Space Channel 5 - A Comprehensive Look at Ulala's First Game

[@NinjastarCompass]

Its honestly really impressive how good the characters look and animate for being low poly dreamcast models

[@joniivee]

Honestly yeah. Watching you play the VR version, I was struck by how close they followed the original art direction while still having it look good by modern standards. Goes to show how strong the original aesthetic was, it was built with the technical limitations in mind

[@ShonChannel11]

Space Channel 5 definently should get a new game, this franchise is literally giving me tears and goosebumps. Nice video!

[@PuffyBuffy]

We did get a new game in the form of Space Channel 5 VR! It’s VR only but content, story, and music wise it’s a full fledged Part 3! With new levels, new characters, and new songs, several of which by Sonic Team veteran Tomoya Ohtani (made to celebrate the series’ 20th Anniversary) If you have a VR headset I’d highly recommend it! It’s as short as the previous games but it still has that charm and style! And thankfully it was successful enough to have extended support via a Hatsune Miku level DLC, a Limited Runs physical release, and a full soundtrack CD! And a weird crossover video with No Straight Roads specifically for some reason.. Sorry if I went too long, but I hope that interests you! ^^

[@MezzoForte4]

Thanks to Ulala being playable in Sonic Riders, it gave me enough interest to find the game on PS2 and ho boy, it's amazing. It's wondrous how a little cameo can show new players more obscure titles.

[@SCHfan-jb4zo]

Well with the thirstyness of Mizuguchi, he did or did not say this “This game is about love, so everyday I am making love with Ulala” If he did he probably shouldn’t have said that, well… I can’t say why saying that is wrong in many ways

[@furamusic301]

Same here. I first met her in Project X Zone 2 and loved the music they showed (Since they're practically just a rip), and then I never realized she was in Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed. Both instances gave me enough interest to get Space Channel 5 Part 2 on PC, and my god. I have put way too many hours I to a game that's only about 2 - 3 hours long all the way through, extras included

[@notarmani4804]

I’m so baffled the Dreamcast failed like how it did. It did so many revolutionary things like online play, DLC and stuff like that. Also that Sonic Adventure advertisement with the plushie falling off a plane still makes me laugh a bit.

[@Davethe3rd]

It's very simple: In 2000, DVDs were the new hot thing, they were expensive, and the PlayStation 2 played them while the Dreamcast didn't. So, the PS2 was more popular in Japan.

[@GabeCerebro]

The PS2 happened. Bad timing.

[@longforari]

Something I've always loved about these games is how insanely campy they are. Jaguar with his sensual hip swaying, especially in the second one, Pudding and Ulala both looking like drag queens, and the dance focused hard hitting music. Games like this are few and far between. They're stylish and they know they're stylish.

[@BMK500]

Obvious thirstiness aside, horniness led to (at the time of its release) the best graphical design in a character

[@hopejoons]

ok, so, genuinely had never heard of this series before, but thanks to your video i'm now OBSESSED. i just found your channel the other day and have been binging it, and i'm shocked you don't have more views & subs right now, but i have no doubt that more viewers will come soon! your production quality of your videos is amazing, especially considering the length of them. i can tell how much love and time you put into all the videos you make, and it's safe to say you've gained yourself a new fan

[@TreWilder]

I've... Never played Space Channel 5. I never owned a Dreamcast. And yet Space Channel 5 has effortlessly stolen my heart just by the style the game has. I can't get enough of this game and the content revolving around it, limited as it is. This video was genius in showing off all that the game has going for it, as well as the franchise itself and its creation, which I was really interested in hearing about!

[@Ihjdhu]

I have a small feeling this game is about to get its big comeback, cant wait to see if this feeling is right!

[@dragons_hook]

There was Space Channel 5 kinda funky newsflash. It was an interesting take in VR. Kinda short, but still pretty cool.

