Latest news with #Dreamcast
Tom's Guide
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 makes me nostalgic for the Dreamcast
This article is part of Tom's Guide's inaugural Gaming Week, an entire week of content dedicated to all things gaming. From insights into the latest hardware, guides to the best games you can play today, to the essential accessories we can't play without. Tom's Guide Gaming Week will guide you through the world of video games in 2025. I've been having the time of my life playing Capcom Fighting Collection 2. Like Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection before it, this latest compilation features some of the company's finest arcade games in one package. It's fantastic not just for fans of these games, but for those who are brand-new to the likes of Capcom vs. SNK or Power Stone. I've been a fighting game fanatic since the Street Fighter II days, but I didn't get to play most of the games in Capcom Fighting Collection 2. Some weren't released in North America until years later, or weren't ported at all. Except for Street Fighter Alpha 3 and the two Power Stone games, this collection packs a bunch of titles that are brand-new to me. But while I'm just now getting acquainted with games like Plasma Sword and Project Justice, I'm also experiencing nostalgia for one of my all-time favorite gaming consoles thanks to Capcom's latest collection. As you can see from this article's headline, it's none other than my beloved Sega Dreamcast. That might seem random, but there are good reasons why Capcom Fighting Collection 2 takes me back to the glorious Dreamcast days. Read on to find out! The most obvious reason Capcom Fighting Collection 2 reminds me of the Dreamcast is that most of its games were available on Sega's final main game that takes me right back to 1999 is the original Power Stone. Playing on Falco's 'Londo' stage reminds me of the countless hours my friends and I sunk into a Dreamcast demo disc featuring that level. The game's colorful graphics and unique art style, which are way more imaginative than some current titles, were and are a grand showcase for what the Dreamcast was capable of. Power Stone is as fun now as it was back in the day. Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about Power Stone 2. I hoped that the intervening decades since I've played this sequel would make me appreciate it. But just as when I originally played it, this game is far too hectic and random for me to enjoy. I realize having four characters brawling on perilous stages is the main draw, but it's too frantic for me. Aside from its fun graphics, I still can't get into Power Stone 2. Then we have Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, which is the last arcade version of this game. I played the North American version of Street Fighter Alpha 3 on Dreamcast but didn't play Upper, which was only released in Japan. Still, since this is the same basic Alpha 3 experience, replaying it in this collection also took me back to the early '00s. The Sega Dreamcast had the same hardware architecture as the Sega Naomi arcade board. This made it easier for developers to port Naomi-based arcade games like Project Justice and Power Stone to the Dreamcast. Sure, the Naomi system had increased main memory, graphics memory and sound memory, but Dreamcast ports were virtually identical. The way Dreamcast generated polygons, textures, colors, and sound gave its games a distinct feel. If you're like me, you can likely spot a Dreamcast game from a mile away. It's for that reason that Project Justice and the Capcom vs. SNK games made me even more nostalgic for the Dreamcast, even though I've never played them. They're the embodiment of what the Dreamcast (and Naomi) could do. While on this topic, I want to single out Plasma Sword, which utilized the PlayStation-based ZN-2 hardware. While this Star Wars-inspired 3D fighter has a slightly different look than the Naomi-based 3D games in this collection, it still gives me that Dreamcast feel. Lastly, let me bring up my favorite games on this collection: Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 and Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium. The latter, which is overall the better of the two, features 2D sprites and 3D backgrounds like Marvel vs. Capcom 2. However, it does a much better job of melding the two. It's an excellent example of how well the Dreamcast was at generating 2D and 3D elements. The Sega Dreamcast only lasted for a year and a half in North America before Sega bowed out of the console race. Despite its untimely demise, it's a system I still cherish due to its excellent graphical prowess and library of incredible games. Playing Capcom Fighting Collection 2 takes me back to my late teens/early 20s, when things seemed simpler and purer. If you're also a Dreamcast fan or someone who just wants to play some awesome old-school fighting games, do yourself a favor and pick up Capcom Fighting Collection 2. I promise you'll have the time of your life.
