was one of the absolute best launch window games for the Dreamcast.

At first glance, the game bares an uncanny resemblance to a certain, extremely popular Pixar franchise - and the fact that the protagonist’s name is “Andy” doesn’t really help the title distance itself, either. However, the game quickly demonstrates itself to be a rather competent action-adventure game - in essence, sort of what would happen if you combined “Chibi Robo” and “Twisted Metal” into a single experience.

“Toy Commander,” for the most part, is a vehicle based action game - albeit, with the hook that everything is set within the mind of a grade-school kid. While the “household warfare” shtick has been done before (like in “Micro Machines” and “Harley’s Humongous Adventure”), “Toy Commander” manages to implement the concept better than just about any game I’ve played, with so many awesome, creative elements (like, using #2 pencils as weapons of mass destruction). The fact that the graphics and music are outstanding certainly doesn’t hurt the title - nor does the shockingly fun multiplayer, which remains pretty much lag-free during even the most hellacious of skirmishes.

#074

Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2

It’s a boxing game, in which Michael Jackson - yes, THAT Michael Jackson - is a playable character. For that reason, and that reason alone, it deserves a spot on the countdown. The fact that it’s a really fun and well-designed arcade title, of course, is also warmly welcomed, I might add.

Much like “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!”, “Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2” is a game that features very simplistic boxing mechanisms AND an absolute wealth of partially offensive stereotypes to pummel. There’s not a whole lot of meat to the game, but as far as just pick-up-and-play games go, this is one of the Dreamcast’s most entertaining - and offbeat - titles. I mean, shit, where else are you going to see Shaquille O’Neal fight a robot, or watch Bill and Hilary have a knockdown, drag-out brawl?

Oh, and did I mention that MICHAEL FREAKING JACKSON is a playable character in the game?

#073

AeroWings 2: Airstrike

Admittedly, I’m not a really big fan of the flight sim genre, but I do find something peculiarly relaxing about those kinds of games. “AeroWings 2” is something of an arcade-flight sim hybrid, meaning it gives you pretty much the best of both worlds here - intricate, technical challenges, as well as a sense of pick-up-and-play instant gratification every time you flip on your console.

While the visuals and audio are nothing to write home about, the gameplay is very satisfying, and very nuanced. If you’re all about quasi-authentic flight mechanics, you’ll find them in “AeroWings 2,” as large portions of the game can be spent honing your aviation prowess. And if you just want to shoot down some hot air balloons? Yeah, the game gives you that option, too.

If you’re looking for a challenging game, this is definitely a title with a steep learning curve. Even so, it’s also a very, very fine-tuned game, with a pretty outstanding multiplayer mode…that is, if you can find another person out there that has mastered the controls, anyway.

#072

Sega Smash Pack Volume 1

“Sega Smash Pack” was a compilation disc that contained a pretty eclectic assortment of games. In addition to having all-time Genesis masterpieces like “Vectorman” and “Shining Force,” it also featured some, well, less-expected titles, including, among others, an unreleased arcade wrestling game from the early ‘90s, a really fun freeware title called “Sega Swirl” and even the PC version of “Virtua Cop 2,” which, awesomely, allowed for light gun use.

A lot of people complained about the quality of the ports, especially regarding the audio - as if “Altered Beast” was ever that much of an aural pleasure to begin with. Even so, you really can’t complain about the quantity of games you’re getting with the package - the first Sonic game, “Phantasy Star II” and even a mildly censored “Revenge of Shinobi,” on one CD-ROM? How about yeah!

That, and the game became infamous after a warez group found a way to turn the disc into an all-purpose Sega Genesis emulator…and if that’s not bizarre enough, the process was apparently simplified, as a programmer apparently left directions on how to co-opt the emulator WITHIN the actual game data itself!

#071

Dead or Alive 2

The Dreamcast is often celebrated for bringing better-than-arcade quality graphics to home consoles for the first time. It’s also celebrated for giving gamers the first truly great online service for a home system. And among those pioneering accomplishments, “Dead or Alive 2” demonstrates an equally important milestone in home computing - the debut of in-game breast physics.

OK, so maybe the fighting engine in DOA2 isn’t on par with “Soul Calibur,” or “Virtua Fighter 3” or even “Fighting Vipers” on the Saturn, but there’s no denying that it’s a fun, fun title, regardless. It may not be the deepest fighter on the system, but the controls are just spot-on, and the visuals, even now, look mighty damned impressive.

There’s just too much to like about this game, from the bizarre character designs (the dude from “Ninja Gaiden” versus a Sisqo clone? Why the hell not?) to the multi-tiered stages to the counter-system to the awesomely goofy story mode. The game may set the women’s rights movement back a couple of decades, but other than, it’s a downright excellent little offering.

