by Ack Tue Nov 29, 2016 2:07 pm
The Dreamcast still has some interesting stuff going for it if you are a fan of survival horror games of the era:
Blue Stinger, Illbleed, D2, Carrier, and admittedly the awful The Ring: Terror's Realm all remain exclusive.
The ports of Capcom's Resident Evil 2 and Dino Crisis are generally considered superior to other releases. In RE2's case, the Dreamcast version looks the best(particularly if played via VGA box), the FMVs run at 60fps, the VMU is implemented to offer vital information, and all additions for the PC version were also implemented for the DC release. The Gamecube version and PSN release are effectively just straight ports of the PS1 release without any of the later features. For Dino Crisis, again the VMU is used to showcase status info, the best visuals are found via the VGA box(though FMVs apparently won't run when using it), and it offers several unique control and menu touches due to the DC controller. Costumes must still be unlocked the old fashioned way as opposed to the PC version, which comes with everything already unlocked.
Which version of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is superior is up for debate, since apparently all of the ports were pretty much the same. While there are clipping issues removed, apparently the background resolutions weren't always updated, so the game's visuals vary.
As for Resident Evil: Code Veronica, yes, superior ports have come out since.
Next up, Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare is generally best on the Dreamcast in the US. It featured improved graphics over the PS1 release. While the PC release is a straight port of the DC version, it suffers from problems with the audio conversion and has poorer music as a result. Now if you live in the EU, the best version of AitD:TNN is actually the PS2 version, which is a port of the DC version with a few minor improvements such as proper lip syncing in cutscenes.
Evil Dead: Hail to the King's Dreamcast port is middle-of-the-road, with the PC version being the best...though none of them are what I'd consider "good."
Nightmare Creatures II I can't say. I've never seen anyone compare the DC and PS1 versions, though I have read at least one quote about it being one of the worst games on the DC.
As for Shadow Man, the Dreamcast version is probably closest to the PC version but apparently has some audio issues. PC is probably the best way to go, unless you want the slight changes that come with the N64 version(which make it much easier in the end).