Developer: Sonic Team Publisher: Sega

Release Date: October 18, 2000 Platform: Dreamcast

DUDE. THIS GAME ROCKS…GOD I WISH THERE WAS A PANTERA COVER IN HERE OR SOMETHING…

You know, I still have the maracas that came with this game. They’re in perfect condition. Know why I still have these maracas in perfect condition? Because when I attempted to use them the first few times, I looked like an idiot and couldn’t find a good spot for the sensors, so I defaulted to using the gamepad instead. Sure, it made the game waaay easier, but at the higher difficulty levels, it was still pretty damn challenging – even impossible for some.

Now that the release is just shy of a decade, I dusted off the old maracas and decided to give it another whirl. Two things I learned: I really need to find some component cables for my Dreamcast, and this game is pretty damn fun when set up properly. Thankfully, growing older has given me much more patience.

Unfortunately, I still look like a goddamn idiot waving those maracas about. Some things don’t change apparently.

This game showed up just a bit after Dance Dance Revolution hit the North American market. At the time, games of this sort were still only played by arcade losers and children. Regardless, I found myself clamoring to pick up the drunk Mexican cousin of the DDR franchise. Does that make me a loser? Maybe. But go ‘F’ yourself in the ‘A’ anyways, alright?

Samba de Amigo is all about distracting you while you’re at your best. Do well during a song and the game throws more and more spectacular visuals at you until you struggle to pay attention to what you’re doing rather than the trip-tastic actions in the background. Do poorly and the game let’s you know that your a loser and pursuing a life in maraca dancing would only lead to pain, being ostracized by family and friends and finally suicide. It’s as fun as it is insidious. Thank god.

The only drawback to Samba de Amigo is the very short playlist. Only fourteen songs were available after everything was said and done, the only non-salsa/son based songs were ‘Tubthumping’, ‘Soul Bossa Nova’ and ‘Take on me’ (Reel Big Fish version). So, needless to say, the replay value was short after you unlocked everything. Unless you brought friends over and drank a shit ton of beer.

It has to be said, however, that there were thirteen or so songs available to unlock via the Sega website, but they were all forgettable songs from other Sega games, which I equate to giving an Ethiopian a toothpick for the meal they never had in the first place. Lame.

All said, I always recommend a purchase for the consumer. There is enough here to satisfy anyone’s fun-music itch. And what it does, it does particularly well. And at the price you will find it, it will be more than worth the money. So have no fear when you go looking.

Or you could just pick up the new Wii version with downloadable songs. That’s pretty badass too.

Then

Now