Nz17
01-04-2005, 12:53 AM
I've owned by Neo Geo Pocket Color for six months to a year now, but I haven't play it until today. Why? I haven't because the bundle that I bought was a Japanese one that came with a Y2K Slots game since I liked the color scheme of the system. I don't like slot machines, let alone digital ones, so I didn't open it until today. You see, today I got my complete USA version of Sonic Pocket Adventure with box, manual, and clamshell!
So I gave the system a nice playthrough after getting all three batteries in. It was a pain getting the coin battery in because I didn't have a coin to turn the cover open with and had to use a screwdriver. Unfortunately I caused minor case damage, but at least I have it in and KNOW to get a penny next time. :P
Next I need to put in the system settings which I found kind of fun. I liked the music and the fact that one gets to pick the color scheme for black and white games from a selection of five different themes.
Then the system starts with its playful little music during the startup logo, which is pretty neat. I like how you can skip the full intro just like on the Dreamcast and how it has a soft reset like the DC.
These are the reasons I bought a NGPC: Sonic Pocket Adventure and Dreamcast connectivity. Now I'm going to have to invest in some SNK/Capcom games to take advantage of this sweatness!
But the system has impressed me much more than it did the first time I saw one. Back then, my friend Tyler still lived in town, and he had a NGPC with two SNK games and a flash cart. And did he put that cart to use, playing nearly every available game both domestic and import!
I spent a little time with it back then, but since he didn't have any games I was really interested in at the time I didn't really have a chance to get a good feel for the system. But now I must say that I prefer its "look and feel" to the GBA -- the system feels more smooth, more solid, that its younger cousin. The analog stick has a nice structured fluid movement, and I dig the little clicks it makes. The color palette, while more limited than the GBA, seems much more vivid and crisp. And all the extra nicities of the system like the horoscopes and alarm are charming.
As for Sonic Pocket Adventure, the game is very nice. Sonic's movements, however, make it feel like I'm playing a permanent "ice stage" as his normal movement is encumbered like when one is playing an ice level. Otherwise the game is very solid, and I like how there is not only the Chaos Emeralds to collect but the puzzle pieces, which will be fun and challenging to collect.
Many people compare SPA to Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (Genesis), which I think is fair since the first several levels are reminicient of it. But I believe those who think this haven't play the other Sonic games. The first Zone feels to me like the first Zone of Sonic CD, the next from Sonic 2, the following Sonic 3, so on and so forth. The next to last Zone feels very original to me with that same classic Sonic feel.
Also, I grew up with the Sonic Game Gear games, which I still dearly love and consider better than the Genesis counterparts. Because of that I particularily like the Sonic sprites as they look very close to the Game Gear ones in Sonic 1.
So for you NGPC collectors out there, I have a few questions:
1) What are the games that best utilize the NGPC <-> DC adapter?
2) What are some good puzzle games? I'm looking for something for my mom as she dearly loves the Game Gear Columns game, but I am also looking for something fun for myself. I'd have her have a go at GG Columns but she marathons it for hours so batteries are out and the DC-in plug shorts out all the time so the AC adapter is also a no-go.
3) How difficult would it be to collect a complete North American catalog of the games? I'm not talking just the carts, but box and manual as well.
4) When I got my game today the manual was inserted horizontally with the spine facing up. I'm wondering if this is how the manuals were original inserted or if they were put with the spine facing the inside of the left sleeve.
5) When I was playing my NGPC one of the first things I thought was, "Boy, this screen's proportions would be PERFECT for a top-down vertical shooter such as Ikaruga!" Are their any available for this system?
6) There was an insert with the slots game featuring a number of other titles for the NGPC. The slots game is by Azure and is called "Pachi-Slot Aruze Oukoku Pocket: Hanabi." There was one really nice looking RPG that reminded me of Defenders of Oasis or Shining Force but I couldn't read the name as it was in Japanese characters. Does anyone know what this one is called?
So I gave the system a nice playthrough after getting all three batteries in. It was a pain getting the coin battery in because I didn't have a coin to turn the cover open with and had to use a screwdriver. Unfortunately I caused minor case damage, but at least I have it in and KNOW to get a penny next time. :P
Next I need to put in the system settings which I found kind of fun. I liked the music and the fact that one gets to pick the color scheme for black and white games from a selection of five different themes.
Then the system starts with its playful little music during the startup logo, which is pretty neat. I like how you can skip the full intro just like on the Dreamcast and how it has a soft reset like the DC.
These are the reasons I bought a NGPC: Sonic Pocket Adventure and Dreamcast connectivity. Now I'm going to have to invest in some SNK/Capcom games to take advantage of this sweatness!
But the system has impressed me much more than it did the first time I saw one. Back then, my friend Tyler still lived in town, and he had a NGPC with two SNK games and a flash cart. And did he put that cart to use, playing nearly every available game both domestic and import!
I spent a little time with it back then, but since he didn't have any games I was really interested in at the time I didn't really have a chance to get a good feel for the system. But now I must say that I prefer its "look and feel" to the GBA -- the system feels more smooth, more solid, that its younger cousin. The analog stick has a nice structured fluid movement, and I dig the little clicks it makes. The color palette, while more limited than the GBA, seems much more vivid and crisp. And all the extra nicities of the system like the horoscopes and alarm are charming.
As for Sonic Pocket Adventure, the game is very nice. Sonic's movements, however, make it feel like I'm playing a permanent "ice stage" as his normal movement is encumbered like when one is playing an ice level. Otherwise the game is very solid, and I like how there is not only the Chaos Emeralds to collect but the puzzle pieces, which will be fun and challenging to collect.
Many people compare SPA to Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (Genesis), which I think is fair since the first several levels are reminicient of it. But I believe those who think this haven't play the other Sonic games. The first Zone feels to me like the first Zone of Sonic CD, the next from Sonic 2, the following Sonic 3, so on and so forth. The next to last Zone feels very original to me with that same classic Sonic feel.
Also, I grew up with the Sonic Game Gear games, which I still dearly love and consider better than the Genesis counterparts. Because of that I particularily like the Sonic sprites as they look very close to the Game Gear ones in Sonic 1.
So for you NGPC collectors out there, I have a few questions:
1) What are the games that best utilize the NGPC <-> DC adapter?
2) What are some good puzzle games? I'm looking for something for my mom as she dearly loves the Game Gear Columns game, but I am also looking for something fun for myself. I'd have her have a go at GG Columns but she marathons it for hours so batteries are out and the DC-in plug shorts out all the time so the AC adapter is also a no-go.
3) How difficult would it be to collect a complete North American catalog of the games? I'm not talking just the carts, but box and manual as well.
4) When I got my game today the manual was inserted horizontally with the spine facing up. I'm wondering if this is how the manuals were original inserted or if they were put with the spine facing the inside of the left sleeve.
5) When I was playing my NGPC one of the first things I thought was, "Boy, this screen's proportions would be PERFECT for a top-down vertical shooter such as Ikaruga!" Are their any available for this system?
6) There was an insert with the slots game featuring a number of other titles for the NGPC. The slots game is by Azure and is called "Pachi-Slot Aruze Oukoku Pocket: Hanabi." There was one really nice looking RPG that reminded me of Defenders of Oasis or Shining Force but I couldn't read the name as it was in Japanese characters. Does anyone know what this one is called?