Product Description: The Dreamcast system is, in a word, awesome. Fire up Soul Calibur, and instantly you'll appreciate that the graphics and gameplay are even better than in the arcade version. And Sonic Adventure, with its light-speed gameplay, is sure to wow even the most jaded gamer.
It's amazing that such a small machine (it's about the size of your mouse pad) can deliver such incredible performance. Chalk it up to superior engineering. Dreamcast's only downside is that it comes with only one controller and a demo disc. In order to truly take advantage of Dreamcast's capabilities, we recommend outfitting the controller with a Jump Pack and a Visual Memory Unit. Getting one or more extra controllers is also a good idea, because some of the best Dreamcast games support up to four players at once.
Why it's so cool:
Ultramodern components: Custom-made video, audio, and processor technology blows away the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation and puts Dreamcast in the same league as PS2 and XBox.
Integrated modem: In another video-game first, Dreamcast comes with a 56K modem. Use your regular Internet service provider and the separately sold keyboard to access e-mail, shopping, and the World Wide Web. Not only can you upload high scores, participate in chat discussions, and download updates and enhancements for your games, but, through a membership to the SegaNet Internet service provider, you can play Quake III Arena, NFL 2K1, and other games against Dreamcast owners over the Internet.
The Visual Memory Unit (VMU): More than just a memory card, the VMU is a miniature portable game system that fits inside a controller--so its LCD screen is easily seen by you but hidden from your opponent.
All-in-one entertainment: It plays games. It plays audio C
Amazon.com Review: The Dreamcast system is, in a word, awesome. Fire up Soul Calibur, and instantly you'll appreciate that the graphics and gameplay are even better than in the arcade version. And Sonic Adventure, with its light-speed gameplay, is sure to wow even the most jaded gamer.
It's amazing that such a small machine (it's about the size of your mouse pad) can deliver such incredible performance. Chalk it up to superior engineering. Dreamcast's only downside is that it comes with only one controller and a demo disc. In order to truly take advantage of Dreamcast's capabilities, we recommend outfitting the controller with a Jump Pack and a Visual Memory Unit. Getting one or more extra controllers is also a good idea, because some of the best Dreamcast games support up to four players at once.
Why it's so cool:
Ultramodern components: Custom-made video, audio, and processor technology blows away the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation and puts Dreamcast in the same league as PS2 and XBox.
Integrated modem: In another video-game first, Dreamcast comes with a 56K modem. Use your regular Internet service provider and the separately sold keyboard to access e-mail, shopping, and the World Wide Web. Not only can you upload high scores, participate in chat discussions, and download updates and enhancements for your games, but, through a membership to the SegaNet Internet service provider, you can play Quake III Arena, NFL 2K1, and other games against Dreamcast owners over the Internet.
The Visual Memory Unit (VMU): More than just a memory card, the VMU is a miniature portable game system that fits inside a controller--so its LCD screen is easily seen by you but hidden from your opponent.
All-in-one entertainment: It plays games. It plays audio CDs. It connects to the Internet and lets you browse the Web or e-mail friends. Our note to the cost-conscious: If you have a Dreamcast system, you just don't need a separate CD player or a separate computer. Dreamcast does it all, and does it well.
--Mike Fehlauer
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Great system, bad timing
The Dreamcast, when it came out, was the best system available. Even today, it can still hold its own against most consoles. The problem that doomed the Dreamcast was timing.
Usually, and we see it even today, consoles come out in groups - SNES/Genesis, PlayStation/N64, the PS2/Gamecube/XBox, PS3/Wii/XBox 360. The Dreamcast came between the PS1/N64 wave and the PS2/GC/XBox wave. Casual gamers had just shelled out money for the previous generation, and the more savvy ones were saving up for the next. Developers held off making Dreamcast games, so when the next generation did come out the Dreamcast had a lack of titles and less-advanced tech, dooming it.
That said, the Dreamcast is a good console. The controllers look weird but actually sit well in the hands, and I like that the DC has four ports off the shelf. The console is also fairly compact. Plus, for its lack of titles, it had some really good ones: the original Soul Calibur, Shenmue, Skies of Arcadia and Grandia II come to mind.
Rating: - THE BEST GAMING SYSTEM EVER
This product is good and arrived in the condition described by the seller.Good job and keep up the good work.
Rating: - Dreamcast...
1 word. Awesome. (for its time) and actually thats 3 words and a contraction ;)
Rating: - Sega last console ;(
In my opinion this is one of the best consoles ever, next to nes snes genesis saturn and playstation and wii
and it came before all the other 6h gens, but the graphics werent as good as playsation 2 but I really dont care about graphics playsation 2 needed an addon to have 4 players which in my opinion was a bad idea for sony,
this console had awesome graphics for its time though and the games are awsome since it has revoloutionary titles like sonic adventure,2 and shenmue and virtua tennis(and the fottball ones but i dont like football)
this console wouldve stayed in the running if itwasnt for playstation 2's dvd player
but its not sega's fault when the dreamcast was originally released in japan in 1998 it was right before the dvd boom so they didn know, that dvd's were going to be that popular(personally i like vcd's better lolz you dont have to paty the money for dvds and a dvd burner)
and it has other cool titles like bomberman online phantasy star online,2 and worms world party (and some others i've never seen played or looked up)
and on top of that it was way easier to program for when ps2 came out,
but you cant change time
but i would highly recoment this console to most people especially sonic fans and people who dont care about grphics
its a shame sega hasnt made anymore consoles since dreamcast was so awesome
Rating: - ahead of it's time, but overshadowed by the PS2.
In short, the good:
great selection of quality games not found on competing game consoles of the period.
first game console to go online, and first to have broadband and internet access.
well built, mostly problem free. Sega offered support and repair services on it until late 2007!
revolutionary
The bad:
Awkward controllers. Solid, but strange feel with only one analog stick.
Weird memory units (VMU's) with lcd screens that can play mini games, but not very practical and limited storage.
Most of the online games were dial up only, with some bad lag.
Web browser was severely limited with no flash support. Broadband adapter was only sold online and only 2/3 games supported it.
Sega's online service (Seganet) was ridiculously expensive, and required a monthly fee
The Ps2's announcement and arrival was what is recognized to have destroyed the Dreamcast. Many people held off buying one, and waited for Ps2 instead. Sega couldn't fend off the dark cloud of Sony.
It's full potential was never explored, or reached.
Sega ran out of money to support it. It had the shortest life of any game console in the U.S. , from 9/9/1999 to 01/31/01.
- Great system, bad timing
- THE BEST GAMING SYSTEM EVER
