Today’s platter has been dressed with the best Neo Geo games in our opinion. The legendary console was first released back in 1990 with an aim of thrusting straight-up arcade experiences into the living rooms of buyers. Equipped with a tremendous amount of technological advancements for its time, the system didn’t take much time to click among developers, and thus began the string of awesome games which have provided thousands of gamers from around the world with heartwarming memories to cherish. Here’s a list of some of those games which we think deserve to be called the finest ones made available for the console.
1 – Baseball Stars 2
Baseball Stars 2 had managed to provide the kind of experiences which are still not to be had in any other game based on the American Sport. The game shines with its over-the-top animations and detailed player models, and it features the gameplay to match this awesomeness as well. Allowing you to jump into two different leagues, it renders unprecedented action that’s appealing to baseball fans as well as those who’ve never played the sport.
2 – Magician Lord
Magician Lord is a platformer par brilliance. This side-scrolling masterpiece is still remembered for its unrelenting difficulty and its gorgeous visuals. Level after level of gameplay madness is on offer through Magician Lord which places you into the shoes of a wizard named Elta who must do everything he can to rescue his homeland from the evil wizard Gal Agiese.
3 – Metal Slug
The Neo Geo console is in a way defined by the Metal Slug series, and this first entry to it has blessed us with treasured memories. Released in 1996, Metal Slug is basically a run and gun game which had given the genre a new meaning altogether with its immensely enjoyable offerings. Moreover, the sense of humor which was prevalent through its entire duration worked in its favor as well, apart from its fluid hand-drawn animation and two-player co-op support.
4 – Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II came out in 1994, and impressed everyone with its superb fighting gameplay. Borrowing from the successful aspects of its predecessor, it added a whole lot of new features which refined the experience completely. There were new characters, the controls were more swift and more importantly, there were new moves for the characters. Samurai Shodown II is now available for a number of modern platforms as well.
5 – Real Bout Fatal Fury
Yet another fighting game in this list of ours, Real Bout Fatal Fury is known for its two-line fighting system which enables the characters to dodge attacks by stepping momentarily into the background. Equipped with a gripping story, it presents high-intensity battles, and renders you with impressive visuals as well. One of the highlights of this game is the ability of each character to unleash desperation and super-desperation attacks that allow them to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
6 – Garou: Mark of the Wolves
At its time, Garou: Mark of the Wolves was a visual marvel. It was one of the most attractive and colorful looking games around. Its deep fighting mechanics were highlighted by its ‘Tactical Offense Position’ (T.O.P.) which boosted a character’s abilities when their health bar reached a certain point. And there was also the he ‘Just Defend’ system which rewarded properly blocked attacks with health recovery. Despite so many characters and their different abilities, Garou: Mark of the Wolves maintained excellent game balance.
7 – The Last Blade 2
Yet another awesome fighting game from our compilation, this offering was released in 1998. Set after the events which transpired in its predecessor, The Last Blade 2 introduced a grim atmosphere and laid heavy emphasis on the story which was pretty engaging to say the least. But the essence of this game was brought out by its stunning fighting gameplay. With additions like the Ex mode and some superb balancing, The Last Blade 2 easily managed to impress fans as well as newcomers to the series.
8 – The King of Fighters ’98
When you talk of great fighting game series, The King of Fighters just has to be in it. With their tremendously polished and well designed gameplay, these games have accomplished a lot during their time, and have influenced the fighting genre in more ways than one. As its title suggests, The King of Fighters ’98 was released in 1998, and was special to fans because it had re-introduced past characters who had been killed in previous games. This could be done because the game did not feature any storyline, and was straight up focused on exciting and thrilling fighting gameplay.
9 – Blazing Star
As far as shoot ’em ups are concerned, few titles in its generation were able to match the brilliance of Blazing Star. Equipped with simple controls yet challenging scenarios, it presents you with hours and hours’ worth of frantic gameplay. Graphically too, this game was impressive thanks to its pseudo-3D pre-rendered sprites and brief anime and CGI cutscenes.
10 – Puzzle Bobble
1994 saw the release of this unique Neo Geo classic, and it quickly managed to occupy a long-lasting spot in gamers’ memories. This title is nothing but a simple tile-matching puzzler, but the amount of detailing and complexity which it showcases is mind-blowing. And then there are the quirky animations and attractive visuals as well.
Conclusion:
There you go with our take on the best Neo Geo games. Don’t forget to tell us what you thought about them.