Top 50 and Bottom 25 Sega Dreamcast games list

[Rob2600]

Inspired by my Top 50 and Bottom 40 Wii games (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109135) thread and my Top 50 and Bottom 25 Nintendo 64 games (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114086) thread:


According to Gamestats.com, Metacritic.com, and Gamerankings.com, here are the overall top 50 Dreamcast games:

1. Soulcalibur - 9.7
2. NFL 2K1 - 9.6 (also highly rated: NFL 2K and NFL 2K2)
3. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 - 9.6 (also highly rated: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater)
4. Resident Evil Code: Veronica - 9.4
5. Rayman 2: The Great Escape - 9.3
6. Quake III Arena - 9.3
7. Virtua Tennis - 9.2 (also highly rated: Tennis 2K2)
8. Jet Grind Radio - 9.2
9. Dead or Alive 2 - 9.1
10. Crazy Taxi - 9.1
11. Skies of Arcadia - 9.1
12. NBA 2K1 - 9.1 (also highly rated: NBA 2K and NBA 2K2)
13. Test Drive Le Mans - 9.1
14. Sonic Adventure - 9.0
15. Unreal Tournament - 9.0
16. Grandia II - 9.0
17. Shenmue - 9.0
18. Ultimate Fighting Championship - 9.0
19. Rez - 8.9
20. Samba de Amigo - 8.9
21. MDK2 - 8.9
22. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 - 8.9
23. Shenmue II - 8.9
24. Phantasy Star Online - 8.9
25. Guilty Gear X - 8.9
26. Sonic Adventure 2 - 8.8
27. Power Stone 2 - 8.8
28. Street Fighter Alpha 3 - 8.8
29. ChuChu Rocket! - 8.8
30. Ready 2 Rumble Boxing - 8.8
31. Space Channel 5 Part 2 - 8.7
32. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver - 8.7
33. Metropolis Street Racer - 8.7
34. Bangai-O - 8.6
35. Ikaruga - 8.6
36. Test Drive V-Rally - 8.6
37. Ferrari F355 Challenge: Passione Rossa - 8.6
38. Sega Rally 2: Sega Rally Championship - 8.6
39. Daytona USA - 8.5
40. San Francisco Rush 2049 - 8.5
41. King of Fighters 2001 - 8.4
42. Phantasy Star Online Version 2 - 8.4
43. Power Stone - 8.4
44. The Typing of the Dead - 8.4
45. Virtual-On: Oratorio Tangram - 8.4
46. Headhunter - 8.4
47. Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future - 8.4
48. Crazy Taxi 2 - 8.3
49. Virtua Fighter 3tb - 8.3
50. Zero Gunner 2 - 8.3
(51. Worms Armageddon - 8.3)
(52. Sega GT - 8.3)

What do you think? Is there a good variety of genres? Is there a good balance between hard core, casual, mature, and fun games?

For sports series, I listed the highest rated version followed by other highly rated versions in parentheses.


- - -


According to Gamestats.com, Metacritic.com, and Gamerankings.com, here are the overall worst 25 Dreamcast games:

1. Who Wants to Beat Up a Millionaire? - 1.5
2. Neo Golden Logress: Littlewing Solid State Pinball - 2.0
3. Godzilla Generations Maximum Impact - 2.5
4. Undercover AD 2025 Kei - 2.5
5. NFL Quarterback Club 2000 - 2.5
6. ESPN NBA 2Night - 2.7
7. Spirit of Speed 1937 - 3.0
8. MTV Sports: Skateboarding Featuring Andy Mcdonald - 3.4
9. Caesars Palace 2000 - 3.5
10. Ducati World Racing Challenge - 3.7
11. South Park Rally - 3.9
12. Space Griffon - 4.0
13. NFL Quarterback Club 2001 - 4.3
14. Roadsters - 4.3
15. Industrial Spy: Operation Espionage - 4.3
16. Jeremy McGrath Supercross 2000 - 4.4
17. The Ring: Terror's Realm - 4.6
18. Godzilla Generations - 4.6
19. Death Crimson OX - 4.7
20. Dragonriders: Chronicles of Pern - 4.9
21. Urban Chaos - 4.9
22. ECW Anarchy Rulz - 4.9
23. Evil Dead: Hail to the King - 4.9
24. Nightmare Creatures II - 5.0
25. World Series Baseball 2K1 - 5.0

