2024/8/10: Sega Dreamcast: Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, F355 Challenge

[VideoGameCritic]

Ecco the Dolphin is a review update. I did bump up the grade slightly from an F to a D-, but still down on this one.

F355 Challenge is new. If you're a car nut you may want to check it out. Others need not apply.

Thoughts?

[BlasteroidAli]

Two incredible games for the Divcast. I liked the look of Ferrari challenge but I do not think I ever bought one. I think I might have had a pirate of Ecco. I seem to remember it was fun but not very engaging. The last time I had the Nightmarecast working it was outputting in yellow and pink. There is a well known problem with display malfunction.

My brother had one with the water control heat exchanger which he says leaked causing the console to short. He says he got another one but that is scary.

My fave game on the dreamcast was Wild Metal, which I do not think the critic has reviewed. It is also a rockstar game so all good. That is before they started making a success of GTA

[SavagePencil]

Dudcast.

give this shit a rest

Critic: looks like YET ANOTHER GAME with a hidden soccer mode!

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/dreamcast ... ure/cheats

[BlasteroidAli]

Dudcast.

give this shit a rest

Critic: looks like YET ANOTHER GAME with a hidden soccer mode!

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/dreamcast ... ure/cheats

Bony ps4
Xbone,
Sh*tendo p*ss
shamadore cd32
shamestick
I have pet names for all of my consoles...
Shatari Shaguar..

[GStratos]

Does the PlayStation 2 version of Ecco fare better than the Dreamcast port? I've heard it has some improvements, but I've sadly never played it myself to verify.

[Retro STrife]

The D+ for F355 Challenge makes me sad, but I get it. F355 Challenge got some really impressive reviews on the Dreamcast back in the day. GameSpot (my go-to gaming site at the time) gave it a 9.1 and called it "the best driving game currently available on any console, let alone the Dreamcast." As a Ferrari fan, I had to buy it. But turns out, I wasn't an enamored with it. Yes, it was super impressive at first - the visuals and driving were amazing for their time. But it originated in the arcades, so it was pretty weak with its gameplay modes. Coming off the Gran Turismo games on PS1, it felt like it didn't have a lot to offer.

The arcade version is really impressive though, and well worth playing even today. You can overlook the repetitiveness when you play just a few races. Here's the 3-screen cabinet:

[Miles Prower]

That screenshot for F355 is one of the most gorgeous I think I've ever seen on the Dreamcast

[VideoGameCritic]

That screenshot for F355 is one of the most gorgeous I think I've ever seen on the Dreamcast

Yeah, I try to use the best-looking picture I can find. But in this case I think it's a bit deceptive. I don't recall it looking that good when I played.

[Retro STrife]

That screenshot for F355 is one of the most gorgeous I think I've ever seen on the Dreamcast

Yeah, I try to use the best-looking picture I can find. But in this case I think it's a bit deceptive. I don't recall it looking that good when I played.

By chance, is that screenshot from the PS2 or arcade versions? That could explain it. But regardless, F355 Challenge is a very good looking game by Dreamcast standards.

[Quick_Man]

I've always enjoyed F355 Challenge even though it's a totally different beast to the likes of Sega Rally or Daytona USA. I've played on an arcade cabinet quite a lot and it's definitely much more of a hardcore simulator, to the point winning on even the obligatory "Beginner course that's just an oval" takes a LOT of practice.