Dreamcast
Published by Sega
Reviewed by Chi Kong Lui of GameCritics on 7/18/00

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First Impressions:

Graphics:

Space Channel 5 is a visual extravaganza that cleverly mixes full-motion video, life-like 3-D animation, stunning dance choreography, and catchy tunes. One thing that Space Channel 5 possesses that many other games seem to lack these days is style. Vitality simply radiates through every pixel of the game's stage and character designs as well as its overall art direction. Parappa may have delivered a wildly imaginative and child-like coloring book feel, but Space Channel 5 is every bit its conceptual equal by creating a wonderfully psychedelic outer space romp that's campy, trippy, retro, and hilarious all at once.

Sound/Music:

Space Channel 5 looks as good as it sounds. While the game focuses more on dancing, the music is still top notch. The game often feels like an extravagant Broadway musical with extremely addictive tunes.

Gameplay:

Like Ulala's persona, the backdrop story for Space Channel 5 is also out-of-this-world. It goes something like this: in the future (a campy, B-Movie-style interpretation), aliens -- who look like a cross between the Teletubbies and the Pillsbury Dough Boy (and, despite what you might think, Michael Jackson makes a cameo, but is NOT one the aliens) -- have invaded earth and humans are being reduced to mindless dancing slaves after being struck by alien ray-guns. It's up to Ulala to take these aliens on, save the captured humans, and break the scoop to her viewing audience.

Being that Ulala packs two John Woo-inspired pistols like most of today's videogame heroines; you might be quick to assume her methods of dispatching these alien invaders would be far more masculine and menacing. In actuality, the game takes a strangely hip and funkadelic Broadway musical tone and the actual gameplay centers more on Ulala moving between sets and trying to out-dance her opponents into submission rather than mindlessly blasting away. This type of gameplay translates to the same kind of slaphappy Simon-says rhythm and beat-matching action that was popularized by Parappa the Rapper. Success is measured in the form of TV ratings that rises and falters according to her (your) performance. A minimum rating level must be exceeded in order to move onto the next stage.

The major difference in gameplay between Parappa (as well as its follow-up Um Jammer Lammy) and Space Channel 5 is that in the former, the buttons you press and when to press them were clearly defined by obvious on-screen visual cues that somewhat resemble notes on a music sheet. The same does not hold true for Space Channel 5. The controls may be strikingly simplistic, but with no on-screen visual cues, player must rely on a combination of memory, acute attention (paid to the oft busy on-screen action), and careful listening to the background music and vocal gestures that offer clues and directions. Unfortunately, the visual clutter can often make your head spin and the squeaky high-pitched Alien vocals aren't always clear. To top it off, making a mistake brings on an annoying buzz noise that's sure to ruin any sense of timing as well any hopes of salvaging the remainder of the steps. These problems make Space Channel 5 far more difficult to master than you would imagine and the frustration (especially for the rhythmically challenged like myself) sets in surprisingly quick even when compared to previous entries in the genre. Extensive practice is a must and a great deal of patience also comes in handy.

Enjoyment:

Aside from those obstacles, the game was, on the whole, enjoyable. It was hard-fought, but after continuous practice, I was finally able to excel and move on to the latter stages. Fans of music/rhythm games like Parappa the Rapper and Bust a Groove, as well as everyone else, may be surprised that Space Channel 5 is more stringent than expected and is no walk in park in terms of its difficulty. Without literal visual cues and some annoying quirks in the gameplay, Space Channel 5 can be a rather difficult game to advance in, but at the same time, highly rewarding. Those who consider themselves rhythmically challenged or flat-out tone deaf may not appreciate what the game offers. Still, the game has a great deal of personality and a unique style to its presentation that make it worth the price of admission.

Multiplayer:

N/A

Overall Impression:

Slick production values and upbeat music combined with challenging gameplay makes Space Channel 5 a game that simply rocks -- or should I say "rockets into outer space?"

Marketing Efforts Towards Women:

Sega's marketing effort of Space Channel 5 has been a mixed bag. While print ads and television commercials have played it fairly straight, the official web site opens with a page featuring Ulala coyly (and immaturely) proclaiming "I always want you watching over me."

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