It almost sounded like a dream come true when Sega initially announced that they were reviving some Dreamcast games for Xbox Live. We wondered if we could get back into the likes of Shenmue and Jet Grind Radio on a new system. For that matter, we got even more excited when the company announced a whole collection dedicated to the machine, with even more games to choose from. But now that the Sega Dreamcast Collection has arrived, we’re wondering something different. “This isn’t it, is it?” Sadly, it is. What could’ve been a love package from the company is instead of a rushed package of four games. Yep, that’s it, four. What happened, Sega? Nearly two years ago, you released Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection, one of the best compilations you can get for the Xbox 360 right now. Thirty games to choose from, extra videos, unlockable games, online leaderboards…here, we’ve got none of that. Instead, we have four games, which can either be booted from a cheaply produced menu screen or directly through the Xbox Live Arcade menu (since they’re all downloadable titles, with Crazy Taxi and Sonic Adventure out now).
Let’s not totally trash the effort, though. The games need to speak for themselves: First off, Sonic Adventure, which came out when the Dreamcast launched in 1999. This adventure introduces Sonic in a 3-D realm, and while it’s not as effective as, say, Super Mario 64, it’s a decent platformer in its own right. As you proceed through it, you can unlock other playable characters, some great (Knuckles) and some instantly forgettable (Big the Cat). Overall, though, despite its camera issues and somewhat quirky level design, it’s good stuff. Then you’ve got Crazy Taxi, an unpredictably wild driving game where you drive customers from point A to point B before time runs out. How you get there is entirely up to you, whether you’re jumping across overpasses or slamming your way through traffic. The arcade translation is faithful for the most part, but the lack of the game’s original soundtrack – Offspring, Bad Religion – is a sore one. This new rock simply isn’t cutting it. Otherwise, though, it’s a fun ride. (And you can always blare your XMB tunes as an alternate soundtrack.)
Ulala makes her long awaited return in Space Channel 5 Part 2, a music/rhythm game where you guide the spacey reporter through levels packed with dancing aliens. Sega has faithfully restored everything that made the Space Channel games so much fun, including the soundtrack and kitschy 60’s visuals. However, the gameplay feels aged compared to other games of this genre, and it’s over within a couple of hours, with nothing to really come back to…unless you really like the soundtrack. Finally, Sega Bass Fishing throws some arcade sports into the mix, as you try to catch fish across four locales. The limited areas to fish are questionable, and the fact that Sega didn’t consider the superior Sega Marine Fishing is almost a crime, but the game itself is enjoyable, especially if you’re a fan of the original game. We only wish it would’ve come with fishing rod controller support. That’s how we played it back on the Dreamcast, after all. So, there you have it. Four games, no extras. It’s a decent collection if you’ve never owned the system, with plenty of Achievements and nostalgic value for everyone else. However, it could’ve been so much more. This isn’t a dedicated gift, it’s almost the equivalent of a mildly tasteful fruitcake.
