Help with Dreamcast collection

[Maben]

Okay so here's the deal.  I was going to pick up a Dreamcast for $20 from a guy on craigslist (comes with cords and 1 controller, good deal???).  I started to second guess myself though as I own all the other consoles around that time (N64, PS2, GCN, Xbox).  It seems like all the good games got ports to one of these systems and given that I've never really played a Dreamcast I will always tend to favor the other consoles.  Are there enough good exclusive games that a Dreamcast is worth owning for me?  I am not going to buy any download only titles so I would still consider a game ported to PSN/XBLA to be exclusive.  Multiplayer is not a likely scenario for me in the near future.

Only games I really see that interest me that I can't get elsewhere:
Shenmue
Jet Grind Radio (Although I still have to play my copy of Jet Set Radio Future)
ChuChu Rocket
Power Stone?  Sounds like it's only really good with a buddy.

I know some of you must be big Dreamcast fans so I'm asking you to sell me on the system.

[Ozzy_98]

Grandia II, other ports kinda suck.  Good fighters on it, and better controller for playing PSO than the GC controller. Capcom vs. SNK is great too.

But I mean, for $20, you shouldn't need a reason to buy it, you should go buy it, now! go go go! and find a VGA output box too, the games look much better on it.

[Aton7]

Cannon Spike. Nuff said. Really though, I'm not much of an expert on the Dreamcast, I only own like 10 games for it. However, I have had TONS of fun playing Power Stone 2 and Cannon Spike by myself, both of which I believe are exclusive to the DC. For me, Cannon Spike alone is worth getting a system for. It's basically an arcade-y shmup featuring Capcom characters (one of which is Megaman!). It feels very much like an arcade game and looks great on the Dreamcast. It's not a really in depth or long game, but I personally think the pure fun of playing outweighs all of its negatives.

And like Ozzy said, for $20 you can't go wron.

[wiggy]

The DC doesn't require modification to play "backups"*, so I suggest burning copies of anything that sounds interesting and then buying legit copies of what you end up liking

*I've heard people say that later models won't play CD-Rs, but I have personally yet to experience this

[Gutling]

^ dreamcasts are pretty good about playing anything you shove in them lol. I personally love the fighting games on it, had some good titles.

[shenske]

*I've heard people say that later models won't play CD-Rs, but I have personally yet to experience this

I've had one like that (i got rid of it). I think post October of 2000 is the magic date to avoid. I have 4 Dreamcasts now and they are all good to go fro reading backups

[Maben]

and find a VGA output box too, the games look much better on it.

This is something specific for the Dreamcast?  Interesting...  Is this the kind of thing I could get a knock-off or should I go Sega brand only?

[shenske]

This is something specific for the Dreamcast?  Interesting...  Is this the kind of thing I could get a knock-off or should I go Sega brand only?

Yes, it is specific for Dreamcast. I read an article a while back comparing the SEGA vs the TOMEE cable and it held up very well. Almost no differences. I would just go with the offbrand (the SEGA brand is grossly expensive).

http://www.stoneagegamer.com/dreamcast-vga-cable.html

[Maben]

This is something specific for the Dreamcast?  Interesting...  Is this the kind of thing I could get a knock-off or should I go Sega brand only?

Yes, it is specific for Dreamcast. I read an article a while back comparing the SEGA vs the TOMEE cable and it held up very well. Almost no differences. I would just go with the offbrand (the SEGA brand is grossly expensive).

http://www.stoneagegamer.com/dreamcast-vga-cable.html

Looks like this would still be a small investment.  I know I'd want this cable, and then I'd need a decent sized memory card and a game or two. 

[Hoggs17]

Wow.  You and me are in the same boat.  I just picked me up a DC from CL as well.  Also looking for games.  So far I grabbed Grandia II, SF3: Double Impact (backgrounds from SF3:2nd Impact and SF3:New Generation > SF3:Third Strike) and Shenmue.  I know I want Skies of Arcadia but then i'm stuck.  RPGs are said to suck with the exception of a few and maybe I'll grab some fighters and shoot-em-ups.  Kickstarter games seem to trickle out every so often as well.  I'm also looking to get a VGA box; i heard the hanzo (http://www.beharbros.com/#!hanzo/c1gph) is a good way to go (albeit twice as much as the generic ones you can find on ebay) but I'm not sure I want to spend that much when I only have a few games.  sigh.

[TDIRunner]

The Typing of the Dead is pretty awesome.  Techically It was also released for the PS2, but only in Japan.  You will need a keyboard, but it's worth it.

[TDIRunner]

Oh, and for $20, why the hell not?

[Beastman1975]

Id grab any capcom or SNK fighter they are all worth it  , JoJo's bizarre adventure , legacy of Kain soul reaver , the sega fishing games were fun  ( find a rod controller ) , the 1st soul calibur game is a must,  hydro thunder was a fun racer,  and typing of the dead ( need the keyboard for that )

[sheep2001]

Off the top of my head: Msr, porche challenge, virtua tennis, virtua fighter, Mars matrix, dead or alive 2, Rez, power stone, head hunter, tony hawks 1&2.

Then have some fun with some beats or rage mods.  I especially love the double dragon collection.

Then get some bleemed ps1 games, and see them in high res. 

A Dreamcast (or 2) should be in everyone's collection.

[CMDLineKing]

The DC doesn't require modification to play "backups"*, so I suggest burning copies of anything that sounds interesting and then buying legit copies of what you end up liking

*I've heard people say that later models won't play CD-Rs, but I have personally yet to experience this

From the research I did All Dreamcasts can play backups.  The issue usually arises from a bad burn, weak burner, or bad Iso/cdi image.   I will say I have had some trouble getting certain backups to play (rebooting the system several times) but usually putting in a real game, then putting in the backup on a reset seems to do something to help the system pickup the burned game.

As far as buying a dreamcast, its one of my favorite systems. ALLLLL the Sega Arcade style games on that system look AND feel like the real thing..

You should also visit this site for burning and playing homebrew and Emulators on your dream cast!  I had all the GB titles running on this.. great way to play pokemon!