Publisher: SNK (1993)
Reviewed: 2010/5/8
Recommended variation: Normal
Our high score: 43,870
1 or 2 players
Samurai Shodown 2
Grade: A-
Publisher: SNK (1994)
Reviewed: 2010/5/8
Recommended variation: Normal
Our high score: 26,660
1 or 2 players
Samurai Shodown 3
Grade: B+
Publisher: SNK (1996)
Reviewed: 2010/5/8
Recommended variation: Normal
Our high score: 95,100
1 or 2 players
Publisher: SNK (1992)
Reviewed: 2002/10/16
Our high score: 65300
1 or 2 players
Publisher: SNK (1993)
Reviewed: 2002/9/6
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Wow - this is a seriously fun side-scrolling hack-n-slash game! Sengoku 2's background story involves some epic confrontation with a demonic warlord, but you'll need to be a speed-reader to keep up with the intro text. Two people can play at once, and each player can switch between
four identities on the fly (including animals). Each identity is a unique character with its own attributes, weapons, and techniques. The action is fast and furious, and there's never a hint of slowdown. A fine control scheme provides plenty of attacks, and well as letting you block and transform. Thanks to cool power-ups and diverse enemies, the action never gets stale or repetitive. Although most enemies are samurai-inspired, there's always something new lurking around each corner, including a few horseback-riding stages. Some the bosses, like the giant skeleton at sea, are absolutely jaw-dropping. But what really impressed me is Sengoku 2's attention to detail. Enemies keel over dramatically as they are sliced in half. Swords clash and lock against each other. Dragons fly in the background as crowds of people run in fear. Although the game is a CD, the loading times are not bad at all. On the downside, the two-player mode is pretty easy, and enemies tend to linger slightly off screen. But overall Sengoku 2 is terrific and a big step up from the original. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Noise Factory (2001)
Reviewed: 2011/6/10
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The Sengoku series pushed the limits of hack-n-slash fun with its huge characters, weird monsters, and colorful scenery. Sengoku 2 is regarded as the best of the series, but Sengoku 3 is no slouch either. Four huge playable characters include a pair of swordsmen, a hottie, and a big brawny dude with a bat. The controls are more robust than previous Sengoku titles, utilizing all four buttons. There are two attacks, a jump, and the fourth button tosses projectiles when available. You can even unleash different types of Ninjitsu magic when your meter is full. Three selectable stages include China, Italy, and Tokyo. Frankly I didn't find China and Italy to be very exciting; they're mainly just a series of streets and storefronts. The Tokyo-at-night stage is pretty awesome though. That vivid skyline in the background exudes a "let's go wild and kick some ass on a Friday night" vibe. Good stuff! The difficulty is fair, and the five continues are just about right. Sengoku 3 won't blow you away, but those who can appreciate a quality side-scroller are in for a treat. © Copyright 2011 The Video Game Critic.
Recommended variation: with continues
Our high score: 256,604
1 or 2 players
Shock Troopers (MVS)
Grade: B+
Publisher: Saurus (1997)
Reviewed: 2011/7/16
Recommended variation: normal w/ cnts
Our high score: 6,047,803
1 or 2 players
Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad (MVS)
Grade: D+
Publisher: Saurus (1998)
Reviewed: 2011/11/1
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The first Shock Troopers was a rip-roaring overhead shooter with a level of destruction on par with Metal Slug. This sequel however is surprisingly tame. Cast from a different mold than the original, Second Squad has its own quirky graphic style and some very questionable stage designs. Like the first game you select a soldier and blast your way through streets, air bases, ports, and even moving trains. The background graphics are the most compelling aspect of the game. The scenery is so detailed with rich textures that it almost looks
digitized at times. Likewise the explosions are some of the best I've seen in any video game. Sadly, the characters are rendered in a goofy cartoon style that clashes with the semi-realistic scenery. Not only does your soldier look like a dork, but enemies look like a bunch of bumbling buffoons as well. Shooting them results in silly animations that will have you longing for the splattering of blood. The stage designs are lacking. In the first game you were constantly forging ahead, but here you tend to remain in one area as enemies are air-dropped all around you. Since you're constantly finding yourself completely surrounded, the evade button is your one saving grace. Sadly, it is assigned to the C button which is less-than-optimal. Another problem is the extreme slow-down, and we're talking about the
single-player mode. Don't even
think about playing this with two players. Shock Troopers 2 has some sharp-looking set pieces but if you're a fan of the first game this sequel is bound to disappoint. © Copyright 2011 The Video Game Critic.
Our high score: 474,000
1 or 2 players
Publisher: SNK (1991)
Reviewed: 2005/7/14