#070

Sega Rally 2

“Sega Rally 2” is simply fantastic, no-frills arcade racing at its finest. Although a lot of hardcore gear heads will probably be turned off by the lack of realism and customization features, as long as you have a proclivity for high speed, super-satisfying racing game play, I have a difficult time imagining anyone being disappointed by this offering.

While the graphics, generally, are quite week compared to today’s standards, it’s still a fairly impressive game for its time, with a particularly beautiful cockpit mode. I really like all of the environmental effects Sega threw into the game - really neat things like helicopters flying over the tracks, and track textures that alternate from gravel to tarmac and especially some of the in-game weather conditions. To this day, “Sega Rally 2” has some of the most fun snow-covered tracks I have ever experienced in a racing game.

While the model list isn’t the most impressive (unless you really like Toyota Celicas, I suppose), the championship mode (which is comprised of 10 years  worth of racing challenges) is definitely addictive, and the multiplayer, while not the best the system has to offer, is still very fun and enthralling. That, and it has quite possibly the most upbeat game over screen in history…

#069

NFL Blitz 2001

The “NFL Blitz” series was such a ubiquitous franchise back in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s that practically everyone - regardless of which console they owned - probably had a copy of the game in their library. Hell, even people that really didn’t like sports games usually had one of the games in their collection…and for good reason.

“NFL Blitz 2001” is arguably the greatest game in the arcade-football series. What the game lacked in technical realism, it more than made up for in extremely satisfying, balls-out pigskin action. While the No-Fun-League today makes EA include “concussion safety” pointers in their modern games, the NFL was considerably more lenient during the Tagliabue era - so expect plenty of leg drops after the whistle and uncalled pass interference via clothesline whenever you play it.

The graphics may not have been the best, but the audio was pretty good and the gameplay itself was sensationally good. If you’re looking for a party game, this is definitely one of the first games I would point you to - although the rubber band AI in the game, I must warn you, is absolutely notorious for cheating players out of victories in the fourth quarter.

#068

Floigan Brothers Episode 1: Moigle’s Secret Project

Every time I think about this game, I want to weep. This was precisely the kind of innovative, enjoyable, and original kind of game that you could only play on the Dreamcast at the time, and I can’t help but ponder how the industry would have turned out differently had the system - and its library of unique, cutting-edge games - been more commercially successful.

“Floigan Brothers” is basically a platformer-puzzler-adventure game, with truly excellent visuals, fantastic sound design, and absolutely stellar controls. It’s also one of the funniest games on the Dreamcast, in addition to being one of the console’s most creative titles.

The game’s “hook,” I suppose, is that it’s something of a “squad-based” platformer. You control a fairly diminutive character, who most rely upon his larger, stronger and (unfortunately, quite dim-witted) brother to solve a series of puzzles, so that you can progress to different areas of the game world. The thing is, the puzzles are actually pretty challenging, and there are so many different things you can do that, conceivably, spend hours just running around the place trying out different command combinations. For all of you jaded hipsters that bemoan the lack of originality in today’s gaming climate - perhaps it would serve you well to revisit this criminally underappreciated 2001 offering from Visual Concepts.

#067

Sega Bass Fishing

Leave it to Sega to not only make a FUN arcade fishing game, but an entire arcade fishing FRANCHISE.

It’s really, really easy to dismiss a game like this, but if you’ve never actually played it - well, you might be surprised by just how addictive the experience is. While real-life fishing is a rather boring experience anchored around jigs and lures and lots and lots of waiting, “Sega Bass Fishing” throws you into high-speed angling, with a two minute time limit to hook and reel in as many bass as you can. Of course, you do get some options when it comes to equipment, but really…it’s all about that fast-ass bass fishing right here.

The only regret I have about this game - which was one of the very first Dreamcast games I ever played - is that I never went out and picked up the proprietary fishing rod controller that Sega released alongside the game. Even so, this is a pretty damned fun game, with super enjoyable gameplay, even with a standard VMU pad. Sigh…is there anything Sega can’t turn into an awesome gaming experience?

#066

NBA 2K

When it was announced that EA would not be supporting the Dreamcast, a lot of sports fans figured the DC was going to bomb when it came to licensed games. However, Sega not only created a damn fine multi-sports series of its own, but one that totally eclipsed what EA was doing on the PS1 and PS2 at the timeframe.

“NBA 2K” was one of the first basketball sims that I felt really captured the NBA atmosphere. The player introductions had this epic grandness to it, and the audio aspects of the game - the superb commentary, the roaring crowds, etc. -really gave the game a heightened sense of realism.