Android Authority
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Android Authority
This Dreamcast memory card can emulate Game Boy games
TL;DR 8BitMods released the VMU Pro, an updated memory card for the Sega Dreamcast. It's not just a memory card, but also a handheld emulation machine for 8-bit games. The VMU Pro goes up for pre-order today in a variety of colors for $81.24. The Sega Dreamcast was ahead of its time in many ways, but one nifty feature that died with the console was the Visual Memory Unit, or VMU. It wasn't the first memory card on the market, but with an integrated screen and controls, it added playable mini games to keep the fun going when away from your console. Now, the VMU Pro takes things to the next level, with not just playable minigames but also full-blown emulation for 8-bit games. Produced by 8BitMods, the VMU Pro is a new device with all the functionality of original modules, including full backward compatibility. It supports microSD cards up to 2TB, roughly the same storage as 15 million original VMUs. You can also transfer saves from old VMUs by connecting the two units, transfer wirelessly between two VMU Pros, or automatically back up your saves to Google Drive via Wi-Fi. The VMU Pro also features built-in emulators for the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, NES, Game Gear, and Master System. All emulators are capable of 1.5x scaling to fill the backlit IPS color display, and integrated Bluetooth LE support offers better sound than the integrated mono speaker. You can get much better emulation performance for the same price from something like the TrimUI Brick, but that device doesn't double as a VMU. The VMU Pro is the ultimate Dreamcast accessory. Of course, the module can also play original VMU mini games via eVMU. These were short side adventures tied to your game saves, so you could hatch your Sonic Adventure Chao or find unique treasures to pass to your Skies of Arcadia characters. Thankfully, the VMU Pro features a better battery than the original, which ate through coin batteries. The 720mAh cell lasts up to six hours on a single charge while emulating games, or a full month of less demanding use as a plain old memory card. 8BitMods plans to add more features over time, including more emulators and an SDK so users can develop their own VMU Pro apps. It really is the ultimate Dreamcast accessory. The VMU Pro is available in seven different colorways, and it goes up for pre-order today for a little over $80, with units expected to ship in October of this year. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Metro
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 review
The latest in Capcom's series of retro fighting game compilations focuses on Capcom Vs. SNK and GameCentral favourite Power Stone. Every time we talk to anyone from Capcom, no matter what the subject is, we always ask about a new sequel to Power Stone. We've been doing it for over a decade now, mostly just to annoy them, but now, finally, the series has returned. We don't know how many other people are excited about that fact – probably not many, given the length of the franchise's absence – but we couldn't be happier. At the same time, it can be a depressing jolt of reality when you return to a game after many years, with memories of its greatness, and realise that time has not been kind to it. Power Stone, and some of the other games in this collection, are over a quarter of a century old but, to our relief, they're still highly enjoyable today, with that classic Capcom combination of swagger and cheesy exuberance. In fact, it's remarkable just how well Capcom fighting games tend to endure, as evidenced by the previously released Capcom Fighting Collection and Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. A cynical mind might accuse this third title of starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel but that's not fair, as while these games might not be as well known they're every bit as interesting as Capcom's more famous headliners. Although it contained a number of unrelated titles, the main focus of the first Capcom Fighting Collection was the Darkstalkers series, with all five original arcade games included. There's a less clear-cut theme for this one, but the most high-profile inclusions (if you're a Power Stone philistine) are probably the two Capcom Vs. SNK games. There is something that connects all but one of the games though and that's that all of them were also ported to the Dreamcast, as everything but Capcom Fighting Evolution was released in a narrow window between 1998 and 2001. That matches up exactly with the life and death of Sega's last console, of which Capcom was one of the most prolific supporters. That creates a slight problem though, in that all these versions of the games are based on the original coin-ops – which the majority of people will never have played – and not the more familiar Dreamcast editions. That's a real shame, because a lot of ancillary options have been lost in the process, particularly for something like Power Stone 2, which had an additional Adventure mode involving unlocking extra weapons and items. That's not to suggest this is a lazy compilation though; like the previous ones it's anything but. It's just unfortunately the emphasis is solely on the arcade versions. As such, you get both the English and Japanese versions of each game, plus museum content, in-game achievements, and brand new online options including casual, ranked, and custom matches. Each game also has a new training mode, where the button presses are indicated on-screen; you can pause and restart the single-player modes at any time; and there's a ton of controller and difficultly level options, including the chance for one button specials. There's alternative sound mixes too, plenty of screen filter options, and they even bothered to scan in the original arcade marquee