Customer Reviews

Sega Dreamcast Console

5 star:		(776)
4 star:		(97)
3 star:		(49)
2 star:		(20)
1 star:		(53)

 

 

I purchased a Sega Dreacast last Christmas and couldn't be happier. The graphics are jaw-dropping and there's a truckload of games, 200 or so by Christmas 2000, some titles like Shenmu, Ecco the Dolphin, and Soul Calibur could be classified as works of art. As an engineer in the hi-tech field I'm always impressed by a design masterpiece, you can be assured I'm impressed with the Dreamcast. Now let's talk about the PS2, I've studied the Dreamcast and the PS2 for over a year by researching numerous design articles on the Internet and unfortunately for Sony, the word is getting out, the PS2 is a bad design. Sony had great plans for a powerhouse machine, but they all fell apart due to a serious design flaw that traumatizes the entire system. Here's the bottom line, the PS2 is severely limited by an anemic 4 MB Video ram memory in the graphics subsystem, this is the pipeline that controls video output to the screen, everything must pass thru this pipeline before it appears on the television. By comparison, the Dreamcast has twice the size of the PS2 pipeline, or 8 MB video ram memory. This still does not tell the complete story, the Dreamcast has a superior graphics engine that makes it's 8 MB pipeline perform more like 10 times the pipeline in the PS2, yes, that's right, I said 10 times. This gives the Dreamcast the ability to produce screen output the PS2 simply cannot match. This probably sounds hard to believe after all the hype you've heard about the PS2, but sadly, it's true. In a nutshell, Sony built a 750 horsepower Ferrari and then fitted it with a Ford Pinto exhaust system. No matter how much power the PS2 engine can deliver, the entire system is choked by the restricted output and software developers are left frantically scrambling trying to work around the problems this causes. Surely you've heard the PS2 is difficult to develop for, this is the main reason why. The results are quite revealing, if you compare the top games on both systems, you'll notice the Dreamcast is at least as good as the PS2 and many time's it's superior. The best example of this lies with two different fighting games, Tekken Tag on the PS2 compared to Soul Calibur on the Dreamcast, both games launched with the respective system. Namco, one of the finest game development companies on the planet, developed both titles. If it was within Namco's power, you can bet they wouldn't let the spanking new Tekken Tag on the PS2 be outshined by the 18-month-old Soul Calibur on the Dreamcast, but that's just what happened. Soul Calibur is a masterpiece that dwarfs Tekken Tag in any comparison. Another good example is EA Sports Madden NFL 2001 for the PS2 compared to NFL 2K1 for the Dreamcast. EA Sports has everything riding on the PS2 and cannot afford to be outdone by the Dreamcast. In direct comparisons, some say Madden NFL 2001 has slightly better graphics than NFL 2K1, but read almost any review you want, even some on Sony biased sights, and NFL 2K1 is the better game. Moving on, some Dreamcast games are thought to be impossible on the PS2, these are Jet Grind Radio, Shenmue, Crazy Taxi, Sonic Adventure, Ecco the Dolphin, and perhaps a few more. These games either have incredible detail and texturing, fast moving free roaming 3D environments, or both. Because it's choked by it's design, detail texture and fast moving free roaming environments are all difficult for the PS2. In other words, some things the Dreamcast can do with ease are near impossibilities for the PS2. Chances are you haven't heard comparisons like these before, but they appear to be true. A few more things to mention if your considering purchasing a new game console, the PS2 can play DVD's, the Dreamcast can't, that may be a selling point to some. On the other hand, the Dreamcast has an ACE up it's sleeve, it's internet ready out of the box and online gaming for the Dreamcast is here, right now, today, no fool' in. How good is online gaming on the Dreamcast? I've heard nothing but praise and worship for SegaNet, they use a system that reduces lag over an analog modem that makes an opponent across country seem like he's playing in you living room. In the online department Sony has completely botched up, Sega has a much better plan in place and Sony will never fully catch up. One last point, the PS2 plays old Playstation games with the same quality as the Playstation, a certain selling point. On the Sega side, a new software product called Bleem! will give the Dreamcast the ability to play around 400 Playstation games thru emulation, with 4X the screen resolution, graphics filtering, and jagged edge removal that the Sony machines can't accomplish. The Dreamcast will be a better Playstaion than the PS2, even a better Playstation than the Playstation itself. In conclusion, if you're a Sony fan and you don't mind the high price, go ahead and buy a PS2, the games will get better as developers master the system. The PS2 is an adequate machine and will be a smashing success with the following Sony already has, it's just not the revolution in console gaming that all the hype predicted. Now, if you think you want a PS2 because it's a superior machine, forget the hype, save yourself some money and go buy a Dreamcast, you won't be disappointed. The PS2 is vastly overrated and over-hyped, the Dreamcast is underrated and it's time for the truth to even up the score. Lastly, if you are a budget conscious consumer, buy a Dreamcast over a PSone anyday, it's 10X better.... Bottom line, the Dreamcast is a masterpiece of design engineering and it easily rivals the PS2, in many ways it's the superior machine, much to Sony's dismay.

