Bleem! was originally designed to be released in a number of packages - with each pack containing a list of PlayStation games that could be played on the Dreamcast. Essentially, if you wanted to play your entire PS library on your DC, you would have to buy three or four Bleem! packs.
However, this task proved too daunting for the developers, and the company ultimately decided to modify their approach. As a result, we have our first Bleem! product for the DC - Bleem! GT2 Pack. That’s right, instead of having dozens of vastly enhanced PS games at your fingertips, you have one: Gran Turismo 2. Although the company has dropped their original concept, the attractive price and quality of the product more than makes up for this disappointment.
Primarily, the GT2 Package has two goals: To allow DC owners to play PS games on their console, and to make them look incredibly beautiful. In retrospect, it can be said that Bleem! has succeeded on both accounts. Simply slip the emulation disc into your DC, and you will be invited to take a look at GT2’s controls, saving options, credits, and a warning about the “100% bug” in some versions of the game.
Although these are minor details, they are nice touches that ease the user into the emulation universe. After you load up the Bleem! disc, you will be prompted to put in the GT2 disc. Within a couple of minutes, you will be playing PS games on your beloved DC - It's that easy.
GT2 on the PlayStation was a gaming masterpiece. Bursting with gameplay, vehicles, and absurd amounts of detail, the game is widely considered the paradigm of racing simulators. Offering the most realistic handling and AI ever sported in a racing title, the only non-revolutionary aspect of GT2 was its visuals. However, Bleem! has come to the rescue, and GT2's visuals have been transformed into the quality befitting the game's stature.
First and foremost, I'd like to get this out of the way: Bleem!’s GT2 is not the prettiest girl on Sega’s block. Compared to Daytona USA 2001 and MSR, GT2 appears somewhat dated. That is not to say that Bleem’s GT2 does not look good, because it most certainly does. Supporting VGA boxes and running at an improved frame rate, GT2 on the Dreamcast looks utterly fantastic, just not as good as games native to the platform.
Pixelation has been removed completely, and the game runs without a hitch at an ultra-smooth 640x480 resolution. GT2’s textures have also been significantly cleaned up, and some nifty filtering techniques have been used to make the game’s courses and vehicles look very nice indeed.
Sure, some of the pop-up and blurry landscape backdrops haven’t been significantly improved, but small details, like the ability to clearly see out of your rear view mirror are a big plus! The texturing and anti-aliasing effects incorporated by Bleem! have provided gamers with crisp, readable roadside billboards, rubber-stained course markings, and a plethora of graphical improvements that make Bleem!’s GT2 look rather impressive. Certainly far better than we expected.
Despite the obvious esthetic upgrades, GT2 - as a video game - has not changed at all. Players will have their hands full with the monstrous Simulation Mode (gear heads will go nuts for this one), Arcade Mode, and the deep gameplay. GT2 also features a rockin’ soundtrack, that is guaranteed to please any gamer.
With big names like Stone Temple Pilots, Cardigans, and Foo Fighters belting out the adrenaline-soaked tunes, GT2 sounds wonderful. Moreover, the game’s sound effects - comprised of roaring engines, screeching tires, and crunchy rumblings - are also well done. All in all, GT2 eclipses Sega GT and is pound for pound the best racer available today.
Some may have questioned the DC pad’s ability to handle the game, but after spending some time with GT2, I have no qualms whatsoever. The analog control feels identical to that of the Dual Shock, and the button layout is extremely manageable. Players will have little trouble getting into the game, and even the steep learning curve found in the original PS version has been ported over. Prepare to be challenged!
Keep in mind however, that this review is not intended to reflect Sony’s GT2. Bleem! GT2 Pack must be judged on its own merits. With that said, Bleem! has done a magnificent job of bringing an easy-to-use PS emulator to the Dreamcast.
The pack runs flawlessly and its low price cannot be beat. However, the question remains - if you have already played GT2 to death, are the enhanced graphics worth the price of admission? Unless you plan on completing the game again, then no, the eye candy alone probably isn't enough to warrant a purchase.
Overall:: Consequently, if you have never played GT2 before, run to the store and buy Bleem! and GT2 today. For less than the price of a regular DC game, Bleem! allows gamers to play 32-bit classics on a 128-bit class act. While Bleems’s efforts are not without fault, this is a must-have for all racing and DC fans alike. I can’t wait to see what the company releases in the future, bring it on Bleem!
Score:: 4.0/10
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