Propellor Arena



Having just read Tom's frankly magnificent post (below), I felt inspired to chip in my two penneth worth, and give an update to the (frankly) most barren gaming period since I got my first Dreamcast...

You see I've gone a bit 'current gen' since I first started posting on this most fabulous of blogs... I've got a Wii, a 360 and a DS... The Dreamcast is no longer my exclusive console... and therefore, my attention to our fave system has been somewhat diluted...



Still! I have been thrown a little Dreamcast gem in the week, which came by post across the 'pond', from regular DCJY correspondent Nick944, in the shape of the most excellent Propellor Arena! This is 'vapour ware' peeps, unreleased Dreamcast goodness that never saw the light of day.



But somehow, through the magic of the internet, we can now enjoy these unreleased classics, as if we'd paid £40 sterling for an official release, back in the day...

OK, I knew of the title, but had somehow imagined it as a shitty Aerowings clone, that I frankly would have rather eaten my own cack, rather than given a hope of playing... How wrong I was!!!

As soon as I popped the CDR into my Dreamcast ( despite being downloaded and burned in the USA) it played perfectly!!! Happy days! No region specific nonsense then...

And what a treat it was!!! A most wonderul AM2 production, the title screen made it apparent that this was a pure arcade treasure, with goofy playable characters to choose from, (my immediate thoughts referenced Crazy Taxi). The presentation, characters and musical score screamed arcade! Why, oh why, did this title never hit the stores for general release?!


Well, I knew from reading up on this title that the '911 event' had made the marketing of this particular game "ill timed" to say the least... when I first loaded it up, I couldn't fathom why it could be considered offensive... When I played the third level "Sky Scraper City" and my propellor monoplane hit that first building, I knew where the controversy was born...

Now at this point, the conspiracy theorist in me wants to shout from the ... erm... rooftops!
What a crying shame that this 'gem' was lost to the world because the Bush administration needed an excuse to start Gulf War 2! If you want justification for that sentence watch Loose Change, and make up your own mind...


However, what I can say is Propellor Arena is one of the most exciting pieces of 'vapour ware' ever, much better than Half Life, PBA Bowling, or the frankly dire Flinstones:Viva Rock Vegas...

For more information look here...

Propellor Arena
Flinstones: Viva Rock Vegas
PBA Bowling

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Propeller Arena has to be one of my favorite Dreamcast games besides Shenmue. I even went to the fansite and downloaded the soundtrack! This would have been a great online game if it had been released...

fatherkrishna said...

Nick! Can I just say again how grateful I am that you blessed me with this frankly fantastic game!!

Sorry that I dissed the Flinstones! I was very drunk when I posted this review and having re-read it, it seems a tad ungrateful... I'm thrilled with all of my new additions and will give the Flinstones another play at some point (when I'll probably proclaim it as the best Dreamcast game EVER!) LOL!

Unfortunately PBA bowling wouldn't load and I've not sampled it's brilliance...

However, I would just like to again state what a true gentleman you are sir!

So there you have it, Mr. Nick944!!!

... fellow Treamcast owner, Saturn enthusiast and a true legend! This Dreamcast Junkyard correspondent salutes you! And thanks again!!! :)

Tom Charnock said...

My Dreamcast sounds like it's going to explode whenever I play Propellor Arena - its as if it's spinning the disk at 1000 times the normal speed. But yeah, you're right - it's a corker of a game and that it wasn't blessed with a full release is a crime of Fred West proportions

Ross said...

I've never been into flight sims for some reason... but then again, I've never tried Propeller Arena either...

Animated AF said...

Yeah, I must admit the Dreamcast has taken the back seat as of late with me too, been playing the Wii now a lot more due to buying quite a lot of games for it.

Anonymous said...

Bush couldn't assemble a bologna sandwich. How was he supposed to orchestrate 9/11? Besides, whoever would have been smart enough to do that would have made it look like Iraq was behind 9/11. Who knew that this country was too stupid to understand that Iraq and Afghanistan were TWO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES!
Trust me. I seriously dislike Bush too, but the only conspiracy here is how tragically stupid the people in this country are to: a)not know the difference between two middle-eastern countries, b)to have elected the same asshole who also cannot tell the difference between two middle-eastern countries (or doesn't care to make the distinction because it isn't profitable to do so).

Anonymous said...

That you somehow managed to miss the way to spell "Propeller" despite there being two absurdly prominent examples of the game's logo in your own post made me laugh.

I'd also think twice about including controversial political statements in future games-themed posts if I were you as it's not very professional - even less so when you clearly know nothing of either subject.

Tom Charnock said...

"Propellor" is the correct ENGLISH spelling of the word, you thick cunt. Also, posting as 'anonymous' takes a lot of balls - congrats!

fatherkrishna said...

Cheers for that Tom, couldn't have put it better myself!!

"I'd also think twice about including controversial political statements in future games-themed posts if I were you as it's not very professional..."

Erm... This is not a 'professional' venture, it's a strictly amateur labour of love...

What I posted is my opinion, not presented as fact... And you're quite welcome to disagree with it...

s8ist did so quite eloquently, and was prepared to back it up with a name attached...

"That you somehow managed to miss the way to spell "Propeller" despite there being two absurdly prominent examples of the game's logo in your own post made me laugh."

I'm glad I put a smile on your face, hope it was as big as the one on my mine when I read Tom's reply to your comment...

Anonymous said...

"Unfortunately PBA bowling wouldn't load and I've not sampled it's brilliance..." Really? Sorry about that, I thought I tested it before I shipped it...

fatherkrishna said...

No probs Nick! I'll give it another try before I dimiss it...

I'd love a little roll down the lane...

And again thank you for your heroic posting (mail) Propellor Arena has kept me entertained throughout the last week!!!

Unknown said...

Bush is not responsible for 9/11. Please think about what you are publishing.r

Tom Charnock said...

FUCK OFF!!!!!!!!! Any more comments invoving 9/11 WILL BE FUCKING DELETED. This is a blog about GAMES, not 9/11.

Anonymous said...

Propeller/propellor arena who cares its a brill games and having a unreleased game in your DC somehow makes it even more sexy :)
does anyone else here make covers for there CDr games?
I'd love to see your efforts and you can see mine (including a JAP propellor arena with manual) at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreamcast/

Anonymous said...

9/11 was definitely an inside job and this was a great game.

All that is needed to show 9/11 was an inside job was the 3 controlled demolitions that took place in NYC that day.

Anonymous said...

P-A is an absolute A+ Game that can hold its own to some next-gen systems. The Arcade feel that SEGA brings gives me chills whenever I play a game like this. I Love my dreamcast. and it sits proudly next to my Wii and PS3.....

Anonymous said...

anyone know where I can get an instruction manual for propellor arena free to download off the net?

Anonymous said...

any ideas where I can get my hands on quake 2 on dreamcast and is it any good and does anyone know of any other FPS'S that were never released?

Anders Flintonian said...

Dreamcast Mania! – Canceled games: Forever Denied

http://videolamer.com/dreamcast-mania-canceled-games-forever-denied