Over 15 years ago, a lesser known arcade company SNK, made a home and arcade console that will forever be cherished. It was the Neo-Geo. In the early 90’s, the home video game market couldn’t compete with the arcades when it came to graphics. Playing arcade classics at home meant taking on a compromise in graphics and gameplay. But SNK had a different idea. What if the home console played exactly the same game. It was an idea that made the system ridiculously expensive. The home AES console cost $600, with each game weighing in at $200. Not exactly something you could tease your parents for a Christmas present. But SNK put out some amazing games for it including exciting fighting games like the King of Fighters series and the Samurai Shodown series, frenetic puzzlers like Magical Drop and Bust-a-Move, over-the-top shooters like Metal Slug and Blazing Star, and fun sports games like Neo Turf Masters and Baseball Stars. I couldn’t own one growing up, but I remember the buzz, and I remember playing the games in the arcade. Well, last year, I decided I could finally afford a Neo Geo system, and ironically, the MVS arcade system is now cheaper. The home console was produced in such small numbers that they are all collector’s items. Some cartridges go for over $1,000 on eBay with a very active (and arrogant) collector community. So, if you’re going to have the arcade system, why not go for the complete arcade setup.
At an auction last year, I got a Neo Geo MVS 4-slot arcade cabinet, which means I can have 4 game cartridges in at a time. Over the past year I have picked up several great MVS cartridges, which can be had for as little as $10. It has provided countless hours of enjoyment for me and my friends.
The Neo Geo system was supported up until 2004 with hundreds of titles produced. In that time SNK has gone bankrupt, and a company Playmore has acquired them. Now known as SNK Playmore, they make mediocre ports of SNK’s hits and bastardize their IP. SNK, Big Head Mode salutes you!
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