When I was a kid shopping for video games at the now-defunct Babbage’s, I remember longing for the pyramid of black and gold Neo Geo boxes that stood in the center of the store. I knew, of course, that the system’s $500+ asking price would always keep the colorful, detailed, arcade-quality 2D graphics out of my reach. Now I’m having trouble convincing myself that the aging hardware is worth the $200 being asked for a new, portable re-release that hits stores on December 6.
Don’t get me wrong, video game wholesaler Tommo Inc. seems to do justice to SNK’s classic system with this officially licensed Neo Geo X Gold. The portable computer comes with 20 classic Neo Geo games built-in, including entries from popular franchises such as Fatal Fury, King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, And Metal snail (the system also includes an “expandable game card slot”, though it’s unclear exactly how that will be used to load more games). You can even extend the experience from the 4.3-inch screen to your TV using HDMI and A/V outputs, and a replica arcade-style controller and dock look like they mimic the original hardware very well.
But despite that, $200 seems like a lot to ask for core hardware that’s a little over two decades old. For the same price, you can buy a pre-owned Wii and a good selection of the system’s Neo Geo games on the Virtual Console. For a more portable, slightly less legal route, you could pick up an old Nintendo DS and install a Neo Geo emulator that will bring the same retro itch.
Granted, none of those solutions come with that cool replica controller, or the easy ability to go from portable to big screen and back. If you have the cash to spare, these are the games you get with your purchase:
- 3 count fight
- Martial arts II
- Alpha Mission II
- Baseball Stars II
- Cyber lip
- Fatal anger
- Fatal Fury Special
- The king of fighters ’95
- King of the monsters
- Last resort
- League Bowling
- Wizard Lord
- Metal snail
- Mutation nation
- Name 1975
- Suprised
- Real Bout – Fatal Fury Special
- Samurai Shodown II
- Super helpers
- World heroes perfect