Where Are They Now: Dreamcast Gems

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....

(8)

Chris Cosmo Ross

September 11, 2009

Very funny, Donahoe! And it's weird how many of these have found new life elsewhere; but it also makes me wish ALL of them had. Especially Seaman..hehehe.

Eric King

Sadly, Power Stone is nowhere to be found.:(

Michael Donahoe

Power Stone came out on the PSP a while back! Exciting, I know.

Wow, I stand corrected. Long live Fokker!;D

Lance Darnell

Those Shenmue prank calls are hilarious!

Almost as hilarious as this:

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.

Daniel Feit

September 12, 2009

No nod to Jet Set Radio? That was a good one.

Keith Schloemer

September 16, 2009

Ah poor, misunderstood Seaman. Maybe you would provoked less ridicule had you been named Richard C. Cox. Or not.

Back in the day I housed a poker night every third Friday. The poker nights following my Dreamcast adoption usually ended with gaming on the Dreamcast. When Seaman came out everyone wanted to see it ("that's what she said" in honor of The Office tomorrow night).

Seriously, it was the game that people were most interested in experiencing first hand. Because having Leonard Nimoy get annoyed with you was priceless.

Josh DuBose

Great rundown, Donahoe. I, for one, am not ready to let the calendar pry my nubby Dreamcast controller from my grip. October be damned! Let's make the Dreamcastiversary last all year...nay, FOREVER!!!