Would Propeller Arena Be As Appreciated If It Where Released

[abeisgreat]

I know alot of people think Propeller Arena is the best DC game, and i was wondering if you think it would be as appreciated if it where released?

[NebachadnezzaR]

Good question!

I honestly don't know. The fact that the game was one of the few unreleased titles for the Dreamcast helps to increase its popularity, of course, but on the other hand The Flinstones: viva Rock Vegas was also unreleased and still everyone says it's crap, and the few who actually download it, do that just for curiosity/collection's sake, since I haven't heard of a single person who had a good time playing that game.

So, in the end, I think its condition helped to increase its popularity, but I think Propeller Arena would still be considered a good game even if it had a regular release.

[Mozgus]

Well, it was ganna have online, 4-player matches with full voice chat, while still running fine over 56k. Alien Front Online was the only other game for DC that accomplished that, I believe.

[racketboy]

Well, it was ganna have online, 4-player matches with full voice chat, while still running fine over 56k. Alien Front Online was the only other game for DC that accomplished that, I believe.

Which would have made it an arcade-like predecessor to Crimson Skies on the XBox. (which was appreciated). Also being from Sega and AM2, I think it would have done well on the Dreamcast.

[abeisgreat]

So yes or no?

[racketboy]

So yes or no?

I voted yes

[GagaMan]

Considering it was due to be release late 2001/early 2002, it would of ended up like all those last Dreamcast games that are mostly sought after and well received, but not huge sellers at release. It would of been fondly looked back at, I believe, but also possibly under rated.

[durkada]

I love questions that have no real answers.

So, my opinion is No.

Propeller Arena is a very good game. For what it aims to be, it strikes its mark quite well. But, I think the allure of Propeller Arena is in the fact it wasn't released -- Sega had a game, rumored to be very good and complete, but the public couldn't have it. Forbidden fruit, and what-not. When a game is not released, it makes having a mere burned copy of it feel... good. Good in a way that buying a copy, had it been officially released, would not equal.

So, take a good/great game, don't release it, and people will want it all the more.

I have difficulty thinking of any other game that got leaked in a similar state. Perhaps Thrill Kill for the PS1? And, I know there were a couple of Saturn games recently given to the public. But those Saturn games took people by surprise -- no one knew they were out there, the next, they were available for downloading. Are there any other games which need to be released, but are otherwise collecting digital dust in some vault?

Marble Madness II comes to mind.

[NebachadnezzaR]

And, I know there were a couple of Saturn games recently given to the public.

A couple? I only knew of Return Fire. Is there another?

[fastbilly1]

Ahh, Marble Madness II, I gave up waiting and just bought Monkeyball...

But to be on topic, back when I use to work at a gaming store, Software ETC #1936 (Atlanta locals may know it as the one that used to be at Northlake) around the turn of the century I only lead the store in reserves for one game, actually I led the company I think. Ofcourse that game would be Propeller Arena. The concept of Quake in the skies just seem to appeal to people, the fact it looked awesome and was one of the last Dreamcast games did not contribute (or so I tell myself). Like Outtrigger, Propeller Arena was going to be just arcadey enough to draw in people from all genres. To the shooter fans it was simply a shooter in a plane, to the pilots it was a way to teach those shooter fans how to fly. The game seemed like a great way to end the console, so much so I was designing a cake for the launch party...

However I discovered its demise when at the Gamecube tour when one of my coworkers got a call from the Sega rep and told him the news. And that was that, until this past weekend. After many years of searching I found it the same way yall did, then another year or so of fiddling and I finally got a working copy last Friday night. Since then I have logged probably twelve hours into the game. While my hype for it was about the same last Friday as it was back in 2000, I will say that the game did leave me wanting. Maybe it is the several years of Xplane under my belt, but after my time logged in I was left with an odd feeling: I could not form an opinion on the game. Be it my nostalgia overwhelming a lackluster game, or the fact that the game was a unicorn of mine for so long that the final product was as good as the hunt before hand I do not know, all I know is that I am at a crossroads.

The concept is awesome. I adore the theme, hence that I finally got an avatar... The mechanics for flying are pretty slick aswell, I really love how they handle stalls. However I have noticed that the AI is lackluster, sometimes they are just flying into the ground off by themselves. The stages also seem to be a little small, far to often do I hit the sides. Also the trick mechanic seems stiff, though that may be due to my inexperience with the game - to often do I end up doing a barrel roll when I want to turn 180. Ill stop here.

So is it the amazing be all, end all, Dreamcast game? No. Is it an awesome game that I see myself playing for years down the road? Yes. Would I have payed $50 for it? I actually had two copies reserved back in the day. So I voted yes. Crimson Skies may be a better game, but I think that if it had come out it would have replaced Unreal Tournament as the Dreamcast Online shooter of choice. Now if only I could find a way to network Dreamcast through telephony in somesort of lan setup.