Product Description
It`s much more than a memory card! For the first time, you can take parts of a game with you and play with them away from home. The VMU has its own microprocessor, screen, memory and controller and can act as a self-contained game machine. You can save information from your Dreamcast onto the VMU and modify/change/play with that data while you are away from your Dreamcast. For example, download characters from Sega Dreamcast games into the VMU, train them while on the bus, and then load them back into the Dreamcast game. Save special VMU-only games and play them at work or school. Even connect your VMU to a friend`s VMU and compete or trade game files! The VMU`s LCD screen can be viewed while it is ins… More >>
This is an awesomely intuitive memory card. The LCD screen, capable of displaying animations and even playing games while you are not on your Dreamcast is the best idea I’ve seen in years. The only problem I have with this, however, is that the capacity of the VMU is too small. Very often you will run out of room to save your games which is a shame. I would like to see an 8MB version of this or something like that, although I see it as highly unlikely.
Rating: 4 / 5
First the good points. It has an excellent LCD screen which either displays some useful stuff, or just pictures of which character you are (eg Quake 3). This is also used in the stand-alone games such as slot machine in Power Stone or for raising Chaos. Unfortunately I have found there are more downsides to this type of memory card compared to the 4Mb Joytech flash memory card (although that doesn’t have a screen.) If you only have this memory card and you want to save a mini game or Chao to it, be prepared to wipe any other large files as they take up quite a lot of blocks. Some games (eg. Shenmue, Soul Reaver) take up a large chunk of the memory (80 and 50 blocks respectively) therefore if you have a large collection of games you’ll be stuck without a spare one. It also tends to use the battery up REALLY quickly – when it does it will beep everytime you turn your Dreamcast on. And you’ll have to remember to turn the VMU off when you turn your DC off or it’ll remain on for a while and use up the battery. But when the battery’s gone, it’ll still have a display when plugged into the controller.
I have found that although it’s a great idea, the lack of memory and the rate of battery use (which also plagues the PocketStation) makes it more of a gimmick than the cheaper, LARGER alternatives.
Rating: 3 / 5
VMU,s are very useful if youve got games like sonic and rayman but if you dont play games like that and just play beat,em,ups with two players you wont want one of these . The VMU fails when downloading from the internet because when you download games you could say it saves games in a tempory folder because after sevaral weeks it gets wiped out or it dosent load but it still stays on the memory and takes up it but the only problem is it dont load the games after sevaral weeks .You can also downloads games and it wont save beause the VMU crashes with the main units and it can bug your VMU and wipe out your memory. But its a item you need if you are playing games like sonic and rayman but its not that suitable for the internet and if you just play beat,em,ups for two players . So I dont recoment the sega VMU I would stick with the £12 ones for the internet because the cheaper range have a simple unit for no crashing on the internet but its a bit slower saving but dont fail !
Rating: 2 / 5
VMU’s rock!, they’re easy to use, and when you play a game for instance GTA 2 it shows the weopon your using! also you can get hold of down loads so that you can play games on the VMU. However it dosen’t really holod that much game play, so you’ll be forever buyin new ones, I’m already on my third, and have only 8 games. Other then that a wicked little machine.
Rating: 5 / 5
With the Dreamcast allowing you to access the internet, the Visual Memory Unit offers endless scope to enjoy your time online. Now only can you download games from the internet for your VMU such as Snake, you can download save game files if you can’t be bothered to complete the game! (A bit of a cheat I know, but it adds to the variety!)
Because of the unique way that the connectors are shaped, it is simple to plug in two VMUs together to share saved games with your mates, or even games you have downloaded from the internet.
With mini games hidden in several Dreamcast games, downloading them to your VMU is essential for portable gaming with a twist – the unit is only about the size of a credit card!
Overall, another high quality product from Sega. The build quality is almost as sturdy as the Dreamcast itself, but with a little hook so you can hang the VMU round your neck (?). With the only problem that the batteries will only last about three months at a time. the VMU is an essential buy.
Rating: 5 / 5