So today ends the 10 year anniversary week of the launch of the Dreamcast (don’t worry, though — we still have plenty of more Dreamcast-related articles still to come!). Pretty sad day, huh? How many times did you cry? 10? 15? Us? 3,650. Yeah, that’s right. And you thought you were a fan. Cry harder next time, dry eyes.
But as much as we love (and miss) our little white console, it’s the games we’ll never forget. Sure, the Dreamcast is dead (dammit — here goes 3,651), but that doesn’t mean its software sons can’t reproduce on other consoles. That’s why we decided to look up some of the most beloved Dreamcast classics and ask the borderline stalker question: Where are they now?
Game: The Typing of the Dead
Release Date: January 31, 2001
Claim To Fame: You kill zombies with words. Headshots are sooo overrated. Unless you, uh, type it out.
Where Is It Now: While this bizarro zombie game is all but d-e-a-d here in the States, it’s still alive and typing in Japan. In 2007, The Typing of the Dead 2 was released for arcades (remember those?). And last year, Sega announced a Japan-only DS spin-off entitled English of the Dead. Because killing zombies isn’t as fun as murdering the English language. OHKAI!
Game: Skies of Arcadia
Release Date: November 13, 2000
Claim To Fame: Classic role-playing game featuring arcades pirates in the sky.
Where Is It Now: Even though the spruced up GameCube port Skies of Arcadia Legends was released in 2003, a true sequel is still on indefinite delay. Even so, main characters Vyse, Aika, and Fina all appeared in last year’s strategy role-playing game Valkyria Chronicles for the PS3. That means a sequel is definitely in the works, right? Right? Right — if you think delusionally like us. Sigh…(here goes 3,652).
Game: Rez
Release Date: November 21, 2001 (Japan)
Claim To Fame: Trippy music-centric shooter that is really pleasurable, especially if you’re a woman.
Where Is It Now: If you remember correctly, us Yanks didn’t get to feel the Rez love (aww yeah!) until it was released on the PlayStation 2 (unless you were savvy enough to import the Dremcast release). And while there hasn’t been a sequel, high-def remake Rez HD was released on Xbox Live Arcade last year. Oh, and before you ask, no the trance vibrator doesn’t work on the 360 version, hornball!
Game: Samba de Amigo
Release Date: October 18, 2000
Claim To Fame: Shake-heavy music game featuring the neighbor/roommate-hating maraca peripherals.
Where Is It Now: Borderlands developer Gearbox Software shook out a Wii sequel last year. Although it was a pretty faithful, forcefully whacking off the the Wii-Remote/Nunchuck just isn’t the same without hearing the glorious sounds of happy, rattling balls.
Game: Seaman
Release Date: August 8, 2000
Claim To Fame: You speak to a human-faced fish via a microphone, wackiness ensues.
Where Is It Now: Probably dead — that poor little guy never lasted very long. Though a Japan-only sequel was released in 2007. When we asked our Seaman if another sequel is in the works, it ignored our question, asked us for our birthday 13 times, and then fell asleep and died.
Game: Shenmue
Release Date: November 6, 2000
Claim To Fame: The first of a super realistic (and totally too ambitious) adventure game series that was sadly never finished. Also the sole inspiration for Forklift Truck Simulator 2009.
Where Is It Now: Even though Shenmue 2 came out on the Xbox, the series will probably never get a proper conclusion on modern consoles. Yes, there’s been many talks of releasing the last game (and even an online spin-off), but nothing ever happened. But, hey, at least these hilarious prank phone calls are keeping the Shenmue spirit alive.
Game: ChuChu Rocket!
Claim To Fame: Spastic online multiplayer puzzle game featuring rocket ship-traveling mice (our favorite kind).
Where Is It Now: A Game Boy Advance port was released in 2001, but aside from that, there’s been no word on a potential sequel. However, Sega did recently renew the trademark for the game, so it’s possible we could see a XBLA/PSN version soon. If not, we’re going to need to buy more tissues. Ah, crap — spoke too soon! Here comes 3,653….