Of course, it was the gameplay that really stood out in “NBA 2K,” and even now, it remains a very fun - if somewhat arcade-y - roundball experience. And damn, does this game have some awesome slam dunk animations!

#065

Tennis 2K2

Honestly, I don’t know the first thing about tennis. In fact, next to golf, tennis is my most hated anything ever. And with that in mind, you KNOW Sega crafted one hell of a sports game when even an unabashed hater like me can enjoy their virtual recreation.

While it would have been very easy to turn this thing into a really polished “Pong,” the guys at Hitmaker went that extra mile and made “Tennis 2K2” a very complex, very in-depth tennis title, with a relatively steep learning curve that, while initially frustrating, ultimately results in a highly technical, very cerebral sports game. And while the single-player mode is extremely satisfying, it’s the multiplayer that really makes this one worth going out of your way to experience.

The mixed doubles aspect of the game may seem like an inconsequential gimmick, but trust me, it leads to one of the most strategic sports games experiences you’ll ever play. It may take a while to get the controls down and really find your groove in the title, but once you do, you’ll no doubt find yourself picking this one up time and time again.

#064

Bust-A-Move 4

The “Bust-A-Move” series has always been a deceptively simple - and unavoidably addictive - franchise. While “Bust-A-Move 4” may not be a visual powerhouse on par with “Soul Calibur,” it’s still a very fun, immensely enjoyable game, with a particularly satisfying versus mode.

If you’ve never played a “Bust-A-Move” game before, this iteration is pretty much the same as the previous three installments in the franchise - which, considering the extreme replayability here, is very much what I would consider a GOOD example of a developer not taking any chances with its IP.

There are a ton of game modes here, including a challenge mode and a fairly lengthy story mode. While the character design and audio choices may put off some gamers, I think the sheer fun of the gameplay here is enough to keep any true gamer reeled in for hours at a time. All in all, there weren’t that many AAA-quality puzzle games on the Dreamcast - and certainly, “Bust-A-Move 4” is one of the absolute best genre titles that made it to Sega’s last home console.

#063

Bomberman Online

If you’ve never played a “Bomberman” game before, there’s a few things you need to go do to yourself…starting with actually playing a “Bomberman” game the first chance you get (just as long as it wasn’t released on the XB360, obviously.)

Of course, the big appeal of “Bomberman Online” way back when was that it was among the first puzzle games people could play online via a console with STEADY multiplayer support. Since the Dreamcast servers have been down for…yeah, about a solid decade now…sadly, you won’t be able to play this game online anymore. That said, the game still has a tremendously fun single player mode, and the local area multiplayer is as satisfying as ever.

Despite receiving a graphical makeover (dig those cel-shaded graphics, no?), the game is very much a true “Bomberman” release, with gameplay that’s virtually unchanged since the first game in the series was released on the NES. For those of you well-versed in Bombermanology, you already know how fun and intense theses games can be. And for those of you that are late (I mean, LATE) to the party? This is one Dreamcast title you SORELY need to experience.

#062

4 Wheel Thunder

I suppose you can count on one hand the number of “good” monster truck games that have been made since the days of the Atari 2600. While that racing subgenre has no doubt given us many, many atrocities over the years, “4 Wheel Thunder” remains not only an astonishingly enjoyable monster truckin’ experience, but stands out as one of the absolute best non-traditional racing games on the Dreamcast.

Actually, calling this game a “monster truck” racer is sort of a misnomer, since there are tons of vehicles to choose from in the game. As in, a pretty damn astonishing number, actually, all of which can be tweaked, modified and fine tuned - a real anomaly among arcade racers of the timeframe.

The graphics are shockingly good, and the gameplay is even better, with vehicles handling as smoothly as you could imagine them. That, and the game provides a real challenge for a change - as far as “arcade” style racers go, this game is about as hardcore as they get. Even racing fanatics tend to overlook this unheralded Dreamcast classic - a real rubber-burner that any adrenaline junkie needs to find pronto.

#061

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

While Eidos will forever be known as the house Lara Croft built, I think it’s pretty much a consensus at this point that the company’s true shining achievement were the “Legacy of Kain” games - an innovative, action-horror franchise that clearly influenced a generation of games, from the obscure “Shadow Man” to the very, VERY mainstream (“God of War,” anybody?)

Although the “hopping between two worlds” motif had been done to death even before “Soul Reaver,” was released, the game was pretty damn pioneering in regards to 3D action - even now, I consider it to be a way, way better non-2D “MetroidVania” game than just about anything that can be found on the PS3 or XB360.

