Monday MAME Club [06/20/05] - Top Hunter

[Flack]

http://members.cox.net/flack/mameclub1.jpg

I tried dragging last week's game pick into two weeks but that didn't seem to help much. Maybe this week's pick will garner a bit more interest! If you like the Neo Geo and platformers, you'll love this week's game!

The ROM of the week is: Top Hunter (available HERE (http://www.robohara.com/mameclub/tophuntr.zip)!)
KLOV Link for the game: HERE (http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=10154)

http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/screens/T/xTop_Hunter_-_Roddy_&_Cathy.png

Welcome to this week's Monday Morning MAME Club Posting. Every Monday, a member of the MAME club will pick a new game for you to play in MAME! All you have to do to participate is install MAME, download the ROM of the week from this message, and then post your thoughts about the game! You can post a full review of the game or simply tell us what you liked/didn't like about the game. Have you played this game before? Have you played it in an actual arcade? Do you like the genre? How did it run on your computer? Did you beat it? If so, how long did it take? What was your high score? How far can you get? Did you have any problems emulating the game? When writing your review, post it right here in the sticky topic and include any thoughts you have about the game. Remember, YOU are the reviewer. Let us know anything and everything you think about the game! Just remember, if you want people to respond during YOUR week, you should play along on OTHER weeks!

Club Members:

digitalpress (Battle Bakraid, Blood Bros)
Gamereviewgod (ESP Ra.De., Gunforce 2)
!!! Wisesalesman (Waku Waku 7, Top Hunter) !!!
scooterb23 (I'm Sorry)
ddockery (Penguin-Kun Wars)
AlanD (Dr. Micro)
IntvGene (Strike Force)
NE146 (Portman)
jonjandran (Bronze Adventure)
Flack (Rollergames, Yie-Ar Kung-Fu, Liquid Kids, Ninja Clowns, Great 1000 Mile Rally)
IGotTheDot (N/A)
zektor (Battle Bakraid, Haunted Castle)
buttasuperb (Blazing Star)
chadtower (Berzerk)
Sotenga (Caliber 50)
Stark (Mighty! Pang)
christianscott27 (Darius Gaiden)
ECWSandmanECW (League Bowling)
TripppsK (Lady Bug)
vespertillio (Rampart!)
<s>ghsqb</s>
TheSmirk (Bomb Jack)
Flukkake (Elevator Action)
BHvrd (NARC)
ManekiNeko (Battle Circuit)
MarioAllStar2600 (City Bomber)
Ze_ro (Pandora's Palace)
slip81 (Biomechanical Toy)
Qbert (Mysterious Stones)
k8track (Go! Go! Mile Smile)
<s>Hamsnibit</s>
Lady Jaye (Chuka Taisen/Cloud Master)
Sofa King Gud (Crossbow)
Schenley (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom)
Kaine23 (Super Burgertime)
Arqueologia_Digital (Burgertime)
Jiscan (Withdrew)
-hellvin- (Splatterhouse)
Acidic_Pain (Armed Police Batrider)
Gamemaster_ca_2003 (Block Out)
Vigilante (Pu-Li-Ru-La)
Hovoc (D&D: Shadow Over Mystara)
<s>Mr.FoodMonster</s>
sniperCCJVQ (WWF Superstars)
A Boy (Satan's Hollow)
JibbaJaba (Solomon's Key)
Cauterize (The Simpsons)
youruglyclone (Vendetta)
Ed Oscuro (Alligator Hunt)
Gapporin (Daisu-Kiss)
Graham Mitchell (Ataxx)
RockyRaccoon (19xx: The War Against Destiny)
XxMe2NiKxX (Raiden II)
<s>brykasch</s>
Xtasy (Metal Slug 2)
DJ_DEEM (G.I. Joe)
The_EniGma (The Punisher)
DaBargainHunta (Combatribes)
cr0n0 (Escape From The Planet Of The Robot Monsters)
Promophile (Pang)
Cirrus (Dynasty Wars)
Stargate (Rastan)
phantomfriar (Prehistoric Isle in 1930)
GobopopRevisited (Elevator Action Returns)
kevates (Gryuss)
Lothars (APB - All Points Bulletin)
SuperGunGuru (Tempest)
Cryomancer (Mega Twins)
Red Hedgehog
SuperNES
Raedon

Remember, you don't have to be a member of the club to download the game and write up a review, but by joining you get the honor of picking a game to share with the group during your week. If you would like to join, simply send me a PM and I will add you to the list!

The current MAME Club Pick of the Week can be found Monday mornings stickied at the top of the main forum, and after that stickied at the top of the Arcade Alley forum.

MAME ON!

[scooterb23]

In my humble opinion, this game is a case of just a little bit too much going on. It feels like Metal Slug, meets Bionic Commando (I think that's the game I'm thinking of with the stretching arm ability), meets Virtual Boy's Wario Land (with the background / foreground jumping).

It's a nice game, but just a few too many elements mixed together for my tastes. Of course, if you didn't have all that, then it would just be a Metal Slug game I guess.

[Gamereviewgod]

This is a solid little Geo title, and much like Scooter said, it can be confusing, and not just because of the all the elements. Graphically it can be a bit much too. You can really get lost in the foreground with all the graphical touches. It's even worse if you're in the back.

I'd say I prefer Spinmaster for my generic Geo platforming action. It's not that Top Hunter is bad, it's just a lot to take in. Spinmaster is cheap and generic, but it's damn good fun (and we shall forever forget Rayguy).

[sharp]

Personally one of my favorite Neo Geo games, ecspecially as the number of platformers is far too small. This one is much harder then Spinmaster, which makes the game agood challenge. After getting used to the front and back switching the game you will be able to finish the game with one credit, it only costs a lot of practice.

Graphics and sound are excellent. So I can really recomand this game. Sadly there isn't much compare the game to only Blue's Journey and Spinmaster, but to compare the game with the really early Neo Geo game Blue's Journey is not fair. I would say both graphics and sound are better then Spinmaster. In gameplay I would put it above Spinmaster as it's more depth also it's much more a challenge to complete (just like Blue's Jouney which I prefer over Spinmaster, just as a game)

[stargate]

never played this one before.

I like it. beautiful graphics and some real nice touches to add to the gameplay. You can tell the game designers really put some thought into this one. I like the fact that you can jump from the foreground to backround. The rings are also cool. I love the fact that you can pick the planet you want to be on right from the onset.

The only negative I can say is that it is a bit on the easy side. I was expecting more from the boss battles. I blew through the first few bosses quicker than I thought I would have liked.

But, overall a really fun game!

[Flack]

Anyone else plan on trying this one out over the weekend?

[ClubNinja]

I own it and like it. I don't play it very often, but it's a cute and interesting game. Unfortunately for it, the Neos in the house are frequently loaded with fighters, shooters, and puzzle games, which leaves very little time to be bothered with swapping in anything else.

[cr0n0]

I actually like this game. it mixes various elements from different platforms and combines them with nice graphics and good gameplay (in my opinion). I am not too fond of the music, but it's passable for me. I suggest playing this baby if you like a hybrid of Bionic Commando and Metal Slug. Don't expect swarms of enemies like Metal Slug, but the idea is almost alike. The idea of jumping between background and back is neat. I give it a 7 out of ten in my chart (ten being awesome). Fun to play, and in the end...isn't that what it's all about?

[Gamereviewgod]

I just realized something. All this talk and comparisons about Geo platformers and NOT A SINGLE MENTION of Magician Lord??? For shame on all of us.