Space Channel 5 | December 16, 1999
Released in 1999 for the Dreamcast, Space Channel 5 was the first game in the Space Channel 5 series. It was developed by United Game Artists (Sega AM9) and published by Sega Games. The game's catchphrase at launch was, "For all those who love music, dance, and games."
The gameplay is structured like a musical, with the player controlling the character Ulala, who must copy the movements of enemies to succeed. The controls are based on six buttons: Up, Down, Left, Right, Shoot, and a Rescue Shoot. To succeed, players must input these commands in time with the rhythm. Each successful command increases the viewer rating shown in the bottom-right corner, while failure decreases it. The viewer rating indicates the progress of the game and also affects Ulala's health in the next stage. The higher the viewer rating, the more health Ulala gains. If the viewer rating exceeds 95%, Ulala will emit a pink aura.
During gameplay, if the player presses L + R while inputting a specific sequence of buttons, the auto-mode activates. In this mode, the game progresses automatically, which is useful for aiming for a 100% completion. However, once the auto-mode is activated, it cannot be deactivated. The game's backgrounds are mostly replaced with video or still images, which can cause syncing issues with the character during transitions.
The story is set in the 25th century, when humanity, having expanded into space, encounters mysterious aliens known as Morosians. These aliens use a strange ray that forces people to dance. Due to low viewer ratings and a lack of talent, Space Channel 5 sends its new reporter, Ulala, to cover the story. Ulala faces off against the Morosians, saving hostages one by one while the channel's viewer ratings slowly rise.
Key characters include Ulala, Fuse, Pudding, Jaguar, the Morosians, Space Michael, Blank, and Ibylla. Ulala is the main protagonist and a reporter for Space Channel 5. Fuse is the PD of the special news team, who provides Ulala with instructions but never reveals himself. Pudding is a reporter for Space Channel 42, initially competitive with Ulala but later becomes an ally. Jaguar is a space pirate and former Space Channel 5 reporter, who, after initially clashing with Ulala, joins her cause. The Morosians are the mysterious aliens who invade Earth and force people to dance. Space Michael, inspired by Michael Jackson, assists Ulala in saving the universe. Blank is the director of Space Channel 5, whose actions are driven by a desire for higher viewer ratings, even at the cost of endangering the universe. Ibylla is Ulala's robot double, the final boss, and represents the game's highest difficulty level.
The game combines rhythm-based gameplay with a humorous and creative storyline, earning it a beloved place in the hearts of fans and paving the way for sequels.