The graphics were very, very good, and the combat, while mildly repetitive, was fairly solid, as well. That, and the game was really, really long, too - meaning you were almost guaranteed to end up spending many nights playing this one at 2 in the morning. A visually impressive title, with an immersive game world, and some really entertaining exploration elements? Yeah, there’s not a whole lot of negatives one can bring up when discussing this one. Well, besides the main character’s aversion to water, anyway…

And that folks, is our update for this week. Be sure to tune in next Friday for the second installment of the countdown, where we will countdown #060-#041 on our ever-dwindling list of the greatest Sega Dreamcast games of all-time. Until then, don’t forget: it’s still thinking…

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The 100 Greatest Sega Dreamcast Games of All Time! - PART ONE (#100-081)

The 100 Greatest Sega Dreamcast Games of All-Time! Counting Down #100 to #081...

It’s been 13 years to the month since the Sega Dreamcast was released in North America, and to commemorate the console’s birthday, I decided to embark upon a journey to quantify and rank the 100 greatest titles the system had to offer. It was a gargantuan assignment, obviously, but it was also an absolute blast to take such an all-encompassing trip (really, more of an extended vacation) down memory lane; if you have half as much fun reading it as I had writing it, than I know I’ve made Ryo Hazuki and Ulala proud.

At this point, what more can be said about the Dreamcast? It was the Kurt Cobain of gaming consoles, that amazing, stellar vision that arrived, changed the industry forever, and then faded away long before its time. It was radical, it was revolutionary, it was, for lack of a better term, freaking awesome, and believe you me - narrowing the list down to just 100 games was a challenge in and of itself.

Before we get down to business, a few notes about the countdown:

1. To make things less complicated, I tried to list ONLY Sega Dreamcast games that were given North American releases WHILE the console was still in production. So, if you’re wondering why games like “Rez” and “Shenmue II” didn’t make the list…that’s why.

2. There’s no real set criteria for my rankings. Simply put, I just weighed the overall quality of the games with their influence on my youth, and arranged the countdown accordingly. Your list, most certainly, would differ.

3. Note that this is a list of the GREATEST Dreamcast games ever and NOT the best (which, by the way, is not an interchangeable term for “favorite,” either.) You may think some of my selections are weak, and that’s totally cool. If you disagree, feel free to drop a comment or two. Just try to be civil about it, OK!

4. And lastly, Lizardman is NOT creepier than Voldo. Nothing in this world is creepier than Voldo, and you know it.

And with the fine print out of the way, who is ready to party like it’s 9/9/99?

#100

South Park Rally

Acclaim released several “South Park” titles in the late ‘90s and while the gaming press hated them, I didn’t think they were all that bad. The first game was essentially a Turok-style FPS, and the second game was sort of like “Mario Party,” only with way, way more fart jokes. “South Park Rally,” clearly, was a game inspired by “Mario Kart,” and while it isn’t exactly on par with Nintendo’s venerable franchise, I still think this game is easily the best “South Park” game released thus far, and really, a pretty enjoyable - albeit flawed - kart racer.

While the game definitely has some problems - mainly, the controls, which you will no doubt be wrestling with - the title almost makes up for it with a ton of playable characters, some pretty-well designed tracks and graphics that are just a little better than the average title circa 1999.

Probably the coolest thing about the game is the weapons. Forget blue turtle shells and lightning bolts, this game allows you to attack adversaries with everything from burrito-spawned fart gas to dogs that dry hump your opponents off the road. And take note, gaming historians: this may very well be the only non-hentai video game ever in which players can use herpes as a form of close-range combat…

#099

ECW Anarchy Rulz 

While Acclaim’s first ECW-licensed game was just sort of mediocre, their ridiculously under-advertised follow up is arguably the best pro wrestling game to be found on the Dreamcast…well, pending you don’t have a Japanese model, anyway.

The customization options for the game are pretty deep, with gamers having the ability to create their own wrestlers, factions, arenas and pay-per-view cards. Although the cast isn’t exactly a who’s who of grappling all-stars (unless you consider Chris Chetti and Danny Doring “legendary,” anyway), the game still has a lot of positives, including some great play-by-play from Joey Styles and Joel Gartner (who even begins each match with one his famous bawdy limericks!)

I suppose the real reason to check out the game is the absolutely insane amount of  “gimmick” matches included in the title. Yeah, we’ve seen virtual steel cage and ladder matches before, but when was the last time you saw a dumpster match, or a brimstone match in a “Smackdown!” game? Much like Extreme Championship Wrestling itself in 2000, the game isn’t exactly the highest quality product out there, but “Anarchy Rulz” is still a title that will give you a whole lot more fun and entertainment than you’d expect a 12-year-old wrestling game to grant you.

