Happy 21st Anniversary, Sega Dreamcast!

21 years ago today in North America, Sega launched their 128-bit console in the "Dreamcast" - a gaming system that was clearly ahead of its time trying to cut costs while maintaining a strong presentation and library of games. It was SEGA's final console in the video game console market, aiming to release and produce games instead as a third party developer instead of making hardware.

Sega Dreamcast Commercials (1999)
Despite facing big competition on the Sony Playstation 2, Microsoft Xbox, and Nintendo Gamecube, the Dreamcast was the machine to call home for a number of exclusives and games that became cult favorites. There's SEGA staples like Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 and Crazy Taxi to name a few, but it was also the system that gave us Resident Evil: Code Veronica, Soul Calibur, Phantasy Star Online, and Yu Suzuki's Shenmue. This really was a console that did big things and had big ideas, and the commercials from 1999 above showed that in full force.

Happy 21 years Sega Dreamcast in the US. Soon this November, you turn 22 in Japan!

School Boy Returns... To Racing?!

We thought we'd never see him again, but now he's back... sort of.
First reported in Sega America's official blog, Ryo Hazuki, star of the epic Shenmue series, will be returning to the gaming realm by appearing as a playable character in the upcoming Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing game. Last seen in 2001's Shenmue II for the Dreamcast and Xbox, Ryo hasn't appeared in any other game since, and many fans were left hanging since Shenmue III never came to light (we're still hopeful that will happen though). As the latest addition to the SEGA All-Star line-up, Ryo comes bursting into the tracks with his trusty "borrowed motorcycle", which he used to rescue his love interest Nozomi in the first game.

As a special bonus attack, he can swap vehicles with his forklift from Yokosuka Harbor! Just like old times... but how does he fare against his other peers from the SEGA-verse? Check out the clip below provided by the folks behind the game:

Ryo Hazuki crashes into Sonic & SEGA All-Star Racing!
Hell yeah, it's great to see Ryo back in action somewhat, but Yu Suzuki and Sega... what's taking so long?! Make us a Shenmue III already and bring back the epicness!