Looking to determine what the gems of the Neo are, and which ones aren't.

My original thought was to put together a collection of all of the MVS titles out there.

Of course, the carts all had to be original with original English labels, and of course, in near mint/outstanding condition.

Every game had to have the corresponding original mini marquee, and recently, I've been trying to track down the bezel strips if they were made for the title.

Since then, I've dropped almost all of the Japanese titles from my want list, because I wouldn't be able to play them (the Mahjong games, Quiz games, etc.) Money Puzzle Exchanger, Neo Bomberman and the like remained on the list because they were playable and lots of fun.

Now I'm thinking that there are just only so many titles that are going to get sufficient play time, and the rest are just shelf fodder.

With that in mind, I'm considering limiting my MVS collection to either 51 or 68 titles.

(Presently, I have 74 of the 149 carts, and 109 of the 143 mini marquees made for the library.)

So, what I was looking for is a general consensus on what the most enjoyable games are for the MVS. I want a well rounded collection (some fighting, some shooters, some platformers, some sports, some puzzles, etc.), so I figured I'd ask your opinions.

If you had to list your top games in each category, what would they be?

Since there are more fighting games than any other genre for the Neo Geo, let's keep the list to 15, and 10 for the other categories.

I haven't played every game out there, which is why I'm asking.

My lists would include some of the following, but I need some help to fill in the rest of the list of 51 or 68.

Thanks,
Steve

Fighters (would include, but not in any order):
Garou MOTW
Last Blade
Last Blade 2
Samurai Shodown II
Art of Fighting 3

Shooters (would include, but not in any order):
Last Resort
Pulstar
Blazing Star
Viewpoint
Strikers 1945

Platformers/Action (would include, but not in any order):
Nam-1975
Neo Mr. Do
Crossed Swords
Super Spy
Metal Slug

Puzzles (would include, but not in any order):
Ghostlop
Bust-A-Move
Magical Drop III
Money Puzzle Exchanger
Puzzle de Pon! R

Sports (would include, but not in any order):
Baseball Stars 2
Super Sidekicks 4: The Ultimate 11
Neo Turf Masters
League Bowling
Windjammers

There are many games that I haven't played though (Twinkle Star Sprites, Nightmare in the Dark, Zupapa, Flip Shot, Bang Bead, etc) - so I don't know how they would fare on the list.

If the list needs to be longer than 68 to accommodate all of the gems the MVS has to offer - so be it. I just don't want to have games that simply won't get played.

The King of Fighters series is the biggest offender here - with 9 titles available - which are worthy? Which are lame? No idea. I only have 5 of them.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Any input is welcomed and appreciated.

Steve

My Shelf only holds 33 Neo Games. So here is my list of my fav games and what I think are the best of the best. I dont need any extra games and I dont really feel like im missing out on any games.

Baseball Stars 2
Blazing Star
Fatal Fury Special
Garou: Mark of The Wolves
King of Fighters '98
King of Fighters 2003
Kizuna Encounter / Fu'un Super Tag Battle
Last Blade (Gekka no Kenshi series)
Last Blade 2
Last Resort
Magical Drop 3
Matrimelee / Shin Goketsuji Ichizoku
Metal Slug
Metal Slug 2
Metal Slug 3
Money Puzzle Exchanger / Money Idol Exchanger
Neo Turf Masters / Big Tournament Golf
Over Top
Pop 'N Bounce / Gapporin
Pulstar
Puzzle Bobble
Samurai Shodown 2
Samurai Shodown 4: Amakusa's Revenge
Sengoku 3
Shock Troopers
Shock Troopers 2nd Squad
Street Hoop / Dunk Dream
Super Dodge Ball / Nekketsu Toukyu Densetsu
SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom
Twinkle Star Sprites
Waku Waku 7
Windjammers / Flying Power Disk
Zupapa!

My list:

Fighting:
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
SamSho II and V Special
Last Blade 1 and 2

Shooters:
Pulstar
Blazing Star
Viewpoint (love hate relationship with this one, due to the collision detection and perspective)

Action:
Metal Slug 1/X/3
Shock Troopers 1 and 2

Puzzle:
Money Puzzle Exchanger
Magical Drop 3
Note: I like the Bust a Move games... but geez I've played them to death on diff formats

Sports:
Windjammers
League Bowling
Neo Turf Masters

It's been a while since I played Nightmare in the Dark and Zupapa, but I did enjoy both of them quite a lot and think they might make my list.