With Soccer Brawl, SNK was clearly trying to create a turbo-charged, futuristic version of the sport along the lines of Super Baseball 2020. They were not completely successful. The teams are comprised of seven armor-plated players, each with their own "attack capabilities". The action is fast paced, but the controls are lacking. Two buttons are used to perform all of the moves (including attacks), which is very confusing. Powering-up players is no problem (hold down A), but the attacks are not the least bit satisfying. In addition, it's impossible to "head" the ball with precision. Your viewing angle is fairly close, so by the time you get the ball in proximity of the goal, the goalie pounces on it. Shooting from a distance is also problematic since your limited perspective prevents you from knowing where the goal is with respect to your man. You can only shoot from three angles, although walls that enclose the course do provide carom opportunities. These walls are great in concept, but inexplicably there's still an "out of bounds" zone in front of them. What's up with that? Predictably, the ball always winds up in that zone, resulting in constant throw-ins, and that truly sucks. Soccer Brawl's single redeeming feature is the two hot chicks displayed whenever a goal is scored. If anyone ever accused the VGC of being influenced by the inclusion of gratuitous, scantily clad babes in a game, well, they're right. But even that can't elevate Soccer Brawl above the average mark. The game is interesting in concept, but the execution is weak. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Data East (1993)
Reviewed: 2008/1/6

This platformer has managed to remain under my radar for many years, but it currently ranks as my
favorite Neo Geo game! Spinmaster might be considered a blatant Metal Slug rip-off had it not been released
three years before that game! One or two players control a pair of cartoonish yo-yo-wielding bothers fighting their way through jungles, rivers, tombs, and castles. You'll embark on a wild riverboat stage and a fantastic high-speed mine cart ride. Unlike so many other platform games, your default yo-yo weapon is extremely effective, especially since you can throw it diagonally and in a rapid-fire manner. Other weapons include fireballs, bombs, and boxing gloves, but my personal favorite is the throwing stars. Spinmaster's sprites are absolutely
huge, but the on-screen chaos never feels overwhelming. Exotic layered backgrounds call to mind Indiana Jones, and the stages are short enough that they never wear out their welcome. Playing alongside a friend is especially fun. Although much of the game tends to move at a breakneck pace, you'll definitely want to take your time when it comes to the platform jumping. Spinmaster's difficulty is very fair, but you'll still find yourself wanting to use the continues. The game's musical score is so good that it sometimes reminded me of a Zelda game (high praise indeed). Coming off like an easier and more whimsical version of Metal Slug, Spinmaster is one Neo Geo title worth hunting down. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.
Recommended variation: continues
Our high score: 277530
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Saurus (1996)
Reviewed: 2011/4/30
Recommended variation: Normal
Our high score: SLN 580K
1 or 2 players
Stakes Winner 2 (MVS)
Grade: C-
Publisher: Saurus (1996)
Reviewed: 2011/7/16
Recommended variation: Normal w/ cnts
Our high score: 1.5m
1 or 2 players
Publisher: SNK (1994)
Reviewed: 2004/11/13
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Here's an awesome Neo Geo game you won't have to pay a fortune for. A 3-on-3 arcade-style basketball game, Street Hoop is cheap and readily available on CD. If you're familiar with Arch Rivals or NBA Jam, you'll feel right at home with Street Hoop. It's better looking than NBA Jam, with larger, more detailed players and animated urban backgrounds. The action is fast and furious, with flying elbows, backboard-bending jams, and even some trash talking. The simple, two-button control scheme is sweet, and there are no fouls or goal tending to slow things down. I especially love how you can knock down defenders while slamming a dunk. Unlike other sports games which drag on for too long, Street Hoop contests are surprisingly short. As a matter of fact, this is the first sports game that my friends complained about being
too short! The thumping hip-hop music is outstanding, and my friend Scott can't stop singing "Standin' on the black top pickin' our teams". One weak link is the announcer, who yells nonsense like "dunk shot!" and "upset!" at inappropriate times. The game takes a while to load initially, but once it's running, there are minimal pauses in the action. Street Hoop delivers pure arcade fun, and it's an under-rated title in the Neo Geo library. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
Strikers 1945 Plus (MVS)
Grade: B+
Publisher: Psikyo (1999)
Reviewed: 2013/2/9
Our high score: 137,500
1 or 2 players
Super Baseball 2020
Grade: A-
Publisher: SNK (1991)
Reviewed: 2004/8/8
Super Sidekicks 2
Grade: B
Publisher: SNK (1994)
Reviewed: 2007/4/4

