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The Game Archaeologist dials up Phantasy Star Online: The highlights
The Dreamcast was a brief but shining aberration in the gaming world. Coming along years after Sega had fallen out of its position as a top-runner in the console market, it represented the company's big attempt to reclaim its former glory. While it failed to succeed in that respect and ultimately closed up shop in 2001 (ending Sega's interest in the console market), the Dreamcast became a gaming cult favorite responsible for some of the most innovative titles ever made. Games like Jet Grind Radio, Space Channel 5, and Shenmue have remained fan favorites long after the Dreamcast's demise, which shows the legacy that these dev teams left behind. But perhaps the Dreamcast's greatest gift to the gaming world wasn't crazy taxis or space dancing but a surprisingly forward-looking approach to online gaming. In 2000, the Dreamcast took the first steps to bringing an online console RPG to market, and while it wasn't a true MMO, it certainly paved the way for titles like EverQuest Online Adventures and Final Fantasy XI. It was bold, it was addictive, and it was gosh-darned gorgeous. Ladies and gentlemen: Phantasy Star Online.
ChuChu Rocket scurries to Android
ChuChu Rocket, one of the most frantic puzzle games around (and a genuine classic), is now available for Android. The game has players guiding their adorable mice (Chuchus), leading them away from evil cats (Kapukapus) and into handy escape rockets. Go ahead and read that last sentence again, we promise it's accurate. You can grab the game now from Android Market for $0.99. Unfortunately, if you're looking for some games for your fancy new Kindle Fire, the game doesn't appear to be on Amazon's Android Appstore. Of course, it's still available for iOS (at $2.99), if that's your thing.
Chu Chu Rocket made in LittleBigPlanet 2
Apart from an iOS port, ChuChu Rocket hasn't seen much love this generation -- until now, that is, thanks to a new ChuChu Rocket level for LittleBigPlanet 2. Created by someone calling themselves Hymanator, it's a pretty good recreation of Sega's classic puzzler (though perhaps not quite as cute).
Rumor: ChuChu Rocket! to blast the XBLA
Here's an Xbox Live Arcade rumor for you. Lately, our friends over at SEGA have been busy re-registering a few of their older game trademarks, most recently a trademark for the Dreamcast's addictively fun ChuChu Rocket! A game trademark that has yet to expire. So, why the need for a new trademark? Well, Siliconera speculates that SEGA could be prepping ChuChu Rocket! (and other franchises) for release to the Xbox Live Arcade. Admittedly, the theory is a bit of a stretch, but isn't total crazy talk. SEGA prepping for an XBLA release of ChuChu Rocket! by re-registering the trademark kind of makes sense ... right?[Via Wii Fanboy]
Sega directing ChuChu Rocket! to WiiWare?
Does Sega share our view that ChuChu Rocket! was Born for Wii? The company's U.S. arm re-registered a trademark for ChuChu Rocket! on December 22, and Siliconera's Spencer predicted that this could mean a future release for ... Xbox Live Arcade. In this case, we hope Spencer is totally wrong, and that this actually signals a forthcoming WiiWare adaptation. Sega recently made its WiiWare debut with Let's Catch, so has already shown an interest in the service. Obviously, this news could also mean nothing, but we don't like to dwell on that possibility -- the dark satisfaction to be had from guiding your opponent's ChuChus towards a hungry KapuKapu is something we want to experience again. %Gallery-25945%
Born for Wii: ChuChu Rocket!
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Born_for_Wii_Chu_Chu_Rocket'; In spite of its untimely demise, the Dreamcast still lives on in gamers' hearts due to a small library of now-classic titles, ranging from the grandiose, such as Shenmue, to the bizarre, like Space Channel 5. Falling closer to the latter on the weirdness scale is ChuChu Rocket!, a unique Dreamcast puzzler that's noteworthy for being one of the last great games to come out of Sega's Sonic Team (I mean, really -- Shadow the Hedgehog?), and for taking the Dreamcast online with four-player multiplayer -- no small feat in 2000. Just like Katamari Damacy, ChuChu Rocket! succeeds on the strengths of simple-but-addictive gameplay and irresistible charm.ChuChu Rocket! makes no attempt to hide what it is -- a pure puzzler, free of all frivolities and unnecessary dead weight like a story. The concept is quite straightforward -- your only goal is to guide a group of mice (or, in some levels, just one mouse) into a rocket. In many cases, this involves avoiding cats who are roaming the puzzle terrain, waiting to make a mouse sandwich out of your little ChuChus. Both the mice and the cats move in the exact same fashion -- they head in a straight line until they hit a wall, which will cause them to turn right. It's a little like watching a group of lemmings, but, thankfully, the mice move just a bit faster.%Gallery-25945%
