As we get reconnected to the Internet the other day, I decided to download a torrent full of Neo Geo ROMs and NeoRage (emulator).

Like most 16-bit gamers, I was aware of the console but could never afford one (nor know anyone who had one). Also, later I had a brief sample of the machine in the arcades but never really got into any of the games in the cabinets I'd played. I always loved the big, bold, colourful graphics and the larger-than-life presentation of many of the games.

So tonight I've been going through the ROM list and I've found some great games already!

Of course, there's Metal Slug - a game that I've always heard/read good things about but never got to play. Great old-school arcade blasting with fantastic animation. I can't believe there's so many instalments to play!

A bizarre cutesy Mario Brothers clone called Zupapa. You have to stun enemies, then flip them - like Mario Bros (except you punch them/throw creatures at them) - but there's more to it and the game is really addictive.

Zupapa (skip to about a minute in):


A third-person rally game called Over Top (kind of the same viewpoint as Rock 'N' Roll Racing but with a multi-terrain rally course (taking you through city streets, forest, mountain and desert in one single lap). This is also really addictive in a Micro Machines kind of way.

Over Top (skip to about 2 min):


An awesome arcade golf game called Neo Turf Masters.

Viewpoint is a brilliant scrolling shooter (isometric) with a very distinctive visual style (kind of like Bitmap Brothers meets Wipeout) and great animation. It's a typical arcade shooter in many ways, but it's well-designed and seems to have a good difficulty curve.

Viewpoint:


I also had a quick go on World Heroes. That was better than I thought - I know SNK were renowned for their fighting games (around 30% of the ROM collection seems to be fighting games) but I didn't like it much in the arcade, I always preferred MK and SFII.

So I'm enjoying the Neo Geo - I wish I'd got to play these games sooner but there you go...

Any other good game recommendations?

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Super side kicks 1-3
Art of fighting
Fatal Fury
Windjammers
Winning post

And most importantly 3 Count Bount (aka Fire Suplex in japan)

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EASTEND SAYS...BOUNCE AROUND THE GROUND

The thing about Neo Geo games was that they almost always seemed to be fairly average playing games tarted up using an ungodly amount of memory and thus costing a ridiculous amount for home-entertainment purposes.

Neo Geo was a fun distraction in the arcade, and relatively cheap for arcade owners, but I dont think I ever played a Neo Geo game that I ever particuarly wanted to play at home.

The machine is an arcade cab at heart - so you'll never get any games that require any kind of commitment. No RPGs or big platformers, etc, just arcade thrills (and a ridiculous amount of soccer and fighting games) but I think there's a place for that.

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I just had a go at Pulstar. A good game in principle, but way too hard to be anything more than a highly frustrating chore. You can't really react to situations - you just have to die, then remember not to be in that position at that time on the next go. It just becomes an exercise in memory recall.

Disappointing.

And it's such a blatant R-Type clone too.

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I mostly play Neo Turf Masters or Baseball stars 2.


Awesome stuff

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Yeah, NTM is ace. I think I'll fire it up right now, actually.

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One game is all you need. I also recommend friends with it:



WINDJAMMERS

I had a quick go. Didn't understand it.

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There are plenty of arcade games I like to play at home. (SF2, Rabbit Punch, Robocop, Capcom's D&D games. Hyper Sports, etc) None of the Neo Geo's titles have ever quite grabbed me that way.

Essentially, it's pong, with power ups. It's more fun against a friend. There is also a cool throwing a Frisbee for a dog mini game.

Sorry, I have to laugh. It sounds a bit like a retro Wii Sports Resort.

Did it ever get a home release? I'm curious to know how much that monstrosity cost.

IT'S ACE

Not saying it's not - Wii Sports Resort is apparently quite good too.

But seriously, at the kind of cost that Neo Geo cartridges went for? What would it have been? About £200?

No doubt, but then I personally don't think there are any Neo Geo games worth paying £200 for, now or then. I would love to have one though.

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