Space Channel 5: Part 2

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,396 reviews
  • music
  • story
  • gameplay
Space Channel 5: Part 2 Game Cover
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In Space Channel 5: Part 2, play as ultra-cool reporter Ulala and help her rescue hostages from a dance-loving alien troupe through groovy rhythm-based battles. Use stylish dance moves to blast enemies and set hostages free, all while staying in time with the funky beats. Put your rhythm skills to the test and uncover the mystery behind the abductions.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Dreamcast
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,396 reviews
music190 positive mentions
stability34 negative mentions
  • Space Channel 5: Part 2 is a charming and quirky rhythm game that combines fun gameplay with a silly story and catchy music.
  • The game features a unique 'Simon Says' mechanic that challenges players to memorize and replicate dance moves, providing a rewarding experience when executed correctly.
  • Despite some technical issues, the vibrant visuals and engaging characters, including a memorable appearance by Space Michael Jackson, make it a nostalgic favorite for many players.
  • The PC port suffers from significant input lag and audio desynchronization, making it frustrating and sometimes unplayable, especially on modern hardware.
  • Many players report bugs such as disappearing character models and issues with the game not saving progress, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • The game lacks visual cues for timing, which can make it difficult for newcomers to rhythm games, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • music424 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy, funky, and diverse soundtrack, featuring contributions from notable composers and even a cameo by Michael Jackson. However, many players report frustrating issues with audio desynchronization that can disrupt gameplay, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these technical problems, the music remains a highlight, often described as integral to the game's charm and fun, making it a must-try for rhythm game enthusiasts.

    • “Great gameplay (surprisingly instant inputs, no delays or input lag or offset setup requirements), amazing music with tons of variety (featuring genuinely some of Sega's best composers), and a metric ton of charm and personality oozing all over.”
    • “The music is incredibly catchy and changes depending on how well you do, making it a rewarding experience.”
    • “A wonderfully memorable game, with a great retro-futuristic aesthetic; an insane, hilarious, but heartfelt story; extremely charismatic characters; and of course, an extraordinarily groovy soundtrack!”
    • “Sad to see a bad port of a rhythm game where the music, the most integral part of a rhythm game, is messed up.”
    • “The second one happened twice, the music got desynced and the rhythm didn't go along correctly with the commands, but those didn't happen often and could have been a one time occurrence.”
    • “This is noticeable as soon as I hit the second stage in story mode (which is not that far into the game!) the music is off key with pressing the correct buttons and that is vital in a game like this which ruins the experience.”
  • story160 mentions

    The story of "Space Channel 5: Part 2" is characterized as absurd, campy, and lighthearted, revolving around Ulala, a space reporter who battles rhythm rogues through dance-offs. While the narrative is short and linear, lasting around 1-3 hours, it is filled with quirky characters and humorous moments, including a cameo by Michael Jackson. Despite its simplicity and occasional gameplay issues, the story adds a fun layer to the rhythm mechanics, making it an enjoyable experience overall.

    • “A wonderfully memorable game, with a great retro-futuristic aesthetic; an insane, hilarious, but heartfelt story; extremely charismatic characters (from a sensual space sheriff, to freaking Michael Jackson!); a really manageable but still demanding difficulty; and of course, an extraordinarily groovy soundtrack!”
    • “The story is very engaging and fits the whole news show theme very well.”
    • “The story itself is ridiculously goofy, but the game is self-aware and doesn't take itself seriously.”
    • “The story is whatever, an added bonus to the gameplay.”
    • “Music slaps and the story is nonexistent.”
    • “I have literally no clue what's going on in the so-called 'story mode'.”
  • gameplay154 mentions

    The gameplay of Space Channel 5 is characterized by its simple yet engaging rhythm mechanics, akin to a musical version of Simon Says, which can be both fun and challenging. While the game features charming visuals and a catchy soundtrack, players have reported issues with input latency and audio desynchronization, particularly in this port from the Dreamcast. Overall, the gameplay is accessible and enjoyable, though it may require some practice to master due to its strict timing and occasional bugs.

