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Ulala Returns...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 16 / 19
Date: May 28, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Hopes ran high, and the wait was long, but ultmately... it was worth it.

The original Space Channel 5 for Dreamcast is to me a great symbol of everything that was right about that game system. Like many other games for the Dreamcast, SC5 was stylish, creative, original, off-beat, and had loads of replay value. In my mind, it will always be a true classic. Naturally, I was quite disappointed when it appeared that the sequel would never come out in America. But then, like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow that appeared suddenly in the heart of a black storm (you get the idea), we get not just the sequel, but the original game as well for PS2. And not for $40.00, not for $50.00 or $60.00, but for $15.00!

Truly, both games are well-worth hanging onto, but the sequel is the one that really shines. The timing problems of the first game are corrected, the graphics are improved, the gameplay is more varied, there are more styles of music, and you get to play musical instruments!

People have been ranting and raving about the style of these games for a long time now, but it bears repeating: there simply aren't any console games with more style than the dynamic duo of Space Channel 5. The whole retro-futuristic sci-fi 60's thing is so perfectly executed it makes the game terrific fun (that and a good dose of humor).

The real reason to buy these games though is the gameplay. Gameplay is hard to define, but I can tell you what seperates Sega's Greatest (Panzer Dragoon, GunValkyrie, Space Channel 5) from the rest of the pack. These games aren't like most games, where you play to beat the game and then it goes back on the shelf. No, no, no. These games you will play over and over and over trying to get a perfect score and unlock all of the hidden goodies (in this case hidden characters and extra costumes). Every time you play this game the experience is slightly different because the game changes depending on how well you are doing.

The Space Channel 5 games may be difficult, but there is huge replay value to be had if you're willing to invest the time. If you're the sort who loves games of timing in particular (Ikargua or Parappa the Rapper anyone?) then you owe it to yourself to get this game. Oh, and did I mention the music is awesome?

This is a 2 Disc Set that includes both part 1 AND 2

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 15
Date: January 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The other reviewer is completely wrong. This does include the sequel. Providing hours and hours of fun. I can pick this up anytime and have a blast. It's addictive, challenging, and it will keep you moving to the rhythm. I got hooked on the dream cast version. It took awhile but now my favorite game is back on the PS2 along with a VERY inventive sequel that ups the fun level and makes things more challenging and more interesting in terms of adding singing, instruments, and the ability to continue a level from the midway point. Love it. And you will too.

Two Great games for under $20!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: March 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

It's hard to believe this thing shot down below $20 after about 3 months on the shelves. Maybe it's because rhythm games are too specific for the masses, but it might also be because the packaging hides the fact that this is TWO games: Space Channel 5 parts 1 and 2.

Space Channel 5 part 1 is pretty much an exact port from the Dreamcast version a few years back. Space reporter Ulala defeats aliens in an elaborate dance-off with guns, featuring the "Parappa-style" call-response control. It's a great game that still stands well, but it's a bit dated nowadays, and very short.

Space Channel 5 Pt. 2 improves on the graphics, controls and storyline, but the style and gameplay are the same (the "don't mess with a good thing" philosophy). The game itself is noticeably longer, as well.
However, The bells and whistles are really what sets this apart from its predecessor. SC5:2 features a two-player mode, a "dance off" minigame, musical instrument minigames, and unlockable characters and toys. You'd be getting your money's worth with Part 2 alone, but Part 1 is a nice bonus.
A notable feature about both games is that they're more about timing than Parappa's button-mashing combos, so you can hook up a Dance Dance revolution mat. Imagine, a DDR game with an actual PLOT!

I feel for the rhythm genre. It speaks to a different kind of mindset than the average gamer, and is often reviewed badly by gaming mags who have more interest in shooters and RPGs. Rhythm games get bad press and poor sales, scaring away developers. Long-story-short, you may not get many more chances to pick up a rhythm game as great as Space Channel 5, let alone a two pack for under $20. Get it while you can.

One of the best games ever.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: April 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I've been hooked on Space Channel 5 since getting the original Dreamcast version on a whim. Back then, the lag in Ulala's movements annoyed me, but not nearly enough to keep me from playing the game. The music was awesome, the characters fun to watch, and despite the lagged dancing, the game was fun to play.