Almost made the cut:
Top Hunter
Last Resort
Strikers 1945 Plus
Waku Waku 7
Neo Bomberman

Thanks so far guys.

I have FF inserts and Big Bear shockboxes for my games, and my shelves hold 17 per shelf, and 4 shelves for sure - 5 if I want to go that route.

So, 51 or 68 for certain, and can go as high as 85.

I figure if there's more than 85, I won't play them anyway.

There's 149 titles (including Ghostlop.)

If you take out the following 10 games due to (language, unplayability, etc):

Irritating Maze, The
Mahjong Bakatonosama Manyuki
Mahjong Kyoretsuden
Mahjong Minnashano Okagesamadesu
Master of Syougi / Shogi no Tatsujin
Quest of Jong Master / Mahjong Janshin Densetsu
Quiz Chibi Deluxe / Chibi Marukochan Deluxe Quiz
Quiz Detective / Quiz Daisousa Sen
Quiz Detective 2 / Quiz Meitantei Neo & Geo
Quiz King of Fighters

That leaves 139, 50% of which is 70.

That means if 50% of the entire Neo Geo MVS library was worth owning, then I'd have 70 titles.

Question is, are there more or less than 70 games that are "must haves"...

I'd replace strikers with the aero fighter/sonic wing games. Strikers already exists in better form as dedicated pcbs. Why settle for inferior ports on the neo of all systems?

id think it be easier to post your list and we can tell you what to get rid of...

but in reality only you can decided what you like and what you dont.

I personally never saw a need for every single KOF, AOF, FF etc etc...

LustForLard said:

id think it be easier to post your list and we can tell you what to get rid of...

but in reality only you can decided what you like and what you dont.

I personally never saw a need for every single KOF, AOF, FF etc etc...

Click to expand...

That's kind of my point - I don't know which of the multi-game series are worth a crap.

For example, I'd heard KOF 98 was very good, but I'm not sure about the rest. Same with the others.

I realize that most of this is personal preference - of course.

Perhaps identifying the total duds for the system may help.

Orrimarrko said:

That's kind of my point - I don't know which of the multi-game series are worth a crap.

For example, I'd heard KOF 98 was very good, but I'm not sure about the rest. Same with the others.

I realize that most of this is personal preference - of course.

Perhaps identifying the total duds for the system may help.

Click to expand...

KOF 98 is deffinitly the best or better ones.

I like KOF 2003 and 98 Personally.
Metal Slug 1-3 are the best
RBS and FFS and Garou are the best

I personally am not really a fan of these:
Nam-1975
Neo Mr. Do
Crossed Swords
Super Spy

There alright, but no mean must haves in my opinion. Shock Troppers, Zupapa, Sengoku 3 are much better.

sell what YOU don't like,
keep what YOU like.

LoneSage said:

sell what YOU don't like,
keep what YOU like.

Click to expand...

this.

and I don't see what's wrong with strikers1945+

I have fun with it.

Personally I think everyone should have a copy of Stakes Winner 2. It's surprisingly a really fun game, and it's one of the more unique Neo games.

Steve, I know where you're coming from, and it's an OCD nightmare. It's nice to have the perfect number on the shelf, but you're either going to have too few, too many, or just a lot of everything you don't play.

The best way to go about it is to just look at each title in the Neo's library individually and consider whether it's a game you enjoy and want to play in its original format. If it's a borderline title, put it on hold to see if it will help fill out that number you're going for.

In the end, you'll need to experience every game the system has to offer before being able to make a cut. When reviews and videos don't suffice, give it a shot on the emulator if you're unable to quickly locate it in real life. It will take a while to cross things off your list completely, but in the end you should end up with a compact and concise library where what matters is not the number of titles but the enjoyment you get out of them!

Good luck man! I know it's a painful process, because it's taken me 10 years to finally narrow it down to where I'm comfortable with my selection.

Sincerely,

Mikhail

Kiselgof said:

Steve, I know where you're coming from, and it's an OCD nightmare. It's nice to have the perfect number on the shelf, but you're either going to have too few, too many, or just a lot of everything you don't play.

The best way to go about it is to just look at each title in the Neo's library individually and consider whether it's a game you enjoy and want to play in its original format. If it's a borderline title, put it on hold to see if it will help fill out that number you're going for.