#098

Evil Dead: Hail to the King

Of course, this game - the first “Evil Dead” video game to hit the market - is a complete and utter rip-off of “Resident Evil.” But hey, that’s not exactly a negative, is it?

While the game definitely has some control issues, the positives here certainly outweigh the negatives. For one, the game stays very, very true to the “Evil Dead,” mythos, with so many neat little touches that make the game feel authentic as opposed to some effortless cash grab. And hell, there’s even a button on the face pad SOLELY for Bruce Campbell quips. THQ definitely knew their audiences on this one.

The game does take a few liberties with the source material, but what the developers tossed in was so kooky and in line with the franchise that their additions - like a troop of zombie boy scouts and a final boss battle with a very Lovecraftian demon - really do sort of feel like things Sam Raimi would have included in a fourth “Evil Dead” movie. “Hail to the King” is by no means a survival horror classic, but for Dreamcast owning B-movie aficionados, it remains an absolute must-play today.

#097

Dynamite Cop

If you’re one of the eight or so people in North America that owned a Sega Saturn, you probably got your hands on “Die Hard Arcade” at some point. A ridiculously fun (and ridiculously ridiculous) beat-em-up based on the Bruce Willis mega-franchise, that title stood out as one of the few truly great, 3D “Final Fight”-style games of the mid ‘90s.

Well, “Dynamite Cop” is basically a spiritual sequel to that game, as it incorporates the same fighting engine and the same style of insane beat-em-up gameplay - albeit, sans the “Die Hard” license this time around. But, hey the designers threw us two bones here - not only is there a playable character in the game that looks just like Bruce, there’s even a character modeled after Eddie Murphy, named, not at all insensitively, “Eddie Brown.”

This game is just an absurdly awesome brawler, with some of the most bizarre moments you’ll find in any Dreamcast game (and believe you me, that’s saying something.) You’ll karate fight chefs on cruises, beat up dominatrix henchmen in caves and at one point, have a boss fight against an octopus. The only major negative I can think of here is that it is a very short game - but then again, this is the kind of title you will want to show off to your friends whenever they’re over, so expect to be playing this one at plenty of get-togethers. It may not be “Streets of Rage 2” in three dimensions, but “Dynamite Cop” still an immensely enjoyable oddity, well worth tracking down for fans of the genre (or for those of us with just flat out weird-ass gaming tastes.)

#096

Zombie Revenge

This game is an absolute dream come true for horror and beat-em-up fans. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play “Streets of Rage” with the ambiance of “The House of the Dead?” Well, folks, that’s EXACTLY what you get with “Zombie Revenge.”

In a lot of ways, “Zombie Revenge” plays out like a precursor to “Devil May Cry,” with an emphasis on gajillion hit melee combos and fast and furious gun play. However, like arcade titles such as “Crazy Taxi,” there’s also an emphasis on speed, as each action segment only allows players a brief amount of time to clear out rooms of enemies and solve simple puzzles.

While the graphics are, admittedly, a little rough around the edges, the game play definitely compensates for the title’s ugliness. The character design and dialogue is just straight-up cheese, and the combat system is oh-so satisfyingly uncomplicated. This is the perfect way to spend a late October afternoon - and remember, if a zombie drops some carrots after you blast its guts out, please do feel free to pick up the produce and eat it anyway…

#095

Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future

OK, so maybe this game wasn’t necessarily on par with the Sega Genesis titles, and yeah, I think we all would have preferred a 3D “Vectorman” or “Gunstar Heroes” in its place, but for me, the title remains one of my favorite “guilty pleasure” experiences on the Dreamcast.

Despite a preposterous storyline (apparently, the only thing standing between earth and an all out alien invasion is one bottlenose porpoise) and an oxygen-meter that frequently proved itself an annoying element of the gameplay, I still thought the game was a blast, primarily due to its gorgeous underwater seascapes and a control scheme that was, rather fittingly, quite fluid.

This is one of those games where half the fun of the title is just exploring the environment. Yeah, I could complain about some of the awkward camera angles and the crappy boss battles, but that doesn’t detract too much from the many, many things the game gets right. That, and it’s a really long game, too - and without giving away too much, let’s just say that things get very, VERY trippy as the game chugs along.

#094

Outtrigger

“Outtrigger” was a really fantastic arcade-shooter that, a good half decade before “Resident Evil 4” or “Gears of War,” utilized something of a “third person shooter” style of gameplay. Admittedly, the game was a bit on the short side, and the missions were largely insanely easy, but the fast tempo gameplay - and especially the multiplayer - made this a Dreamcast offering that truly stood out from the crowd.