I hadn't realized Part 2 had gotten released here in the States, and coming with Part 1 for $15 (preowned--what was that person thinking?), I couldn't resist. I bought it solely because it WAS a new SC5 game, and I was immediately sucked in. Those who have played the original know what I mean: The music is much better (even consisting of instrument battles), moves are executed instantly, and I love the new characters.

As if the replay value isn't high enough, there are plenty of unlockables in this game. You can collect different costumes and microphones to use during your missions--I always find myself picking Cloaked Purge for Level 4, as there's something really interesting about watching the main villain do Michael Jackson's moves. There's also a dance mode where it's just you and the computer, where the computer gives you moves and you mimic them, that gets progressively harder with each level passed.

My only complaint is the version of Part 1 that's been included. The engine wasn't overhauled, so the moves are still laggy. But of course, still fun to play. Part 2 just gets played far more in my house.

This game gets played whenever I'm near my PS2. It's prompted me to import the soundtracks. Trust me, you won't regret buying this game if you love music/rhythm games. And with such a low price for two games, what's stopping you?

Hey All You Cosmic Kitties!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Now, if you're going to play the AWESOMENESS of Space Channel 5, first take EVERYTHING you've thought of for all other games and throw them out!
You play the sheik space news reporter, Ulala, who hosts her (dying) "Ulala's Swingin' Report Show!" While viewer ratings are going down, a new incidient might just keep the show on air!
Aliens are dancing, and forcing people to dance with them! You must face them in a dance-off to rescue the captured humans!
Sounds wacky, right? Well, it is! But it is the most fun and original game I've ever played! It has great music too, and you can rescue various instrumental players (such a guitarist, keyboard player, a saxaphone player, there's too many to list) to accompany you and spice up your tunes! And, trust me, there's tons more!
The gameplay is incredibly simple; you use the control pad as well as the square and X button to mimic the sounds/moves of the enemy dancers.
On disc two, lyrical battles are introduced, but the basic gameplay is just the same-you merely have to fire at the end of the lyric(s). This time, you are dancing against an enemy team. The graphics, espically at the cutscenes, are improved, as well as the music and voice qualities. Overall, a perfect finish, although personally I think the original enemny aliens are just too darn cute!
Plus, who can beat the price??? Honestly, two games for fifteen bucks??? GET IT NOW!!!!

Right,left,up,down,CHU-CHU-CHU

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: December 05, 2003
Author: Amazon User

First off , this game is a musical one , and it's japanesse so if you hate j-pop and Nippon trendyness , let it be. But if you like funny characters , glamour , cool rythms and a delirious sci-fi atmosphere come her ! The game consists in typing the right button following the rythm and sound . Per exemple , when a character say , right___left___up_up_Shoot______shoot___shoot you have to do it exactly the same way to kill the ugly aliens and save hostages , the more hostages you have delivered the better is the audience rate (because you are a sexy space reporter) and your might. There are even some surprise hostages....
Awww , just you go and buy it.

Just as Good as Ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I first played this game when it was released for the Dreamcast, back in the day. I would play it all the time at my friends house, getting through the original game was a snap.

Found this version, which includes the original game + a new one added on for the PS2, and loved it! The new music is awesome, the characters are fantastic! And all the new features make the game worthwhile for the money. It has countless replay value to unlock tons of hidden costumes, items etc.

I think this is the most fun game I own. :D

Great Games!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: February 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Space channel 5 part 1 is an okay game. But where this special edition shines is the space channel 5 part 2. Part 2 is a way better game where you can actually understand what the heck the bad guys are wanting you to do. But in all if you have a good sense of rhythym and you like music you need to own this game.

Two Brilliant Games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 24, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Space Channel 5: Special Edition, including both Part 1 and the previously unreleased Part 2 for PS2 - $30. How could I resist? Miziguchi and his UGA studio are one of those developers that get my money for a game without needing to read a review. Their Kandinsky-inspired Rez is one of the greatest videogames ever made and Sega Rally is one of my favorite racing games. Space Channel 5 was an enjoyable distraction on the Dreamcast. For me it was the only character-based music title that approached PaRappa. The style of Space Channel 5 was fantastic; sort of a neo-70's musical with smooth spaceships in bright colors. The main character, Ulala, is among the most charismatic game characters created. She's sexy and effortlessly cool. She's cheerful and upbeat without sounding like an empty-headed southern California high school cheerleader.