[GM80]

I think that's a good starting point, and a good mix. A list will never please everyone, obviously, so here's my take:

Since Headhunter's on there, it's obviously not an exclusively US list ... so I'd argue for Rez, Cosmic Smash, and Space Channel 5 Part 2.

And personally, I think there are too many racing games in the list, spots 34-38 in particular, where there should be some other valued titles ... but Tokyo Xtreme Racer (either one) really needs to be on there (and isn't).

And I thought 47, NBA Showtime, was awful. Blitz 2000 at 51 hints at the list going severely downhill from there. It's pretty bad, too.

[ubersaurus]

Yeah, if we're going worldwide, there's a few key games missing off that list. Under Defeat, Border Down, Super Street Fighter 2 X, the King of Fighters games, Space Channel 5 part 2, and Capcom vs SNK 2 all come to mind.

My, that machine had amazing arcade ports.

Also, UFC? Really? Really?

[retro junkie]

Maybe it is just me, but I think "Mars Matrix" should be on that list somewhere. I felt it was an excellent arcade to home translation. I feel that "Record of the Lodoss War" was pretty good too.

[dr101z]

What about Giga Wing 2, AeroWings 1 and 2, Alien Front Online, Vampire Chronicles, Zero Gunner 2? I'm surprised that both UFC and Ready 2 Rumble made it onto the list.

[otaku]

dr101 lists some good games that should be on that list. Also I'd add the street fighter series of games and berserk guts rage.

Also I hear cosmic smash is quite good and is a DC exclusive I can't say for sure but maybe...

Rez should definetly be on there

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Well, I could name a ton of my favorite games that are missing form that list, but I'm always surprised to see Toy Commander getting snubbed on these "Top X Dreamcast Games" lists. That was a game that seemed like it got plenty of attention when it was new and which is definitely a very high quality game that still stands up very well today, but it's just sort of forgotten by a lot of people these days.

Nice to see V-Rally appearing fairly high on this list, though. I've always thought that was one of the best if not *THE* best racer on the Dreamcast.


...word is bondage...

[Rob2600]

Since Headhunter's on there, it's obviously not an exclusively US list ... so I'd argue for Rez, Cosmic Smash, and Space Channel 5 Part 2.


Yeah, if we're going worldwide, there's a few key games missing off that list. Under Defeat, Border Down, Super Street Fighter 2 X, the King of Fighters games, Space Channel 5 part 2, and Capcom vs SNK 2 all come to mind.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not an expert regarding Dreamcast imports, so I'll look those games up and see if I can find any professional review scores.



"Mars Matrix" should be on that list somewhere. I felt it was an excellent arcade to home translation. I feel that "Record of the Lodoss War" was pretty good too.


What about Giga Wing 2, AeroWings 1 and 2, Alien Front Online, Vampire Chronicles, Zero Gunner 2?


I'm always surprised to see Toy Commander getting snubbed on these "Top X Dreamcast Games" lists.

Regarding games like Toy Commander, Alien Front Online, etc., their published review scores weren't quite high enough to crack the list. Don't blame me, blame professional video game journalists! :)



I thought 47, NBA Showtime, was awful. Blitz 2000 at 51 hints at the list going severely downhill from there.


UFC? Really? Really?

I know, I know...but again, those games received high ratings. I'm just the messenger.


Overall, have professional video game reviews gotten any better or any more accurate since 1999-2001? Judging from the top Wii games, I'd say they have. I haven't been keeping track of Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PSP, or DS reviews though.

