plasmawave
Banned
I miss the tropical blue sky in games in general.
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
I'm crazy. I miss the "Dreamcast Look"
- Thread starter Wonko_C
- Start date
Wonko_C
Member
Yep I Love the "Dreamcast Look" too, it's just so nice! I'm hoping more indie games adopt this style as it can look so great, that's what we're doing anyway.
Still amazes me how awesome the Dreamcast was for its time and how many great games they released in its short life, makes me really miss the arcade golden agesSo many of my favorite Dreamcast games are arcade style or arcade ports with near perfect conversions.
No wonder why AAC reminds me of Cannon Spike on steroids. Can't wait for the finished version to release on Steam for some (a lot) runs through in 4 player couch coop!
Looks great. I'd get it for either Wii U or PS4.
DerpButter
Member
I entirely get what you mean... somewhat low poly, flatter shading, relatively high res textures. I especially liked simpler "boxy" environments not cluttered with props like the original UT... where it was possible to walk backwards around a level without getting stuck on some jutting pipe or corner of a stair.
The abuse of specular effects we've seen since Doom 3 seems like its coming to a stop with some devs... others (Infinity Ward) still seem hell bent on making any slightly shiny (or not shiny at all) surface look like its covered in a layer of shellac, or wrapped in plastic like a kraft single.
Soft shadowing's come a long way too from the pixelated garbage of AC1, the only thing really left that needs to start being avoided are textures and shader maps that are so high-frequency that the one or two objects they are mapped to end up a moired-mess unless you oversample to 16k.
The abuse of specular effects we've seen since Doom 3 seems like its coming to a stop with some devs... others (Infinity Ward) still seem hell bent on making any slightly shiny (or not shiny at all) surface look like its covered in a layer of shellac, or wrapped in plastic like a kraft single.
Soft shadowing's come a long way too from the pixelated garbage of AC1, the only thing really left that needs to start being avoided are textures and shader maps that are so high-frequency that the one or two objects they are mapped to end up a moired-mess unless you oversample to 16k.
CurlySaysX
Banned
What happened to that 90s arcade racer that was supposed to come out this year?
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
The wonderful 101 gives me quite the feeling and enjoyment of those games. And the nostalgia argument is oh so crappy. When will people get banned for that. Can one not miss the enjoyment of an old game without that being brought up?
Chairmanchuck
Member
I wouldnt really say its just tropical blue sky. Somehow a lot of Games, that "try" the realistical approach, dont even see how the sky or grass looks like...
Often the colors seem washed out.
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
Damn I would love a new power stone game.
meanspartan
Member
My favorite part of the Dreamcast today is that because it supported VGA, most of its library is playable in 480p (Progressive Scan as opposed to 480i).
Ironically, this means that the Dreamcast hardware has aged much better than the Ps2's, the system which killed it because of how much more powerful it was than Dreamcast (among other reasons).
Ironically, this means that the Dreamcast hardware has aged much better than the Ps2's, the system which killed it because of how much more powerful it was than Dreamcast (among other reasons).
Habib Marwan
Banned
I think it had something to do with how the textures were displayed, the Dreamcast did it in a really consistent way that made games look similar.
I loved my Dreamcast, but we got a PS2 the day it launched, and SSX was mind blowing.
But looking back, the Dreamcast overall had more satisfying visuals. It's like the output was better tuned or something.
That is why I like the Wii U. It has strange and quirky games that are all bright, colorful and do a fairly good job at maintaining 60 fps. Hell, that's why SNES was great too. Sunset overdrive also satisfies that early 2000's/ arcadey itch.
Hell DC and even PS2 and GameCube games really were great weren't they? Good art, high framerates and focus on game play and not silly gimmicks are awful story elements made those games back then truly amazing.
We need to revisit them
Hell DC and even PS2 and GameCube games really were great weren't they? Good art, high framerates and focus on game play and not silly gimmicks are awful story elements made those games back then truly amazing.
