Space Channel 5: Special Edition

Barbarella meets PaRappa in the brilliantly fun Space Channel 5: Special Edition.

As current market forces give publishers little incentive to gamble on unproven formulas, it?s hard to find that rare breed of game designed out of a truly unique vision and honest love for craft. So let?s do little dances and pin medals on the kids at Agetec for not only releasing Space Channel 5 Part 2 Stateside but for also porting the original Dreamcast cult fave in one value-priced two-disc set?easily the best bargain for the PS2 this side of VF4 Evo.

Both games combine PaRappa-style gameplay with contagiously catchy numbers and psychedelically kitschy retro sci-fi art direction to deliver a cosmic message of peace and love. The plot: Aliens have hypnotized your friends into dancing uncontrollably. As intergalactic newshound and friend of schoolchildren across the galaxy, Ulala, you rescue the somnambulating booty movers by mimicking the onscreen movements of singing ?bots and hip-thrusting martians while zapping them with ray guns by pressing buttons in time with the game?s grooves. Simple. Yet these Simon Says?inspired musical extravaganzas hurl you into frenzied bop blitzkriegs and karaoke battle royales that demand precise reflexes, flawless memorization, and, most importantly, a sense of rhythm as you constantly adapt to abrupt tempo and time signature shifts, and unpredictable measure changes.

Even if you?ve played the first Space Channel 5, Special Edition is worth the nickel. The Dreamcast version?s periodically unresponsive controls have been tightened, and besides a new story, the progressive sequel offers a wider array of musical styles, more intricate control mechanics, wilder camerawork, an a two-player mode. And at 30 bucks, it?s the choicest of choice.

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