{"id":1923,"date":"2018-12-28T15:22:16","date_gmt":"2018-12-28T20:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/retrogameresource.com\/?p=1923"},"modified":"2018-12-30T08:58:09","modified_gmt":"2018-12-30T13:58:09","slug":"gaming-memories-2-christmas-99-livin-the-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/retrogameresource.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/28\/gaming-memories-2-christmas-99-livin-the-dream\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaming Memories #2: Christmas ’99: Livin’ the Dream"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"File:Dreamcast-Console-Set.jpg\"\/<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

On 9\/9\/99 SEGA’s last ditch effort to overcome Sony’s dominance in the North American console market, the Dreamcast, was released. Promising proper online console gaming, true arcade quality graphics, and a strong upcoming line up of games, SEGA put forth their best effort to rebound from the mild domestic success of the SEGA Saturn in Japan, and its colossal failure in international markets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the Dreamcast ultimately failing as well, thanks to a lack of consumer confidence in SEGA, rampant piracy, the power of the PlayStation brand, and most importantly the PS2’s included DVD player, the Dreamcast managed to become a cult favorite with a die-hard fanbase that continues to speak its praises even today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am one of these rabid Dreamcast fans, and it all started on Christmas 1999.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

“Its Thinking”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"File:Dreamcast<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

During the latter part of 1999, SEGA’s North American “Its Thinking” campaign, managed to sufficiently intrigue me with regards to Dreamcast’s power. My 9-year-old mind was obsessed with the thought of being able, for the first time, to\u00a0truly<\/i>\u00a0play arcade quality titles at home, something that had always been promised, but rarely been delivered, especially with regards to 3D titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My excitement for the promise of faithful arcade ports was enhanced tremendously by spending much of the year playing the\u00a0Power Stone<\/i>\u00a0arcade game; an incredible 3D arena fighting title, that was unlike anything else I had played up until that point. With a colorful roster of characters, interactive environments,\u00a0and over-the-top finishing moves, it offered a fresh experience I yearned to have on console.

Aside from the arcade ports, SEGA also promised online gaming, something I was completely unfamiliar with. Being exclusively a console gamer at that point, the thought of playing with gamer’s across the world was novel and completely amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Illustration<\/figure>\n\n\n\n



Considering all the cutting edge technology and finally <\/i>being guaranteed a brand new Sonic the Hedgehog <\/i>title, I was completely sold and begged my parents for the console for Christmas.

There was one minor issue, my parents refused saying I had too many consoles already, and my previous SEGA console, the Saturn, had barely any games.

Despite being pretty bummed, I resigned to the fact that I would not be getting the Dreamcast that holiday season. I instead made a list focused on the previous generation’s consoles, of which I had all three: the PSX, Saturn and N64. Unfortunately the Saturn had long been abandoned by most developers in North America, so my list focused primarily on PlayStation RPGs to bolster my ever-expanding PSX collection, and a few games to bolster my limited Nintendo 64 stock. I also sprinkled in some used games for my SNES and SEGA Genesis

After realizing the quality titles available for my current consoles, the bitter sting of being without a Dreamcast subsided.

Then came Christmas day. As my brother and I opened our gifts, I came across a small CD-shaped present. Expecting some PSX game, I excitedly opened it to see Mortal Kombat Gold <\/i>for the SEGA Dreamcast, a gift from my aunt accidentally mixed-in with my presents from my parents. In utter shock, I stood mouth agape for a moment, before snapping to my senses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I immediately began scrambling to find a box that could contain a Dreamcast. Nestled toward the back a tree, was a box much larger than my other presents. With my parent’s secret having been discovered, I asked them if I could open the large box next, which of course they permitted. There it was, in all its glory, my<\/em> SEGA Dreamcast, with Sonic Adventure, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, <\/i>and Power Stone<\/i>