We need to revisit them
Holy crap, how have I not heard about this already?
And it's coming to consoles this summer?? Shiieettt
Edit: ahh, PS4 only for now.
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
It doesn't help that the PS2's image quality looks only slightly better than dog vomit, either. Even if the PS2's pushing more visual doo-dads, you can't really appreciate it when the output is a blurry mess. But on the other hand, the Dreamcast is crazy sharp and vibrant -- it's still great. Really weird how things worked out like that.
Wonko_C
Member
Nicalis happened, but it'll come in due time. It looks good but in my opinion something's off: it's like there is this slight blueish tint to it, not just the sky. It's like Codemasters' infamous piss-filter, only this time it's blue.
It's not nostalgia, man, it's the AAA games with insane colors that put a smile on your face. I'm content with indies doing the same, though.
I think DC games look terrible next to PS2, GC and Xbox. I can still be impressed by early PS2 games like Tekken Tag, but even the best Dreamcast games are totally lacking in polygonal detail, with flat, blocky characters and environments, and have extremely primitive lighting and particle effects. I have a hard time considering the Dreamcast to be part of the same generation as the other three.
deriks
4-Time GIF/Meme God
While not exactly fitting, I sometimes get the "Dreamcast feel" from Sleeping Dogs. Maybe it's because it reminds me of Shenmue a lot of times.
So, has sailors?
it was also developed by based sega
DonMigs85
Member
F-Zero GX and the Monkey Ball games naturally.
Honestly though the Dreamcast had its flaws as well - low poly counts and hideous mip-mapping/texture LOD. And the flicker filter didn't work too well in VGA mode. But it was such a huge improvement compared to messy PS1/N64 graphics.
Honestly though the Dreamcast had its flaws as well - low poly counts and hideous mip-mapping/texture LOD. And the flicker filter didn't work too well in VGA mode. But it was such a huge improvement compared to messy PS1/N64 graphics.
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
Heh, I know lol
RedAssedApe
Banned
Think it's nostalgia. Most of the older 3d stuff looks really bad now. Maybe with an emulator with aa turned up some of them might look good.
I thought it was largely due to the rampant piracy? Also marketing, and success of PS1 compared to the Saturn.
But anyway, yeah - some of the later PS2 titles were glorious, but the Dreamcast was so comparatively easy to program for that they were bashing out visual gems right from the start. I can still play a decent proportion of my DC games on my monitor (does look sort of terrible up close, due to scaling, to be fair. 1-to-1 pixel mapping and a pair of binoculars is where it's at.) PS2 has long since been shelved. Or sold. I can't even remember.
Also, it's awesome.
DonMigs85
Member
Holy crap, how have I not heard about this already?
And it's coming to consoles this summer?? Shiieettt
Edit: ahh, PS4 only for now.
Seems they kinda ripped off some of de Blob's concepts.
Actually come to think of it, de Blob has that DC-look too.
meanspartan
Member
I'd challenge you to play Sonic Adventure, Soul Calibur, or Jet Grind Radio on a Dreamcast connected to an HDTV via VGA so you get 480p.
Those games still look damn good to me.
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
.jpg)
These are what I call "honest graphics." The Dreamcast is a hot chick who doesn't have to douse herself in makeup to turn you on.
PandaPedinte
Member
wow
DonMigs85
Member
SEGA was the last breath for Arcade games on consoles. The Dreamcast for all intents and purposes was a home arcade system. They went crazy with extreme set pieces and outlandish style that just overflowed with personality. But in a time where people wanted more realism, the Dreamcast wasn't what they wanted. Which is a damn shame, because 2000s SEGA had some excellent work in just about all fronts. I'm happy they could live a little longer with the Xbox, but last gen they seemed to dissipate into something unrecognizable from its former self.
Emperor Bohe
Member
rip my beloved dreamcast
Hell yea it is. Still holds up today. One of the very few Nintendo published (although SEGA developed, as mentioned by others) Gamecube games with native widescreen as well.