For the upcoming holiday season, this is the system to get. Nevermind the PS2 - at this point in time, the best games on any console system are for the Dreamcast. Sure, PS2 games are going to get better, but if you're looking for something that's a lot of fun right now, the Dreamcast is your system. I'm a college student who just purchased a Dreamcast last week, along with Jet Grind Radio, Rayman 2, Power Stone 2, and Street Fighter Alpha 3, all of which are incredible. If you're looking for great platformers, arcade translations, and innovative new games, look no further. The quality of games on this machine are simply incredible, and even though the PS2 boasts more powerful hardware, keep in mind that the most powerful system dosn't necessarily have the best games.

While Sega's future may be uncertain, they're definitely giving their best effort with their push for SegaNet. Any PC gamer will tell you that it's infinitely more satisfying to play against other people rather than CPU-controlled opponents. One other thing to consider is the cost of a PS2 (assuming that you can find one).

With a lot of promise on the horizon (including, finally, some quality RPG's in Skies of Arcadia and Grandia 2), the Dreamcast would make a great gift or purchase.

Right now is the perfect time to lay your hands on a fresh new Dreamcast system. Forget speculation over the Oct. 26 PS2 launch and look at some of the reviews posted for the PS2. Anyway, dreamcast has so major fire-power lined up for the upcoming august and fall. Let me now run down the online multiplayer games which will use SegaNet with no latency on the games you play. First out is NFL2K1, then Quake 3 Arena, Half-Life, NBA2K1, Phantasy Star Online, Spec Ops Online, and possibly Sonic Shuffle (a Mario Party type game).

Now we shift gears and look at non-online games. Games like World Series Baseball 2K1, Virtual Tennis, NBA2K, NHL 2K, NFL2K, Virtual Athlete 2K and Tee-Off Golf line the sports genere. Than we have the microphone compatible simulation game called Seaman. In racing we have Sega GT, Flag to Flag, Hydro Thunder, and Monoco Grand Prix. In the action genere, we have Jet Set Radio and Ecco the Dolphin, Resident Evil: Code Veronica, and Sonic Adventure. In music, we have Space Channel 5 and Samba de Amigo. And in the sparsh RPG section, we have Eternal Arcadia and Time Stalkers.

For all you fighting gamers out there, have no fear, Sega has the games. Try Virua Fighter 3tb, Soul Caliber, Marvel vs Capcom 1 and 2, Power Stone 1 and 2, Virtual On: Ontario Tangram, Soul Fighter, Street Fighter III Double Impact, and the upcoming Street Fighter Zero III (network re-release).

Wait, if you thought Dreamcast didn't have any add-ons in stock, you were dead wrong. For instance, the DVD add-on that was previewed at E3 and the Iomega Zip Drive will compete with PS2's Hard Drive and built-in DVD. Then we have the upcoming Digital Camera and headset in which you can share pictures over the Dreamcast Network or have a video phone conversation. Sega also has a VMU MP3 player which will plug into your DC controller and allow you to download music and listen to it with headphones through a built in port.

Games like NFL2K1 and Seaman (which utilizes the microphone so you can talk to Seaman) will be the future of Sega's Dreamcast but will not end on Oct. 26 because of PS2. As Sega said, "Sega is talking gamers where gaming is going." Sega is talking gamers to Internet multiplayer games. PS2 wont have online till 2001, thats when Sega will have SegaNet fully up and running with games to back-up there comment. Check out the games I metioned and if you dont like any, thats as original as Sega, Sony, Nintendo, or Microsoft will ever get.

