Sega Dreamcast.

Dreamcast had the best ports of multi-platform games released on N64 and PlayStation. - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Spider-Man, Star Wars: Episode 1 Racer, and Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense come to mind.

If you enjoy fighting games, you'll find Virtua Fighter 3tb, Marvel vs. Capcom, MvC 2, Soul Calibur, Guilty Gear, Street Fighter III (all 3), Powerstone, Powerstone 2, Zombie Revenge, and quite a few others.

If you like arcade ports (non-fighters), DC has Ikaruga, Hydro Thunder, SF Rush 2049, Crazy Taxi, Crazy Taxi 2, House of the Dead 2, and many others.

DC had a lot of exclusive games that only became non-exclusive once the system was no longer in production: Shenmue II, Ferrari F355 Challenge, Ecco the Dolphin, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Skies of Arcadia, Rez and Resident Evil: Code Veronica.

Last, the Dreamcast had capabilities - legal and gray-area/non-legal ways - of playing games from consoles other than it. On the legal side you have Bleem for GT 2, MGS and Tekken 3.

I just posted this somewhere else, but...

I bought a DC about 2 or 3 weeks ago now and I can't stop playing! I never realized how utterly awesome the DC really was. Right now Shenmue and Jet Grind Radio keep trading spots in the system, but I've picked up a few others off Ebay such as Evulotion 1 & 2 (RPGs), Time Stalkers & E.G.G.:Elemental Gimmick Gear (both are suppose to be RPGs too, but haven't played yet), Sonic Adventure, and Railroad Tycoon II.

Maybe not as mind blowing now, but if and when you play, imagine playing these games 10 years ago when these graphics would have blown any other console out of the water!! Not to mention the soundtracks! Jet Grind Radio has a killer soundtrack...turn it up to 11!! ;)

And as for the challenge of finding some of the more rare DC games, I'm enjoying the hunt as I type. Currently, I am looking for a copy of Seaman complete with the mic, Typing of the Dead (which nobody seems to have heard of, but those who have LOVE this game...need the DC keyboard to play), and affordable copies of Skies of Arcadia and Grandia II.

Hope you decide to get one...I'm pretty sure you won't regret it if you do!!:D:D

ive recently bought a dreamcast and its a great system, (even if I like my Sega Saturn more), with quite alot of arcade ports, and yes for the most part, they are the best of their day (one exception is Street fighter alpha 3, the DC version is actually worse then the Japan only,Saturn version), and the majority of games are quite cheap

Hey, thanks to those that offered help on my problem with the Dreamcast. I think i will consider buying one, if the price is right, what price do i expect to pay for one? Any ideas?
If i see one cheap enough i may give it a shot, although the back catalogue of games is relatively small compared to say the Playstation 1 or Nintendo 64.

ive recently bought a dreamcast and its a great system, (even if I like my Sega Saturn more), with quite alot of arcade ports, and yes for the most part, they are the best of their day (one exception is Street fighter alpha 3, the DC version is actually worse then the Japan only,Saturn version), and the majority of games are quite cheap

Darkman2007

My favorite game on the DC was Blue Stinger. It had an overabundance of fairly unforgivable problems but i absolutely loved it for some reason. Had it been done correctly in every way i would probably rank it among my all time favs across all systems.

I also loved D2 even though most people ragged on it pretty hard.

And you can never go wrong with drunken crazy taxi sessions.

Maybe they werent the best gaming memories but some of the fondest ones ive had were with the Dreamcast. IMO there are way more than enough reason to justify buying one.

A couple of the best games I've ever played on the DC was Shenmue and Skies of Arcadia. Shenmue is an awesome game (my opinion) and the second was even better. They had a Japanese port of Shenmue II for DC, I believe, but was available on the original Xbox for sure.

I just watched Screw Attack's Top 10 Dreamcast games. Basically get all of these games. From personal experience they all kick ass.

I highly suggest the power stone series if you haven't already got it for psp.

Also, jet grind radio, shenmue, and project justice were fantastic as well.

Hmm, i have seen Shenmue on the original Xbox, just to reply to what Shidira said, is that Shenmue different from the one released on the Dreamcast then? As i have briefly played Shenmue on the Xbox and thought it was incredible.
This whole thread is making me want a Dreamcast sooner rather than later!

Hmm, i have seen Shenmue on the original Xbox, just to reply to what Shidira said, is that Shenmue different from the one released on the Dreamcast then? As i have briefly played Shenmue on the Xbox and thought it was incredible.
This whole thread is making me want a Dreamcast sooner rather than later!