In the end, you'll need to experience every game the system has to offer before being able to make a cut. When reviews and videos don't suffice, give it a shot on the emulator if you're unable to quickly locate it in real life. It will take a while to cross things off your list completely, but in the end you should end up with a compact and concise library where what matters is not the number of titles but the enjoyment you get out of them!

Good luck man! I know it's a painful process, because it's taken me 10 years to finally narrow it down to where I'm comfortable with my selection.

Sincerely,

Mikhail

Click to expand...

LOL - Mak - I knew you'd understand my issue.

Everyone - I totally understand that enjoyment is in the eye of the player.

I'm by no means a noob here; I've been involved with the Neo for quite a while.

All I was asking for is a list of what people feel are generally the best titles for each category.

Some of these titles I don't have. Some of them I've never played.

Hell, many of the titles I do have, I've never played.

Sure, I can play emulators, etc. until I've decided what games suck, and what games are fantastic.

I just wanted to save some time, and ask for opinions.

I think I should have posted a thread asking for the games that everyone pretty much agrees are crap: Mostly Crappy, Totally Crappy, and Utter Dogshit.

I went the other route, because people here always get offended if someone slams a game that someone else likes.

Anyway, I appreciate the input, and by all means, I'm not looking for a set number of games from everyone.

I'm just looking to make sure that I have all of the gems in the collection, and not have to bother getting games that aren't worthy.

Otherwise, I'll just have to stick with getting them all.

OK, its taken me close to 12 years to get mine to where I'm semi-comfortable.

AES:

- Last Blade
- Last Blade 2
- Garou: MotW
- Metal Slug X
- Metal Slug 3 (1st Run, also my original copy, thanks Erik)
- Samurai Spirits 2
- King of Fighters 2000

MVS:

- Neo Turf Masters
- Puzzle Bobble
- Metal Slug
- Windjammers
- Magician Lord
- Blue's Journey
- Ninja Master's
- Blazing Star
- Pulstar
- Twinkle Star Sprites
- Baseball Stars 2
- Shock Troopers 2nd Squad
- Ganryu
- Ghostlop
- Last Resort

I'm looking for a few more MVS and AES titles then I'm done with my collection.

If you're not playing something, then you shouldnt own it.

TonK said:

- Ninja Master's
- Twinkle Star Sprites
- Shock Troopers 2nd Squad
- Ganryu

If you're not playing something, then you shouldnt own it.

Click to expand...

I have all of the listed MVS titles except these.

I agree with the statement about not playing, not owning.

Unfortunately, I rotate games in and out of my 6-slot dedicated cabinet, which takes a little effort.

So, some games may not get played for a long time, or for many, I haven't got to them yet.

SuperDeadite said:

Personally I think everyone should have a copy of Stakes Winner 2. It's surprisingly a really fun game, and it's one of the more unique Neo games.

Click to expand...

How different or is it any different from the Saturn version?

Definitely give Nightmare, Zupapa and TSS a shot! They are all unique and worthy titles that have something to bring to the table.

I think filtering becomes easier once you take a look at genres that don't interest you and pick out what are the consensus worst titles. For example, if you don't like soccer there's no need to own but one of the eight soccer Neo games. Likewise, if Windjammers is just ok, there's no need to bother with Bang Bead. I used the same methodology to focus on Bust A Move Again and avoid the other four similar games. After all, if time is limited and BAMA is the best, why spend time on the other copycats

Whereas since Metal Slug is my favorite series on the Neo, all of the titles will stick around even if a couple of them are definitely below par.

Sincerely,

Mikhail

Kiselgof said:

Definitely give Nightmare, Zupapa and TSS a shot! They are all unique and worthy titles that have something to bring to the table.

I think filtering becomes easier once you take a look at genres that don't interest you and pick out what are the consensus worst titles. For example, if you don't like soccer there's no need to own but one of the eight soccer Neo games. Likewise, if Windjammers is just ok, there's no need to bother with Bang Bead. I used the same methodology to focus on Bust A Move Again and avoid the other four similar games. After all, if time is limited and BAMA is the best, why spend time on the other copycats

Whereas since Metal Slug is my favorite series on the Neo, all of the titles will stick around even if a couple of them are definitely below par.

Sincerely,

Mikhail

Click to expand...

Hey Mak,

Nine soccer titles, actually, if you count Soccer Brawl.

No, I totally hear you - and the scientific approach is appealing as always.