[@willianbueno7611]

There was a new game for VR but it's not like everyone have one so... It wasn't much of a big comeback, but at least we got something

[@ShiofukiTheDreamDragon]

There's gonna be a movie!

[@manueldesant4849]

​@@ShiofukiTheDreamDragonI would love to think that is true

[@MetaAninda]

Her name getting bigger after she shares collab with Hatsune Miku

[@pnknwhte]

this was so fun to watch. i rlly do love this series. sega has considering giving it a new game recently and i hope it comes to fruition

[@slopesgameroom]

Such an incredible series of games :) great video bud

[@OriginalTolerableHusky]

I think this is the only video I’ve seen where someone actually talked about Pudding and discussed a bit about her character, and Jaguar too. So thanks for that! 👏

[@MagillanicaLouM]

Have the second game on steam, a franchise that just brings so much joy. Sega IPs hit some kind of sweet spot for me the more I dive into em, dunno what magic they worked back in the day for it to happen so consistently but it works. Also shoutouts to the pantieshots. And yeah, Apollo IS Ulala forever to me (love Cherami though). Miss her but glad shes doing well

[@makeitsweetsweetsweet]

As a diehard Space Channel 5 (and Sega/General Rhythm Game fan) this is everything I could have possibly d r e a m e d of. For my birthday in 2020, I was given a Sega Dreamcast to finally be able to play the original Space Channel 5 (as I beaten and nearly 100% the DC Collection version on 360 several times [our old 360 doesn’t really like to save games, so we use a very fragile external memory drive.] I can literally recite half these patterns from memory. I think I have a problem send help-). I wanted to play the game as authentically as I can (though we didn’t have a CRT but- hey we got close!). Sadly, we never got the game to work. We cleaned the lens, the disc, even eventually bought a second Dreamcast (returning the first one), but as it turns out- the disc itself was somehow just unreadable by the system, perhaps withered due to time. I was incredibly upset at this, and to this day I still cannot currently play the game and lament about it very often. Seeing this video made me so incredibly happy, as even though the second game may be my favorite rhythm game of all time- the first game had just as much of an impact on me. From watching a perfect playthrough of the PS2 version way back in 2012, to wondering why half the soundtrack isn’t even on the official soundtrack disc (apparently most of the soundtrack is comprised of many short files of looping segments that are strung together in real time), to pretending to be Ulala and doing the movements and saying the commands alongside the gameplay until I got too exhausted to move. I don’t see that many people talk about the first game in a positive light, let alone delve into its history. It was a miracle YT recommended this to me. Thank you for just being a groovy dude!! :DDDD p.s. how do you feel about SC5VR? :o

[@joniivee]

This was a lovely comment to read, thank you for it! What I've seen of SC5VR is very cool. I love the faithful yet crisp artstyle and I like Cherami Leigh's take on Ulala. I don't have a PS4 though so I've unfortunately been unable to try it.

[@XSlimSxadyX]

Buy another copy then haha

[@GareWorks]

You need to get the disc resurfaced. GD-ROMs are notoriously easy to scratch, even compared to CDs. You can also burn a copy of the game to a CD-R and play that (the Dreamcast doesn't require anything special to play burnt games, though it tends to wear out the laser faster when playing from CD-Rs instead of GD-ROMs). Since you own a legal copy, there shouldn't be any issue.

[@connorthomas3544]

This video is incredible - I didn't realize I needed an intelligent and funny deep dive into Space Channel 5 until half an hour ago. Thank you so much for this, I can't imagine how much effort must have went into this!!

[@fullmetalpianist]

31:47, YES YES YES, Please do! I want to be a Cosmic Kitty!

[@joniivee]

Mee-yow!

[@SCHfan-jb4zo]

Not to forget Space Cats. That’s also probably hinting that she’s a cat person

[@ASAPShitPost]

Ulala is very charismatic. Just like Jonii. King here making videos like this earning him the 2021 title of #1 Most Criminally Undersubbed channel. I've never even played this game in my life.

