After their failed attempt with the Saturn, Sega decided to try again in the console market with the powerful Dreamcast, released in late 1999. As with every new console, it was the most powerful yet, with the best graphics and blah blah blah. But, now that the Dreamcast has no further market support, and the Playstation 2, X-Box, and Gamecube rule the console world, why should you care about the Dreamcast?

The main reason is that it's not quite outdated! Yes, the newer consoles are more powerful, but how much so? The Dreamcast is a 128-bit system, along with the Playstation 2, Xbox, and Gamecube. So yes, newer consoles are more powerful, but it isn't the same kind of increase as from the Playstation (a 32-bit console) to the Dreamcast. Also, the Dreamcast is more powerful in some aspects than the PS2. It has more Video RAM (8 megs, as compared to the PS2's 4), allowing it to handle 2-D graphics much much better. It is also more capable of texture shading, and is better at anti-aliasing and other subtle graphical nuances. The result is a nearly comparable visual experience to PS2 games.

The most significant aspect of the console at launch was the built-in modem. This opened up an entirely new world for console play, not only letting players to compare scores online (as in Sega GT), but also producing groundbreaking games like Phantasy Star Online, which literally had a grip on the entire console world for several months after its release. While today most games have discontinued modem support, some, like Ferrari F355 Challenge still have limited support.

You can even access the internet with the included DreamKey Web Browser. You can browse the web and send and recieve email with just your Dreamcast and your TV. The next cheapest alternative to getting on the web is an 'Internet Appliance', costing $300 or more. The only drawback is that the browser software is not incredibly powerful, lacking features like cookies, though you can save bookmarks and files on your memory cards. It's even possible to swap save game data over the Internet.

In addition, there really are many great Dreamcast games out there. Yes, everyone has heard about Shenmue and Jet Grind Radio, but those are only two titles out of over 100. The real beauty of the Dreamcast is that there are games for every time of gamer, from kids to adults, from action gamers to RPG fans. Most of the games don't carry the hype that's associated with Playstation games, so you just have to search them out, but they are there. Everyone will find a handful of games that they love, and Sega is known for taking risks and releasing innovative games with new concepts.

The Dreamcast sports four controller ports for multiplayer mayhem. Many sports titles take advanatge of this, as do games like Gauntlet Legends and the frenzied fighter Power Stone 2. Memory cards plug directly into the controllers, and you can attach two cards to each, so a maximum of 8 cards can be connected at once. This is more than enough space to store saves from dozens of games.

Not only is the console great fun, it's also a great buy. At $40 or less, it's a fraction of the price of the current consoles. Of course, you can't do much with just the system, but thankfully peripherals and games aren't too expensive. Memory cards are $15 or less, additional controllers are $10 or less, and there are tons of other optionslike the fishing controller or light guns. The only problem is finding someof the harder-to-get peripherals. Games have plummeted in price along with the console; For the price of one new PS2, GC, or X-Box game you can have 4-6 top-notch Dreamcast titles (preowned, of course).

I do have two minor quibbles about this console. Because the controllers are designed to hold the memory units in the front of the controller, the cord connecting to the console is at the bottom, toward you. There is a small clip on the bottom of the controller to properly route the cord, but the cords are a bit shorter than they appear because of this. There is an extension you can buy for $5, but it shouldn't really be neccessary. Also, the provided audio/video cable is not splittable, and you only have a few inches between the three RCA ends. This isn't a problem for those with stereo TVs, but for a time my setup was on an older TV and I ran the audio through my stereo system needing more room. I had to buy RCA cable extenders to do this, not expensive, but they shouldn't be neccessary either.

Some of my favorite games include:
Jet Grind Radio: A deceptively easy game to learn, JGR's graphics and style will blow you away. Easy to pick up and play for a few minutes, it also holds plenty of secrets for the dedicated gamer.
Phantasy Star Online: Unfortunately, the online play is not available anymore, but this game was just so immense in terms of the player base that it's astounding. Literally thousands of players were connected at any one time. Now, you can get PSO v.1&2 for the Gamecube.
Test Drive LeMans, Metropolis Street Racer, Vanishing Point, Sega GT: Four great and underrated racing games. All of them offered a unique experience, though Sega GT cannibalized on Gran Turismo's success a bit. These are still must-plays for fans of the genre.
Seaman: A perfect example of Sega's commitment to the player base and their ability to create fresh, new ideas.
Shenmue: Even after all the hype, this game has to be seen to be believed.
Dead or Alive 2, Marvel vs Capcom 2, Soul Calibur: between these three titles, fighting game fans should have enough to satisfy them for weeks.
The Dreamcast also boasts several successful sports games. I'm not much of a fan for these types of games, but the ability to play online and download updated rosters and stats really brings sports titles to life.

There's really no reason not to buy the Dreamcast now. It's a great choice for the kids, and for hardcore gamers, Sega is a name known to provide good titles. I have never regretted picking mine up, and I don't think you will either.

Recommended: Yes