    • “Great gameplay (surprisingly instant inputs, no delays or input lag or offset setup requirements), amazing music with tons of variety (featuring genuinely some of Sega's best composers), and a metric ton of charm and personality oozing all over.”
    • “The gameplay does take a minute to get used to, but once you do you'll be rewarded with a short, but charming, sweet, bubbly, and unforgettable experience.”
    • “This is literally one of the funnest games I've ever played, the mechanics are ridiculously simple yet absolutely wonderful in all the best ways.”
    • “The controls become completely unresponsive once main gameplay starts, due to considerable latency.”
    • “Classic game terrible port this game won't read your inputs correctly during gameplay making the game unplayable and not very fun.”
    • “Audio and gameplay don't sync up right, this kills the entire game for me.”
  • graphics106 mentions

    The graphics of this rhythm game, originally from the Dreamcast era, are often described as dated yet charming, with a vibrant retro-futuristic aesthetic that enhances its appeal. While the art style and colorful environments are praised for their nostalgic value, technical issues such as graphical glitches and audio desynchronization detract from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, many players find the visuals to be a delightful fit for the game's quirky and energetic vibe.

    • “A fun little rhythm game from the Dreamcast era that's dripping with a cool retro-futurism aesthetic.”
    • “Even though the graphical fidelity of the game is dated, the art style and environments are just gorgeous in my opinion, paired with an awesome soundtrack, charm oozing out of it, and great replayability, you've got a perfect game in my eyes.”
    • “The visuals, despite being from the Dreamcast era, are timeless and vibrant.”
    • “Graphic glitches, music cuts out completely and music desyncs, messing the timing up.”
    • “Desyncing, graphics settings not even working, general frustration.”
    • “The graphics are desynced from the audio.”
  • humor58 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its absurdity and charm, with players enjoying the goofy characters, hilarious storylines, and retro-inspired comedic elements reminiscent of 1960s and 1970s secret agent humor. Many found themselves laughing out loud at the random and silly situations, while the engaging soundtrack and charismatic characters, including a notable appearance by Michael Jackson, enhance the overall comedic experience. Overall, the game is described as a delightful remedy for a bad mood, offering a blend of wholesome humor and entertaining gameplay.

    • “This game is absolutely hilarious, and as someone who likes goofy and funny games as well as rhythm games, I really enjoy playing it.”
    • “Plenty of moments had me laughing out loud, and I had a huge grin on my face the whole time I played.”
    • “Everything about it is so random and hilarious; the music is absolutely phenomenal, and the man himself, Michael Jackson, is in this game.”
  • stability34 mentions

    The game suffers from numerous stability issues, including frequent glitches, audio desynchronization, and occasional crashes, which can significantly disrupt gameplay. While some players report that these bugs do not always hinder the experience, others find them severe enough to make completing the game challenging. Overall, the game's stability is considered poor, with many users expressing frustration over its technical shortcomings.

    • “Unfortunately, it's so buggy at times you can't play the game properly.”
    • “My own copy, which I purchased not too long ago, has very few scuffs on it and no scratches, yet the ending of the game glitches to the point where you lose visuals, audio, and rhythm, making it insanely difficult to complete the end of the game.”
    • “Buggy as heck, no way for a perfect playthrough when the sync between sound and video is off.”
  • replayability32 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through various modes, including a challenging "world 2," a lengthy challenge mode, and opportunities to collect secrets and outfits. Players can also improve their scores and explore hidden commands, enhancing the overall experience. Despite its short length, the combination of engaging gameplay, charming art style, and a funky soundtrack makes it a worthwhile choice for rhythm game enthusiasts.