Yes, I am serious. I was hoping to blow over ... to purchase a PS2, but I couldn't find one. I was looking for a PS2 in a retail store when I noticed the displays for both the PS2 and the Dreamcast. The PS2 had Madden 2001 on, and the Dreamcast had NFL 2K1 on. I was astonished to see that the Dreamcast was graphically equal to the PS2. Could it be? I had heard that the PS2 was going to blow the socks off the Dreamcast. With the PS2 shortage and my money (saved since January specifically for a PS2) burning a hole in my pocket, I picked up a Dreamcast.

In fact, for about the price of the PS2 with one controller and no games, I got a Dreamcast, an extra controller, a VMU, and five incredible games (NFL 2K, NBA 2K, Crazy Taxi, Soul Caliber, and Sonic Adventure were each 2/5 the price of a typical PS2 game).

Maybe the PS2 will live up to expectations...but for now, the Dreamcast is well worth the price. And if the PS2 is great in two years, I will buy one then, without the headaches and for half the price.

Do yourself a favor and get a Dreamcast. Equal graphics and gameplay, better game selection, lower price. Buying a PS2 doesn't make sense yet.

Both Sega Dreamcast and Sony Plastation 2 are incredible 3-D gaming systems, and have relatively identical hardware specs & expansion slot options (ie: net ready). Yet, your decision on "which" to buy should be Dreamcast....

Sure, PS2 will allow you to play DVD movies, but what if you already own a DVD player? Why spend the extra money? Dreamcast plans to release an adapter that will allow it to play DVD movies too (according to The Official Dreamcast Magazine). I'm sure most people will prefer this "optional" adapter, rather than being forced into paying twice as much for an additional DVD player that's built in the system.... Bleemcast enables Playstation 1 games to work on Dreamcast. Here's the best part - Bleem for Dreamcast will actually IMPROVE the quality of resolution of first generation Playstation games (at least double); PS2 will not.

By far, with Dreamcast's already incredible library of games, in addition to the incredible library of Playstation 1 games, there is no question on which gaming system is the hottest.... Sega Dreamcast. Nothing against Sony; it's the truth.

- IMA Pisces

JT (from Game Crazy Vancouver Plaza) says the Sega Dreamcast is by all means a wonderful system. With technical specifications greatly exceeding those of current competitors, it's a wonder why many of the games aren't worth playing. Take Trickstyle for instance. The graphics on this game are nice, but the game itself sucks ! The object of this game is to ride a hoverboard through various tracks and EARN your tricks. This obviously takes from the whole snowboard concept...so why do have to earn tricks (you never had to before)? It's much more fun when you have to figure them out, and earning them takes a lot of possible fun out of the early part of the game. Mortal Kombat Gold is exactly like Mortal Kombat 4. Hydro Thunder is an exact arcade port (there is not even an options menu....you just select 1 or 2 players, press start and go). The camera angles on Blue Stinger make it hardly worth playing. Dynamite Cop has the same crappy, repetitive gameplay that you would expect from an 8-bit system (with 128-bit graphics). Virtua Fighter 3-tb is a good game, but by the time it was released in the US, its fighting engine was already outdated by that from Soul Caliber...and SC was released first! If you take a look at Sony Playstation release titles compared to what is available now on that system, they don't even compare. I have complete faith that programmers will eventually learn what it takes to make a good game, considering NFL2K, NBA2K, Ready2Rumble Boxing, Soul Caliber, and Sonic Adventure exist already and are fantastic. I just hope that when programmers in the future try to venture from sports or fighting scenarios (Blue Stinger or Dynamite Cop for example), they will actually succeed. Congratulations to all of those acutally willing to finish this review to the end!

I haven't played much video games lately, but when all the hype surrounding PS2 started, it got my video game juices flowing again. I was hoping to get my hands on a PS2, but I didn't. Then I began to read reviews online about the Dreamcast. Everyone was saying that it's better than the PS2 and the games for the system are amazing. Then I was reading the review of games and most of it was very positive. Finally the price of the dreamcast really was a no brainer. For a fraction of the cost of getting a PS2 (mainly through auction sites), I could get a DC console, and games.