cards, that explained how the games work. We'll go through the games in chronological order, which starts with 3D fighter Plasma Sword: Nightmare Of Bilstein. Probably the most obscure title in the collection, it's known as Star Gladiator 2 in Japan and is essentially a sci-fi take on Soulcalibur, completely with faux lightsabers. It also shares a lot of DNA with Street Fighter EX but even in 1998 it was considered a generic outing, with sub-par graphics. Although it's still miles better than contemporary Star Wars: Masters Of Teräs Käs. The first Power Stone was released in 1999 and we strongly feel it's one of the most underappreciated fighting games of all time, especially when it comes to the use of 3D space. Instead of just sidling round your opponent you have full freedom of movement in a small 3D arena, using objects, walls, and architecture to increase your attack options, as well as picking up weapons and the titular power stones. Collect all of the latter and you briefly transform into a powered-up form, similar to the Infinity Gem gimmick from Marvel Super Heroes. The downside to this is that there are no real combos, except doing the same attack multiple times, and a very limited number of special moves, but that's not really the point. What the game loses in technical complexity it gains in terms of tactical intrigue, as you use the stage, and your opponents' desire to get to a weapon or power stone before you, to your advantage. Admittedly, it's still not exactly a deep game but the foundation was there to build it into something more complex. As it was though, Capcom went in the opposite direction for Power Stone 2 and while there were a few clones at the time, such as Shrek SuperSlam, the concept sadly just faded away. Which is a real shame because we've always felt it would make the perfect template for a new Super Smash Bros., especially after Ultimate left the series with nowhere else to go. 2000's Power Stone 2 takes the same concept and rather than trying to deepen the combat it turns the crazy up to 11. The four-player brawls occur over larger stages, which often transform during battle, and there's a much larger range of weapons, as well turrets and even moving vehicles to take control of. With four people who know what they're doing (which the AI often does not) it's glorious chaos but unfortunately that's as far as the concept ever went. If you want a more technical fighter then you need look no further than Capcom Vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 Pro, the first of several crossovers created with publishing rival SNK. SNK made a bunch of Card Fighters Clash games, plus a fighter for the Neo Geo Pocket, and the disappointing SNK Vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, but it's Capcom's two games which are considered the best thing to come out of the team-up. Despite the name, the only non-Street Fighter character from Capcom is Morrigan, while SNK's line-up is based on The King Of Fighters (which itself is a crossover of various SNK franchises, such as Fatal Fury). You can choose attack meters derived from either Street Fighter Alpha or The King of Fighters '98, although there were other modes and features in the Dreamcast version. Project Justice, aka Rival Schools 2, is another relative obscurity, at least in the West, but is arguably Capcom's best 3D fighter (in the non-Power Stone sense of the concept). It's a 3v3 team fighter but while there's a lot more depth and complexity to the combat than Plasma Sword it still comes across as a little late to the party, compared to something like Tekken – which had been around for six years at this point. The lone Street Fighter game in the collection is Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, which is a bit of a random pick but a very well regarded entry and the last in the Alpha sub-series of prequel titles. The pixel graphics are great and the introduction of the different '-ism' fighting styles went on to have quite an impact on Capcom fighting games in general. Power Stone aside, Capcom Vs. SNK 2: Mark Of The Millennium 2001 is the star of the collection, with a much larger selection of characters than the original, although the number of non-Street Fighter characters is still frustratingly small. More Trending The system for selecting your team is one of the biggest gameplay changes, with a ratio system that limits the selection according to the character's power and not just how many fighters there are – which, again, went on to influence many future games. 2004's Capcom Fighting Evolution (aka Capcom Fighting Jam) is the most recent entry in the collection but easily the least interesting. It's a very half-hearted crossover fighter, featuring characters from Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, and Red Earth. It barely even scratches the surface of the Capcom Vs. Capcom game that fans have long yearned for, with sprites stolen from Capcom Vs. SNK 2 – except with simplified animation and a lot of missing moves. Despite the odd dud game, all of these fighting collections have been great and while it does depend to a degree on how much nostalgia you have for the titles, most of them are significant in some way – and we'd dearly like to see new entries in the Power Stone and Capcom Vs. SNK series. The missing Dreamcast versions are a real shame but even without that Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a fascinating and sensibly priced compilation, that has clearly been produced with a lot of love and effort. In Short: Another excellent compilation of forgotten Capcom fighters, with the revival of Power Stone and Capcom Vs. SNK being especially welcome – even if it's a shame these aren't the Dreamcast versions. Pros: Almost all the games are interesting and enjoyable, while the range of new options, including fully featured online, training modes, and difficulty and display options are top notch. Cons: It's a real shame that the Dreamcast versions aren't included, as they had a lot of extra content and modes. Capcom Fighting Evolution is rubbish. Score: 8/10 Formats: PlayStation 4 (reviewed), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PCPrice: £34.99Publisher: CapcomDeveloper: CapcomRelease Date: 16th May 2025 Age Rating: 16 Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Kingdom Hearts 4 gets new update as Square Enix cancels spin-off MORE: Sony to increase first party games output as PS5 sales continue to fall MORE: More Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live now in UK with limited camera bundle
