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Dreamcast By Chip and Jonathan Carter Tribune Media Services When we went to bed last night, we were thinking about great graphics, awesome game play, 128 bits of power and a whole new dimension in video gaming. Was is just a dream ... or was it ... Dreamcast! Yes, Sega's Next, Next Generation machine is finally here, and at first blush it certainly seems worth the wait. This maximum power dream machine hit the streets last week after months of anticipation. At launch, there were 19 games available, and plenty more are on the way for the holidays. The graphics go far beyond anything you've seen before, as well they should. The sound's extraordinary, as well. But the game play's not necessarily any more compelling than titles for the N64 or PlayStation � once you hit a certain point on the "gotcha" curve, it's hard to raise the bar significantly. Still, Dreamcast does manage to make gaming look and sound better than it ever has before. And there are also some cool features � like a 56K modem and Internet connection (via Sega's Internet Provider or your own), and a memory card (VMU) that actually functions as a tiny handheld game system � that combine to make the $199 asking price seem fair (only one controller ships with the system, though, and the VMU and additional hardware cost extra). That said, be advised that Sony and Nintendo have lowered the price of their systems to $99, and each has a second next generation system on the way for Christmas 2000. Until then, though, if you can afford to dream a little Dreamcast, go for it. Here's a look at three of the first few available DC titles: SONIC, FOR DREAMCAST � This goes so far beyond any previous Sonic game it hardly seems like the same series. Sure you get the little blue guy. And he's just as speedy as before, if not more so. But this time around, you also get a half-dozen other characters and an unbelievably rich and detailed universe to explore with them. A half-dozen new and old characters � like Tails the fox and Knuckles the echidna � join Sonic for this new adventure. You'll find eggs throughout the game that let you hatch a character called a Chao, which you race against other Chaos. You can breed Chaos with various traits and characteristics, then store them to your VMU where you care for and feed them � kind of like a Tamagotchi � and take them on Pokemon-style adventures. When they're ready, you can return them to the main game and back to the Chaos races. You'll be amazed by the new worlds Sonic and friends have to explore, from modern seaside resorts to ancient Latin American ruins. Even more amazing is the nonstop action. The first Sonic game made the Genesis a hit. This one could do the same for Dreamcast. JONATHAN SAYS : I love the Chaos. Heck, I love the VMU. There have been plenty of times when I quit playing the main game and just focused on the mini-games on the VMU. But I really dig this game, too. Sonic's great, of course, but Tails and Knuckles are my favorites characters. A+. CHIP SAYS : This game's a great ride from start to finish. Like all the Sonic adventures, you don't so much play this one as hold on and see where it takes you next. It's a sightseeing trip more than anything else is. A. OVERALL RATINGS : A � BUY IT FOR ALL AGES. NFL 2K, FOR DREAMCAST � Wow. Now that's what we call football. This is probably the game that best shows off the graphic capabilities of the DC. The players aren't real-life perfect yet � they're close, but there's still some of that polygonal clunkiness � but they move like their real-life counterparts. When these players run, they run, rather than glide like so many electrons scooting across the screen. When they fall, you feel it. You get all the real NFL teams and players, playing in real stadia. You can also create players and even entire teams. They say looks aren't everything, and that's true. NFL 2K looks terrific � but it plays great, too. In fact, we'd have to say it's near, if not at, the very top of our all-time best sports video game list. We can't wait to see what other sports titles look like on the DC. JONATHAN SAYS : The graphics are so incredible you can actually see each player's nose. Not that that's a big deal � it's just something I noticed. This game is fantastic whether you're playing alone or with friends. A+. CHIP SAYS : I've been waiting years for a sports video game that looks this good. My only complaint with this one is it's a trifle hard to complete a pass. It's not a fatal flaw, but it is a bit bothersome. A-. OVERALL RATING : A � BUY IT FOR ALL AGES. HYDROTHUNDER, FOR DREAMCAST � Here's the game that does for Dreamcast what Jet Moto did for PlayStation and Wave Racer did for the N64 � namely, give the system a signature water-based racing game. But, given the abilities of the DC, Hydro makes those other water-racing games seem ... well, all wet. Which it should, you 'know? Time marches on, progress progresses, all that. If HydroThunder wasn't better, what would be the point? OK, sermon over. What you want to know is, Hey, is this game for me? Yep. We'd have to say this is one of those all-ages, all-comers phenomena. You, alone or with a friend, climb behind the wheel of a racing boat and take to the waterways. Graphically, this one's terrific. You can see each wave peak and roll, and the other boats kick up wakes and sprays that'll leave you soggy. The physics are terrific, too � you can actually feel the keel of your boat cutting through the water. The boats are pretty cool, too, each with its own set of design specifics that'll let you go faster or claim better control. HydroThunder's not a new Mario, it's not a new Sonic � but it could maybe be seen as, say, the DC's aquatic Gran Turismo. JONATHAN SAYS : I love the turbo boost powerups that let you make up lost ground ... um, water. If you kick them in at the right point, you can actually catch big air coming out of the water � very cool. A-. CHIP SAYS : If you're looking for something new in racing, this one's got it. And the game play's downright addictive. A. OVERALL RATING : A � BUY IT FOR ALL AGES. Chip & Jonathan Carter are a father/son gaming team who've been twiddling their thumbs professionally since 1990. For more tips, tricks, reviews and news, check us out on-line at http://vgames.webpoint.com/vid/ecol/mainpage . Or e-mail us at [email protected] . Got a question? An inside tip you'd like to share? Write to Chip and Jonathan Carter in care of this newspaper. While they cannot respond individually, they will answer questions of general interest in their column. (C) 1999 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC. Techno file index Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA