SEGA’s Dreamcast was famously released in North America on September 9, 1999 (9/9/99, which is pretty cool), making today the Dreamcast’s 20th birthday! Naturally, fans have taken to social media to remember this strange, ahead-of-its-time console that is finally getting some proper recognition.
There were a bunch of factors that made the Dreamcast unique, including its Tamagotchi-like VMU memory card and its online-enabled hardware. It was also the first sixth-generation console out of the gate, beating competitors like PlayStation 2, the original Xbox, and Nintendo’s GameCube to store shelves.
Check out our video below to get a sense of why the Dreamcast was so awesome:
However, one of its biggest draws was its surprisingly expansive library of games, considering it was discontinued just two years later. From Sonic Adventure to Jet Set Radio to Shenmue to Soulcalibur to Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and more, Dreamcast had some undeniable bangers for a system that many consider a failure. Fans and developers across the internet certainly share this sentiment.
The late ’90s and early ’00s were filled with random celebrities going to console and game launch events for some primo photo ops, and the Dreamcast was no exception.
Some IGN staff members took to social media as well, sharing their love for the little square console that remains in our hearts.
If you can’t get enough Dreamcast nostalgia, check out our list of the top 25 Dreamcast games, our brief history of the Dreamcast, and let us know your fondest Dreamcast memories and favorite games in the comments below.
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Colin Stevens is IGN’s video game social coordinator, and he still giggles when he thinks about Dreamcast’s Seaman game. Follow him on Twitter.