The style of Space Channel 5 was remarkable; the gameplay was a simple interpretation of the call and answer mechanic popularized by PaRappa, where the game will play out a series and the player has to match the input in rhythm. Fortunately, the style and fantastic music helped overcome the uninspired gameplay.

With Space Channel 5 Part 2, UGA and Miziguchi achieved the basic goal that so many others fail at; they looked at the original title, removed all that was bad, included and improved on what was already good, and introduced enough new elements to make the title feel new while maintaining the spirit of the original. I know, file it under "well, duh", but honest reflection and the insight on how to significantly improve it seems to be a rare quality in the game industry.

The most notable addition to the main game mechanics is the ability to hold notes (i.e. "leeeeeeeft!"). While no one would confuse this with the next generation of game input systems, it expands the player's expressive ability of the first game without significantly increasing the complexity of the controls. The new addition is integrated effortlessly into the music, and is used infrequently enough to punctuate important sequences.

My favorite new "areas" are the jam sessions where Ulala plays an instrument in a competition with another character. The interface is simple - pressing any direction on the directional pad is all that is needed to play the instrument - but the resulting sensation is awesome. These jam sessions are memorable and enjoyable because they capture the essence of that is cool and fun to do with the instrument. Even though the input is nominal, it feels like you're laying down a killer guitar riff. These jams also help mix up the pace from the shooting of aliens and rescuing of hostages.

What makes the game thrive is the level of refinement that often separates the great from the good.. One of the more enlightened elements of the original Space Channel 5 game were sequences where the inputs are represented graphically, giving the player a visual reminder of what they needed to perform. Part 2 runs with this idea, featuring far more sequences using this feature, even toys with the player visually at the end of the game. The challenges in Part 2 are also mixed up to keep the player mentally engaged; the levels aren't always a continuous sequence of ever-longer patterns to remember - sometimes the challenge is created by mixing up long holds, changes in pace, off-beat patterns, or switching up shoot and rescue. The game is much more engaging throughout because the mechanics are continually toyed with in interesting ways.

Michael Jackson makes another cameo in Part 2 to great effect. While it is hard to separate the entertainment entity with the freak that sleeps with 12 year old boys, the game shows off what was so cool about Michael Jackson with dance moves stolen from his prime. (I shout out "Haha! That's from Thriller!" "Billie Jean!" "Black and White!" and laugh maniacally when he's on the screen while my sisters-in-law think of tasteful ways of leaving the room.) His high and distant voice perfectly matches the other-worldliness feel of the game and his lines, both through script and spaced-out delivery, remind us how surreal it is having Michael Jackson running around in a videogame.

I'm so pleasantly surprised at how well Space Channel 5 Part 2 has turned out, both in being orders of magnitude better than the original game and being enjoyable when compared against more modern music game titles. Without less pretentious qualifiers, it is one of the best music games I've played and one of my favorite titles released this year. It is a refined and joyous play experience that should not be missed by the open-minded. It is a shame that Part 2 is probably the last Space Channel 5 game that we'll ever see; the series has not sold to expectations and Miziguchi has departed Sega after yet another merge/reorganization. Even though this is the end of the series, I find it encouraging that Miziguchi continues to develop so rapidly as a game designer and that we can only expect greater things in the future.

Great Rhythm Action Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 03, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is a rhythm action game - in other words, from the genre that is based on music and the beat, where you listen and see commands such as "up! Up! Left, down!" and then have to repeat the pattern on your controller, in time to the music.

In my opinion, the music (60's orchestra, Austin Powers feel) is catchy and the visuals are appealing. You'll want the version that says "SPECIAL EDITION", as it includes the first game and its sequel in one cheap package for Playstation 2 (because both games are a lot of fun).

There are some leg and panty shots, along with some SUGGESTIVE REFERENCES, as well as the need to be very precise in your gameplay - so I would hesitate to recommend it for younger children. Older players who are encountering tough levels may find comfort in knowing that there are cheats available that allow the computer to take over and play for you, unlocking every feature.

My only problem with this game is that sometimes, you will have some errors in the timing and will wonder if your controller is working properly or if it's the game's fault. It takes a little while to get the feel for its pace and timing. Then again - the game would nearly be too easy if you could play through it, perfectly, every time.

Space Channel 5 has come a long way since its original Japanese release, and it's a MUST-HAVE for people who are fans of the rhythm-action genre!

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