The Sega Dreamcast is still a fondly remembered console, as it pioneered now irreplaceable gaming concepts such as online play and even the idea of downloadable content. Its premature death and the end of Sega's time in the hardware business were a huge deal in the video game industry. Sega still develops software, however, with Dreamcast-era franchises still existing in some form. In fact, one of the system's most obscure, but beloved, games may be getting a new lease on life.Cosmic Smash was only released in Japan, but it's still considered a massive cult hit for the Dreamcast. A sort of futuristic take on the classic Breakout formula, the game was just one example of the system's unique and innovative game library. With a recent tease from Sega suggesting some form of an update, here's what gamers should know about the celebrated smash hit title.
Cosmic Smash Was the Best Take on Breakout
An arcade title on Sega's NAOMI hardware that was later ported to the Dreamcast, Cosmic Smash combined Breakout with the tennis-like game of squash. Players progress through a set route of levels, using their digitized cybernetic avatar to fittingly smash through waves of "bricks." Players are scored at the end of each round, taking into account their speed and whether the ball was lost at any point, with these arcade elements allowing for endless replay value to increase high scores. Trick shots and bonus stages are also part of the formula, with one section of the game even advising players to "turn off their cell phones."
The arcade version of Cosmic Smash released in both Japan and Europe, though the console port was Japanese-exclusive. This was due to the Dreamcast version coming out several months after the console itself had been discontinued by Sega worldwide, making it a relatively obscure hit. Despite how seemingly limited it was, the game had several cheat codes, including one allowing gamers to play as a bear with a fish racket. Overall, its obscure status only afforded it a meager fan base, though its reach might finally be increased with what Sega is now teasing.
Sega Is Seemingly Teasing a New Version of Cosmic Smash
A recent tweet from Sega has many fans wondering just what's behind the curtain, with the message's GIF image featuring blinking lights and an eye. This is accompanied by the text, "Eye c sth forming http://csmashvrs.com #csmashvrs," with the link sending those who click on it to a countdown. Some have suspected that the "sth" part, largely known as an abbreviation for the word "something," could be related to the initials for Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. On the other hand, the "csmash" element and the fact that it somewhat resembles the graphics of the game has some believing that the tease is for a new version of Cosmic Smash.
This would certainly be a weird thing to hype, especially given the obscure nature of the game. Nevertheless, nostalgia for that period of Sega's history has never dwindled, and the ability to use modern VR technology in a remake would really emphasize how "futuristic" Cosmic Smash already looked. The game itself has also acquired a larger fan base in the two decades since its release, with the internet and international video game historians allowing gamers to become more aware of its existence. Combining this with the VR trend could popularize both VR gaming and Cosmic Smash as a potential ongoing property. It would be similar to the Wii Sports brand from rival company Nintendo, albeit in a more universal capacity. Whatever it is, it's clear that Cosmic Smash still has a lot of love from gamers, illustrating that even the most unknown games can develop a huge fandom.