Editing Space Channel 5 (section)

===Dreamcast===
Upon its debut in Japan, the game met with low sales.<ref name="JPsales"/> During its first week, it sold through just over 44% of its stock with over 41,000 units. It eventually sold over 93,600 units in Japan, being among the region's top 40 best-selling Dreamcast titles.<ref name="SpaceDreamSales"/> At a 2002 conference, the game was declared a success by its staff, finding a wide audience among both hardcore and casual gamers.<ref name="GSinterview2"/> In contrast during a 2005 interview, Mizuguchi said that the game was not a commercial success.<ref name="VGD"/>

According to video game [[review aggregator]] [[GameRankings]], the Dreamcast version earned a score of 84% based on 34 reviews.<ref name="GRdc"/> Japanese gaming magazine ''[[Famitsu]]'' gave the game a score of 29 points out of 40.<ref name="FamReviewDC"/> Pat Garratt of ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' gave the game a perfect score, calling it a unique game and "absolute must for every DC owner".<ref name="CVGdc"/> The three reviewers for ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' lauded the soundtrack and art design, but noted issues with its short length and occasional syncing issues.<ref name="EGMdc"/> ''[[GamePro]]'' positively compared the gameplay and style to ''[[PaRappa the Rapper]]'' and ''[[Dragon's Lair (1983 video game)|Dragon's Lair]]'', recommending it as a short and enjoyable experience while noting a lack of extras.<ref name="GProDC"/> ''[[GameSpot]]''{{'}}s [[Jeff Gerstmann]] said ''Space Channel 5'' was worth playing for its unconventional art style and music, with his main complaints being repetitive gameplay and lack of unlockables.<ref name="GSdc"/>

''[[GameSpy]]'' called the game "a work of art in every sense of the word", praising the world and music and calling the game a testament to Sega's production skills; their one major problem was the simplistic gameplay style and lack of features beyond the campaign.<ref name="GSpyDC"/> ''[[IGN]]'' gave both the Japanese original and the Western release near-perfect scores, praising the presentation while criticizing the short length and timing issues.<ref name="IGNdcJP"/><ref name="IGNdcINT"/> ''[[USA Today]]'' said the game was "all about fun, and [''Space Channel 5''] delivers with a song."<ref name="USAToday"/> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' said that "gamers of all ages undoubtedly will want to help [[Ulala (Space Channel 5)|Ulala]] get her groove back — if not get their hands on a pair of those boots."<ref name="EW"/> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]''{{'}}s Greg Orlando called the game "Beautiful and all-too-short".<ref name="NG"/>

''Space Channel 5'' was nominated for awards in four categories at the 1999 [[Japan Game Awards]].<ref name="SC5dates"/> It was also nominated in the "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation|Animation]]" and "Console Innovation" categories at the [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]]' awards ceremony in [[4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards|2001]].<ref name="SC5award"/> 
''Space Channel 5'' and Sega AM9 were nominated at the 2002 [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Awards]] in the "Best Audio" category, losing to ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002 |title=Interactive in 2002 {{!}} BAFTA Awards |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2002/interactive/games- |access-date=March 13, 2023 |website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>

In anniversary retrospectives and lists of favorite Dreamcast titles from multiple websites including ''[[Gamasutra]]'' and ''IGN'', ''Space Channel 5'' has been remembered as one of the most unique titles on the system for its gameplay design and art direction.<ref name="EWdreamcast"/><ref name="GamaDreamcast"/><ref name="GRdreamcast"/><ref name="NLdreamcast"/><ref name="IGNdreamcast"/><ref name="EuroRetro"/> ''[[1UP.com]]'', in an article about Mizuguchi's work with United Game Artists, "highlight" on the Dreamcast and described as "unlike anything before it."<ref name="1UPinterview"/>