Space Channel 5
| Space Channel 5 | |
|---|---|
European Dreamcast box art | |
| Developer(s) | Sega AM9 |
| Publisher(s) | Sega PlayStation 2Game Boy Advance THQ |
| Director(s) | Takashi Yuda |
| Producer(s) | Tetsuya Mizuguchi |
| Designer(s) | Takumi Yoshinaga |
| Programmer(s) | Hitoshi Nakanishi |
| Artist(s) | Yumiko Miyabe |
| Writer(s) | Takumi Yoshinaga |
| Composer(s) | Naofumi Hataya Kenichi Tokoi |
| Series | Space Channel 5 |
| Platform(s) | Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Music |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Space Channel 5 is a rhythm video game developed and published by Sega for the Dreamcast. It was later ported to the PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance. Following space-faring reporter Ulala as she investigates an alien invasion, players engage in rhythm-based combat where Ulala mimics the actions of rivals in time to musical tracks.
The game was conceived by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, who was told to create something aimed at a female audience. Production lasted two years, with a staff of around 20 that included company veterans and newcomers to game development. The music, composed by Naofumi Hataya and Kenichi Tokoi, drew inspiration from big band music. Ken Woodman's "Mexican Flyer" had informed the musical style and acted as the theme song. The overall style was influenced by culture from the 1950s and 1960s, and the later music videos of Peter Gabriel and Michael Jackson, the latter having a cameo appearance in the game.
While the game was released to low sales, it received generally positive reviews; praise focused on its music-based gameplay and art direction, but it was also faulted for its short length and syncing issues with the graphics. The PS2 version met with similar praise, with many recommending it due to the low selling price. The GBA version, subtitled Ulala's Cosmic Attack, saw lower scores due to technical shortcomings. The game has since spawned a series of related games and media, beginning with the sequel Space Channel 5: Part 2, released in 2002 in Japan and 2003 worldwide.