Super Sidekicks 2 (SS2) is one of the most exciting soccer games ever. Want proof? Just look at scoreboard with the word "EXCITING" plastered over it in huge, colorful letters! The non-stop action is viewed from a raised angle on the sideline, and the games are short but sweet. The players are huge, and so detailed they almost look digitized. On offense, you can shoot, pass low, or pass high. Since your view of the field is somewhat narrow, your passes are usually "blind", but fortunately there's usually a teammate present to receive the ball. Shooting requires being quick on the trigger, as flashing prompts indicate the best opportunities to score. For exceptionally well-timed shots, the game cuts to a first-person perspective that lets you aim precisely, and it looks astonishingly good. On defense you can bump your opponent, slide tackle, or switch players. Selecting the correct player can be tricky however, and I hate how you relinquish control of your defender after a missed steal attempt. Once the ball gets in the vicinity of the goal, things really get crazy as you pound buttons in anticipation of rebound opportunities. The amazing digitized crowd chants
rock the stadium, adding to the sense of urgency. Goals and penalties are accompanied by brief cut scenes of players celebrating or complaining to referees. A few of these are unintentionally hilarious, like the one with the goalie continually pounding his fist into the ground. Easy to play and never boring, you don't need to be a soccer fan to enjoy Super Sidekicks 2. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.
Super Sidekicks 3: The Next Glory
Grade: A-
Publisher: SNK (1995)
Reviewed: 2007/4/4

I don't know what the awkwardly-translated "next glory" is supposed to mean, but Super Sidekicks 3 (SS3) is pure arcade bliss. While not a giant leap from its predecessor, SS3 does address some key flaws. For one thing, the Neo Geo's scaling capabilities are put to good use as the camera automatically zooms in and out, providing a broad view of the field when you really need it. Unlike Sidekicks 2, you can actually
see who you're passing to much of the time. I also like how you no longer lose control of your defender after an unsuccessful steal attempt. There are plenty of unintentionally hilarious cut-scenes, including a few that border on
homoerotic. When two teammates are shown leaping towards each other, armed out-stretched and mouths open, it looks like they're about to
make out! In another scene, a player appears to be performing an
obscene act on the referee! Oh well, at least these provide for some good comic relief. Whether challenging a friend or competing against a field of CPU contenders, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining soccer title than Super Sidekicks 3. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: SNK (1990)
Reviewed: 2004/2/21

Super Spy is a first-person fighter similar to Crossed Swords, but it offers a modern spy scenario instead of medieval sword combat. Like Crossed Swords, the graphics are pleasing to the eye and the gameplay is immediately accessible and fun. Gameplay consists of a series of battles that occur as you move from room to room in a hijacked scientific facility. The first-person viewpoint is quite effective in battle, allowing you to punch, kick, stab, or shoot the villains that approach. These miscreants include ninjas, mad scientists, and huge musclemen. Judging by the sheer size of these characters, it's evident that no other console of the early-90's could have handled a game like this. Dodging and blocking allow you to avoid attacks and set up for counters. When you have ammo (always in short supply), shooting enemies is terrific fun, and you can explode barrels, rupture pipes, and break windows in the process. You'll also encounter friendly scientists who offer info, weapons, or health. Unfortunately, Super Spy is largely a one-trick pony with no scoring and unlimited continues, and the action gets awfully repetitious. It's quite original and worth playing thru once, but after that you probably won't want to look at it again for a long time. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Alpha Denshi (1991)
Reviewed: 2012/6/22
Our high score: 50
1 player
Publisher: SNK (1994)
Reviewed: 2004/11/13
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I was hoping for a poor-man's Metal Slug, but Top Hunter is a different type of game. This whimsical side-scroller emphasizes hand-to-hand combat and features gorgeous arcade graphics. Your main attacks are punches and throws, but occasionally you'll find weapons and even commandeer robots. Grabbing and throwing bad guys might sound like fun, but once you use a gun in this game, you realize Top Hunter would have been
much more fun as a straight shooter. The screen has a foreground and background layer, and the C button lets you jump between them. The interactive scenery is rich with detail, but it can be hard to tell if an object is in the foreground or background. You and a friend can join forces to kick butt side by side, but as you might guess, the two-player action only adds to the confusion. The three lengthy stages are set in forest, fire, and ice environments. Each stage has a few lever mechanisms that activate traps or expose new areas. The best part of Top Hunter is definitely the graphics. Despite the cartoonish look of the characters, some of the huge monstrosities you encounter are truly astonishing in both size and detail (the giant snow monster in the ice stage comes to mind). Top Hunter has unlimited continues, but they can totally ruin the challenge and fun factor. If you have the discipline to limit your continues (or not use them), Top Hunter can be a good time. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: SNK (1990)
Reviewed: 2015/5/19