Trail91

The original Shenmue is on Dreamcast, and only Shenmue 2 is on the Xbox

[QUOTE="Trail91"]

Hmm, i have seen Shenmue on the original Xbox, just to reply to what Shidira said, is that Shenmue different from the one released on the Dreamcast then? As i have briefly played Shenmue on the Xbox and thought it was incredible.
This whole thread is making me want a Dreamcast sooner rather than later!

treedoor

The original Shenmue is on Dreamcast, and only Shenmue 2 is on the Xbox

Exactly this.

the Saturn is a great system, in some ways its quite similar to the DC, it also has a lot of good arcade ports (Virtua Fighter, Dead or Alive, Sega Rally ,some light gun games like Virtua Cop and House of the dead, as well as truckloads of great 2D fighters) what sets it apart for me is that is seems to have hi gher quality software then the DC, the Panzer Dragoon series is a great series (1 and 2 are rail shooters, the Uber expensive Saga is an amazing RPG). the Saturn main weakness, is that in order to fully enjoy the Saturn , you should Import games (its quite a cheap thing, there are adapters for JP games), especially fighting games since they dont need any knowledge of Japanese. if you want lots of FPS games, then the Saturn isnt for you though, it does have quake and Duke Nukem, but thats about it. so yes the saturn is a great system , if you like Fighting games, 2D games, or general arcade games, as well as the occasional RPG, the Saturn is a worthy system

As much as I LOVE my dreamcast, I would say research the games you'd want first. There are a good number of Dreamcast games that are available on other systems (Virtua Fighter, Ikaruga, Power Stone, Skies of Arcadia, Grandia, etc...). So, unless you really want the system, or the games you want are not available anywhere else, I'd say save the money you'd spend on the console and spend it on games.

That being said, the DC is really cool. It looks cool, the VMU's are fun, even if only for 5 minutes, and it really is just generally a great system to have. I don;t know if you mentioned where you're located, but here in the U.S. (east coast), you should be able to find one for about $50, probably less.

Man I'm happy that the Fighters made it to number one on that countdown and They deserved it to. Dreamcast had some of the best fighting games.

Looking through this may give you an idea of the machine's library http://the-dreamcast-junkyard.blogspot.com/2009/09/dreamcast-top-100-as-voted-by-you.html

Also, about the Saturn, its easily the worst console Sega ever made, it pretty much completely ended them as a hardware company, most of its good games have to be imported, everything on it is overpriced, many of its best games were ported to Dreamcast with improved graphics, and most of its so called standout titles are little better than average. Definately go for the Dreamcast over the Saturn unless you have a particular love for specifically 2D Shmups and 2D Fighting games (The two genres that the Saturn was particularly proficient at).

Looking through this may give you an idea of the machine's library http://the-dreamcast-junkyard.blogspot.com/2009/09/dreamcast-top-100-as-voted-by-you.html

Also, about the Saturn, its easily the worst console Sega ever made, it pretty much completely ended them as a hardware company, most of its good games have to be imported, everything on it is overpriced, many of its best games were ported to Dreamcast with improved graphics, and most of its so called standout titles are little better than average. Definately go for the Dreamcast over the Saturn unless you have a particular love for specifically 2D Shmups and 2D Fighting games (The two genres that the Saturn was particularly proficient at).

Domino_slayer

And any of Sega's first-party arcade games (Virtua Fighter, Sega Rally, Daytona USA, Virtua Cop...) and also a couple other truly stellar games like Guardian Heroes, Shining the Holy Ark, Panzer Dragoon (all of them), etc. Unfortunately, most of the latter group is quite pricey for the american version.

Looking through this may give you an idea of the machine's library http://the-dreamcast-junkyard.blogspot.com/2009/09/dreamcast-top-100-as-voted-by-you.html

Also, about the Saturn, its easily the worst console Sega ever made, it pretty much completely ended them as a hardware company, most of its good games have to be imported, everything on it is overpriced, many of its best games were ported to Dreamcast with improved graphics, and most of its so called standout titles are little better than average. Definately go for the Dreamcast over the Saturn unless you have a particular love for specifically 2D Shmups and 2D Fighting games (The two genres that the Saturn was particularly proficient at).

Domino_slayer

I disagree, but to each his own I guess.

regardless of anything the Saturn did to sega I still think its a great system, regarding overpriced, virtua fighter 2 costs £2 on online auctions, youre thinking of games like Panzer Saga, you dont have to import to enjoy it though it defenitly helps(and its easy to import, many local sellers sell import games) do you own a Saturn? , because most people who do, like the system. but I would agree that the DC is the cheaper option, even if Shenmue and Skies of Arcadia cost quite alot.