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Where is the innovation?

© Ryan Newman

With the Sega Genesis, Sega really hit its stride as far as unique and innovative titles go. While not wholly original, Sonic entered the hearts and minds of many gamers and other titles, like Landstalkers, were loved and spawn equally enjoyed sequels on the Saturn. This was Sega’s time, it was when they were brash, had a solid hold on the console market, and trying to pump out creative titles. Sure, not everything worked out as they planned – Sega CD – and towards the end, the titles started to stagnate, but this was more due to priorities being shifted to the Saturn than anything else.

Cut to a few years later; the Saturn is on store shelves and Sega is putting out titles that aren’t from their stable of franchises and are choose to keep releasing 2D games – even though there barrier of producing high quality 3D titles was high, the focus still could have shifted there – and released titles like Astal, Guardian Heroes – Published-, Dragon Force, and many more. When the gaming world seemed to embrace 3D and proclaim it as the only way a game should be made, many still enjoyed the lovely, colorful sprites that were shown so well on Sega’s 32-bit powerhouse.

With the release of the Dreamcast, gamers were indulged with a few quirky titles like Seaman and Samba De Amiga, but when looking at the brief past and into the immediate future, it’s hard to see any of that brand of magic that we have all come to know and love. Looking ahead, all I see are sequels. A new House of the Dead – now with certainly far-from-scary cell shading!, the sequel to Jet Grind Radio, more releases of Crazy Taxi, re-release of Phantasy Star Online and Skies of Arcadia, Virtua Fighter 4, new Virtua On, Shenmue 2, and the endless sports titles. While I appreciate Gun V., and Super Monkey Ball, I wonder where are the other new titles? I look forward to Shenmue 2, Virtua Fighter 4, and the new Virtual On, but I would still love to see something new.

Maybe this is Sega’s way of redemption. Now the titles that felt so ‘niche’ in their day will not receive critical sells and attention. But for those of us who have been following them and have already played all of their re-releases and appreciated there once non-sports dominated line-up, we need something new. Super Monkey Ball is getting rave reviews, so give us more Sega! Sure, I love the majority of the games as much as the next guy, but don’t stunt innovation in place of sales – unless your intention was to end up like EA all along.

The copyright of the article Where is the innovation? in Dreamcast Video Games is owned by Ryan Newman. Permission to republish Where is the innovation? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.