The Sega Dreamcast turns 20 today. Sega's last console released on 9/9/99 with a multi-million dollar marketing campaign was Sega’s last effort in the hardware business. By late 2000 rumors were that Sega would pullout of the Hardware business, and they did in 2001-02 effectively killing the Dreamcast. We won’t go in depth today into what went wrong with Sega, and the system as we would rather celebrate its life. 

The Dreamcast had a short lifespan but that didn’t stop the system from receiving some great titles. The Dreamcast in 1999 was a true revelation in terms of graphics, even out shining the N64 which by this point was on its last legs. The foggy look in order to conceal pop up, low res textures, and blocky graphics were a thing of the past as the DC was a true generational leap over the previous consoles. 

The Dreamcast also introduced the world to online gaming almost half decade before online gaming became a standard feature in consoles. There are so many things that the Dreamcast did right, and I have so many memories of it that I would have to go in depth in order to cover all of bases in one single article. So for today, here are my top ten DC games:

1. Skies of Arcadia- Sega’s last great RPG and a game that RPG enthusiasts still remember fondly with hopes of a sequel being made by Sega some day…one can always dream.

2. Resident Evil Code Veronica: The most realistic graphics of its time, a true showcase of the DC’s horsepower, and the best Resident Evil game I have played behind RE2 and RE4.

3. Shenmue- An expensive (as in 70 million) real life simulator of sorts that took you back to Japan's 80s and ambitious project that has yet to be completed as we still await for episode 3 of Yu Suzuki’s saga. 

4. Soul Calibur- At the time of release the greatest looking game in the Dreamcast's library, and an excellent fighter to boot probably the highest rated game in the 90s along side Ocarina of Time, and Metal Gear Solid. 

5. Grandia II- One of the greatest stories ever told in a beautiful RPG that looked worlds better than the PS2 port of the same name.

6. Power Stone- A Smash Bros. Type of fighter that easily rivaled the former more popular title in both quality and fun.

7. Sonic Adventure- Sonic’s first foray into 3 Dimensions was gorgeous, and in some ways ahead of its time. 

8. Record of Lodoss War- Based on the popular Lord of the Rings esque Anime series, this Diablo styled Action RPG was fantastically fun.

9. NFL 2K- The most realistic looking and playing football game of its time, it was one of the reasons why I decided to jump into the “128 bit” gen with the DC.

10. Speed Devils Online- This game is responsible for my mediocre High School grades. I was just as addicted to this online racer, as kids these days are with Fortnite.

I remember getting one in 1999 or something and loving Shenmue, but even back then i thought games like Sonic adventure paled in comparison to previous gen games like Banjo Kazooie.

Had so much fun playing ReVolt, Soul Caliber, and NFL2K on the system. Never owned it, but I worked at a video store where we rented systems out and I played it a ton at the store. We used to play NFL2K on our store tvs where we usually played movies and customers would walk in and ask which game was on. That graphical leap was incredible.

Daaamn. 20 years ago. The golden age of rock. I remember the day well. Even what I ate at the mall. COULD NOT get Soul Calibur on launch day. We went everywhere trying to find it, as there were 3 of us together who bought our Dreamcast's, and a 4th who was our Dreamcastless chauffeur. Bought Ready 2 Rumble, NFL 2k, and Power Stone. Got Soul Calibur a few weeks later. Great system, in spite of it's short life.

What? No...just no.

I think it was the most significant in console history.

Relax. :) I've been putting that in every post that has to do with any given year. I did it earlier today in referencing the late 80's/early 90's too.

Guess my fun with that one is over. Agreed by the way. More like the dark ages. There was some good stuff though.

Ha...ok, didn’t see that. That era just holds a special level of discomfort for me music wise. And I’ve seen people refer to it with hallowed, hushed tones. To each their own, I suppose. 

Yes, there was some amazing stuff, it just depends where you were looking. Same for today. 

For some reason music in 1990s, at least to me was better than most of the music that plays today.

Oh boy. This thread is way off topic. Lol. 90's in general is my favorite decade for music, but the mainstream rock around the Dreamcast launch was mostly not to my liking.