Neo Geo Pocket Color - Recommendations?

[SuperBrother]

'ello retro geezers!

I've just bagged me a NGPC with Metal Slug 1st mission, what else out there is worth a look in?

I'll probably pick up Neo Turf Masters as I like the full size neo version and I quite fancy an RPG type game but which should be first, Biomotor Unitron, Faselei, Dark Arms or Evolution?

[Greng]

Dark arms is quite fun, as is Biomotor unitron. They are both fairly lacking though, mainly due to the short length of the games. Bear in mind there's not much on the system. The best 'rpg' on the system is card-fighters clash by a long stretch. Evolution just seems too dull for it's price tag.

Faselei! is an astounding game, one I hope to be reunited with someday. Faselei has a nice little story, and plays in the 'style' of Front Mission, albeit top-down and using a pre-selected moves then 'every unit moves at once' scheme. This means you have to anticipate the enemy units movements when making your moves. There is a system called chips, where you program your unit for up to about 10 moves, then set the next round in motion. You will carry out your commands 'move, turn, fire, repair, turn, fire etc. etc.' at the same time as the enemy is moving. Quite strategic, but fairly tough in the later levels. Once you get into it it's very engaging.

[SuperBrother]

Faselei has jumped to the top of my list then, shame about the price!

Can you describe how SNK Vs. Capcom Cardfighters plays, I thought it was just a card game like the sub game in FF8?

Cheers.

[Jay]

Card Fighters is superb. It is basically a card game in the style of the Pokemon card game, but there is so much to it. You wander about in RPG style battling various other players, collecting cards as prizes for winning. The strategy element is what makes the game so special, as the cards (of which there are 200) have a vast array of attacks, specials, and some cards can 'back up' others. To give you an idea of how addictive it is, I've put a combined total of about 120 hours into both versions of the game. There was a follow-up which unfortunately didn't get a release outside of japan, though there is a patched version out there on the web. If you see CFC, pick it up.

Jay

[Jay]

*calms down*

Oh, and other recommendations:

SNK v Capcom: Match of the Millenium. Excellent stuff. A wealth of characters,loads of unlockables, responsive controls and some excellent mini-games.

Gals Fighters. The fastest fighter on the NGPC.

Puyo Pop. Usual Puyo Puyo game, ie - excellent. I find it difficult telling greens from blues on this version, but you can change the colours/shapes in options.

Pacman. Straight conversion. Worth getting if you're a fan.

Cotton. Not that keen on the SPectrum-esque graphics, but a nice shooter (the only NGPC shooter?).

Jay

[Papercut]

Puyo Pop is the best puzzler on the system, Puzzle Bobble ain't bad but should look prettier. I enjoyed Picture Puzzle as well, and Shanghai is fun.

Most of the fighters are good, but in particular SNK vs Capcom is great, KOF R-2 and Gals Fighters are cool. I liked Last Blade a lot too.

Hmm... what else, Pac Man is ok but limited (straight port), Neo Poke Kun is like a proto Made in Wario, Cool Cool Jam looks good but has too much Japanese, Neo Turf Master is suprisingly enjoyable, Sonic is good.

Cotton is a good shooter, after the Metal Slug games.

I my ngpc

[Papercut]

wow, jinx.

[Jay]

Jinx indeed

Can you tell us a bit more about Poke Kun? Is it worth seeking out?

Jay

[stroppa]

quality footie action comes in the shape of neo geo cup '98, and it's usually well priced.

www.liksang.com have a sale on neo pocket games at the moment, think they are all japanese versions though.

if you can get faselei, then you will have the best mech strategy rpg ever created in my opinion.

[Papercut]

Can you tell us a bit more about Poke Kun? Is it worth seeking out?

I reckon it is, yeah. You can pick it up quite cheaply now as well.

So the story is you've got this little creature-blokey living in your ngpc called Neo Poke Kun. He has a small studio flat with a font door and a bathroom.

You interact with him indirectly by causing earthquakes, having random people turn up at the font door, and so on. The characters that visit are often malicious, like a kung fu guy with pony-tailed nostril hair. Occasionally a large nipple or a busty blonde appears, which Neo Poke Kun seems to like. The idea is to keep him happy.

As happy points build up you unlock mini games, which play out as a chronological history of arcade games, usually with a twist. For example there is a Breakout game without any blocks, and a fighting game with only one move (dragon punch).

The mini games aren't fantastic, more mildly entertaining, but the whole package has a very unusual charm to it.

I can't remember what the ultimate goal was, I have a feeling there probably wasn't one beyond collecting the mini games (once you've received a mini game you can replay it).

The SNK site used to have a fantastic mini-Neo Poke Kun site with loads of character artwork, but it disappeared when SNK went bust

There are a few images here, including Treble's (I think) old block building avatar:

http://www.classicgaming.com/sngp/specials/gifs/gifs_pk.htm

[Len]

Turf Masters - Best handheld golf game I've played.
Pocket Tennis - Good but hard.

[Mayhem]

Actually... to sum it up... apart from the gambling games (though Neo 21 is actually not bad), you can't really go wrong with ANY of the NGPC's 39 UK game catalog. Just you'll have a hard time finding some of the recommendations listed forth... rare games include:

Cotton (nice if easy shooter)
Picture Puzzle (think Mario's Picross)
Faselei (superb mech strategy game)
Evolution
Pocket Reversi (Othello)
Dive Alert Becky
Cool Snowboarders

My top 3 games are Cardfighters Clash, Capcom vs SNK and Faselei.

[chocklo]

My favourite NGPC game is probably Metal Slug 2nd Mission. Awesome sound and graphics - huge game - excellent.

I wasn't actually that keen on Faselei, but can clearly appreciate why some would get hooked on it. Puzzle Bobble and Puyo Pop get excellent treatments on the NGPC. Magical Drop's also supposed to be on par with these but in all honesty I never got round to playing it.

Aside from GBA titles (and not including the PC Engine GT) Cotton is probably my favourite handheld shooter. Ok, the graphics aren't amazing on it (they aren't bad either), but it does play lovely and smooth.

Other favourites would include-

Turfmasters Golf
Pocket Tennis
Sonic

[lordcookie]

You should pick up some of the fighters like KOF-R2. Although there are only 2 buttons on the NGPC, the fighters have an incredible amount of depth.

[gozaimas]

I simply cannot believe that no-one has mentioned Last blade.

Oh- and good luck finding that pocket reversi...