[@joniivee]

Any comparison to Ulala is a complement in my book. :D Thanks a ton for sticking with the channel and for thr kind words.

[@ASAPShitPost]

@@joniivee Damn you're fast boi! That's like a 60 second turnaround on fan engagement bro see what I'm saying? 😂 No problem mate so glad I came across the Ms Pacman video in the first place

[@joniivee]

What can I say? :P gettin them phone notifs while between watching videos myself is the optimal time to catch me. Still thankful that video introduced so many people to the channel.

[@Spookybluelights]

My gay teenage heart loved the hell out Space Channel 5, I will still pose to the music on it's annual reappearance into my brain.

[@DaveB038]

This video was totally needed and exactly what I was looking for. Thanks! This game needs much more love and holds up so well.

[@Nintendude.]

This video came at a right time, very helpful. 8:26 I equally agree. - Her walk animation is very subtle I may add. Yeah I've notice the character models move a frame a bit before the background while studying the walk, you can also see weird stuff like in 17:05 if someone never knew what has pre-render video back in the day.

[@pablozanoto5801]

I really like this game! What is ridiculous about it has the same for quality. Also, I loved the use of My Sweet Passion, Fly In The Freedom, Casinopolis Music and Follow Me in this video!

[@gustavoalfonsoperezpina9020]

Ulala moving with the whole swag of a space reporter

[@therealmarioplumber7440]

Been on a binge of your content lately and wow was this video good. It convinced me to dust off my ps3 slim I haven't touched in years and get the hd remaster of part 2 and buy special edition for the ps2. I hope you do make a video on part 2 someday (though I doubt it has as interesting of a history as the first one). Keep up the great work, you deserve all the support

[@Nic_2751]

Had a great time, really love learning about these obscure games I never really heard of

[@GaruxPuru]

this was such a fun, well-informed video to watch! i needed something fast and informative to research up on the game for an editorial illustration, and this hit the spot

[@joniivee]

I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it and that it was helpful! Feel free to shoot that editorial my way when it's done.

[@ulalascosmicattack3478]

Loved your video about me and my games. Plus I subscribed to your channel

[@ulalascosmicattack3478]

I guess you didn't heard of the VR game and it's music festival that happened last year

[@wakisabe]

I love this video so much!! You are CRIMINALLY underrated

[@MotobugGaming]

I wish there were more games with this futuristic aesthetic!

[@suspectedfool1414]

this channel is underrated like this game.

[@TheMGMfan]

To be fair, the last Dreamcast game in Japan was released in 2007, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was relevant by that point, nor do I know of any Dreamcast games released between 2002 and then, so that could very well be an outlier. EDIT: I should also mention that I don’t think I've ever had the characters and backgrounds go out of sync like that, but I have seen it in other videos; my guess is that it's just a problem with the disc. EDIT 2: I forgot that Puyo Pop Fever was released on the Dreamcast in 2004 when I first wrote this comment. Furthermore, I only recently realized that the same company behind the last Dreamcast game, Karous, also made two other games for the platform: Chaos Field in 2004, and Radirgy in 2006. It should be noted that they were all arcade games running on the NAOMI arcade board, which I assume is why they released them on Dreamcast so long after it was discontinued.

[@3face857]

This game actually uses motion capture, so it makes the game very advanced for the dreamcast. And I love it

[@DJEchoPetro]

Found your channel recently from this video and went on an absolute binge! The work you do is super great dude thanks so much!

[@ThompsonSteamtrain]

She is the Most underrated female video game character of all time

[@grandgojira8182]

Well the game in a month older then me it probably has to be one of my favorite game series from sega and sega recently said they are thinking of using their old properties to either remake, reboot, or remaster so hopefully we can see characters like ulala, nights and beat make a comeback

[@mikew1507]

Excellent video! Fun narration, great editing and very well researched.