Certainly willing to give Nightmare, Zupapa and TSS a shot; I just haven't owned them yet.

Which Metal Slugs are "below par"? I've heard things about 2, and I thought X was basically 2 but better somehow. (Not sure if that's true.)

I like all genres, so that's not really an issue. I love different sports games like Windjammers, and figured that Bang Bead (and even Flip Shot) would be great to acquire some day.

You'll note, of course, that more of these titles I'm mentioning are quite expensive. Knowing if they're fun is important. Emulator time, here I come.

Still curious to know what are generally considered to be the poorer titles are.

Orrimarrko said:

Hey Mak,

Nine soccer titles, actually, if you count Soccer Brawl.

No, I totally hear you - and the scientific approach is appealing as always.

Certainly willing to give Nightmare, Zupapa and TSS a shot; I just haven't owned them yet.

Which Metal Slugs are "below par"? I've heard things about 2, and I thought X was basically 2 but better somehow. (Not sure if that's true.)

I like all genres, so that's not really an issue. I love different sports games like Windjammers, and figured that Bang Bead (and even Flip Shot) would be great to acquire some day.

You'll note, of course, that more of these titles I'm mentioning are quite expensive. Knowing if they're fun is important. Emulator time, here I come.

Still curious to know what are generally considered to be the poorer titles are.

Click to expand...

Metal Slug 4 and 5 arent as good as the previous 4.

Nightmare and Zupapa are very fun games.

And Twinkle Star has amazing depth.

I could honestly sell a lot of games and go down to 10 I really love ... probably.

I have about 34 now, last year it was 40, I could slim down more, got rid of waku waku 7 , driftout , 'rare' titles but not actually that fun.

Theres absolutely no need to own reams of games for the system, or any other.

synbiosfan said:

How different or is it any different from the Saturn version?

Click to expand...

I haven't played the Saturn version, so I don't know.

Orrimarrko said:

Which Metal Slugs are "below par"? I've heard things about 2, and I thought X was basically 2 but better somehow. (Not sure if that's true.)

Click to expand...

If you have these 2 havn't you played them?

X is basically 2 with out the slow down. Though there are some other differences as well, but nothing that major.


It be easier for you to post your collection and we can tell you the ones that suck ass and what you should replace them with...

Im in the same boat as Kernow i have 33 neo games and i think I have the best of the best and the ones that are my favorite to play. I dont need them all as they would just sit there.

Orrimarrko said:

If you had to list your top games in each category, what would they be?

Click to expand...

Fighters:

- Fatal Fury Special
- KoF95
- KoF2k1
- Samsho 3
- Last Blade
- AoF2 + 3
- World Heroes, 2 + Jet
- Real Bout Fatal Fury


Platformer/Action Platformer/Run-and-Gun:

- Slug 1 + 2
- Shock Troopers
- Ninja Commando
- Raguy


Shmups:

- ASO II
- Blazing Star
- Pulstar
- Sonic Wings 2
- Ghost Pilots


Puzzlers:

- Magical Drop 2
- Zintrick


Sports/Action Sports:

- Windjammers
- Neo Geo Cup '98 (a slightly updated version of Super Sidekicks 3)
- Soccer Brawl
- Neo Turf Masters


Driving:

- Rally Cross
- Neo Driftout
- Overtop


Beat 'em up:

- Sengogku 2
- Mutation Nation
- Top Hunter


Other:

- Twinkle Star Sprites
- Aggressors of Dark Kombat/Gan Gan

LustForLard said:

If you have these 2 havn't you played them?

Click to expand...

I only own Metal Slug 1 and 2 at the moment. I've previously owned X and 3.

I couldn't tell/recall any differences between 2 and X, but heard there was something - hence the question.

Thanks for the answer (re: the slowdown.)

I'll post my collection later today. Suggestions are welcome.

Fighters:
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Last Blade 2
The King of fighters 2003
The King of Fighters 2002
The King of Fighters '98
Samurai Shodown V Special
Real Bout Fatal Fury 2
SVC Chaos
Waku Waku 7

Shooters:
Pulstar
Blazing Star
Strikers 1945+
Twinkle Star Sprites
Prehistoric Isle 2

Platformers/Action:
Metal Slug X
Metal Slug 3
Sengoku 3
Shock Troopers


Puzzles:
Ghostlop
Bust-A-Move Again
Magical Drop III

Sports:
Baseball Stars 2
Neo Turf Masters
Windjammers