Neo Geo Mini - Has SNK got the Sega Saturn problem??
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 1:48 pm
So this week a LOT of reviews have come out for SNKs push at the mini-console market and most have been pretty sour. You hear a lot about analog instead of classic, gated-microswitch controllers, no batteries to play on the go and lack of sharpness on HDTVs.
But ALL of the reviewers admit the analog controller/s work fine, the games play perfectly and the included screen is great. All for around $100 (have you checked out how expensive these games are on Dreamcast, PS2 and XBox lately?? Let alone on MVS/AES carts).
I, as a cheap bastard extrodinaire (and SNK fan) look at this and think: "What they heck does it take to impress you people??!?!"
SNK used to be the tip-of-the-spear in the 16-bit days and made the longest running arcade hardware other than the Sega Naomi, AND home systems that were only affordable to the RICH. In the PSX/Saturn/N64 days, they made a big push toward affordability with Neo Geo CD/CDZ, but it was too little / too late and while it would not be until the Wii/XBox/(& PS2 Mostly) that perfect Neo Geo ports were possible, the Dreamcast did a pretty decent job and SNK jumped on board with the Neo Geo Pocket Color, with a lot of Dreamcast support planned. Sadly, their fate sunk with the Dreamcast and SNK went bankrupt - not to return until the company's founder was able to regain control under the SNK Playmore label.
Every since then the company has worked like crazy to do 3 things VERY RARE in Gaming. Do justice to the old catalog of titles, innovate new I.P. and give their fans what they want, rather than what is easy.
Not everything has been rosy: Samurai Shodown Zen, King of Fighters XII and Maximum Impact come to mind, but we've also got many GREAT things like Metal Slug Anthology, Samurai Shodown Anthology, Neo Geo Battle Colosseum, King of Fighters 98 Ultimate Match, and King of Fighters 2006, XI, XIII and XIV.
The hardware-side has been a lot rougher though. While the GameBoy Color quality of the Pocket Color could be forgiven in 2000, the Neo Geo X (by Tommo) truly did fail to deliver, with emulation/sound problems galore and very short-lived support.
Now Neo Geo Mini hits the scene after SNK's proverbial "Sega-CD & 32X" debacles, with software strength, but serious lack of hardware confidence in fans. The Sega Saturn was only really appreciated as a Hidden Gem after it died, and I suspect the Mini will be the same story.
But for now, let's OBJECTIVELY look at what you are getting for your $100-$160 (depending on version and seller). I know the old saying: "He who pulls out a spreadsheet first, looses the argument", but this warrants consideration:
*NOTE - am NOT picking on Nintendo. Their's is the only really comparable thing out at the moment.
Is this really that bad of a deal
I would say if you are an SNK fan - NO. And to address the issue on HDTVs and lack of sharpness, they certainly could have done more with emulation, but it is amazing how much a simple HDMI Scanline Generator can do for around $30 for systems like this.
I look forward to all the hacks, modes and custom cases coming for this. For those who love the Neo Geo and don't feel like going Raspberry Pi with it just yet, I can't help but think this is a Hidden Gem.