SEGA Dreamcast: Collected Works

by Simon Parkin

The definitive history of the cult games console, produced in collaboration with Sega. This large format, deluxe hardback features a dazzling collection of never-before-published materials and specially commissioned editorial, offering unprecedented insight into the creation of Sega's last console and its celebrated library of games. A follow-on publication to our acclaimed 2014 release, Sega Mega Drive/ Collected Works, the book features a rich variety of manufacturing prototypes, stunning photography of rare hardware, game development materials, and peerlessly printed game imagery. Accompanying a cache of visual material gleaned from Sega's archives, is an in-depth, interview-led editorial piece by New Yorker contributing writer Simon Parkin. Featuring contributions from Yu Suzuki (Shenmue), Masayoshi Kikuchi (Jet Set Radio/Jet Grind Radio), Naoto Ohshima (Sonic Adventure) and Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Space Channel 5, Rez), this revealing retrospective sheds new light on this pivotal era for SEGA and chronicles the rise and fall of this lauded videogame console.

Genres: Nonfiction, Coffee Table Books, Art, Gaming, Video Games

319 pages, Hardcover

Published December 10, 2019

Reviews

[Joe Henthorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While unarguably a beautiful thing, especially with the dust jacket removed, it's weirdly light on content, even for something that might reasonably be described as a coffee table book. Parkin starts to sketch out what might have become an interesting central narrative on the conflict between the Sega offices in America and Japan, but a sketch it remains. The small oral histories of individual games are the best parts of the book by some distance, but again, there's only a handful of them.

On the design side, too much of the artwork consists of screenshots (and some of these are odd choices) or promotional material. The typesetting of the original text by Parkin is strangely ugly and jarring. Yet the original photography is gorgeous and some of the concept art that is here (mostly for Jet Set Radio, it seems) is fascinating.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When compared to ROM's previous book on the Mega Drive it is hard not to see this as a step back and overall a bit of a disappointment.

Its design is striking and interesting but the book covers very little ground and only a handful of games in any detail. There are some interesting little bits of history in here and it's nice to have the creators of the games take up the bulk of the text but it would have been nice to have more variety and generally just more.

It's probably the best book on the Dreamcast that exists right now but I think it could be better. You get the sense that they cared more about the paper stock and ink types than the overall content (of which it feels light).

[Lewis Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit lighter on content compared to Mega Drive Collected Works, but still a wonderful companion piece for any Dreamcast fan. There’s a really detailed history of the system told by all the key players involved in its development and eventual support and it’s not afraid to tell it like it is. The Dreamcast was a commercial failure and everyone recognises it, but it’s refreshing to hear that regardless of this it still holds a special place in the hearts of all involved. This echoes the console’s love from its fans and it’s fascinating to read that everyone was so passionate about the system and its games. As for the art featured, it’s a bit of an odd mix. The concept art is the real draw because it’s stuff you’ve simply never seen. Unfortunately a lot of the book is also dedicated to in game screenshots and they’re just not as pretty to study as the wonderful pixel art from Mega Drive Collected Works. There’s also a lot less in the way of developer interviews which means it feels like you don’t get as many interesting insider anecdotes. This sounds more negative than it actually is though and it’s an easy recommendation if you’re a fan of the Dreamcast. I just don’t think the overall package is as definitive as the Mega Drive book.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good coffee table book for Dreamcast aficianados like myself, though it's info-light. Most of the writing is telling the Dreamcast's business story which is fine but nothing new really. The sections where they interview developers about the games themselves are similar, but there are some good tidbits; wish they were longer, and it's a little criminal that there isn't a section on Skies of Arcadia specifically. In fact I wish the purview of the book was wider in general, especially when it comes to showing off the art from the console - would've been nice to have some representation of non-Sega games that nonetheless defined the Dreamcast, like Grandia II, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, and various Capcom games. As a result this doesn't feel exhaustive in the slightest, which is a shame with a book called "Collected Works" - if I'm going to get a coffee table book made up mostly of concept art and screenshots, I want as broad a representation as possible.

Anyways, worth it for the Sonic Adventure storyboards, early Jet Set Radio art, and wild concept art of the console itself.

[Stephen Chase · Rating 1 out of 5]

SEGA's worst book ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[David Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely coffee table book for Dreamcast fans; mostly image-led, but the interviews that it does have are interesting to read through

[Stephen Paul Chase, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonic the Hedgehog is now 25 years old, being the Sega mascot since 1991. He is the rival to Mario of Nintendo worldwide.