Let’s be real for a second. If you grew up with a Dreamcast, you probably still have "Up, Down, Left, Right, Chu!" burned into your subconscious. It's unavoidable. We are living in 2026, and despite the fact that Sega hasn't given us a proper mainline sequel in decades, Ulala remains the undisputed queen of rhythm gaming.
She isn't just a character. She’s a vibe.
👉 See also: Fortnite List of Weapons: Why Your Loadout Probably Sucks Right Now
When Space Channel 5 first landed in 1999, it felt like someone had tossed a 1960s mod party, a futuristic newsroom, and a disco ball into a blender. It was weird. It was loud. It was unapologetically bright. At the center of it all stood Ulala, a pink-haired reporter with a laser gun and moves that could stop an alien invasion.
The Accidental Icon
It’s funny how things happen. Tetsuya Mizuguchi, the mastermind behind the game, was originally told to make something that would appeal to women. But as the team at United Game Artists started building this world, it morphed into something much bigger.
Ulala actually started her life in the concept phase as a male character. Hard to imagine now, right?
Takashi Yuda eventually conceived the Ulala we know today, but she wasn’t even in the original 1997 concept video. She was a late addition that basically stole the entire show. The design team, led by Yumiko Miyabe, had a tricky job. They wanted her to be "cool and stylish" but also approachable. They pulled inspiration from the 1968 sci-fi film Barbarella, mixing that 60s retro-futurism with a Y2K aesthetic that still looks fresh today.
Look at her outfit. It’s orange and blue—colors chosen specifically to mirror the Dreamcast logo and Sega’s corporate branding in Japan. She was literally designed to be the face of the console.
Why the Gameplay "Simon Says" Logic Worked
Most rhythm games today are about hitting a hundred notes a second on a plastic guitar or a touch screen. Space Channel 5 was different. It was basically a high-stakes game of Simon Says.
The Morolians (those spindly, dancing aliens) would bark out a sequence, and you had to mimic it perfectly.
- Up
- Down
- Left
- Right
- Chu! (The sound of her laser beam)
Missing a beat didn't just mess up your score; it plummeted your "Ratings." If your ratings hit zero, you were off the air. Game over. It was stressful, honestly. Especially when the game started throwing "Hey!" or "Shooting!" into the mix to throw off your internal metronome.
👉 See also: Why The Charge NYT Crossword Clue Still Trips Everyone Up
One thing people often forget is that Ulala never actually kills anyone. Even when she’s "shooting," she’s just teleporting people to safety or snapping aliens out of a trance. It was a non-violent action game before that was even a trendy thing to talk about.
That Michael Jackson Connection
We have to talk about Space Michael.
It sounds like a fever dream now, but the King of Pop was actually in this game. According to Mizuguchi, Michael Jackson saw an early version of the game and loved it so much he asked to be in it. By the time he reached out, the first game was almost finished, so he only had a small cameo at the end.
By the time Space Channel 5: Part 2 rolled around, Space Michael was a full-blown character, serving as the head of the channel. Seeing Michael Jackson do a dance-off against a giant robot alongside a girl with neon pink pigtails is peak Sega energy. You just don't get that kind of weirdness in modern AAA gaming anymore.
The Tragedy Behind the Funky Beats
Behind the bright colors, Ulala actually has a pretty dark backstory.
Ten years before the events of the first game, she was the sole survivor of a massive spaceship crash. Her parents died in the accident. She was rescued by a reporter named Jaguar, which is why she eventually became a journalist herself.
That little bit of depth is probably why she resonated so much. She wasn't just a dancing doll; she was a survivor who turned her trauma into a career where she literalized the idea of "bringing light" to the galaxy.
Where is She Now?
Since the Dreamcast died, Sega has kept Ulala on life support through cameos. She’s been in Sega Superstars Tennis, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, and most recently, there’s been a lot of chatter about her appearing in Sonic Racing Crossworlds.
In 2020, we got Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash!.
The reception was... mixed. People loved seeing the world in VR, but the game was short. Like, really short. You could beat the story mode in about 30 minutes. Still, seeing a life-sized Ulala dance right in front of you was a trip for long-time fans. It proved that the art style—that 60s-meets-the-future look—works incredibly well in modern tech.
Why You Should Care in 2026
Retro-futurism is having a massive moment right now. From fashion to interior design, the "Y2K" and "Space Age" aesthetics are everywhere. Ulala was the pioneer of that look in gaming.
If you’ve never played it, you’re missing out on a masterclass in personality-driven design. The game doesn't need 4K textures or ray tracing to look good. It has style. It has soul.
Honestly, in an era where every game feels like a 100-hour open-world chore, there is something incredibly refreshing about a game that just asks you to dance. It’s pure, distilled joy.
How to Experience Ulala Today
If you want to dive into the world of Space Channel 5, you don't need to hunt down a dusty Dreamcast.
- Space Channel 5: Part 2 on Steam: This is the easiest way to play. It’s often on sale for a few bucks and runs on basically any modern PC.
- Space Channel 5 VR: If you have a PSVR2 or a Quest, it’s worth a look for the novelty, though maybe wait for a sale given how short it is.
- The Soundtrack: Honestly, just go find the OST on Spotify or YouTube. Naofumi Hataya’s music is some of the best ever put in a video game. "Mexican Flyer" (the main theme) will be stuck in your head for a week.
Whether she's saving the world from the Morolians or the Rhythm Rogues, Ulala remains a reminder that gaming can be weird, colorful, and fun without taking itself too seriously. Stay funky!