Recommended Neo Geo CD Games

[PukeSter]

Hey everyone,

I've always wanted a Neo Geo, so recently I've decided to buy a CDZ soon. Any good games that I should pick up? And please don't say "buy an MVS"

So far I own Last Blade 2 and KOF 96.

Thanks.

[Opethian]

cheapest way to play Twinkle Star Sprites and Big Tournament Golf so get those

[PunkCryborg]

some of my fav neo games that have cd releases :
Neo Drift out
pulstar
magical drop 2
windjammers/flying power disk
metal slug

[PukeSter]

Thanks for the info. Just curious though, how are the latest fighters on the CD (are they really that bad)? And is it worth it to buy the more expensive CDZ then?

[MrFlutterPie]

The Fighters have to load before every single fight.  So if you go the full 3 rounds you have to sit through 3 loading times.  it slows down the pace and the feeling of the game.  Every play Street Fighter 2 Alpha on the SNES?  Like that but worse.

[whisper2053]

Thanks for the info. Just curious though, how are the latest fighters on the CD (are they really that bad)? And is it worth it to buy the more expensive CDZ then?

The CDZ *definitely* makes a huge difference. A buddy of mine had a regular top loader here, and we hooked his up side by side with my CDZ and the difference was phenomenal. Whether the additional cost outlay is worth it to you, personally, is debatable of course. Just wanted to let you know that there is a significance between the two systems.

[psychobear]

Also cheaper to get pulstar,

I'll add
Pulstar
Ghost Pilots

[Gao]

The load times can vary between fighters, with the newer ones generally being worse.  I've heard that that most people don't find KoF '99 or LB2 playable, even if they otherwise tolerate the NGCD, though I've avoided picking those up.  KoF '94 is notable for loading a whole team at once rather than having to load each round like the rest of the series, and I found that Fatal Fury Special's load times are much shorter than average (and it's a much better fighter than most people seem to think it is).  World Heroes 2 Jet also loads multiple opponents at once, but on the negative side, you're stuck playing World Heroes 2 Jet .  Some other recommendations:

Viewpoint - a rather difficult, but well designed isometric shooter.  One of my favorites.  It's also a game that's old enough to only ever load when you boot it up.
Super Baseball 2020 - It's amazing how much adding women, robots, land mines, and an upgrade system to baseball can liven things up.  Another game that only loads once.


Avoid:
Savage Reign - For some reason, this seems to be one of the more common games for the console, but there's a reason that it's a forgotten fighter.  It's not terrible, but there's no reason to get a below average fighter on an SNK console when so many better ones are just as easily available.

[MrFlutterPie]

I found that Fatal Fury Special's load times are much shorter than average (and it's a much better fighter than most people seem to think it is). 

I love Fatal Fury Special.  It was my first game I got for my AES.  I didn't realize people didn't like it. 

[Gao]

I found that Fatal Fury Special's load times are much shorter than average (and it's a much better fighter than most people seem to think it is). 

I love Fatal Fury Special.  It was my first game I got for my AES.  I didn't realize people didn't like it. 

The Neo Geo community seems to be pretty fond of it, but usually when I see it get brought up elsewhere, it's just handwaved as one of the countless Street Fighter II clones that came out in the 90s.

[PukeSter]

Well I decided to bite the bullet and buy a Neo Geo CDZ. I also bought Samurai Spirits II as a fun cheapie.

[bartre]

Unrelated, but needs to be said.
Punky, i see what you did with your sig, and i approve; N64 rocks so much.

on topic:
buy an AES

[CGQuarterly]

The vast majority of Neo games were released on the CD as well, so just look out for all of the "A-list" neo games.  The Neo Geo CD does have exceedingly long load times, but that is literally the only drawback to the system, and is more than made up for by the lower prices and the ability to *ahem* test out games prior to purchase.  Buy one, enjoy it, and if you really get into Neo gaming then maybe you'll want to buy a CMVS down the road.

And to directly answer your question, Neo Turf Masters is the only Neo game that you ever really need.  I can't say enough good things about it.  Other games I love:

Metal Slug
Metal Slug X
Metal Slug 3
Shock Troopers
Cyber Lip
2020 Super Baseball
Baseball Stars Professional
Baseball Stars 2
Super Sidekicks 3
Aero Fighters 2
Ghost Pilots
Andro Dunos
Samurai Showdown 1,2,4
World Heroes
King of Fighters 98 and 99 (but all of them are great)

There are other awesome Neo games that I don't own so I can't really endorse them due to limited experience with 'em.

[CrackTiger]

Samurai Spirits RPG is the killer app. I have yet to finish it, but it seems pretty straight forward and there are english walkthroughs.

[SuperDeadite]

A lot of the CD games DID get various cuts though due to memory issues.  Like BTG has a lot less voices, and it really hurts the fun, though it does add a exclusive course.  And AoF3 on CD is just horrendous, the graphics took a huge hit and it still has the worst load times on the system lol.

[SNKNostalgia]

Hey everyone,

I've always wanted a Neo Geo, so recently I've decided to buy a CDZ soon....

So far I own Last Blade 2......
Thanks.

Yeah, you will want that CDZ. If you are playing Last Blade 1 and 2.... definitely get the CDZ. In fact, all fighters after 1995 it is more than worth it. If you are going for other games like earlier fighters and all non-fighters, the single speed models will suffice. So nice to see you are choosing it over the others.

I started with the Toploader in '97, then my game collection grew to about 20 games. Got an AES for graduation in '99, but only had 3 games (SS1, 2 and KOF 99). By the time I got a good job in 2000, I instantly bought a CDZ to endure the loading of my CD games and bought a crap ton of AES titles within 3 years.

Lesson is... go AES or MVS  

I was lucky with AES due to buying some of the games when they were cheaper (Last Blade 1, AOF 3, etc...) or as they were coming out (Mark of The Wolves, Metal Slug 3, etc...). I still break out the CDZ for games I can't afford for AES like Pulstar, Viewpoint and sometimes just for dem soundtrackz.

[PCEngineHell]

The Fighters have to load before every single fight.  So if you go the full 3 rounds you have to sit through 3 loading times.  it slows down the pace and the feeling of the game.  Every play Street Fighter 2 Alpha on the SNES?  Like that but worse.

That really was not the case with the Neo Cd except maybe concerning the KOF series. Even then after the initial character loads on 1 on 1 fighters, other load times generally go by a bit quicker. The earlier fighters in fact have quite speedy load times all things considered. Longer load times don't kick in until you get into the later KOF titles, Real Bouts, AOF 3, Last Blade, etc.

[CGQuarterly]

A lot of the CD games DID get various cuts though due to memory issues.  Like BTG has a lot less voices, and it really hurts the fun, though it does add a exclusive course.  And AoF3 on CD is just horrendous, the graphics took a huge hit and it still has the worst load times on the system lol.

Not saying I don't love the voices, but I would totally choose an additional course over hearing Nancy's reports, "Oh, NO!!!", "ON THE GWEEN!!", etc.  Yes they are part of the game, but it's a whole new course to play!