Years and years ago, SEGA used to be a big player in the video game industry. They had more consoles and obscure terminology than a NASA control center, and enough games to fill up a small country. They created memorable characters, pushed graphical limits, introduced some completely insane peripherals and pushed gaming forward as a whole in their own unique way. But of all their consoles, and all their innovation and unnecessary invention, one still holds a special place in my heart and childhood. Of course, that console is the beloved Dreamcast.



SEGA started out humble enough, looking for a slice of the gaming world. And, for awhile, they had it. SEGA didn't have the most popular of consoles, but they gained a solid following in the US and Japan while still being over shadowed by the likes of Nintendo. Who could forget the Genesis? A system infamous for ridiculous bulk, such as the Sega CD.

But as SEGA began to die down, technology did the opposite. As the price of tech dropped, Nintendo began stepping up their game, as did Sony, the relative newcomer in the equation. So now SEGA had to begin working on a true next-generation console to compete in the market and bring the company back to it's once solid standing. That effort was the Dreamcast.

Of course, we all know the Dreamcast didn't sell well. In fact, the Dreamcast is credited with having one of the worst launches in console history. But why? Consumers simply didn't relate to SEGA anymore, despite them having a quite powerful platform with a modest amount of unique and interesting features. I submit to you, that the Dreamcast was a success, not by numbers or sales, but by the impression it has left. Without further adieu, I present to you the top reasons why the Dreamcast is the best console ever.

The Visual Memory Unit (VMU)



Any game system can have a memory card, stick, pack or expansion, but only the Dreamcast had a memory card that sounds like a component on military grade mech. Take it upon SEGA to craft a name that not only describes what the device does, but also sounds far more complicated than it actually is. Add to that the abbreviation VMU and suddenly saving your game just got a hell of a lot cooler.



Beyond the name, the VMU had several other standout features that no other memory unit dared to approach. The screen allowed a variety of uses in and out of games, it could be as simple and pointless as a game logo, or as integrated as showing your health status in Resident Evil. Each VMU also has a user icon you can set, and software for your PC actually allowed you to draw your own icons and pictures, pixel by pixel, and transfer them to the VMU.

And if that weren't enough, lets not forget the games. No, not the Dreamcast games, the VMU games. Sure, there weren't many, but that doesn't matter because you're playing Snake on the device that just saved your progress in Skies of Arcadia. And if that weren't enough enough you could even raise your Chao's on the damned thing. Anywhere, anytime. You can also play interact with fellow VMU owners via the linking functionality.

The Online Functionality



What we now take for granted didn't always exist back in the elder days. Online gaming is now all the rage with almost every game supporting it, but it wasn't always perceived that way. When the Dreamcast was released, it came with a built in dial up modem. Was it hailed as the greatest addition of all time? Hardly, the Dreamcast online connectivity was often ignored or mocked by the masses as pointless and gimmicky, which ultimately lead to only a few games supporting major online functions.

But eat their words, the public did, when games like Phantasy Star Online went on to develop a huge following of devoted players (myself being one of them). This was easily the biggest victory for the Dreamcast's radical new decision, though other games such as Quake 3, Unreal Tournament and Outtrigger also supported online multiplayer as well. Other games like Jet Grind Radio allowed players to connect online and swap graffiti designs with others, only the tip of a few unique features.

The Dreamcast Web Browser also helped solidify the practicality of a console based web connection. While nowadays the concept of a child alone in their room with open access to a web browser is either common or horribly frightening, back then it was new and rather exciting. Being able to browse the web without a computer was pretty slick, especially when in the swap of a disc you could be playing a game or listening to music.

The Games



Say what you will about the Dreamcast's short lifespan, but in that life came several of the best games of any generation since then. The Dreamcast played host to a number of popular titles, sporting one from every genre you could think of be it shooting, action, fighting, puzzle, racing or sports. Along side big titles like Soul Calubur, Dead or Alive 2, Sonic Adventure, Power Stone and Phantasy Star Online, there were also truly unique games like Jet Grind Radio, Chu Chu Rocket, Shenmue, Space Channel 5, Samba de Amigo and Seaman.

