Still Playing My Dreamcast

Throughout the many gaming systems I have owned or played with, one certain element is needed to keep me loyal to playing that system.

GAMES.

In today's trends of motion controller waggling, full body movement controlling, hardware boasting, Internet connectivity, and enough cut scenes to qualify for a movie, it feels that producers have forgotten the game aspect of video game production. I don't care that my Xbox 360 can access Netflix or how many pixels are crammed into a cut scene from the latest "Uncharted" video game. I just want to be able to maneuver my in-character sprite through the obstacles and puzzles in a way that is entertaining enough for me to continue doing so until the game's conclusion. While motion controllers like the Playstation Move or the controller-free experience like the Kinect reduce the need for controller input, I actually want to use the controller because I play video games to relax and CONTROL my in-game character, not to look like an air traffic controller with a spider on my back.

I like to go backtrack to a time before the video game technological boom exploded gaming into motion controlled casual exercise, big-budgeted "interactive" movies, and second jobs. My Atari evolved into a Nintendo, which later evolved into a Playstation One-I should have foreshadowed the advanced Playstations with such a numerical designation. But in 1998 came the Sega Dreamcast. Granted, the Dreamcast only lasted about three years in production since the PS2's technology blew it out of the water. But I still play my Dreamcast to this day for a simple reason: It has the games I want to play on it.

Perhaps it is the Dreamcast's ports from arcade games that give the most appeal. It is hard enough finding an arcade nowadays due to current gaming systems, but back then the challenge was beating the games with limited quarters or tokens. At least with a home port like the Dreamcast I could play at my own leisure without worrying about spare change.

I hate fighting games. But being a fan of the "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" manga series, I bought the fighting game based on the series for the Dreamcast. The frenetic display pitting man and spiritual manifestation of their fighting psyche against others of similar nature. It did a decent job of placing the player through the manga and I recently learned that one of my friends provided the localization script for it. Additionally, I also enjoyed the fighting game "Project Justice: Rival Schools 2," but mainly due to character design over actual gaming.

Then there is also "Power Stone 2," a four-player fighting game akin to the modern day "Super Smash Brothers Brawl" on the Wii except I actually like "Power Stone 2." The variety of characters, items, and game mechanics beyond "kill everyone else" has kept me hooked on it. I still have not completed mixing all the items from the Item Shop.

And my final favorite game on Dreamcast turns a gritty zombie infestation shooter into a hilarious typing tutor in "The Typing of the Dead." Somehow the guns are replaced with portable keyboards that provides some of the most absurd situations where you fend off against zombies with a flurry of harsh words and numbers.

So for fun games that emphasize fun and games, the Dreamcast is still my go-to video game system of choice. Though I suppose the older games will eventually make their ways as DLC for Xbox Live or PSN.

Oh, wait... maybe I shouldn't hold my breath on that PSN.