Neo Games That Surprised You

[CloudGamerX]

I don't think anyone has talked about this, but I figured I would start this thread anyways.

What are some Neo games that surprised you?

The experience can either be positive, negative, or neutral.

 

[CloudGamerX]

I'll go first, a Neo game that surprised me very recently was Ganryu. I was told it was a very "meh" game. So when I tried it on my 161 in 1, I was expecting just that. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed the game. It's no Ninja Gaiden or Shinobi, but it's definitely worth a playthrough.

 

[Digmac]

Legend of Success Joe for being the best Neo Geo game, period. Only true Big Tymers know.

 

[Neo_Mike_81]

Voltage fighter gowcaizer ,nuff said.

 

[max 330 mega]

There is a way with unibios cheats and enough alcohol to make galaxy fight play alot like bushido blade.

 

[ggallegos1]

I'm surprised at how much more I like Fatal Fury 3 than others in the series. I know it's a half step between the real bout and main series, however it just clicked well with me and is usually my go to mainline FF game.

Also, breakers is a fun one.

One that surprised me negatively was savage reign. Not too big a fan of the mechanics and it just didn't feel very fun to play

 

[Lach]

Neo Turf Masters, first time I booted it up I was thinking... golf?! this is gonna be shit.

How wrong I was.

 

[profholt82]

^A-effing-men

 

[LoneSage]

Blazing Star surprised me. I didn't know the Neo could do the things it did in that game.

 

[Neo_Mike_81]

Art of Fighting 3 also surprised me with its Sprites , graphics, and animation.

 

[CloudGamerX]

Art of Fighting 3 also surprised me with its Sprites , graphics, and animation.

Same here! I love the rotoscoped animation they used on the Sprites. It's definitely a step up from Art of Fighting 2.

 

[Neo Alec]

I'll go first, a Neo game that surprised me very recently was Ganryu. I was told it was a very "meh" game. So when I tried it on my 161 in 1, I was expecting just that. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed the game. It's no Ninja Gaiden or Shinobi, but it's definitely worth a playthrough.

It's about setting expectations. If you paid a lot for the MVS cart ten years ago you might be disappointed. If you've been told it's not great, you might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Mr.Bojangles]

Windjammers. I thought this game was basically pong, but its so much more. Its super entertaining with friends and family to play with and i really dig the side games. Add superb graphics and i can understand why this is a cult classic.

 

[CloudGamerX]

A game I can say I was pretty let down by, was 8 Man. It looked really cool through gameplay footage, but actually playing and beating the game just felt incredibly lacking.

 

[NeoSneth]

magical drop
i never really got into the arcade puzzle games, but this one had me hooked. It was probably the most played game on my Big Red.

 

[Neo_Mike_81]

Top Players Golf is a very enjoyable game on the Neo.

 

[Finch]

Blazing Star surprised me. I didn't know the Neo could do the things it did in that game.

Pretty much this. I played a lot of Neo Geo games that looked great, Metal Slug, Last Blade, Samurai Showdown, all have excellent art and animation, but Blazing Star really blew me away with how crazy some of the graphics were. Full animated backgrounds, massive fluid well animated sprites, tons of particles. I originally played it on an emulator and figured there was no way it ran full speed on the Neo, then I got a MVS cart and was totally blown away again.

Along these lines, Garou, and in particular, the Garou church bells level is really impressive.

 

[CloudGamerX]

Oh for sure, Blazing Star is a game I felt where the use of pre-rendered assets was done right. The game looks, sounds, and plays beautifully. Even if the word "BONUS" is stuck in my head, after a session.

 

[awbacon]

Matrimelee. Always heard it wasn't great, etc etc. Bought it about ten years ago...quickly became my #1 Neo game to play fun factor wise

 

[KGRAMR]

Zed Blade for me. I expected it to be a decent little shoot 'em up but I enjoyed a lot more than I should've + Manabu Namiki's OST is really good!

 

[MetalSlugVet]

Top hunter, I was really thinking i would like the game from watching gameplay online. I just could never get into the game like i normally do with other neo geo games. I still think it is a gorgeous game to look at and I play it now and then but it was a huge disappointment for me as i thought i would love it. I think its a quality game just could never get it to click for me personally..

For platformers on the neo I play spinmaster a hell of a lot more then i play top hunter.

 

[Neo Alec]

Top hunter, I was really thinking i would like the game from watching gameplay online. I just could never get into the game like i normally do with other neo geo games. I still think it is a gorgeous game to look at and I play it now and then but it was a huge disappointment for me as i thought i would love it. I think its a quality game just could never get it to click for me personally..

For platformers on the neo I play spinmaster a hell of a lot more then i play top hunter.

I played the first stage of Top Hunter on Neo Geo CD Special several times, and it was amazing! Then I got the real game and it got old fast.

I hope to some day get into it again, and I'm hoping there's more there than surface level.

 

[supergoose]

I didn't expect to enjoy playing Magical Drop 3, Turf Masters and League Bowling as much as I do. Fatal Fury Special and Riding Hero on the other hand...

 

[BIG BEAR]

I played the first stage of Top Hunter on Neo Geo CD Special several times, and it was amazing! Then I got the real game and it got old fast.

I hope to some day get into it again, and I'm hoping there's more there than surface level.

TOP HUNTER strikes me as being a HIGH SCORE type of game. You definitely have to take your time with that one and take in the whole atmosphere.
I definitely have to pick up a copy of this when I get the chance.....
The game I was most pleasantly surprised with was SHOCK TROOPERS...I was/am blown away by the graphics and gameplay.Anybody know how to make that soldier come out with the AFRO constantly that drops ammo and other items??Another one that surprised me was NITD
BB

 

[oliverclaude]

Back in '92 all the reviews of Andro Dunos were devastating and it really didn't look good on those poor quality photos in my mags, taken from CRTs running on CVBS. The minute I played it for my own, though, I had the surprise of a lifetime half a decade later. Better late than never. Twinkle Star Sprites surprised me, too: I had no idea that I could actually be good at it. I didn't expect Matrimelee to be so godly crazy, a Tarantino movie disguised as a video game. Savage Reign's bad rep surprised me, and lately, Miracle Adventure grew on me after I realised that it was more Wonder Boy than Joe & Mac. Data East truly ruled on the Neo!