[@OtakuNewsSource]

Update 6/3/21 - I got the game today and beat it within 2 hours. Short game, but damn did I love every minute of it. Gonna grab Part 2 from the PSN store soonish. 👌 Just went ahead and bought a copy of the game for my Dreamcast thanks to this! I've always wanted to play Space Channel 5, but now just feels like a good time. lol This was also a great video. The MTV info was interesting and sucks that the deal with Ulala giving a music report didn't go through.

[@joniivee]

I'm super happy to hear I inspired you to give the game a try and even happier you liked it! Eager to play Part 2 myself, it's been burning a hole in my Steam library for ages

[@nicu227]

Ulala is proto bayonetta. The femmr energy carries through

[@murderman7265]

Ulala > Bayonetta

[@Worth19]

You're an extremely underrated youtuber. Your content is quality and your comedic delivery is great. I hope you get the attention your channel deserves.

[@cattime2044]

OMG this video is amazing. ive watched your others and they are great, but this one is my favorite. it got infinitely better once rouge's theme came on. OMGGG, perfect background music for Space Channel 5. The game is so underrated, and I had so much fun playing to get different Ulala skins and outfits. AAAAUGGGHH!! I want to play this game again so badly! ( Not the Vr version tho.) I appreciated the difficulty and actually come to think of it I never finished it!! Ulala is so memorable, jfc. edit: she's currently in the 3ds tactical crossover jrpg series Project X Zone! released 2012!!

[@kurumilover2003]

SC5 is legit one of my fave games of all times. I like to wow people who even remotely know what it is with my little SC5 collection I’ve been proud to collect over the years (and spending way too much money on a couple of the statues I’ve never really seen anywhere)

[@evan3405]

Jonii is incapable of missing!!! GREAT video!

[@joniivee]

Thanks so much! :D I appreciate your contribution.

[@lavinder11]

Totally missed the Lady Miss Kier lawsuit. That's basically where Ulala got her look from. Loved the video though, especially all the remixes. That King of Speed one made my night.

[@Ch4r7s]

Holy shit, your channel is so underrated! This video definitely deserves more views and so do your channel. Keep up with the great work and more people will see it! I love the theme you discussed on this video, this game is one of my favorites so it was very interesting for me to watch :D I don't think that the game is much of strict in sense of being able to get right on the rhythm though, it was more like a input-lag problem for me.

[@CoolBleach]

Great video man, this video is one of the best covers ive ever seen over space channel 5, im surprised your channel hasnt blown up yet lol, im sure it will soon though. anyways keep up the great work

[@CarletonTorpin]

I always felt like Ulala was modeled after the female from the band Deee-Lite. Great video! :D

[@aegisreflector1239]

In fairness the Saturn was very successful in Japan with a large library with amazing exclusives locked on it to this day.

[@Ranixo286]

Hoorg would NEVER can't believe Sega of America did him so dirty in that commercial

[@jfiorejifore]

liked and subscribed, very well made high quality video, keep up the good work 👍

[@joniivee]

Thank you! Love the profile pic

[@Katelynnnnnnnnnnnnnn]

This video was amazing on all fronts keep up the great work!

[@esmeraldaescudero3972]

I'm a lifelong sega fan and Space Channel 5 Pro, I must have played it in excess of 200 times. Thank you for this video, it was absolutely brilliant.

[@dyscotopia]

I never played this but thought it looked amazing. I always assumed she was modeled after Lady Ms. Keir from Dee-Lite.

[@joniivee]

Iirc Ms. Keir thought so too and there was a lawsuit over it! I believe Sega won though.

[@dyscotopia]

@@joniivee surprising. Dee-Lite seems a clear inspiration, but the band and the game are both shameless pastiches of pre-existing influences and the character designs are just different enough. Ulala's makeup designer was definitely taking notes.

[@lazrpo]

Ooooooh, I'm stoked for this one!