    • “Even though the graphical fidelity of the game is dated, the art style and environments are just gorgeous in my opinion. Pair this with an awesome soundtrack, charm oozing out of it, and great replayability, and you've got a perfect game in my eyes.”
    • “The game provides a phenomenal experience with a bunch of replayability and a funky soundtrack to go along with it.”
    • “Aside from story mode, there's a long challenge mode which you can play, and the main story stages have replayability value for collectibles and secrets, like special outfits for Ulala.”
    • “It's a short game with a decent amount of replayability, and it's worth checking out if you like rhythm games or are just fond of old Sega games.”
    • “There lies a ton of replayability in not just improving your scores, but in Ulala's dance arcade mode.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    The game's optimization is severely lacking, with reports of significant performance issues, including glitches at frame rates above 30 fps and poor synchronization that can render it unplayable. While it excels in cinematic presentation and innovative gameplay, these technical shortcomings detract from the overall experience.

    • “There's sections of story levels that change depending on your performance, and you might even get a completely different set of lyrics if you're playing poorly in a boss compared to if you did everything perfectly.”
    • “In sum, it is very good for its cinematic performances and its innovative gameplay compared to traditional rhythm games.”
    • “Nothing about this game is optimized: running this game above 30 fps will cause in-game sequences to glitch and can throw off the rhythm.”
    • “Incredibly poorly optimized, horrible sync makes this particular version unplayable.”
    • “The only issue I have with this game is optimization.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unnecessarily prolonged, as it artificially extends gameplay time for the sake of achieving 100% completion. Many reviewers express frustration with the grind required to unlock achievements, suggesting that it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “I don't want to start finding the game tedious, but that's exactly what this fake longevity seems designed to do - make what is ultimately a brief game with six stages and a challenge mode into something that takes much longer to 100% complete than it has any right to.”
    • “My main gripe is that getting 100% achievements is tedious and annoying.”
    • “If you prefer grinding to make your character better, this is not for you.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in this game is highlighted through its quirky and futuristic character designs, which contribute to its cult-classic status. While the gameplay is simple, the unique aesthetic and memorable music enhance the overall experience, making it appealing to fans of rhythm games.

    • “This is a simple game overall that has attained a cult-classic following due to the quirky character designs and music.”
    • “If you're looking for a fun rhythm game with catchy music, cool character designs, and Michael Jackson (yes, the Michael Jackson), this is the one for you!”
    • “Not in terms of art style, mind you, this game's Y2K identity and futuristic character designs go hard.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players find the game to be an uplifting experience, filled with friendly and charismatic characters that evoke a sense of joy and humor. The heartfelt story and engaging retro-futuristic aesthetic contribute to an emotional rollercoaster, making it a memorable journey that resonates deeply with players. Overall, it serves as a perfect remedy for those feeling down, combining humor, beauty, and emotional depth in a unique way.

    • “This game is the best remedy if you're feeling down; every character is so friendly and enthusiastic in a wholesome and humorous way, not an annoying one.”
    • “A wonderfully memorable game, with a great retro-futuristic aesthetic; an insane, hilarious, but heartfelt story; extremely charismatic characters (from a sensual space sheriff to a certain pop icon); a really manageable but still demanding difficulty; and of course, an extraordinarily groovy soundtrack!”
    • “It has the short playtime, beauty, emotional rollercoaster, and flow state of a journey or Abzu; the visuals are all cued to the music like an Amiga demo, and it's bonkers in a way that only Japanese developers seem to know how.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The reviews do not provide specific insights into the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on nostalgic memories of advertisements from gaming magazines. There is no mention of in-game purchases, pricing models, or overall monetization strategies.

  • atmosphere2 mentions

    Reviewers consistently highlight that the game's atmosphere is enhanced by its engaging gameplay, compelling story, and fitting music, creating a cohesive and immersive experience.

    • “The gameplay, story, and music are so cool and perfectly complement the game's atmosphere!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Space Channel 5: Part 2

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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