With Mortal Kombat Gold <\/i>and these three gems, I was ready to enter the next generation in gaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Dreamcast Highlights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Cover<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As the magic of Sonic\u00a0Adventure<\/i> finally propelled SEGA’s mascot into the 3rd dimension proper, I sat amazed, enjoying the new approach to the blue blur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The central hub world, variety of characters, and hidden completionist bonuses further elevated the game in my mind, and kept me entertained for hours. Despite some of the common criticisms for the game, I found it to be an incredible experience, with the exception of Big the Cat sequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later in the Dreamcast’s life cycle Sonic Adventure 2, <\/i>upped the ante, with even more, new, <\/i>character’s and a stream-lined approach to level selection. Selecting Hero or Dark story lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Heroes, the player uses Sonic, Tails and Knuckles in an attempt to stop their Dark counterparts from accomplishing their maleficent goals. This Dark team consists of Shadow the Hedgehog, a black-clad evil doer, Rouge the Bat, a scantily-clad humanoid bat, and of course the evil Dr. Eggman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each hero and their specific anti-hero offer one of three distinct play styles: classic speed platforming, for Sonic and Shadow, Chaos Emerald hunting, for Knuckles and Rouge, and shooting sections reminiscent of the E-102 Gamma levels from the original Sonic\u00a0Adventure, <\/i>for\u00a0Tails\u00a0and\u00a0Eggman. This diversity of play styles keeps things interesting for the player, while still managing to make the game feel like a cohesive package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the game progresses, and both story-lines converge, the third and final story-line becomes available. This final chapter involves both teams becoming directly involved in a climactic conflict that results in the series’ most epic final battle since the complete ending in Sonic\u00a03\u00a0&\u00a0Knuckles.<\/em> For me, Sonic\u00a0Adventure\u00a02<\/i>, perfected what the first game set into motion and did justice to the Sonic<\/i> franchise in its transition to the z-axis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dreamcast was not simply a mascot machine however, as mentioned, the variety of epic arcade hits available for the console provided me with fodder for many-a-party and brought the slowly dying arcade scene into the home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power\u00a0Stone\u00a0<\/i>and its even more exciting sequel, Power\u00a0Stone\u00a02<\/i>, fueled innumerable late night battle royales among my cousins, brother and I. As I mained Wang Tang, I was able to use his Super\u00a0Saiyan-<\/i>inspired moves and quick-strikes to crush nearly everyone. Some of my fondest memories on the Dreamcast involves the time spent talking trash during VS. and teaming up to take on the CPU characters cooperatively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The console also offered Virtua Fighter 3, Street Fighter 3, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Soul Calibur, Dead or Alive 1 and 2, Marvel vs Capcom 1 and 2, <\/i> and a quiet gem Project Justice<\/i>, that was perhaps my favorite of the bunch. Though I did not have all of these fighters, I had some<\/i>, and traded titles often with another one of my Dreamcast-wielding friends to have the opportunity to play them all. Many of these games require no explanation of their greatness, and have become legend in the annals of fighting game history, but I have to mention a few that were game changers for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The one game of I borrowed the longest was Dead\u00a0or\u00a0Alive\u00a02<\/i>, a fast-paced, combo-driven 3D fighter that offered one of the most fluid, and visually stunning experiences on the Dreamcast… it also helped that I was a pre-teen boy and the game’s female characters were well-endowed, and partially nude. Despite cashing in on my hormones, the game managed to stand alone on merit as well, being one of the best fighters on the Dreamcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"PROJECT<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The game I loaned to my friend in exchange for DOA\u00a02<\/i>, was none other than the aforementioned Project\u00a0Justice<\/i>, a sequel to the solid PSX fighter Rival\u00a0Schools.<\/i> Coming off of an obsession with the team-based approach of the game’s predecessor and the Marvel\u00a0vs.\u00a0Capcom<\/i> series, I was primed to deal with a refined 3-dimensional interpretation of the mechanic implemented in Project\u00a0Justice.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project\u00a0Justice,<\/i> like Rival\u00a0Schools,<\/i> revolves around an interesting concept involving students using their academic or athletic tendencies as their main attacking style in battle. For example, there are swimmers, student council members, gang members, violinists, gym teachers, baseball players and school nurses that all manage to join the fray in this quirky fighter. Each have their own specific specialties relevant to their area of expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My personal favorite, Edge, a spiky-haired gang member void of other talents, instead pulls a switch blade from his meticulously spiked hair to stab enemies; an effective counter to being hit in the face by a volleyball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from the characters being merely conceptually interesting, the game has a pretty solid story mode that slightly fleshes out each of them, making the characters somewhat more relatable than they otherwise would be. Between this story mode, versus and unlocking all the hidden characters, I was kept occupied for months on end… not bad for an on a whim purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n