Here are some things that stood out for a context why the Dreamcast was/is cool or special:
* It attempted to hold the fort against the PS2, and was an underdog system. It did hold up well when launched against the PS2, and the games that made it over to the PS2 (Sony fan-boys were saying "Oh the good stuff will come over to the PS2") just weren't as good.
* The Dreamcast did 2D REAL well, and have a number of 2D fighting games that were top notch. Actually 2D period was excellent on it, with it getting a number of real good 2D SHMUPs. Mars Matrix and Ikagaru are two notable ones.
* The Dreamcast was an ideal console for driving games, with the analog triggers ideal for driving games. Le Mans 24 Hours particularly stood out.
* It happened to give Sega a degree of relevancy it lacks today. When you have a console, you matter more. Sega is now less relevant than Capcom or Konami in the big picture.
* Dreamcast put 2K Sports on the map to challenge Electronic Arts. At the time, the football commentary in 2K NFL football was epic.
* The VMUs were fun and unique at the time.
* The Dreamcast had other notable arcade ports, like Powerstone 1 and 2, which are good even today, and people remember. You can throw in the other unique titles it had to.
Pretty much the Dreamcast fits as a console that didn't make it, but feels like it should. It is remembered as an underdog that failed. Is it all that? No. But what it did do well, in its short time, is worth still remembering, and the Dreamcast is worth getting, if you are a collector.