Many of the games that became popular on the Dreamcast went on to have successful sequels on various other platforms, some of them, notably Crazy Taxi and Virtual On, had successful ports on PSP and XBLA respectively, while others such as Jet Set Radio Future and the US release of Shenmue 2 enjoyed life on the Xbox. Even smaller titles like Ikaruga, Rez and Triggerheart Excelica have made various other appearances since the Dreamcast days.

The Controller



Controller design is an important part of a console's appeal in the market. Bad controller designs can really affect the way people view a system, or how they play it. So the Dreamcast controller design had to be comfortable without being too large or cumbersome. The result fits into the hands of almost any age, allows access to all the face buttons, triggers and control stick with no hand or finger movement necessary. The DC control setup was simple enough to be accessible, but versatile enough to be useful for almost all types of games.

The controller itself featured a few unique characteristics of it's own. The biggest being the inclusion of two expansion slots and a square shaped hole to view the screen of the VMU. The expansion slots played a vital role in several different devices other than the VMU including rumble packs, microphones and the Gameshark. It also featured a small cord holding device on the back to keep the cable out of the way, which sounds stupid, but actually came into good use.

The Interface



Back in the old days, playing a game was a matter of popping it into the system and turning on the power. And if there was no game, then nothing happened. But Dreamcast was one of the first systems with a user friendly GUI that did more than just start a game. The system had a basic date/time function, a list of options including several world languages, a basic media player and the ability to browse any memory unit plugged into the controllers, complete with colorful animated icons for each game. You could also use this area to easily transfer data among VMU's or change your VMU's personalization options. Perhaps it wasn't a first, but it was definitely a best.

The Design



The overall aesthetics of the Dreamcast were really above and beyond what was available at the time. While it may have been lacking the number of color options that Nintendo regularly produced, it had a distinct look about it. It wasn't rectangular, it wasn't overly curvy or bulky, it was just unique. Small details like the disc flap and power light were integrated directly into the system's aesthetic properties, and the logo itself was simple, fitting perfectly into place on both the console, the GUI and the game packaging. Everything worked together well, the way good design should.

The Box Art



I know, this one sounds obscure. But the Dreamcast games showcased what I believe to be an unmatched precedent in graphic design. They ditched the unnecessary boxes of other disc based games, focusing simply on the case itself. The curved shape at the left of the artwork was clean and gives a sort of relaxed effect to the viewer, while also fitting with the Dreamcast console's overall design. The boxart was unique among disc based games and stood out on store shelves with bright colors and brilliant work amongst almost every game in the system's history.

The Dreamcast Keyboard and Mouse

I used to play PC games, like most, and the transition from PC to console could sometimes yield awkward results, especially when developers didn't take considerations for a controller based system. This was noticable on games like Quake 3 Arena, which had particularly finicky controls with the Dreamcast controller, it simply tried to throw too many things into the equation.

Enter the Dreamcast mouse and keyboard. Plugging directly into the controller ports, I now had a full keyboard and mouse with which to play Quake and Unreal Tournament, among other games that supported it. And not only for use with games, it was fully compatible with the web browser too, and the keyboard allowed for quick and easy text chat in games like Phantasy Star.

Bleemcast!



Remember Bleem? It was a PSX emulator for the PC that worked with a handful of PSX games. If you don't remember it, it's probably because you actually owned a legitimate Playstation, which I did not. While Bleem was short lived, eventually shut down by pressure from Sony, they managed to get one little product out the door before doing so. And that product was Bleemcast! for Metal Gear Solid (One for Tekken was also available).

In one of the most hilarious bits of corporate pissoffery I've encountered, Bleemcast actually allowed me to play MGS1 on on Dreamcast with upscaled graphics and a slightly modified control scheme. Sure, the whole bit required a dedicated VMU for saving games, but the sheer fact that I could play a PSX game on my Dreamcast was enough to compensate for the flaws. Not to mention the warning screen has a direct shot at Sony written right in. It was a great thing to see someone supporting the Dreamcast so openly, even if said support wasn't fully within legal boundaries.

So why did the Dreamcast die? Many reasons, really. It wasn't marketed well, and SEGA simply lost standing with the market. Add to that the ease of pirating CD-based games and stiff competition, and a recipe for disaster was inevitable.

It's a shame, as the Dreamcast was arguably one of the most influential consoles ever produced, with remnants of it's ideas and culture still appearing in gaming today. To this day it remains my favorite console of all time, and easily one of the most memorable of my childhood.