[@jbb8261]

4:01 This game WAS my childhood. I eventually got the cheatcode to let it play itself (you do this to earn rewards and costumes without wasting time) while I did chores and studied 😂😂😂 I loved those days so much

[@jamnnjelly3102]

Ulala's design and name is so good

[@IkaraPopsicle]

why is this *SO* underrated??!?!

[@tacticaljunk1608]

Nice use of the Katawa Shoujo soundtrack.

[@hydrocityharry977]

Yellow Submarolians? Is that supposed to be A Beatles reference?

[@flaminfighter-kracker220]

It would so awesome to see this game get it's own anime series!! what do you guys think?

[@chrisnellz2413]

This was an amazing video, and i loved it, but, also: Dreamcast among us aliens

[@themanicpineapple8772]

You can have Cosmic Kitties for your fan base if I can have Fake Gamers. Also how the FRICK do you keep one upping yourself in your vids?? It was a pleasure to be a part of this even in a small way. Keep killing it

[@aubreylindsey1206]

As A 15 Year Old Female Gamer I Find This Both Interesting And Awesome At The Same Time Because I Love How Tetsuya Wanted To Target All Gender Demographics He Didn't Want Gaming To Be Just For Boys\Males It Can Be For Girls\Females Too. Heck, It Can Be Both.

[@internetdeer]

who's that handsome devil at 3:11 👀 in all seriousness though, this was an excellent video and a joy to watch. i'm glad that my dumb teenage self from 2017 helped to contribute a riveting three seconds of footage.

[@eprushan1289]

I'm really surprised you didnt mention the controversy involving lady miss kier from dee-lite. definitely look into it

[@SantaFeSuperChief1]

I loved the video, but the School Rumble references alone makes it worth watching

[@SantaFeSuperChief1]

And the Katawa Shoujo soundtrack, I love you.

[@marcinkuc9349]

Great video as always. Back in a day the trailer for SC5 was playing all the time at our weird polish game channel (Hyper, if anyone from Poland reads this) and so the main theme from this thing have been stuck in my head for years even though I never actually played it. This vid though really makes me wanna check if it's on XBLA or PSN for X360 or PS3 (I would prefer PS3 since playing it with X360 pad's d-pad sounds like a nightmare) and finally play it. I believe I saw it on XBLA a few years ago, so maybe it's on PSN as well, gonna check it when I have the chance.

[@marcinkuc9349]

For anyone looking, seems like only part 2 is on XBL/PSN for some reason. I will propably try to get it for PS2 then. They really should port it to Switch though. I don't care that nobody would but it, I would! :v

[@heroicgangster9981]

Thank you universal gods for a blessed video for us Space Channel 5 fans. The most ambitious rhythm game to me. It truly is funkin!!!

[@raiHo15]

A lot of the advertising seems like they have never spoken with a woman before.

[@Stelios78910]

Amazing video, incredible humour and vocal delivery, hope you cover the sequel someday. Subbed.

[@tortle3224]

Loved the video and really appreciate Space Channel 5 more because of it! I gotta ask though, what soundtrack was used here? (Starts at 24:50)

[@TheYellowSignal]

I cried laughing at, "Hey, it's 500 years in the future. Exposing your underwear on the news doesn't even matter anymore."

[@boopergamer]

I'm currently going thru a hyperfixation on this game, and i just am praying my ass off for either a new game or a remake on switch. Im just begging at this point

[@JeffCompass]

Jonii: The Movie

[@sockbucketfrance]

I saw the thumbnail said "Sega's most stylish game" and I was sure "Alright, sure buddy whatever you say" then I saw who uploaded it and went ":0 nvm i actually care what this guy thinks" and now I'm here

[@michaelhoule2134]

31:55 love that song/beat from Rez. Rez is a amazing game and yes I usually find myself tapping my foot when I play it. I didn't have a great experience with Space Channel 5. The timing is way to strict. I might have to give it another go with the foot tapping. Now Rez, Rez is a masterpiece and everyone should experience it. I am a first time viewer here and you earned a sub. Now how about a Rez review.