[CosmicMonkey]

No Under Defeat = Fail

[Rob2600]

No Under Defeat = Fail

According the Metacritic.com, Under Defeat received a 6.7 overall:

Metacritic - Under Defeat (Dreamcast) (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/drm/underdefeat?q=under%20defeat)

Users gave it a 9.2 though. Were the professional video game reviewers wrong? I wouldn't be surprised.

[Rob2600]

Here are the overall ratings for the games that have been mentioned so far:

AeroWings - 7.5
AeroWings 2: Airstrike - 7.5
Alien Front Online - 7.6
Border Down - 6.5
Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 - 8.1
Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 Pro - 6.9
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Millionaire Fighting 2001 - 8.2
Cosmic Smash - ?
Giga Wing 2 - 6.5
King of Fighters '99: Evolution - 7.3
King of Fighters Dream Match '99 - 7.8
King of Fighters 2000 - 8.2
King of Fighters 2001 - 8.4
King of Fighters 2002 - 6.8
Mars Matrix - 7.8
Record of Lodoss War - 7.6
Rez - 8.9
Space Channel 5 Part 2 - 8.7
Street Fighter III: Double Impact - 8.1
Street Fighter III: Third Strike - 8.2
Super Street Fighter II X - 6.2
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage - 7.9
Tokyo Xtreme Racer - 7.5
Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2 - 8.0
Toy Commander - 7.9
Under Defeat - 6.7
Vampire Chronicle/Darkstalkers Chronicle Online - 8.2
Zero Gunner 2 - 8.3


Therefore, I've added these games to the list in the original post:

King of Fighters 2001
Rez
Space Channel 5 Part 2
Zero Gunner 2


Thanks for the import info!

[Rob2600]

I added the list of worst Dreamcast games to the original post. Do you agree with the review scores?

[GM80]

I added the list of worst Dreamcast games to the original post. Do you agree with the review scores?

Yes, almost entirely. I do think there are probably another few games worse than WSB 2K1, though, and it could be bumped off that list.

[Rob2600]

Yes, almost entirely. I do think there are probably another few games worse than WSB 2K1, though, and it could be bumped off that list.

Which ones might be worse? I didn't find any.

Besides, it received a 5.0, which is average. It just goes to show how such a small amount of truly horrendous games were released for the Dreamcast.

[Lostdwarf]

3.5 for south park is bull!

[Overbite]

Project Justice should be the best game on the dreamcast, followed by Skies of Arcadia, Grandia 2, and Marvel vs Capcom 2.

[Rob2600]

3.5 for south park is bull!

It's a 3.9. Is that too high? :)

[Rob2600]

Project Justice should be the best game on the dreamcast

Project Justice received an 8.1 overall, which is good, but not the best.

[Cryomancer]

Godzilla and Evil Dead on the bottom 25 list? They should try more of the games then. I-Spy isn't THAT bad either.

Top list is missing lots of cool underrated games like Illbleed and E.G.G. but I guess maybe they are not top 50 material...well on my list they would be anyway.

[retro junkie]

Project Justice should be the best game on the dreamcast, followed by Skies of Arcadia, Grandia 2, and Marvel vs Capcom 2.

You bring guilt upon me, I forgot about Skies of Arcadia, simply the best RPG on the Dreamcast IMHO. And I totally enjoy Project Justice which also slipped my memory. Two very good games that should be up there on the Top 50 List.
\\^_^/

[Rob2600]

Godzilla and Evil Dead on the bottom 25 list? They should try more of the games then. I-Spy isn't THAT bad either.

Evil Dead received a 4.9, which means it's pretty much average. Again, it goes to show that the Dreamcast had very few truly horrible games.

I know their libraries are somewhat on the small side, but I think the Dreamcast and the Nintendo 64 had the best ratio of excellent-to-garbage games.


Top list is missing lots of cool underrated games like Illbleed and E.G.G. but I guess maybe they are not top 50 material...well on my list they would be anyway.

