Neo-Geo CD, still worth owning one?

[Phar]

I've been debating whether it's worth getting one of these for some time, obviously when they were first launched the main selling point was the price of the games, but nowadays with various compilations on other consoles and MVS/AES prices dropping is it a console still worth considering?, just interested to hear peoples opinions.

[kernow]

Its a nice novelty for some of the smaller games that only load initially, and the not any more, but you might as well skip it and just get a home system and some cheap carts, or an MVS setup.

The loading on the later games, sucks.

[Colin]

Get ready for horrendously slow loading times if you do! I personally wouldn't if I was you. If you really want to play NEO games on original hardware at a budget, consolised MVS is probably the way to go. If you don't mind spending the money, AES is my personal favourite though.

(EDIT: Beaten to it by the man above.........)

[kernow]

Some of the best NGH games are like £20 or so, Samsho 2, Fatal Fury Special, KOF98 is £60ish etc.

You can build up a decent collection for not much money nowadays.

[Baseley09]

I disagree, it's a superb system if you buy the right games for it. Soundtracks maybe unrivalled on any system!

i don't disagree that some of the best home system games are £20, and is also a good option.

KOF'94 & Viewpoint are imo the best versions on this format, there are others too.

[kernow]

I still have mine in the loft, should dig it out one day. Some good games which have minimal loading are:

Puzzle Bobble (loads once)
Viewpoint, loading is pretty nice
Metal Slug (not bad at all really, quite quick)

erm, and some others, its been a while.

[Phar]

Its a nice novelty for some of the smaller games that only load initially

Soundtracks maybe unrivalled on any system!

Thats the main reasons why I'm torn between getting one or an MVS, I'm also only really intending to play the earlier games like Street Hoop, Super Baseball 2020, Soccer Brawl, Top Hunter, Nam-1975 etc, I own the PS2 compilations for the SNK fighters so I'd avoid those anyway.

[dataDave]

If you're not bothered about fighters then a CD system could be for you. If not, you can just sell it afterwards for not much loss and try the MVS route.

I'd personally sell the PS2 compilations and stick with the originals for the superior native RGB output.

[KusoGaki]

Consolised MVS (with unibios) is probably one of the better Neo Geo routes in my opinion, though recently it seems people have inflated the MVS prices on eBay... :-/

[Cauterize]

I'd say get one. ALthough these word don't ring well with the true Neo Geo'ers, the ability to have most of the catalog on CD-Rs just makes Neo Geo gaming much more accesible.

But even if you don't want to go down that CD-R route, I paid £50 for Metal Slug 1 on NGCD. In my opinion it's a much better path to take than £1,000 for the AES version.

[kernow]

or £30 on MVS ;p

[nem]

Most of the lower meg count titles load once when you boot it up (like Viewpoint and Puzzle Bobble) and that's it. It's only the newer fighters you really want to avoid, loading between matches and sometimes even rounds kills the game. Metal Slug titles have mid level loading (not sure about the first, the second defo does), so that's a bit of a bummer too.

I bought a CDZ after owning a CD, and I think the faster RAM makes a big difference. Not only does it load faster, it even skips some of the additional loading the original unit needs to do.

[Neon Ignition]

Worth it for the soundtracks alone

As has been pointed out, the midi soundtracks of the carts don't even compare

[Team Andromeda]

Still got mine and its a superb system . Like that been said the Soundtracks on some of the Neo Geo CD games is way better than their cart based counterparts (Last Resort Neo CD soundtrack is just incredible), Love the CD Soundtracks to the KOF and SS series on Neo Geo CD, they really add to the overall atmosphere

Also mint games like Neo Turf Masters are better onthe Neo Geo CD . Loading times aren't really 'that' bad either.

[Yakumo]

If you are buying a Neo CD just for the CD soundtracks (Which are worse in many cases) then just buy a Saturn. The loading times on a Neo CD will seriously do your head in. I'm not joking. 30 seconds plus between rounds on a fighter is no way to enjoy a game. Honestly, they were ****e when released and ****e now no matter what anyone says. The loading just spoils everything.

As others have said, get a MVS.