ACA Neo Geo |OT| MAX 330 MEGA PRO-GEAR SPEC

I've loved all the ACA games I've bought this year. It always bummed me out that previous SNK or Neo Geo releases in previous gens focused nearly exclusively on fighters. It's so nice to have all the shmups and sports games, as well as the other action games. Last Resort is a game that was never on my radar, and it's fantastic. Brutal, but great.

There aren't that many more games I'd want. Mostly holding out for the Super Sidekick sequels to show up, and I wouldn't mind finally getting to play Prehistoric Isle 2.

Decided to take the plunge and open the flood gates with Waku Waku 7, My god where has this game been all my life!

Picked up Neo Turf Masters... Love that you can even simulate the CRT gun roll bar on these.

Which other gems that aren't Garou or KoF should I partake in?.

Keep eyeing up Karnov's Revenge

Aigato said:

Which other gems that aren't Garou or KoF should I partake in?.

Keep eyeing up Karnov's Revenge

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Shock Troopers 1, Neo Turf Masters and Last Blade for certain.

meppi64 said:

Shock Troopers 1, Neo Turf Masters and Last Blade for certain.

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Got Last Blade II on my PS4, is it worth me going back?

Neo Turf Masters might be a problem as I really dislike golf :(

Aigato said:

Got Last Blade II on my PS4, is it worth me going back?

Neo Turf Masters might be a problem as I really dislike golf :(

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Gameplay wise you won't miss much if you already own LB2, but these 2 games have some of the best pixel art backgrounds ever so at that price it might very well be worth a shot.

Also I don't particularly like golf and I adore Neo Turf Masters.

What we really need is Online with these titles.

I'd buy all the KoF & Garou for that alone.

I'm just looking for another reason to drop again on Garou, perfection that game

What are the less-complex but still fun fighters people would recommend? I always recall Sam Sho II as being this way and I want to get that on Switch when it's out. I know many of the early SNK fighters are not as complex but the ones I've played have also seemed kind of dull, too.

Aigato said:

Decided to take the plunge and open the flood gates with Waku Waku 7, My god where has this game been all my life!

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Why do you like it?

Radarscope1 said:

What are the less-complex but still fun fighters people would recommend? I always recall Sam Sho II as being this way and I want to get that on Switch when it's out. I know many of the early SNK fighters are not as complex but the ones I've played have also seemed kind of dull, too.


Why do you like it?

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I'm not sure how you qualify "complex," but Last Blade and Samurai Shodown IV are both very accessible and fun without needing to delve into their deeper mechanics.

Radarscope1 said:

What are the less-complex but still fun fighters people would recommend? I always recall Sam Sho II as being this way and I want to get that on Switch when it's out. I know many of the early SNK fighters are not as complex but the ones I've played have also seemed kind of dull, too.


Why do you like it?

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Fatal Fury Special
Kof 95

Waku waku 7 is a lovely and underappreciated little fighter

Well, the Code Mystics port of Metal Slug 3 has online co-op. For that alone it's the better version.

The Code Mystics version of anything isn't generally the better version. Unless it's up against just Dotemu.

Piccoro said:

Well, the Code Mystics port of Metal Slug 3 has online co-op. For that alone it's the better version.

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Oh man that thriving online community for Metal Slug 3 lemme tell ya

Regardless, Code Mystics did kind of beat them to the punch, so I'm good thanks.

fiendcode said:

The Code Mystics version of anything isn't generally the better version. Unless it's up against just Dotemu.

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Garou, Last Blade 2 (post-patch) and Samurai Shodown V Special are fine.

fiendcode said:

The Code Mystics version of anything isn't generally the better version. Unless it's up against just Dotemu.

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What? No. No no no.

Code Mystics versions are objectively better than any of these Hamster ROM dumps. They have better video options, better presentation, more modes, unlockable art galleries, online play, etc. There's no comparison.

ScOULaris said:

What? No. No no no.

Code Mystics versions are objectively better than any of these Hamster ROM dumps. They have better video options, better presentation, more modes, unlockable art galleries, online play, etc. There's no comparison.

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How's the input lag compare?

If you want the core NeoGeo experience, then the Hamster ROM dumps are better. If you're looking for extras and online play, then you have to get the Mystics, but most of those games are ghost towns online.

ScOULaris said:

What? No. No no no.

Code Mystics versions are objectively better than any of these Hamster ROM dumps. They have better video options, better presentation, more modes, unlockable art galleries, online play, etc. There's no comparison.

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Most importantly they have more input lag, which is pretty inexcusable given they're actual ports rather than emulated. And no their scaling/filtering isn't better.

Also they offer different modes (Versus, Training, etc) but not more modes generally. The Hamster releases all offer 4 modes: Japanese Original, English Original, Hi-Score and Caravan.

RKR said:

If you want the core NeoGeo experience, then the Hamster ROM dumps are better. If you're looking for extras and online play, then you have to get the Mystics, but most of those games are ghost towns online.

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Yes, this pretty much sums it up.

Aigato said:

Got Last Blade II on my PS4, is it worth me going back?

Neo Turf Masters might be a problem as I really dislike golf :(

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Last Blade 1 is superior to 2. I can't really quantify why, but it just feels better to me for some reason. It's certainly worth having both at the very least.

Also, Neo Turf Masters is the best golf game of all time, and no interest in golf is required. It's a mastapeece

Pulstar coming out today is really nice, and it seems a lot more fun than Last Resort. (which was way too difficult and boring, which is a strange combination for an arcade game of the time to have) For now though, ZED BLADE is my go-to game in the genre.

Anyone know if SNK VS Capcom is likely for an ACA NG release? I know that the late 90s/early 2000s were when the fighting games on the system stopped ripping off Street Fighter and began to be more creative, but I don't know of many late era NG games that aren't clones outside of SNK Vs Capcom, Waku Waku 7, Garou, Real Bout 2 and KOF 98-2003. It's pretty annoying when a bunch of obvious ripoffs release one after another and the lineup gets cluttered with games that don't really need to be there like World Heroes or Art of Fighting 1/2. That's why the last batch that had platforming and sports games was very refreshing. Still sad Switch owners don't have Sengoku 2 yet though...

ScOULaris said:

I'm not sure how you qualify "complex," but Last Blade and Samurai Shodown IV are both very accessible and fun without needing to delve into their deeper mechanics.

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Yes, accessible is what I meant. Not necessary dumbed down, just approachable. I'm not a huge fighting game person and I don't have a ton of time to dig deep into lots of systems and combos.

I can confirm Pulstar is available on the North American eShop. So now Switch owners can have Last Resort, Blazing Star and Pulstar together.

All we need now is for Hamster to announce a release date for ACA R-Type, which is apparently confirmed to be happening, at some point.

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/11/r-type_and_other_irem_arcade_hits_are_coming_to_switch

R-Type And Other Irem Arcade Hits Are Coming To Switch

Thanks to Hamster

by Damien McFerran Thu 9th Nov 2017

Japanese conversion specialist Hamster - famous for its superb line of Neo Geo ports on the Switch eShop - has just revealed that it has gained the licence to bring some of Irem's most beloved coin-op titles to Nintendo's console.

The first game is Arcade Archives Zippy Race, which is due for release this year in Japan. Arcade Archives R-Type is also confirmed, along with Arcade Archives Front Line. There's no word on if or when these games will arrive in the west, but it will be easy enough to download them from the Japanese eShop.

Which other Irem titles would you like to see? In The Hunt? Kung-Fu Master? Image Fight? Undercover Cops? GunForce? Mr. Heli? Let us know with a comment.

via http://www.japanesenintendo.com/post/167303113889

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I'd like to see R-Type II, R-Type Leo and In The Hunt!

How good is Pulstar?

fiendcode said:

Most importantly they have more input lag, which is pretty inexcusable given they're actual ports rather than emulated. And no their scaling/filtering isn't better.

Also they offer different modes (Versus, Training, etc) but not more modes generally. The Hamster releases all offer 4 modes: Japanese Original, English Original, Hi-Score and Caravan.


Yes, this pretty much sums it up.

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I am honestly not sure about LB2 or MS3, but the input lag issue with Garou was patched shortly after release and I haven't seen a single report of
SamSho V Special having input lag issues. And I've been keeping an eye out on that one since I was in charge of it at SNK ;)

Aigato said:

What we really need is Online with these titles.

I'd buy all the KoF & Garou for that alone.

I'm just looking for another reason to drop again on Garou, perfection that game

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Garou is available on Vita/PS4 (and Steam?) with online play.

I think KoFXI is the most underrated KoF, while KoF'96 is the secret GOAT

Ingueferroque said:

Garou is available on Vita/PS4 (and Steam?) with online play.

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I know, I have it downloaded on PS4, just would really enjoy it on my Switch where I get to play it alot more

Radarscope1 said:

What are the less-complex but still fun fighters people would recommend? I always recall Sam Sho II as being this way and I want to get that on Switch when it's out. I know many of the early SNK fighters are not as complex but the ones I've played have also seemed kind of dull, too.


Why do you like it?

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It just oozes charm, feels responsive and fun to play. Just really clicked with me. there is a lot going on I haven't quite learnt about yet but really enjoyed my several plays on it so far

Really torn on this. I am so used to the Neo Geo CD music of some of those titles (Fatal Fury 3, Samsho 2, King of fighters...) I can't really go back to the arcade version :(

Hero said:

How good is Pulstar?

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it's great. I like it better than Blazing Star. The bitmap graphics and animations are amazingly well done and one of the best in shmups (I mean "In the Hunt" good).
As far as i can tell it does as well use some prerendered stuff (like Blazing Star) but not nearly as much.
It's HEAVILY influenced by R-Type though (some stuff are almost 1:1 copies) which isn't necasserily a bad thing. Afair some R-Type folks were involved into development.

fair warning: it can be really frustrating though as there is no instant continuing after you die. I HATE going back to checkpoints in already hard shmups.

Fhtagn said:

How's the input lag compare?

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They are nearly arcade perfect, played a tournament the other day and the games were great

ScOULaris said:

What? No. No no no.

Code Mystics versions are objectively better than any of these Hamster ROM dumps. They have better video options, better presentation, more modes, unlockable art galleries, online play, etc. There's no comparison.

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Nah, ACA Neo Geo titles are better because they have gold trophies which are extremely easy to obtain. :P

MistaTwo said:

I am honestly not sure about LB2 or MS3, but the input lag issue with Garou was patched shortly after release and I haven't seen a single report of
SamSho V Special having input lag issues. And I've been keeping an eye out on that one since I was in charge of it at SNK ;)

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Ohh you work at SNK? Is the Neo Geo classics for PlayStation project still going on? I hope to see Sengoku 3, Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad and Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers get released one day.

Hyun Sai said:

Really torn on this. I am so used to the Neo Geo CD music of some of those titles (Fatal Fury 3, Samsho 2, King of fighters...) I can't really go back to the arcade version :(

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Yeah, even the Code Mystics ports don't have arranged soundtrack which is unfortunate. However, the PS2 versions on PS Store (KOF2000, Fatal Fury: Battle Archives, Art of Fighting Anthology etc) have them but I don't know if they run well on PS4.

what does "near arcade-perfect" mean?

Why aren't they arcade perfect if they are just ROM dumps?

Any reason for the platform choices of the releases?
Like Switch getting some KoFs exclusively but is then getting left out on other games of the series.

Seafoam Gaming said:

but I don't know of many late era NG games that aren't clones outside of SNK Vs Capcom, Waku Waku 7, Garou, Real Bout 2 and KOF 98-2003.

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I am one of the biggest Garou fans, I think that game is as close as a game can get to perfect, and in my eyes, SNK's unquestionable crowning achievement. But one can argue it's just in some ways a rip off of Street Fighter III:

Parry mechanic <-> Just Defend mechanic
Cast overhaul except Ryu and Ken <-> Cast overhaul except for Terry
Kung Fu brothers <-> Taekwondo brothers
Etc...

halcali said:

what does "near arcade-perfect" mean?

Why aren't they arcade perfect if they are just ROM dumps?

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It's still just emulated. It's not like they stuffed the Neo Geo hardware into the Switch.

nampad said:

Any reason for the platform choices of the releases?
Like Switch getting some KoFs exclusively but is then getting left out on other games of the series.

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I'm sure Hamster has some logic to their release schedule. Seems like they have PS4 and xb1 synched up lately, seems like they both get the same game every week. Most of the upcoming Switch releases are games that are already available for the other consoles and they seem to have announced some of the switch exclusives games for the other consoles. I would imagine they are trying to get all the consoles in synch at some point.

Hero said:

How good is Pulstar?

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iamaustrian said:

it's great. I like it better than Blazing Star. The bitmap graphics and animations are amazingly well done and one of the best in shmups (I mean "In the Hunt" good).
As far as i can tell it does as well use some prerendered stuff (like Blazing Star) but not nearly as much.
It's HEAVILY influenced by R-Type though (some stuff are almost 1:1 copies) which isn't necasserily a bad thing. Afair some R-Type folks were involved into development.

fair warning: it can be really frustrating though as there is no instant continuing after you die. I HATE going back to checkpoints in already hard shmups.

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Here's a 60fps video of Pulstar gameplay on Switch.

mao2 said:

Nah, ACA Neo Geo titles are better because they have gold trophies which are extremely easy to obtain. :P


Ohh you work at SNK? Is the Neo Geo classics for PlayStation project still going on? I hope to see Sengoku 3, Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad and Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers get released one day.


Yeah, even the Code Mystics ports don't have arranged soundtrack which is unfortunate. However, the PS2 versions on PS Store (KOF2000, Fatal Fury: Battle Archives, Art of Fighting Anthology etc) have them but I don't know if they run well on PS4.

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Nothing to announce atm!

halcali said:

what does "near arcade-perfect" mean?

Why aren't they arcade perfect if they are just ROM dumps?

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In regards to input lag, I had a friend in the FGC who uses a high speed camera to research this stuff break it down to me once.
He said there were a variety of factors that make a certain amount of input lag unavoidable on modern consoles.

The biggest factor is obviously the type of monitor and will vary from type to type. That plus a bit of emulation overheard means
that most games of this sort will have 4-6 fps of input lag.
Some other factors that supposedly add to it are controller processing times (especially wireless) and HDMI switchers etc.

MistaTwo said:

Nothing to announce atm!

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There are multiple Neo Geo titles that were released in the form of PS2 Classics that I would much prefer the Arcade Archives version of due to heavier customization options. These are the most important games I feel are missing.

Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior
Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers
SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos
Waku Waku 7
World Heroes Perfect

And that's just the fighters, not the multitude of sports games like Baseball Stars 2, League Bowling, Super Dodge Ball, etc. I'm not even mentioning all of the potential PS2 Classics because that would be OT. I really hope the PlayStation 4 is still being looked at as a viable platform :(

Anyone know if KoF 2002 is coming anytims soon? Is it even eligible for this "collection"? It's the only I've played as a kid and I'd love to revisit it on the Switch.

Wow. Surely they're counting each platform version as separate releases. As someone pointed out in that thread, it would take them 15 years to release one all-new game per week.

Is there any difference between the Metal Slug games on PS4 and Switch? Any emulation issues present in one version but not the other?

And if you're going to get one KoF game of the ones currently available, which one would be considered the best? Don't know much about KoF.

Charlouie Jonesman said:

Is there any difference between the Metal Slug games on PS4 and Switch? Any emulation issues present in one version but not the other?

And if you're going to get one KoF game of the ones currently available, which one would be considered the best? Don't know much about KoF.

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For the KOF thing, I recommend 2000. It's the newest one available and also the best

By the by, I think it should be mentioned that the developer of all the ACA games (sans Nintendo's apparently) is Gotch Technology. They also did Namco Museum on Switch. They seem to be centered on emulation, like how Digital Eclipse is.