I couldn't wait to get the DC. When it finally arrived, I went out and rented two games I have heard great things about, Jet Grind Radio and Crazy Taxi. Both are very fun games, and I was very impressed. I was more impressed by Jet Grind Radio. It is such an innovative game. I played it for 5 days straight before I had to return it. The graphics, music, and gameplay are all amazing. Then I bought NFL2k1, which is the best football game I've ever played. Granted, I haven't played Madden 2001 for the PS2, but alot of people have been saying NFL2k1 is better.

I am so glad I got a dreamcast. For the price it is definitely worth it. Plus they have a wide variety of excellent games out. Plus if you get the DC, it'll definitely keep your mind off trying to get a PS2. I know it did for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to get a PS2, but I'm going to wait till next year when the price drops, but for now, if you want a game system, then the DC is the best choice.

For [the money] you get: Graphics that are just as good as the PS2 (I also got a PS2 and believe me the graphics are a BIG dissapointment CONSIDERING it was hyped to kill Dreamcast) Online games. With SEGANET, lag free gameplay is simply a dream come true. Did I mention this is possible with a built in 56K modem? The most innovative games you will probably ever see. Jet Grind Radio, SeaMan, Ecco the Dolphin, Shenmue (just to name a few) Bleemcast. The emulator that will let you play Playstation games on your Dreamcast with enhanced graphics and resolution (something the the PS2 does not do) Without a doubt, the Dreamcast is the best system money can buy, bar none.

If you're in the market for a next generation console right now, your options are pretty limited. Buy a Dreamcast or wait for PS2 to come out in October. Well, I'm here to tell you to buy a Dreamcast. Sony is marketing the PS2 as if it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, and many people are believing it. But when you take away the hype, the PS2 is just a machine, as is the dreamcast, and it comes down to which machine will provide you with more enjoyment. First and foremost, you are not going to enjoy coughing up .. bucks for the PS2(... for the console ... if you want a game). Dreamcast is rumored to be cutting it's price ... , which should be taking place some time very soon. You will certainly enjoy saving yourself, or santa, .. bucks. But would you then be getting an inferior console? The answer to that is surprisingly "no." When making a side by side comparison of Dead or Alive 2 (a game on both Dreamcast and PS2) one realizes that the Dreamcast version is actually better! Another comparison can be drawn from games like Sega GT and Gran Turismo 2000. Many game critics are saying that Sega GT looks like the better game at this point, and this is saying a lot given Gran Turismo's reputation as a great racing game. Also, the PS2 only has two controller ports. Looks like you'll have to give sony an extra $30 if you want to play a game with 3 friends. People who are all about the PS2 seem to all say the same thing. "You can play DVD's." This is a great feature, but it's really not that big of a deal. PS2 will cost about ... more than Dreamcast, and DVD players are dropping in price, so you might be able to find one for around .... anyway. The whole DVD thing is just part of all of the hype that Sony is feeding to the public, making something that's not a big deal seem like the greatest thing that ever happened to humankind. Once PS2 is out, its actual performance will be measured instead of the hype, and people will then find that it's not any better than Dreamcast, so don't put all of your eggs in Sony's basket just yet. Wait until you could try both systems out, and weigh out the positives and negatives yourself. You'll be surprised with what you discover.

Deciding which console to purchase is a confusing and intimidating task. What if one maks the wrong choice? There is no need to worry anymore. Finally, a system exists that is going to beat every competitor it faces. Dreamcast is the best console on the market. In addition to that, it is going to trounce the upcoming Playstation 2. But what exactly is going to put Dreamcast ahead in the video gaming market? Exellent graphics? Sensitive play control? Sure. But the Dreamcast's true strengths are still lying in wait. By the middle of next year, the ability to play Dreamcast video games over the internet will be fully realized. This promises to put and keep the Dreamcast on top for a good while. Unfortunately, Playstation 2 will not have internet capabilities. In addition, the line-up of third party development for Dreamcast is superior to the development teams for Playstation 2. In Layman's terms, there will be more and better games for Dreamcast. So for anybody out there who fears buying a Dreamcast, rest assured that Playstation 2 is not going to offer it much competition.