Retrogamer #50 - Dreamcast Retroinspection...

[josekortez]

Over the weekend, I bought a copy of Retrogamer #50 from Barnes & Noble, and I was surprised and excited because they finally got around to doing a Retroinspection on the Sega Dreamcast, which is my favorite retro system. For me, it was just good to see the Dreamcast on the cover of a brand-new magazine in a store for a change!

I'm sure our friends in Europe have already read the 50th issue of Retrogamer last month, but since we get it delivered in the States a month late, I'll share the Perfect Ten games that Retrogamer proposed in that issue:

10. Rez
9. Skies of Arcadia
8. Phantasy Star Online
7. Seaman
6. Shenmue I & II
5. Metropolis Street Racer
4. Ikaruga
3. Resident Evil: Code Veronica
2. Samba De Amigo
1. Soul Calibur

While I wished that they had focused on some games that were completely system-exclusive (most of those games have appeared or will appear on other systems), I thought that each choice had a well-thought out rationale behind it. Okay, and I wish that Crazy Taxi had made the list, but what can you do?

I don't want to give away anymore spoilers, but did anyone else read this article?

[diskoboy]

Where the hell is Jet Set/Grind Radio? It was better than half the games on that list, put together.

I'm almost afraid to ask what number it was...

[josekortez]

Yeah, the Perfect Ten games is like a top ten list, but Retrogamer includes imports when they do a system which is how Ikaruga slipped through there. After showing the Perfect Ten, they give you a hundred or more screenshots of other games made for the system.

If it's any consolation, Jet Set Radio was the first game shown in the picture gallery and the Jet Set Radio case was photographed alongside the system.

[Jimid2]

I won't get my hands on this issue until next Friday... I can't wait! I too have been looking forward to the Dreamcast retrospective.

[Melf]

I would definitely have included Jet Grind Radio over PSO.

[Steve W]

Yeah, the Perfect Ten games is like a top ten list, but Retrogamer includes imports when they do a system which is how Ikaruga slipped through there.

Wasn't Ikaruga released in the UK? I know that Shenmue II, Rez and Headhunter were, at least. They still got releases while the US was cut off from new games.

[CosmicMonkey]

Wasn't Ikaruga released in the UK?

Unfortunately not. It's certainly a shame to see Jet Set Radio and Under Defeat missing from the list. But it's good to see Skies of Arcadia getting some recognition.

[tom]

Don't take the Perfect top ten from Retrogamer too serious. I't mostly from a UKs point of view.
When they done the Retroinspection of the C64, the C64 had games in the Perfect top ten, no USA user would even have in the Top 100.

[josekortez]

I mean, don't get me wrong, I do agree that Rez should be up there. Even Ikaruga, maybe, but since I played it on the GameCube, I can't tell you whether or not it's such a life-changing experience on the Dreamcast or not.

[tag274]

yeah, the games they had in the were ported to the PS2 I think eventually. Code Veronica was amazig when I first saw it on the DC and it is a shame they didnt remake RE2/RE3 for the DC. I also beleive that if Sega continued the console it was on par with the PS2.

[Steven]

Don't take the Perfect top ten from Retrogamer too serious. I't mostly from a UKs point of view.
When they done the Retroinspection of the C64, the C64 had games in the Perfect top ten, no USA user would even have in the Top 100.

General rule of thumb is don't take ANYONE's top 10 (or top whatever) list seriously. It's only that person's opinion, after all, or a compromise of a consensus among a small group, such as in EGM's top 100 games in issue #100.

Hell, Retro Gamer had SF Alpha 2 in their top 10 SNES list. I actually like the port for 16-bit standards, but c'mon now..

[Mayhem]

Just to point out, the C64 top ten list was my doing... and really, if you honestly think none of the games listed in that top ten deserve to be in a top hundred, you are sadly deluded

(and yes I've played lots and lots of US originating games... and there were two of them in there - Impossible Mission and Project Firestart)

[Wraith Storm]

But it's good to see Skies of Arcadia getting some recognition.

I have to agree. I promote the game every chance I get. Skies of Arcadia is one of the best RPG's I have ever played and unfortunately seems to be overlooked by most.

I just picked issue 50 up yesterday and cant wait to get around to reading the DC retrospective.

[segagamer]

I would definitely have included Jet Grind Radio over PSO.

Actually, I would have included Jet Set/Grind Radio over Metropolis Street Racer.

[dao2]

SKIES FOR #1! ;p

[Captain Wrong]

Under Defeat > Ikaruga

Also, as noted, no Crazy Taxi or Jet Set Radio, umm, WTF?

[DJ Daishi]

my list:

10.Rez
9.Ultimate Fighting Championship
8.Resident Evil: Code Veronica
7.Power Stone
6.Sonic Adventure
5.Ecco the Dolphin
4.Jet Grind Radio
3.Dead or Alive 2
2.Skies of Arcadia
1.SHENMUE



.......and why the hell is Seaman on the list!?!...where is this magazine even sold??

[josekortez]

my list:

10.Rez
9.Ultimate Fighting Championship
8.Resident Evil: Code Veronica
7.Power Stone
6.Sonic Adventure
5.Ecco the Dolphin
4.Jet Grind Radio
3.Dead or Alive 2
2.Skies of Arcadia
1.SHENMUE



.......and why the hell is Seaman on the list!?!...where is this magazine even sold??

Retrogamer Magazine is produced and distributed in the U.K., but it gets distributed here in the U.S. at Barnes & Noble a month after it is released there.

In the UK, Seaman was never commercially released. Therefore, I believe they included it as an import that people must try in order to get the full Dreamcast experience. Apparently, they thought it was important enough to include in the Perfect Ten list. I don't know anyone in the U.S. who loved Seaman that much.

And while I think including any UFC title on the top ten list for any system is pushing it, but I think we all have our favorite alternative titles that we might include that others might not like as much.

[DJ Daishi]

And while I think including any UFC title on the top ten list for any system is pushing it, but I think we all have our favorite alternative titles that we might include that others might not like as much.

If you'd play it you would know why I put it on the list...
http://dreamcast.ign.com/objects/014/014160.html

[josekortez]

If you'd play it you would know why I put it on the list...
http://dreamcast.ign.com/objects/014/014160.html

I own over 220 domestic Dreamcast games with UFC being one of those, and I wouldn't put UFC anywhere near my personal top ten, but I guess people just have emotional attachments to certain games for whatever reason.

But yes, I've played the UFC games on Dreamcast, GameCube and Xbox and I wasn't that impressed.

Of course, one of my favorite Dreamcast games is NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC because (a) I loved NBA Jam back in the day, (b) it was the best arcade basketball conversion I have seen or have yet to see on a home system and (c) the fact that the best home version of the game was on Dreamcast was the reason why I bought the Dreamcast in the first place since I had stopped playing games altogether for a while after I got bored with the SNES.

That doesn't really give me the right to suggest NBA Showtime is in the top ten of games for the system. I don't expect other people to understand why I love NBA Showtime nor do I care if they do or not.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess...