2 Reasons to Play the Dreamcast Again

I love my Dreamcast. It’s my favorite console from Sega and probably one of my favorite platforms period. I still play it quite often and I’ve noticed a sort of revival towards the beloved system, people wanting to get their hands on one again and either reminiscing about games they used to play or looking for new ones to experience. I think these two games are reason enough to dust off the old Dreamcast once again.

Jet Grind Radio

Known as Jet Set Radio in Japan, this game was released in 2000 and was one of the first to really maximize the use of the cel-shade art that is so popular now. The game centers around a gang of teenagers who call themselves the GGs, taking place in the city of Tokyo-to. They battle rival gangs such as the Love Shockers and Noise Tanks for turf by spray painting their logos all across the city.

The game has a hyped up and energizing soundtrack that is featured through the character, DJ Crush. The music fits the funky and almost toonish feel to the game, featuring some heavier artists such as Professional Murder Music and Rob Zombie on some of the more difficult levels that involve rollerblading throughout the districts, trying to claim turf while the entire police force follows on foot, by car and by air.

Jet Grind Radio has a small plot, so it can be easy to continue after an absence. It is also not an extreme sporting game, as the mechanics of the rollerblading are quite easy and actually very fun, and the custom logos the teenagers use making it interactive. The difficulty level rises gradually and isn’t too frustrating, whereas some ’sport’ games have the tendency to be near impossible at times.

Skies of Arcadia

Considered to be one of the ten best games released on the Dreamcast, Skies of Arcadia came out in 2000 and features the main protagonists Vyse and Aika, two sky pirates who perform their duties somewhat like Robin Hood, stealing only from bigger and armed vessels, such as those of the Valuan Armada. In the process, they come across a girl named, Fina and take her along. This game’s story begins like a rescue mission and ends up being a battle for survival against a war.

What is particularly intriguing about this game is the different game play for battles. While traveling on foot, Vyse comes across the ‘random battles’ which is character against monster, but while flying through the world on an airship, although rare, airship battles can take place, which is a lot of fun. Much of the game happens in dungeon settings, in which the player solves puzzles, hunts for treasure and fights monsters.

While the random battles are quite numerous and frankly, the only real complaint the game received, the Dreamcast version has a bit of a trick as to when to identify an upcoming battle and being able to prepare for it. The system will begin to have a loud spin-up in the ROM drive and this hint can give a player ample time to open the menu and make any necessary changes or preps. Skies of Arcadia is a fantastic and fun RPG, one that should not be overlooked by role-playing fans.