Top Players would be a respectable golf game on most platforms, but on the Neo Geo this is just not cutting it. You can tell this was an early title from the opening cut-scene with its low-resolution scenery and cartoonish golfers. Two fictional courses are available, each with an imaginative set of holes that allow for multiple approaches. Too bad you never get a decent view! The user interface is a nightmare. Selecting the "course" button lets you toggle between several views of the course, one more unhelpful than the next. The one-press swing meter doesn't really make much sense with the fade and draw areas near the top of the meter. You won't know the distance to the pin unless you ask your "caddy" who looks more like a bubbly 12-year-old girl. When consulted, she exclaims "Take my advice -
if you dare! Or make your own choice!
It's up to you!!"
*Cringe*. When you hit the ball it looks as big as a softball flying through the air. Sometimes it only travels half the distance for no apparent reason. The graphics are cheesy and the water looks heinous. The best aspect of the game is its relaxing piano music, which sounds like something out of a Peanuts cartoon. Top Players Golf is playable once you get a feel for it, but you tend to expect more from a Neo Geo sports game. © Copyright 2015 The Video Game Critic.
Treasure of the Caribbean (CD)
Grade: B-
Publisher: NCI-Le Cortext (2011)
Reviewed: 2015/7/29
Our high score: 31,903
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Sammy (1992)
Reviewed: 2010/11/27
Our high score: 67240
1 or 2 players
Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer (CD)
Grade: D
Publisher: Technos (1995)
Reviewed: 2004/1/31
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This bizarre one-on-one fighter would be commendable on most systems, but for a system like the Neo Geo stocked with so many great fighters, this is just plain mediocre. The characters are completely over-the-top, bringing to mind the shape-shifting freaks of Darkstalkers. There's a guy with bat wings, a four-armed robot, a magician, a Captain America look-alike, and two scantily clad, long-legged females. The boss is a man and woman fused together to form one awesome warrior. Gowcaizer appears to use the same engine as Art of Fighting, with huge characters and a camera that zooms in and out. The controls are more like Fatal Fury, with two punch and two kick buttons. All the characters have crazy special attacks, many of which defy proper description. While some of these are somewhat amusing, they tend to make the fights overly chaotic and loaded with cheap hits. Shaia, for example, can sit back and continuously pound you from a distance with her remote ball. After winning a match, you can acquire one of your opponent's special moves which is displayed on the screen. The spectacular backgrounds are probably the highlight of the game, with marvelous unconventional scenery like a burning city, the interior of a church, and a concert stage. Although Gowcaizer's gameplay doesn't stand out, its music certainly does. That's because it feature real Japanese
singing, and while it seems funny at first, eventually the horrible noise becomes unbearable. Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer isn't particularly fun to play, but it certainly is bizarre. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Data East (1994)
Reviewed: 2007/9/5
Our high score: 49302
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Alpha Denshi (1992)
Reviewed: 2015/4/4
Our high score: 394,300
1 or 2 players
Publisher: ADK (1993)
Reviewed: 2015/4/4
Our high score: 571,900
1 or 2 players
World Heroes 2 Jet
Grade: B
Publisher: ADK (1994)
Reviewed: 2015/4/5
Our high score: 117.60
1 or 2 players
World Heroes Perfect (CD)
Grade: F
Publisher: ADK (1995)
Reviewed: 2015/4/5
Our high score: 2,311,501
1 or 2 players
Publisher: NMK (1994)
Reviewed: 2018/1/2

Zed Blade is one of those pick-up-and-play side-scrolling shooters that let you unleash rapid-fire shots at large, colorful sprites. Your ship is armed with multiple weapons including a forward shot, backward shot, missiles, and bombs. Crisp explosions punctuate the action and power-ups are ubiquitous. The soundtrack is a chaotic jumble of samples and beats, but it does have a vague "Get Ready For This" vibe. You'll select between three pilots and various weapon loadouts. It's not hard to stave off the waves of jets, tanks, and mechs. They tend to materialize out of gray squares - an unique effect that's not particularly impressive. Upon snagging a power-up or two you'll be shooting projectiles in all directions with no slowdown in sight. Unleashing a bomb conjures a wall of destruction that marches across the screen. Your ship is a huge target but the slow-moving orange projectiles are pretty easy to avoid. When you reach the end of each stage the message appears "Warning - a major enemy is approaching" (hint: it's a boss). Even colossal robot joggers have little chance against your firepower. Zed Blade is accessible enough but its stages are its achilles heel. They are boring at best and annoying at worst. The opening stage offers a forgettable repetitive landscape, the second is set on gray moon, and the third is a space stage with annoying "cosmic slime" enemies. The slime is about as hard to get rid of as phlegm in the back of your throat. Zed Blade's arcade appeal is ultimately undone by its lazy, unimaginative stage designs. © Copyright 2018 The Video Game Critic.
Our high score: 306320
1 or 2 players