Dreamcast

Headhunter: forget about amnesia

Posted on 05/10/2025 Written by Xexyz

When Headhunter came out on the Dreamcast, it was when the format was dying and games were being reduced to silly prices in HMV. This was good news for my collection and my wallet, with many £5 games filling up my shelves. It was not good for the games themselves, since I had such an abundance of choice that I would not commit more than an hour or so to anything in particular. Even the more expensive games, like Headhunter, which I bought through some misguided platform loyalty, saw little playtime. I remember playing Headhunter on the Dreamcast for a little while, but during one of the early riding sections I get my bike stuck in the scenery and lost a significant amount of progress, and after that I’m not sure I ever returned.

Until now. When I was in York a couple of years ago I found a copy of Headhunter on the PS2 for £3 in an excellent retro games shop, and this makes it a lot easier to play through my TV, given the backwards compatibility of my PS3. Of course, that got put on the shelf on my return, and has only just resurfaced.

It feels limited by modern standards, of course. The opening escape, and then the VR section, are well structured, but they are very linear. The story is very hackneyed, with the old staple plot of amnesia explaining why you, as one of the world’s top headhunters, need to be told how to crouch behind a crate. I obtained a motorbike, on loan, and was told I had to travel somewhere in order to get my licence. A licence for headhunting? Not sure, but I obtained my C licence after a few tries through the VR simulator, and then I took the opportunity to explore the city a little. You can’t go far, but there is some freedom, and in the days before GTA III this felt amazing.

Skies of Arcadia: a difficult start

Posted on 13/09/2018 Written by Xexyz

I bought Skies of Arcadia for the Dreamcast (for £5 when HMV was clearing its stock). I bought Skies of Arcadia Legends for the Gamecube (for about the same when Game was clearing its stock). I have never played either.

But now, with the release of ReDream, a clean and simple Dreamcast emulator, and a few spare hours with my laptop in a Taiwan hotel, I have at least started it. There are a few graphical effects on the screen which wouldn't be there if I were playing on my Dreamcast, but at the same time I wouldn't have such a clean picture ... and in fact I wouldn't be playing it at all.

The game isn't exactly the quickest to start, with cutscene after cutscene introducing the cast and situation. The characters are well designed, if not immediately likeable, and there's a good world that feels ready to be explored.

But when the game starts properly, it's just all a bit slow. You have to traverse long distances (across admittedly beautiful scenery) to find the next checkpoint, and it feels very linear and scripted. I'm sure that the game will eventually open out, but after an hour I had only just landed the ship, after a few easy battles, and had managed to get stuck in a cupboard.

This is a problem I have with most JRPGs, to be fair, and as I get older and I have less free time it becomes ever more noticeable. While this is a game I'd like to play more of, I suspect that realistically I can expect to forget about it now and have to replay the first part again in the future.

Skies of Arcadia: a difficult start

Posted on 13/09/2018 Written by Xexyz

But now, with the release of ReDream, a clean and simple Dreamcast emulator, and a few spare hours with my laptop in a Taiwan hotel, I have at least started it. There are a few graphical effects on the screen which wouldn’t be there if I were playing on my Dreamcast, but at the same time I wouldn’t have such a clean picture … and in fact I wouldn’t be playing it at all.

The game isn’t exactly the quickest to start, with cutscene after cutscene introducing the cast and situation. The characters are well designed, if not immediately likeable, and there’s a good world that feels ready to be explored.

But when the game starts properly, it’s just all a bit slow. You have to traverse long distances (across admittedly beautiful scenery) to find the next checkpoint, and it feels very linear and scripted. I’m sure that the game will eventually open out, but after an hour I had only just landed the ship, after a few easy battles, and had managed to get stuck in a cupboard.

This is a problem I have with most JRPGs, to be fair, and as I get older and I have less free time it becomes ever more noticeable. While this is a game I’d like to play more of, I suspect that realistically I can expect to forget about it now and have to replay the first part again in the future.

Gaming Moments: J

Posted on 02/09/2014 Written by Xexyz

Jaguar XJ220 (Mega CD)

It wasn't as good as Lotus Turbo Challenge on the Mega Drive. Sure, it looked better, but I still remember the first time I tried to control it. I couldn't.

Jet Set Radio (Dreamcast)
Jet Set Radio HD (Xbox 360)

I spent hours just trying to get off the tutorial, doing an endless grind around the central bus station. Made all the worse since I did it twice, once on each console - but there was an achievement for the 360 version so I felt I had to do it again.

Journey (PS3)

A game filled with moments, but I think my pick comes early in the game, at the bridge. The structures tower above you, and it took me (and my companion) a while to work out that our path wasn't just across the base but we had to somehow get up there. Learning the floating mechanic in that way together was amazing.

Then there's the snow, but I can't put the words together to describe that.

Jungle Strike (Mega Drive)

Mainly played via the PSP, to be honest, since that added save states. The last level is set at the White House. Just as you think you've completed the game, tanks roll in and you have to protect the president's helicopter as he escapes.

Gaming moments: H

Posted on 19/08/2014 Written by Xexyz

Half-Life (PC)

The very first time I played this, I remember sitting watching the opening sequence and being amazed by the detail in the surroundings. I accidentally nudged my desk and the view changed - and suddenly I realised that I could control my character already.

Headhunter (Dreamcast)

Travelling by motorbike, I somehow managed to get myself lodged in some scenery, and span on the spot. Funny until I realised that I'd lose progress since the last save. The accelerator controls on the game were really sensitive, and it was tricky to steer.

Hexic HD (Xbox 360)

I shouted with joy when I finally got a black pearl. It's so tense working up to it, as one mistaken move can lead to everything collapsing.