Illbleed - 6.4
Elemental Gimmick Gear - 7.4

Not bad, but not critically acclaimed, either. I know what you mean though. There are some Nintendo 64 games that I think are great, but professional video game reviewers didn't.



I forgot about Skies of Arcadia, simply the best RPG on the Dreamcast IMHO. And I totally enjoy Project Justice which also slipped my memory. Two very good games that should be up there on the Top 50 List.

Skies of Arcadia is number 11 on the list. It definitely received recognition. Project Justice received an 8.1 overall, which is very good, but not the best. Judging from the replies in this thread, maybe it deserved a higher rating?

[j_factor]

Urban Chaos wasn't as bad as everyone said, IMO.

I would quibble about a few entries on that top list, but overall, it's pretty good. Also, I had no idea Bangai-O was actually given good scores by critics. That's a pleasant surprise. I remember GI (which I subscribed to at the time) didn't even bother reviewing it. But they were pretty obviously in the tank for PS2.

I also didn't realize Jet Grind Radio got such high ratings from critics. The game certainly deserves it.

[Cryomancer]

Actually, looking at it again.. Godzilla Generations gets 4.6, but Max Impact gets a 2.5? They are basically the same game. They ADDED stuff to Max Impact. I guess the reviewers decided that adding the american godzilla as an unlockable warants a 2.1 drop in score.

edit: how do i keep adding extra suffixes to my words lately?

[chrisbid]

Actuallying, looking at it again.. Godzilla Generations gets 4.6, but Max Impact gets a 2.5? They are basically the same game. They ADDED stuff to Max Impact. I guess the reviewers decided that adding the american godzilla as an unlockable warants a 2.1 drop in score!


this is what happens when anyone attempts to make the subjective and arbitrary question, 'How good is a video game?' into something objective and measurable.



but being able to find 50 above average games from a total library of under 250 games leaves a great ratio of good-to-bad. can anyone honestly say 20% of PS1, PS2, NES, SNES, Genesis or 2600 games are good to great? that is a tall order

[Rob2600]

being able to find 50 above average games from a total library of under 250 games leaves a great ratio of good-to-bad. can anyone honestly say 20% of PS1, PS2, NES, SNES, Genesis or 2600 games are good to great?

Like I wrote in my previous post, I think the Dreamcast and the Nintendo 64 had the highest ratio of excellent-to-garbage games.

[retro junkie]

Skies of Arcadia is number 11 on the list. It definitely received recognition. Project Justice received an 8.1 overall, which is very good, but not the best. Judging from the replies in this thread, maybe it deserved a higher rating?

Thank You for pointing out that I am blind. LOL
I really had to go over that list a dozen times to see some games. Skies of Arcadia was somehow missed.

[Cryomancer]

Like I wrote in my previous post, I think the Dreamcast and the Nintendo 64 had the highest ratio of excellent-to-garbage games.

I agree with this. I tend to think of the Dreamcast as the "16-bit" of 3-D. Playstation/N64 is the ugly but still potentially fun "8-Bit" era, Dreamcast steps up the graphics to pretty and still remains fun. Hallmarks of the Dreamcast are high framerates and bright colors, stuff that games nowadays still seem to lack far too often. There are a lot of very quality games for the DC, and even most of the rest are at least still worth a play through. Mediocrity is not too common on the platform. N64 is debatable as there are a lot of good games for it, but there are a lot of crap ones too, you just don't hear as much about them. I would also say that N64 games are more polarizing in opinion, in that there are many games that are both loved and hated. The argument can certainly be made in it's favor, however. Maybe we should do list where there are no numbers, just votes of "good" "mediocre" and "crap"

OK I'm done talking out of my ass for now.

[Rob2600]

N64 is debatable as there are a lot of good games for it, but there are a lot of crap ones too, you just don't hear as much about them.

According to published reviews, there are only about two dozen N64 games that could be considered horrendous:

Top 50 and Bottom 25 Nintendo 64 games list (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114086)

I know there are a lot of average games for each console, but I'm only talking about really horrible ones.