• Tag Archives Sega Dreamcast

  • Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    https://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/655841777232887809/oldgamemags-bloodshed-legacy-of-kain-soul


    Legaacy of Kain: Soul Reaver is a 3rd person action/adventure hack and slash game that was released in 1999 for the PC on CD-ROM and for the PlayStation. It was also released the following year for the Sega Dreamcast. Soul Reaver is the sequel to Blood Omen and represents a shift in game play style. In many respects the game play is similar but whereas Soul Reaver is 3D, Blood Omen was in more of a 2D overhead style.

    In many regards, Soul Reaver is similar to other 3D action games of the time. One of the more interesting and unique game play mechanics is the ability to shift from the “real world” to the spectral plane. The spectral plane offered more limited interaction but also allowed you to walk through obstacles. Also, as opposed to being the typical hero, you instead take the role of a disfigured vampire and the plot is quite dark. The game was initially rated Teen but the Dreamcast version and later re-releases upped the rating to Mature.

    Reviews for Soul Reaver were generally very positive. There are a couple of caveats though. First, this game ends up being in large part a puzzle game with many puzzles to solve along the way. Many of these puzzles can be difficult which can lead to frustration. The other issue is the lack of a map. While creating your own maps can be fun in turn based RPGs, the lack of a map in an action adventure game can just be annoying. Also, I prefer the 2D style of the original vs. the 3D style of this one but maybe that’s just because I’m old.

    In addition to the original releases, Soul Reaver was released as a “Greatest Hits” title on the PlayStation. It was also later released in 2009 via a digital download on the PlayStation Network. Otherwise, if you want to give this game a try you’ll have to track down an original or resort to emulation. It is definitely a game worth checking out and all three versions (PC, PS1 and Dreamcast) are decent so you can pick your favorite platform of the three.

    Screen shots above are from the Sega Dreamcast version of the game.


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana PlayStation Retro Games Sega Dreamcast 📎and tagged

  • DC-UK (October 1999)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: DC-UK – Issue Number 2 – October 1999

    DC-UK is a magazine that was published in the U.K. and dedicated to the Sega Dreamcast. Of course, it didn’t last long as that system was gone before its time… The October 1999 issue includes:

    On the cover

    • Hard Hitter – We have the exclusive UK Power Stone review – turn a few pages to find out how it fares
    • New launch date – It’s been delayed…
    • It’s a goal! – Dwight Yorke speaks out

    DC-Now (Reviews)

    • Power Stone
    • Ready 2 Rumble
    • UEFA Striker
    • Toy Commander
    • Blue Stinger
    • Racing Simulation Monaco GP
    • Speed Devils
    • Sonic Adventure
    • Virtua Fighter 3tb
    • Sega Rally 2
    • Import chart
    • Vox pops
    • Expert Witness: Dwight Yorke

    DC-Express (News)

    • Dreamcast Delayed – is the big news this month. But there’s plenty more front-page stuff – read on…
    • Lara Raids Dreamcast
    • Ferrari 355
    • ECTS show
    • Shenmue
    • Everybody hertz
    • Cover disc story
    • Competition to win a snowboard
    • Dreamcast football tournament
    • Gaming weather map
    • Interview with Afro Thunder
    • The chaingun phenomenon
    • Trumps

    DC-Faces

    • Giles Thomas is Sega Europe’s Marketing Manager. So we talk to him about punk
    • Greg Zeschuk

    DC-Next

    • MDK2 is a killing extravaganza – definitely one to put on your Christmas list
    • F1 World GP
    • Red Dog
    • Snow Surfers
    • Shadowman
    • Resident Evil Code: Veronica
    • Sega Bass Fishing
    • Pen Pen Tricelon
    • Suzuki Alstare
    • Metropolis Street Racer
    • Street Fighter Alpha

    DC-World

    • Sonic Adventure Players Guide 2 is the second part of our Sonic tips, covering the stories of Knuckles, Tails and Amy Rose
    • DC-World: Contents
    • Review listings
    • Write to us
    • Cheats round-up
    • Coining it
    • Import gaming
    • Surf’s up: Internet stuff
    • Playtime: toys
    • Team Diary and body parts

    Regulars

    • Editorial intro
    • Letters
    • Subscriptions
    • Next month
    • Brain in a jar

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Retro Games Sega Dreamcast 📎and tagged

  • Mr. Driller

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    https://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/636940968032141312/thedoteaters-mr-driller-by-namco-for-the

    Mr. Driller was released in 2000 as a port of the arcade game from the previous year for the PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast and Game Boy Color. The player controls Mr. Driller, the son of the Dig Dug protagonist. In fact, when development first started, this game was to be titled Dig Dug 3 as the third game in that series.



    Mr. Driller is a puzzle game and is sort of a cross between Dig Dug and tetris. Mr. Driller is an emergency worker tasked with drilling down to the buried city below that has been inexplicably covered in blocks. When four colors are connected, the blocks disappear. This of course can cause a chain reaction so you have to be careful Mr. Driller isn’t crushed by falling blocks.

    The levels in Mr. Driller are randomly generated but there are two scenarios that govern the difficulty. There’s the 2500ft challenge and the 5000ft challenge. Obviously, the further you have to go, the harder it is. This distance is split across 5 or 10 levels. Another aspect that adds to the challenge is the fact that Mr. Driller needs Oxygen to survive. Therefore, he must collect oxygen capsules to recharge before running out. There are also some blocks that are more difficult to destroy (“X-blocks”). These take multiple attempts to drill through and use up more of Mr. Driller’s oxygen. However, there is a bonus for connecting four in a row.

    Mr. Driller was initially ported to the Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation and Game Boy Color. the PlayStation and Dreamcast versions are very similar so pick your favorite though the Dreamcast version is going to be slightly closer to the original arcade game as that ran on Sega hardware as well. Fans of puzzle game should enjoy this one and give it a try. This game started a whole franchise so there have been numerous sequels and spinoffs. As far as the original goes, while there were some slightly later ports, I’m not aware of any re-releases so you’ll have to track down an original or use emulation.

    Screenshots above are from the PlayStation version of the game.


    📂This entry was posted in Game Boy PlayStation Retro Games Sega Dreamcast 📎and tagged