While the amalgam of “Halo,” “Super Mario Bros.” and “Crazy Taxi” doesn’t sound like it would result in the most exciting of games, “Outtrigger” actually proved itself to be a highly addictive and satisfying little title, an experience certainly heightened by some great visuals and a really kicking soundtrack.

It’s really difficult to describe the gameplay of “Outtrigger,” which is probably what makes it so awesome. Incorporating elements of “Quake,” “Virtua Cop” and even “Sonic Adventure,” the title is truly unlike anything else on the Dreamcast. For those of you looking for a fast-paced, ADD-style shooter, this is a game you definitely need to put in your console ASAP.

#093

D2

Now here’s a game that really, really got shafted when it was originally released.

As a survival horror title, EVERYBODY assumed this thing was a “Resident Evil” knockoff, and while it does share some commonalities with Capcom’s hugely popular franchise, “D2” also managed to do a lot of innovating of its own.

Yeah, the character models are a little crappy, and some of the cut scenes go on FOREVER, but the gameplay itself is just way too satisfying and enjoyable to count the aforementioned flaws as fatal ones. Set in an arctic tundra, “D2” is a mishmash between a FPS and a third person action adventure title, with some downright excellent atmospherics to boot. It may not exactly be an Oscar-winner, script wise, but for a horror game circa 1999, this is actually one of the better written games from the timeframe, with some really well-crafted plot twists and scripted scenes that, while somewhat cheesy, are engaging and interesting enough to keep you playing well into the wee hours of the night. That, and does the Kimberly clone monster remind anybody of anything?

#092

Spawn: In the Demon’s Hand

While most of the recent attempts to turn Spawn into a decent video game have faltered (barring the Xbox version of “Soul Calibur II,” of course), this Capcom-produced licensed game is actually - shockingly - pretty enjoyable.

For starters, there is an absolutely enormous cast of playable characters in the title, totaling in excess of 30. The gameplay is also pretty varied, as it offers numerous single and multiplayer modes, including some downright fantastic, four-screen deathmatches. While the graphics are a little hard on the eyes - with a soundtrack that’s perhaps even worse - the game itself is just so fast-paced and fluid that it’s hard to dislike it. Even with those aggravating camera angles…

Instead of being a standard, “Tomb Raider”-like action game, “Spawn” actually plays more like an arcade shooter, ala “Outtrigger.” After clearing out a few minions, you quickly transition to a boss fight, which are generally some pretty entertaining clashes. While the single-player mode is rather decent, it’s the multiplayer that makes this one a worthy addition to any Dreamcast owner's library - if you’ve ever wanted to play a merger of “GoldenEye” and “Power Stone,” this is probably as close as any of us are ever going to get.

#091

Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2

Since there were so many awesome racing games on the Dreamcast, I suppose it’s easy to see how a game like “Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2” got overlooked.

While the visuals in “Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2” may not have been the prettiest the console had to offer, the racing in the title was downright terrific. Especially awesome were all of the customization options - on a system loaded with fantastic sim-racers, “Tokyo” was a refreshing change of pace, a sort of hybrid arcade/sim game that featured a lot of elements that you wouldn’t be able to find in “Sega GT” or the “Test Drive” games.

Yeah, yeah, nighttime racing is really nothing new in video games these days, but at the time, the after-hours racing in “Tokyo” were truly cutting edge - and clearly, the absolute best looking midnight visuals in any console racer to date at the time. While the game definitely has some issues regarding cornering (not to mention some pesky rubber band AI), the sheer fun of the title more than makes up for whatever slight technical issues the title has. That, and damn, is it ever fun to shunt some Mazda facsimiles!

#090

Vanishing Point

When I first heard about “Vanishing Point,” I was really excited…mostly because I thought it was based on one of my favorite B-action movies ever. It wasn’t until I actually placed the disc in my Dreamcast that I realized that it wasn’t inspired by a 1970s car-chase movie with lots of sociopolitical undertones…and I STILL ended up enjoying the game immensely, anyway.

As it turns out, the 2001 Acclaim title was called “Vanishing Point” because it was one of the few racing games on the market at the time that didn’t suffer horribly from draw-in and pop-up visuals - the sort of graphical hiccups that marred just about every PS1 racing game you could think of.

While the car models weren’t the best the system had to offer, the actual track visuals were downright beautiful, and you had a wealth of models and venues to choose from. In addition to featuring some really solid online play, the game also had an extremely fun “stunt mode…and if you haven’t ever taken a virtual BMW on a “hump back relay” before, you are seriously missing out, bro.

