Space Channel 5

1999 · Rhythm · Dreamcast

Overview

Space Channel 5 (1999) is Tetsuya Mizuguchi's Dreamcast rhythm game, in which reporter Ulala out-dances an alien invasion in a 1960s-styled future, with a cameo from Michael Jackson.

Deep Dive

The reporter Ulala covers an invasion by the alien Morolians in a science-fiction future styled after the 1960s. The player copies the moves of her opponents in time to the music, using six inputs. The invasion turns out to have been staged by Chief Blank to boost ratings. Michael Jackson appears as "Space Michael".

Developer Story

Tetsuya Mizuguchi produced it at Sega AM9, later United Game Artists, with Takashi Yuda directing and Naofumi Hataya and Kenichi Tokoi composing. Sega released it in Japan on 16 December 1999. Critics praised the music and art direction but found it short, and Space Channel 5: Part 2 followed in 2002.

Did You Know?

The main theme is "Mexican Flyer", written by Ken Woodman in 1966.
Deee-Lite's singer Kierin Kirby sued Sega in 2003 over Ulala's resemblance to her; she lost and was ordered to pay Sega's legal fees.