[@ATalkingSock]

Proud to be a Cosmic Kiddie.

[@Nintendude.]

Oh look a Talking Sock.

[@ritabelli5825]

You can't spend that much time talking about mizuguchi and not say that he later went to make LUMINES man!

[@NoirpoolSea]

I'm really loving this piece of yours (getting away from the news in 2022). I had the game for PS2 back in the day and loved it as a tribute to what I can only call the "Jetson's" esthetic; but done in that plastic phong shading look which came from early 3D animation before they started doing raytracing realism, but here it was intentional in giving a sort of vapidity to the game. While watching this I finally noticed that Ulala's movements look familiar.. Then it hit me.. Ruby Rhod from The Fifth Element has a similar presence in his movements, and was released 2 years earlier. They are both media broadcasters. Is it just me? PS- The names Leeloo vs Ulala..

[@FectoMemoria]

7:20

[@VegarotFusion]

I can't believe I only realized now that Sega Ages is a palindrome. I never had or played any of the Sega Ages compilations. Only really hearing about them in the last few years. So I don't understand why it clicked hearing it now. I only heard you say it. I didn't even see a logo. It makes me laugh when I miss simple things like that.

[@actionchie]

40:16 Kelly Preston was also an actress as who was married to John Travolta.

[@raf6213]

Ok but honestly…they should turn ulala into An influencer. Like a tik toker or a vtuber …sega has a lot of characters they could use for publicity…

[@joniivee]

Vtuber Ulala would unironically make them money.

[@raf6213]

@@joniivee Yeah but at least they get to actually use her

[@shalpp]

HATSUNE MICK-OOO

[@cinnamondan4984]

Where have you been all of my rife

[@FukaOni]

This video is so great!

[@BasileJodar]

3:43 « Amy Rose plush » yay :D

[@frizzlefrack253]

45:40 classic leave in the description line to find no such link in the description

[@lumirairazbyte9697]

8:07 this is the wise words of a man who then created Genki Rockets and the upbeat girl Lumi.

[@SCHfan-jb4zo]

Well there was another snippet of an interview with Mizuguchi but he said this and I quote here: The game is about love, so every day I’m making love with Ulala Do you realise how wrong that sounds? I knew he had a thirst for his own creation, but I didn’t think it resort to him saying that.

[@j.goggels9115]

17:35 FU ! The lag is making something that simple impossible.

[@VirtuaMaster]

We are... JONII'S COSMIC KITTIES!! ✨ 😺

[@maxrichards5925]

Since the Dreamcast was my first ever console you’d think I would have this game but nope lol. Since having recently added a few more games to my Dreamcast collection, I’ll probably see if I can get this game.

[@r4dios1lence92]

One line I didn't expect to hear today, nor here: "(sic) the Japanese tampon song"

[@GregCubed]

Why do some of those aliens look like....am....among....I can’t say it...

[@joniivee]

An official Sega account said it. You don't have to hide bb

[@friskycalibri2293]

@@joniivee deadass?

[@LARKXHIN]

I never knew where Ulala came from besides "Maybe generic SEGA mascot outisde Sonic" - I didn't know she had a name or a game until now! 34:31 Dang I had that Spongebob poster, this nostalgia hit me like a truck.

[@DaemonCorps]

Regarding the commercial: youtube launched in 2005, so going by upload date in this case wouldn't be the most reliable. Still wild such a commercial exists though!

[@Shmeve0]

Hey you didn't point out how the crew from Among Us is in this game!

[@RuusRoom]

A masterpiece. I always dream with a 3rd game of this iconic saga ❤___❤

[@FectoMemoria]

When I found out Mr. Yuda worked on PPF, that was enough evidence for me to want a SC5 collab in PPQ

[@manueldesant4849]

I LOVE ULALA. I love space channel 5

[@noneofyourbiz5973]

Thank you for putting in the time for this excellent video. Do you know if any of the physical releases on the PS2 works on a backwards compatible PS3?