#089

Vigilante 8: Second Offense

While the “Vigilante 8” series was unmistakably a knockoff of “Twisted Metal,” that didn’t mean that the series couldn’t provide as much fun as the vehicular combat innovator it imitated. And in many ways, I think the second “Vigilante 8” title is a marked improvement over some of the latter games in Sony’s series (ESPECIALLY the third and fourth “Twisted Metal” games.)

The game’s graphics, admittedly, we’re pretty bland, but the title compensates for it with some downright HUGE levels and plenty of vehicles, all of which handle quite differently from one another. That, and unlike the PS1 era “Twisted Metal” games, you had the ability to upgrade your vehicles, equipping your characters with hover pads and ski treads.

The combat system was simplistic, but fun, and you never really had to tussle with the control pad too much. The character designs were especially well done, employing a novel 1970s hook that merged disco with sci-fi schlock. And if you can’t have a good time while shooting at your buddies in UFOs commandeered by crude ethnic stereotypes, I really don’t know how you can enjoy life in the remotest.

#088

Blue Stinger

Even on a system renowned for weird-ass, genre-defying games, “Blue Stinger” remains one of the most bizarre games to come out on the Dreamcast.

“Blue Stinger,” for the most part, can be classified as a “survival horror” game. However, it has so much humorous elements that, more accurately, it could be described as a parody of the genre, a sort of self-aware, deconstructionist title that pokes fun at titles like “Resident Evil” and “Dino Crisis.”

The graphics in the game are very good, and the story, although intentionally hokey, is really a lot better than you’d think it would be. The gameplay is sort of a mixture of “Shenmue,” “Mega Man Legends” and “Syphon Filter,” with an emphasis on environmental exploration. Granted, some of the action sequences get a little out of hand thanks to a mostly crappy camera, but it’s not so bad that you can’t enjoy the title as a whole. Simply put, if you’re looking for a game that does something different with genre conventions, this is one underappreciated title you need to give a spin.

#087

Psychic Force 2012

There were a ton of killer fighting games on the Dreamcast, so it’s understandable how a game like “Psychic Force 2012” could have gotten lost in the shuffle. It’s a shame, too, because this Taito release isn’t just one of the most original titles on the Dreamcast, it’s also one of the system’s absolute best multiplayer games.

The major hook behind the game is that the actual fighting isn’t restricted by gravity. So, instead of just jumping around and kicking the shit out of each other, SNK and Capcom style, you actually have the ability to fly across the screen, like you were in “NiGHTS” or something. It’s a style of gameplay that, honestly, I haven’t experienced before or since. And the really shocking thing? Not only does it not get in the way of combat, it actually makes for a surprisingly deep and nuanced fighting system.

There’s just so much to like about this game, from the super-creative physics to the kick-ass multiplayer battles to the cyber-punk character design to the hyper-trippy, stylized visuals. That, and the story mode is actually pretty involving for a fighting game from 12 years ago. This is definitely an underappreciated gem whose rescuing from obscurity is long, LONG overdue.

#086

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear

Yeah, yeah, the whole “squad-based shooter” thing has been run into the ground over the last decade and a half, but that doesn’t keep this title from being one of the best the played-out genre has to offer.

The cerebral, strategic shooter was refreshing change of pace from the myriad “Doom” and “Duke Nukem” clones of the timeframe, emphasizing grey matter over firepower. While there may have been perhaps too much emphasis on mission pre-planning (for some levels, it seems like the mission debriefings last longer than the missions themselves), the overall gameplay was rewarding and very well structured - meaning, holy hell, you actually had to think your way out of certain spots.

True, the graphics look very underwhelming today, and compared to Xbox games like “Ghost Recon,” the title does seem just a bit primitive. Even so, once you actually get into the groove of things, you’ll find “Rogue Spear” to be a very enjoyable - and challenging - title, and one that you might find yourself replaying quite a few times.

#085

Test Drive V Rally

Despite the title, “Test Drive V Rally” really isn’t an official “Test Drive” game - it’s actually a title developed by Eden Studios and published by Infogrames. Oddly, the PS1 version was published by EA and marketed as, of all things, a “Need for Speed” offshoot, but that’s really just an aside.

This is just a sublime, technical rally racer, with tons of licensed cars and some outstanding weather dynamics. While “Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2” may have been the first arcade racer I played with truly outstanding nighttime racing, this has to be among the first simulation racers to really nail not only past-midnight driving graphics, but also rain-soaked and snow-drenched racing, as well.