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Retro Handheld Costs What a Game Boy Did in the '90s—Plays 10,000+ Games
This site may earn affiliate commissions from the links on this page. Terms of use(Opens in a new window) . Retro gaming isn't just back—it's in the middle of a full-on renaissance. Emulators are being reprogrammed, classic games are getting second lives, and handheld devices like the Retropian Color are making it easier than ever to relive the glory days of pixelated fun. And the price? Just $79.99—about what a Game Boy cost when it launched in the '90s. Plus, it ships free! The Retropian Color looks like something your older cousin might have brought to a sleepover, but it's stacked with features. It comes preloaded with over 10,000 retro games across more than 20 classic systems, so you can start playing the moment you power it on. From NES and Game Boy to PS1 and Dreamcast. This open-source Linux system also supports custom emulators, so you can load in your favorite ROMs and homebrew games using a USB connection or memory card. It's the perfect platform for diving into newly modded classics or fan-made remasters floating around the web. The vibrant 3.5-inch IPS display offers a crisp 640-by-480 resolution, and the 6-hour battery life makes it ideal for long car rides, commutes, or just zoning out on the couch. It even supports 2-player gaming via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you're not gaming alone—unless you want to. Get the Retropian Color now for $79.99 with free shipping StackSocial prices subject to change.
Metro
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Beloved Sega Mega Drive series is coming back with remasters and a new sequel
Months after new trademarks were spotted, the creator of Ecco The Dolphin has confirmed the series is returning next year. When it was discovered that Sega had filed new trademarks for Ecco The Dolphin in January, it was suspected that this was the secret announcement Microsoft was teasing for the then upcoming Xbox showcase. That wasn't the case, with the surprise reveal being for a new Ninja Gaiden instead, but it appears there was significance behind those Ecco trademarks after all. According to Ecco creator Ed Annunziata, not only is he and the original team reuniting to remaster the first two Ecco games, but they're working on a new sequel as well. Xbox Wire recently posted an article celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, where it highlighted several games, like Tchia and Ecco, that take inspiration from API cultures. This included a short interview with Annunziata about Ecco's influences and how it aimed to raise awareness about ocean preservation, which Annunziata capped off with an announcement for the future of the series. 'Me and the entire original team are going to remaster the original Ecco The Dolphin and Tides Of Time games,' explained Annunziata. 'Then we will make a new, third game with contemporary play and GPU sensibilities.' There are no other details, with Annunziata only sharing a countdown website that's set to end in approximately 8,500 hours at the time of writing. So, you can expect to see a bigger announcement around this time next year. Curiously, there's no mention of Sega's involvement with any of these projects, but you have to assume it is since, aside from the aforementioned trademarks, Sega owns the rights to the Ecco IP. Original developer Appaloosa Interactive was a Hungarian studio that made the Ecco games for Sega and was never a subsidiary of the company. Ecco The Dolphin is a series of extremely challenging action adventure games for the Mega Drive and Dreamcast, that saw the titular dolphin explore the depths of the ocean and travel through time to fend off an alien invasion. Popular with non-gamers at the time, Ecco developed a cult following and has seen a handful of re-releases over the years. However, the series met its end with the Dreamcast game Ecco The Dolphin: Defender Of The Future, a reboot that we're guessing the new Ecco game will ignore in favour of sticking with the continuity of the first two games. The Dreamcast game wasn't a big hit and a planned sequel was cancelled, which is the last time Appaloosa Interactive worked with Sega. Although they did make a spiritual successor in 2006's Jaws Unleashed, which had many similarities with Defender Of The Future. More Trending It wasn't a success either and proved to be Appalosa Interactive's last game, with the studio shutting down the very same year. Ever since, Annunziata has been trying to continue Ecco the Dolphin, having previously ran a crowdfunding campaign for a spiritual successor called The Big Blue that ultimately failed. In the wake of its failure, Annunziata filed a lawsuit to try and reclaim Ecco from Sega and according to a GamesBeat report from 2016, the two sides reached an undisclosed settlement. Presumably, this has helped pave the way for Annunziata to reunite the original team for the Ecco remasters and sequel. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Jupiter & Mars review – Ecco location MORE: Iconic Sega composer retires after 41 years, is immediately rehired MORE: Michael Bay to turn Sega 80s classic into a movie: amazing soundtrack guaranteed
