Game: Space Channel 5
Genre: Rhythm
Developer: United Game Artists
Publisher: Sega
System: Dreamcast
Release date: 2000
There are, in my famously (or not) humble opinion, a few must-play games for the dead-before-its-time Dreamcast. Among them: ChuChu Rocket!, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Rez, Shenmue and Skies of Aracadia. Oh, and this Tetsuya Mizuguchi-designed title. Yes, naysayers, at its heart Space Channel 5 is the video game equivalent of Milton Bradley's "Simon" toy, but the body that surrounds that blood-pumping vessel is what elevates this game to "must own" (or at least "must try") status. For starters, there's the game's graphics, which have a groovy, Jetsons-esque vibe to them. Then there's the extremely hummable soundtrack--composed by Naofumi Hataya, Kenichi Tokoi and Ken Woodman--which has a similar throwback feel to it. Oh, and let's not forget the story that ties it all ogether. It's completely silly--an alien race invades the planet (Earth, I think) and forces people to dance; "funky space reporter" Ulala, a Lady Miss Kier look-alike, comes to their rescue by defeating said aliens (and a few rival journalists) through dance-offs--of course, but what else would you expect from a game with a cover like the one above? There are just two things that keep Space Channel 5 from achieving perfection: 1) a sense of rhythm is required if you hope to get anywhere in the game, and 2) even if you have a sense of rhythm, the game sometimes fails to recognize it. Even then, the game is easily one of the more enjoyable and unique examples of the genre.
See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts
I've never owned a Dreamcast, but my friend Jeff and I played through all of Chu Chu Rocket one afternoon. This looks like a blast! Is this the one that was ported to PS2?
ReplyDeleteIt *is* a blast, Justin! I think you'd really like it. The sequel, too. As for which one was ported to the PS2 -- both of them were! They're all bundled up in one package: Space Channel 5 Special Edition.
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to it on Amazon -- http://www.amazon.com/Space-Channel-5-Special-playstation-2/dp/B00009ANK5/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1302666658&sr=8-2
*nostalgia trip*
ReplyDeleteAnd this is why I love your blog. The games you review oft remind me of my childhood.
Oh, I'm glad this one took you back, Gaelach Rose! It took me back when I played it (and wrote about it), too! I was sooooo in love with Sega and the Dreamcast back then :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, thank you so much for the compliment :) Honestly, these 'Great Gaymathon' posts seem to be the least-read of all my posts these days, so it's nice to know a few people actually read them and enjoy them.
Don't worry, I wouldn't stop doing them even if everyone hated them, since I really enjoy writing them. Plus, they're forcing me to play every game I own, which is the whole point of the series :)
I was more of a Saturn girl, myself, but the Dreamcast was really great.
ReplyDeleteIf I played every game I own and wrote a review for it... well, it would be a lot of writing, let's just say that. It's an admirable thing, and I'm glad my comment made you happy!
Oh, I loved the Saturn, too! Sadly, I no longer have one, but I'm going to rectify that sooner or later.
ReplyDeleteAs for it taking a lot of writing and time to write a review of every game you own, I understand completely. I don't even know how many games I have at this point, but it's well over 100. So, the 'Great Gaymathon' will be going on for some time to come :)
RIP Dreamcast, you were taken from us far too young. Shamefully, I never played Space Channel 5, although I did play the version included on Sega Superstars: http://101videogames.wordpress.com/2010/10/16/85-sega-superstars/. That one also had an annoying habit of not quite registering what you were doing, but it was fun nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteYes, RIP Dreamcast :( If you ever get the chance to play either Space Channel 5 or Space Channel 5 Part 2 (on the Dreamcast, PS2 or PSN/XBLA), take it, Lewis. I don't think you'll regret it!
ReplyDelete