The world hopping championship mode was just all-out awesome, and the multiplayer here is truly terrific. The attention to detail was just staggering, with the driving surfaces - tarmac, soil and gravel - producing completely different driving conditions, making the title an extremely deep, and extremely replayable, experience. That, and the design-your-own-track mode remains one of the absolute best in-game course designers I have ever tinkered around with to this very day.

#084

Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein 

The other truly awesome, weapons based 3D fighter on the Dreamcast, ostensibly.

A lot of Capcom fighting franchises became extremely popular (namely, a certain street fighting series that has had more sequels, prequels and remakes than the entire “Halloween” franchise). The “Plasma Sword” series (which began with the earlier “Star Gladiator”) was never really that popular of a series, which is a complete shame, since they’re such fun, intricate and insanely entertaining fighting games.

Tremendous polygonal fighting models, with gorgeous 2D backdrops? Check. An insanely detailed, sweeping narrative, with tons and tons of playable characters? Check. Super sweet, hyper-fluid controls? Present. Mega-hyper-duper-super electro-light-show attacks that make the 64 hit combos in “Marvel vs. Capcom” look like sparklers by comparison? All here, and counted for. “Nightmare of Bilstein” may not have the brand name appeal of some other fighters on this list, but it’s definitely an underrated brawler you need to give a try.

#083

Looney Tunes: Space Race

One look at this game, and you just have to think it’s going to suck. Come on, it’s a licensed title clearly built to ape the success of “Mario Kart” - how could it do anything but blow?

However, once you actually get your hands on the title, you quickly come to the realization that not only is this a pretty damn good kart racer, it’s actually one of the best non-Nintendo produced offerings in the subgenre. For one, the cel-shaded graphics are just beautiful, and the controls handle as smoothly as you could possibly want them to. The game makes excellent use of the license, with plenty of nods to the Acme Universe. That, and you have to give the designers serious props as far as design choices go - replacing the “blue shell of doom” with an anvil that clobbers your adversaries is just flat out genius, if you ask me.

It’s easy to be skeptical, but I assure you this is actually a great little racer. It’s funny, it’s vibrant and the races, believe it or not, can actually get a little intense - certainly, way more intense than any game of “Mario Kart 64” I have ever played. And let’s face it, people - being able to commandeer Marvin the Martian is so much cooler than just playing Donkey Kong, Jr. on a go-kart…

#082

Shadow Man

There really aren’t a lot of positive things one can say about the existence of Valiant Comics, but this kick-ass action game might be one of the few reasons we can be thankful that short-lived, wannabe comic empire was ever around.

The game plays out very much like the “Soul Reaver” games, which is most definitely not a bad thing. In “Shadow Man,” you find yourself navigating your way through not just one, but two massive game worlds - the “real world” you and I are familiar with, and a “dark world” where demons and vampires and Irish snake mentors (really) are all over the place. Granted, it may not sound like an original concept for a game (and it isn’t), but the execution here is just flat out superb.

There is a ton of action in the game, but there’s also a LOT of exploration. Though the game requires a bit of grey matter between your ears, the puzzles and backtracking never gets so tedious that you get bored with the experience - and by the time things get all shooter-oriented again, you will have MORE than enough action to keep your trigger thumb aching. And if that wasn’t enough, the game is also pretty atmospheric and spooky at points, in addition to having a storyline that, shockingly, is kind of interesting and immersing.

#081

Wacky Races

You know, I’d be lying to you if I said some whimsical nostalgia didn’t play at least a little role in why I like this game so much. I mean, it’s game, released in the 2000s, featuring characters from a super-obscure Hanna-Barbara cartoon from the ‘70s. It would be like a GTA-style sandbox game, starring “Eek the Cat,” being announced as a Wii-U launch title tomorrow.

The shocking thing about the game, however, is that’s it’s actually a really good game in addition to being a really bizarre licensed one. In fact, it’s a really, really good game, that is about 800 times better than you’d think it would be.

The cel-shaded graphics are fantastic, and the voice acting is very good (even though the music is mostly just meh.) The racing aspect is  also really well-done, with each racer handling differently (as well as having completely different sets of weapons, too.) The characters, clearly, are tremendously designed, and there’s a staggering amount to do in the game world. And after playing it for a couple of years? I am CONVINCED that nobody on this planet can beat me while I’m commandeering one Dick Dastardly…

And that folks, is our update for this week. Be sure to tune in next Friday for the second installment of the countdown, where we will countdown #080-#061 on our ever-dwindling list of the greatest Sega Dreamcast games of all-time. Until then, don’t forget: it’s still thinking…

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