Game Hits Gamestore

1/30/00

Brad Sez: Buy This Stuff in February

Man, times sure have changed. Up until a couple of years ago, February used to be a bad time to try to buy games. Basically, you would have a deluge of good stuff hit in the fourth quarter (you know, for Christmas), and then you would have 9 solid months of crap. People were forced to take up other activities, like sports, comic books, or homework. To hell with that! Thanks to forward thinking companies like Sony and Capcom, and their high-profile, first quarter releases, such as Syphon Filter and Resident Evil 2, there’s now all kinds of goodies to throw your money at. Yes, they proved that one could actually make money after Christmas, and now everyone is willing to give it a shot. So, without further ado, here’s my list of stuff that you simply can’t live without in February, in no particular order:

Colored Dreamcast Shells. You know, back when N64 first came out, I used to laugh and laugh at all those boneheads that just had to have all six (at the time) colored controllers. I mean, what the frag are you gonna do with six controllers? However, there is definitely something cool about changing the color of your system. I got a killer dark blue shell, and matching memory card and Dual Shock, for my Playstation, and man, is it ever pimpin’! Now those crazy kids in Hong Kong have come up with the same thing for everyone’s favorite new system. And, since Sega makes colored controllers in Japan (which are then quickly imported for your pleasure), you can get yourself a nice little set. This time, I went with a black shell and controller, but the blue and clear ones are pretty groovy, too. Be the envy of friends and fawned upon by women with your stylin’ new Dreamcast. And, yes, I still laugh at those N64 people.

Dreamcast Mod Chips. On the up side, most of the good stuff released for the DC in Japan is making its way to the states. On the down side, we still miss some really good stuff, and a lot of the games that are coming to the U.S. are gonna take a long time to get here. The answer to your dilemma? The Dreamcast Mod Chip. Unless you are truly insane (like me) and own both import and domestic DC’s, this is the only way you’re gonna get to see what our brothers on the other side of the pond are playing. However, kids, don’t try installing this thing at home. While the Playstation mods generally have 4-6 leads, the DC chip has 20 wires, and you have to replace the DC BIOS chip. Unless you are fairly comfortable monkeying around inside your Dreamcast with a soldering iron, I would suggest letting a professional handle this one.
Import Dreamcast Games. Since you’ve got that shiny new mod chip, why not break it in with the best games Japan has to offer? First up, you MUST buy the Biohazard 2 Value Plus bundle. This is a DC version of Resident Evil 2, which looks even better than the PC version, plus a Code Veronica demo. At 45 minutes to an hour, this demo will redefine how you look at Sega’s wonder box. I’ve played through it a dozen times now, and I’m still amazed by it. And, get this: All of the voice is in English, with Japanese subtitles! I love it! Sure, the item screen is in Japanese, but each item has a little picture next to it, so you should be fine. Go get it! RE isn’t your style? Pick up pretty much any Capcom game, and you’ll smile from ear to ear. Tech Romancer, Street Fighter III Second Impact, JoJo’s Adventure – it’s all good. Who cares if they’re in Japanese? They’re freakin’ fighting games! Also, check out the Treasure-made shooter, Bangaio, and the un-fragging-believable Virtual On 2.

Crazy Taxi – Dreamcast. If you haven’t played this one at the arcade, you haven’t truly lived. So, redeem your sorry self by grabbing this game the second it hits stores. You basically drive an indestructible cab around a city suspiciously resembling San Francisico, ferrying people to wherever they want to go. Hilarity ensues. It sounds lame on paper, but there’s a reason that a freakin’ cab simulator is on all the magazine covers, you know. And it ain’t ‘cause everybody loves Sega. Believe me.
Saga Frontier 2 – Playstation. Yes, the first one sucked. And, yes, the sequel looks a zillion times better. Hand painted, watercolor backgrounds, good ol’ sprite characters, and a story that is actually coherent make this one a keeper.

Biohazard: Gun Survivor – Playstation (Import). I haven’t felt the need to import a Playstation game in a looong time. Pretty much anything and everything released in Japan has found its way over here, one way or another. And, yes, this here Resident Evil light-gun game will appear in the States later this summer. However, it will be missing one fairly important feature: light-gun support. How much fun is a light-gun game without a light-gun, you ask? Ever play House of the Dead 2 with controllers? Ugh. So, now, you may be wondering why Capcom would do such a thing. Well, it turns out that, thanks to all of those idiots shooting up their schools, game manufacturers are under pressure to do away with "gun-related" accessories. So, first we lost a first-party light gun for Dreamcast, and now this. Do me a favor: If you’re planning on shooting up your school – don’t. No one gets hurt, and I get to mow down hundreds of VIRTUAL enemies in the comfort of my own home. Deal? Well, until the bleeding-hearts quit whining about this issue, it looks like we’re gonna have to keep importing our machine-gun fueled fun from a country in which NO guns are legal. Ahh, the irony kills me.
Carrier – Dreamcast. If this game actually makes its release date, it’s one to pick up. Think Resident Evil on an aircraft carrier. Get it? Carrier? Uh-huh. Anyway, it looks good, so grab it.
NHL2K – Dreamcast. Man, it does my heart good to see the words "Sega Sports" mean something again. Anyway, this hockey game is, of course, looking amazing, with accurately rendered arenas and amazing player models. Some killer TV-style camera work and commentary round out the package. Does anyone really care about EA anymore? Between the triad of NFL2K, NBA2K, and NHL2K and the future Sega Sports releases of Virtua Striker Soccer and World Series Baseball, it looks like EA may have missed the proverbial boat on Dreamcast. Serves ‘em right, the dumb asses.
Fear Effect – Playstation. Another Survival-Horror title, this time from Eidos. With anime-inspired themes and characters and streamed-FMV backgrounds, this one could really stand out. Very impressive, since it was programmed by Kronos. You know, from Criticom, Dark Rift, and Cardinal Syn fame? Jeez, maybe anyone really can change. Well, except for Acclaim – they just suck.
Dreamcast Game Shark. Supposedly, this baby is supposed to be out this month. If it actually happens, grab one so you can play Biohazard 2 and Code Veronica the way they were meant to be played: With ammo up the yin-yang! Yeah, baby! Um, yeah, it’ll probably do other cool stuff, too.

Well, there it is. Go get it! Yes, I’m aware that Rainbow Six for Dreamcast isn’t on my list. I’m sure that it’s gonna rock, but I’ll believe a release date for that puppy when I have it in my hands. I know that the majority of the list was Dreamcast stuff, but that’s the way the wind is blowin’ these days. I’m sure next month I’ll be going nuts over Playstation2 stuff. Surprise, surprise, there’s no N64 stuff here, either. And I don’t foresee an N64 game making the list until Perfect Dark comes out in April. If another good N64 title comes out, I have no problem giving it its due, but, man, there just doesn’t seem to be anything coming. Anyway, use this list well, grasshopper. It will lead you along the one true path…

Note: The inflammatory comments spewed forth in Brad's Soapbox are his own editorial steps on the brink of madness, and are not necessarily the opinions of Gamehits, or anyone else on Earth, for that matter.

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