MrCunningham
Member
I completely agree, I never really liked the PS2 when it came to image quality output. The majority of games on that console always had this muddy look to them. This is one thing the Dreamcast generally did better, the games had such a clean look for their times. Though, the image quality output on the OG Xbox and Gamecube generally looked better than what you would find on the pS2 as well.
But yeah, most Dreamcast games were arcade ports, and they were visually made to be eye catching from a distance, which is why a lot of the DC games had bright and colourful graphics. Crazy Taxi was such a joy on the Dreamcast, fast 60fps, it looked great on VGA at 480p. The game was simple to pick up and play but hard to master.Virtua Tennis was super silky and looked lovely on VGA. I also remember Ecco the Dolphin being really jaw dropping when I first saw it on the DC with VGA, the game wasn't one of the greatest, but it sure did look pretty. I also did like the look of Daytona 2001, 60FPS, no popup (or it was very microscopic) and looked so clean at 480p back then.
The Dreamcast is still one of my favorite "forward thinking" consoles. In many respects, it was so ahead of its time.
That lip syncing was so funky, even back then. But the textures in Sonic Adventure were really impressive on release... too bad the game suffered from a lot of bugs and had a clunky camera.
But yeah, most Dreamcast games were arcade ports, and they were visually made to be eye catching from a distance, which is why a lot of the DC games had bright and colourful graphics. Crazy Taxi was such a joy on the Dreamcast, fast 60fps, it looked great on VGA at 480p. The game was simple to pick up and play but hard to master.Virtua Tennis was super silky and looked lovely on VGA. I also remember Ecco the Dolphin being really jaw dropping when I first saw it on the DC with VGA, the game wasn't one of the greatest, but it sure did look pretty. I also did like the look of Daytona 2001, 60FPS, no popup (or it was very microscopic) and looked so clean at 480p back then.
The Dreamcast is still one of my favorite "forward thinking" consoles. In many respects, it was so ahead of its time.
Well, I'll give you Soul Calibur
That lip syncing was so funky, even back then. But the textures in Sonic Adventure were really impressive on release... too bad the game suffered from a lot of bugs and had a clunky camera.
Nothing1016
Member
I like your old avatar/picture more.
Also, I replayed Jet Set and my god is that game slow and it doesn't hold up at all.
BLACK AMERICAN PSYCHO
Junior Member
damn this really nails the look, how is the music?
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
The worst is racing on jet set radio maps
Sonic Lost World has this look that to me feels like it came out of a universe where dreamcast games kept happening. Probably why I liked it so much even if the game was ass at time
Holy crap this is actually coming out? Looks like I know what Im playing tomorrow
Holy crap this is actually coming out? Looks like I know what Im playing tomorrow
DID NOT KNOW. Man, now I've gotta dig out my GameCube. And a widescreen CRT.
Long live generation 6.
Dr. Kitty Muffins
Member
I love bright, blue sunny skies and a crisp look. Toss in excellent draw distance and super clean textures for the next gen win. I'll take this look any day of the week. The Dreamcast era was not afraid of using the entire rainbow of colors in normal, non-cartoony games. It comes down to art direction, and some teams knew how to go about doing things in an eye pleasing manner on that kind of hardware.
And, yes, I love the look of Sonic Lost Worlds. They nailed the visuals even if the gameplay was wanting.
Daytona USA and Soul Calibur were sooooooo smooth and good looking.
You know, funny to read this thread with the exact same thoughts I had other day playing Midnight Club on PS3: "Man this piece of garbage graphics look so horrendous, low res, low framerate, am I missing my Dreamcast or getting used to higher res games on PS4?".
Yeah, and (outside of Japan) it coincided with the death of arcades in general, mostly. Sure they still exist, but it's nothing like what it was.
Reminds me, I played the hell out'a Sega Rally 2. GAME OVER, YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH