Neo Geo MVS-X Review

The MVSx is an arcade emulation machine that comes with around fifty Neo Geo games pre-loaded. Beast and I took a look at how it performed and overall it was pretty impressive. The lag was respectable and the panel looked great (in pixel perfect mode), but the stick wasn’t our favorite and the list of games is (in our opinion) missing some important ones. Check it out and see if you think it’s worth the cost!
Neo Geo MVSx: amzn.to/3nBVVSu
Neo Geo Arcade Stick: amzn.to/33JLBjH
Beast: @beast1x5
/ beast1x5
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Experts on these mini arcades:
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00:00 Intro
00:43 Unboxing & Overview
03:51 Menu & Options
05:16 Scanlines
06:51 Lag Testing
08:15 Beast’s 1st Impressions
13:16 Overall Discussion

[@ArikIkirA]

The man goes about his arcade as an experienced sommelier goes about fine wine! Respect from Japan

[@WickedGamerCollector]

12:30 ok that bartop with the CRT is really nice.

[@o1phoenix79]

Another new intro. I especially love the very first part with the CRT RGB colours & three notes harmonising into one. The visuals and the sounds were spot on! Damn man that was bloody brilliant, I'm impressed 👏

[@WrestlingWithGaming]

I'm honestly a bit surprised at how solid this seems to be for an emulation arcade box. It's not for me but this doesn't seem too bad at all. Great review and I'm loving the new intro and transitions.

[@misterkeebler]

I highly appreciated Beast's contribution to this vid, especially talking about the controls. To no fault of other reviewers, it's very common for people to review arcade sticks that are not familiar with how to actually do moves in the games and it's hard to tell if their control complaints are actual issues with the parts or issues with their own execution. Beast clearly demonstrated what was and wasn't a hardware issue, and also was able to describe certain design choices and who they would appeal to. I'm also happy that while latency was a topic that it wasn't the main focus, as i feel sometimes people can make mountains out of mole hills when it comes to 1 or 2 additional frames of lag in an FG. Looks like an overall solid product. Game selection is iffy, but for anyone that considered spending anywhere from $300 to $500 on an Arcade1up cab that has between 2 to 5 games, 50 games on the MVSx is a great deal relatively speaking...and i say this as an owner of two Arcade1ups that I also enjoy. Great review, guys

[@MachoNachoProductions]

Love the new intro!! So much thought put into it! Amazing!

[@seanm1738]

Another great video, Bob. One of the things I love about Retro RGB is how much you all have brought latency into the limelight of emulation. It seems like more developers and official manufacturers are taking notice of the importance of this aspect of emulation, and producing products that are closer to the original machines than ever before.

[@justcallmebones]

Thanks for bringing in the Beast, Bob! I love hearing the perspective from guys who know their stuff. It was a very interesting discussion at the end. Watch out for jewelry by the lav mic though. I've made that mistake more times than I'd like to admit.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Awesome review and analysis, and it was great seeing Beast and getting his input. Good call there, Bobby!

[@CalvinRock]

Great breakdown. It was awesome to see Beast in this

[@TheHellboy1980]

i appreciate your friends views and input

[@nimrodlevy]

The new metal intro is awesome by the way! And thanks for the review.

[@joshoroake]

Would love to see Beast in more videos in the future. Great video.

[@thunderstashgaming]

Great review guys. I appreciate you bringing in Beast to lend his Neo Geo expertise.

[@RetroRGB]

Thanks! I actually bug Beast on a regular basis and hope to get him in more videos :)

[@ScarletSprites]

The control panel pops out by undoing the screws in the front. It’ll be relatively easy to swap both sticks and buttons. No need to take the whole thing apart thankfully.

[@RetroRGB]

Thanks dude! I should have watched your video first!

[@ScarletSprites]

RetroRGB I purposely avoided watching everyone else’s to avoid any bias. I didn’t take it apart but I noticed the same as you as far as the screws. Good work on the video, that was a fast turnaround! Cool to see Beast as well.

[@RetroGamingBlog]

Hey Scarlet. I’ve pre-ordered my unit. I’m concerned on the sticks. Is there anything you can recommend we order in advance as I will want to swap these out.

[@ScarletSprites]

RetroGamingBlog You’ll have to desolder the connectors on the stock stick, and then add connectors or solder to your new stick. I’d personally go with the LS-56 and an octagonal gate.

[@RetroGamingBlog]

@@ScarletSprites would you then re-solder the existing wires on the LS-56? Or would you need any additional wires etc?

[@allubis8950]

This was an amazing in-depth review from someone who intimately understands the MVS arcade, insta subbed.

[@enthusiasticgamer88]

Your buddy is a button destroyer 100% lol. He SLAMS those poor buttons.

[@misterkeebler]

When you come from FGs in the arcades and half of the time you were dealing with 1 or 2 buttons that barely worked, you got used to slamming them lol. Works fine on real branded arcade hardware, but not so well long term on the clone hardware we get on these home units. Most people will end up needing to replace these parts if they play often.

[@abouttreefitty]

That was painful to watch

[@ericochoa4034]

That's the way everyone played back in the days when they had arcade machines everywhere!

[@haloboy817]

To be honest, any hardware that can't take that abuse is trash. This $500 system has been through like 6+ reviewers and is already almost in the garbage. I have an 8 year old fighting edge, which I popped in Qanba buttons and a Hori stick. It gets SLAMMED hard and works like a dream still.

[@BeAsT1x5]

Buttons go brrrttt

[@cybernitemusic]

Damn that intro was awesome. Rock N Roll! ⚡️

[@mikemikejarrell877]

The McDonald’s on marquee does not come with the cabinet it was added from the last Guy that had the cabinet. He hand makes Marquise and Cabinet graphics.The McDonald’s Marquis is an actual replica of the Neo Geo cabinet distributed to McDonald’s restaurants on the West Coast. Joe Szabo’s arcade graphics is the creator. They are for sale on his website right now.

[@128Kgames]

Joe Szabo, Szabo's Arcades, does a lot of Arcade1Up stuff so it will be interesting to see what he comes up with for the MVSX. The McDonald's marquee though, I'll pass... :)

[@mikemikejarrell877]

128Kgames Check out his video on it he actually made three different Marquee for this cabinet

[@128Kgames]

@@mikemikejarrell877 ah cool, thanks will do.

[@Ren722]

The Neo Geo Facebook page even posted his work which is nice

[@chackokhan]

Whoa new intro & transitions! :D Rock & Roll!!!

[@CollinKenny]

Thanks Bob, love the new intro

[@mackcj12345]

best intro hands down

[@Dave_K.]

Thanks for this very interesting review Bob and BeAsT1x5 for his Neo Geo expertise. Yes, the cabinet (hardware wise) seems to be good looking but the (maybe) crappy stick that needs to be replaced (by Sanwa or equivalent) and the game selection is not enough for the price. There also the fact this product is software based emulation with the traditional input/screen lag. For me the best solution for "emulating" Neo Geo without the real hardware is the MiSTer. It acts as the real hardware with the lowest input lag on flat/LCD screens and allows you to choose your favorite arcade or real Neo Geo stick both in USB and DB15 (with the module) with a ton of other lag-free options like very good OSSC-like scanlines and more.

[@TheHellboy1980]

the game list is awesome !!! the arcade 1ups have 3-4 games for $400-500 this has 50 games and way better quality everything !

[@Yevgen6R]

Thank you!

[@Drumada]

I love the intro! Especially the RGB lights harmonizing at the beginning, they were very heartwarming!

[@Vanessaira-Retro]

BEAST!!! and the new intro and screen transitions are amazing.

[@SmokeMonster]

EXCELLENT video :D

[@megan_alnico]

A wild Smoke Monster appears!

[@aaronburrell3729]

Best breakdown yet.

[@RetroRockGamer]

I 100% love the neo geo cd button layout, especially for metal slug.

[@DarkArynLand]

great review, thank you! Sorry for the imperfect input lag. As far as the list of games is concerned, it is almost certain that it will be enlarged with an official update.

[@js200gb]

Nice job, Bob!

[@skankcor3]

Awesome video! Love the thumbnail, you both look like someone just told you a bad joke 😅

[@TobyRieper48]

Bob, I sure hope your last name is Deinterlacing. Great video as always man. Working on my cMVS, gotta wait for the Darksoft cart to be back in stock :)

[@Redonepunch]

Great video. I was hoping you’d have him try a MiSTer with a CRT. That’s my setup now and I’m curious. super dodgeball is the best NeoGeo game nobody ever talks about

[@RetroRGB]

MiSTer with a CRT is as close to the original as possible. There may be a glitch here and there, but overall it's pretty incredible.

[@BeAsT1x5]

I own a mister + pvm20L5 , it's optimal af

[@Whereisvultureboy]

BEAST!!

[@BeAsT1x5]

Yo!!

[@dneck]

Great in depth review! Thanks for the details and yeah, abuse it a little, it should hold up. the fact that it doesn't has me thinking I'll just pi3 my street fighter arcade 1up and call it a day. I love the look of this and it would look so cool next to SFII but $500 and I'd have to replace the buttons and sticks?!? ....tough to turn down but tougher to buy :(

[@_kikaso]

Great video! Is this the best effort at this kind of nostalgia retro from a big company? I’m thinking all of the mini consoles aimed at the non-tinkerers?

[@jackbootshamangaming4541]

"Can also use the MiSTer", I just got mine and have been loving it, and was looking at this to consider the cab for modding a mister into it.

[@wilsonsingleton1841]

Being that the left joystick didn't work that well, keep in mind that the machine went through 4 others before you guys lol! Im sure it was beat up on pretty hard. Great review! Mine will be here within a few weeks

[@kokhen]

Great review! Nice to hear the opinion of someone good at fighting games who actually knows how to execute combos. The sticks need to go

[@atomiswave2]

That mini mvs is tight

[@siskavard]

Great overview! Now just pop a Mister in there & you're golden!

[@jotakux7489]

Can’t fucking wait!!!!

[@bozzyham]

I hope Beast comes back, cool dude who knows his shit.

[@RichRetr0]

Who ever stripped those screws should be named, if you cant handle taking screws out of a product you dont deserve a review copy lol

[@99Vood99]

Agreed 100% with you. Some 'hack' who claims to have knowledge on retro gaming.

[@misterkeebler]

I was actually wondering if the company did it themselves to prevent opening it. The company was very adamant about these reviewers not talking about the inside. I wouldnt be surprised if the review unit came pre-stripped, but only the earlier reviewers would be able to tell us.

[@99Vood99]

@@misterkeebler MadLittlePixel and some others opened them but didn't publish photos or go into too much depth.

[@ovalfastlx6724]

Are you going to try the old intro with the new music? That would be cool to see once.

[@chackokhan]

I dunno, I kinda want to see Bob & company head banging to the intro while playing it.

[@Ben82077]

I just got mine, base and all. I was surprised that the game unit was built. One less thing I had to build so that was a nice surprise. Saved me an hour. I got my package on my door step and the first thing I thought “Why is the box so big?” Lol. Im surprised that with so many fighting games and side scroller games (metal slug etc) that there isn’t a wifi multiplayer feature where you can play against other players via wifi. You have 50 Game, which almost are all two player games, why not do a multiplayer feature? Also-there wasn’t a riser with the base unit. Arcade1up now includes risers with their units. The first two I bought (Arcade1up), you had to buy a riser. Now they just add it to the box-they figure why not just give the consumer a riser with the game-just throw it in with the price. I had a spare Arcade1up riser in the box, I built it and put the SNK, a little higher then an average cabinet, but it works. (You have to turn the riser for the base to fit. The game unit won’t fit with the Arcade1up logo facing out.). Other than that I like it. He’s right though, the joystick seems to be a bit plastic and fragile. I couldn’t do a lot of power combos from what I remember playing back in the day. But all and all it’s a nice addition to my collection.

[@videogamevegasYeOldeAccount]

RetroRGB, Great review! Yes, I agree the game library on the MVSX could be more diverse. Still though, I think no matter what games list Unico chose, the Neo Geo just has too many great games, that there wouldn't be a perfect 50 games list that would please everyone. Just for fun, here are the 50 games I would've chosen for the MVSX: King Of The Monsters Magician Lord Metal Slug Metal Slug 2 Metal Slug 3 Metal Slug 4 Metal Slug 5 Metal Slug X Samurai Showdown Eight Man Ninja Combat Crossed Swords Sengoku Sengoku 2 Sengoku 3 Baseball Stars Professional Top Players Golf League Bowling Nightmare in the Dark NAM-1975 Cyber-Lip Blazing Star Garou: Mark of the Wolves Prehistoric Isle 2 Pulstar Shock Troopers Strikers 1945 Plus Last Resort SNK Vs. Capcom Far East Of Eden: Kabuki Klash Aero Fighters 3 The Super Spy The King Of Fighters 98' The Last Blade 2 Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers World Heroes Perfect Art Of Fighting 3 OR Art of Fighting (either one) Neo Drift Out: New Technology Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy Ninja Commando Captain Tomaday Blue's Journey Robo Army Football Frenzy Viewpoint Waku Waku 7 Windjammers Twinkle Star Sprites Puzzle Bobble 2 Riding Hero vgv

[@videogamevegasYeOldeAccount]

M L, Now the full line-up would be great! A Dream Come True! vgv

[@dieciseis]

Hi. The layout of the buttons is good to play? in the original snk pads, the red button is on the left, no at down...

[@IanMartinScreenwriter]

I recently got the mvsx and I think it’s great. The sticks and buttons are definitely going to be swapped out for Sanwa JLF sticks and Suzo Happ buttons when I get the chance. I’ve got the HyloX hack installed and it runs great. It looks awesome next to my Street Fighter 2 Arcade1up

[@thebutcher6449]

Please tell me about the graphiks of the metal slug games it is like the originals game

[@IanMartinScreenwriter]

@@thebutcher6449 they are as good as you’re going to get on an LCD screen. Which is a beautiful looking display I should add.

[@thebutcher6449]

@@IanMartinScreenwriter thank for the reply i was afraid of those chinese pandora box arcade machines

[@abdelll9737]

Is the hack still available?

[@agentskazzers3482]

i wonder if more games could be added to that tabletop cab?

[@mtaira3521]

I liked the older intro maybe i need to get used to it.

[@ericochoa4034]

I wouldn't doubt there using the same cpu board as the arcade stick pro. They probably just changed the user interface a bit in the software side. Makes sense cause I doubt they would use a more powerful cpu as that would raise the cost of the machine. So if this is the case then the emulation will probably be the same as the arcade stick pro! Which means the best way to go if you want better emulation would be just to swap out that crappy cpu and hack in a raspberry pi. Of course this is all speculation until someone can find out what cpu they are using.

[@marccaselle8108]

I don't know about the Walmarts in your city but where I am, every arcade one up they sell is 400 dollars.

[@gabedel9456]

What kind of speaker do you have in the mini mvs? Is it a 10W? :)

[@aleckermit]

How did you change the marquee?

[@ToxcynTV]

MoSt recent review I saw was Madlittlepixel and he did open the unit. He may or may not have been the one who stripped the screws lol

[@BeAsT1x5]

MVSX buttons go brrrttt lmmfaooooo

[@AndreVandal]

Angled scan lines? Was there ever a cabinet or monitor that actually had angle scan lines? I don't get this

[@lukasperuzovic1429]

I think it's to simulate a particular style shadow mask for a CRT. But I agree it's kinda dumb.

[@AceTrainerX3]

Digital Eclipse, as spotty as their output is, gets Shadow mask filters right. A bilinear filter with a faint hexagon array.

[@PistNRods]

I just watched madlittlepixels review of this test unit, and he had the back opened. I wonder if he was the one that stripped out the screws before you, LOL 😂

[@revengestory]

How can you tell if your 161 in 1 is the right voltage?

[@h0laPlaneta]

So Bob, what´t the ideal joystick brand and model for Beast?

[@RetroRGB]

He likes the Sanwa stuff. I also really like it, which is why I used similar style buttons in my MiniMVS.

[@BeAsT1x5]

I've been using sanwa parts for over 15 years

[@tylerd4884]

its labeled select game because our real mvs 2 and 4 slot cabs had it to switch game

[@patrickdearing4083]

Does it run off a 120v or 220v plug?

[@caivsivlivs]

whats that device you can see at 11:13 in bottom right that is not the OSSC?

[@RetroRGB]

It's the Zoom F6, which is what I use to record all my interviews and all the audio from any video that I'm wearing a LAV mic. I absolutely love it. They make a "mixer" version if you want something stationary, but I need to use mine on the go, so this is perfect: zoomcorp.com/en/us/field-recorders/field-recorders/f6/

[@selfelected3832]

Ronald McDonald is it custom Marquee Made by another KZbinr but originally Neo Geo Minis where in McDonald's

[@BKDDY]

Why can't they just make these full size. drives me nuts

[@SirBlitzbliss]

My compaint about the lineup is there is no shooting game ! What a shame there's no Last Resort, no Pulstar, no Blazing Star, no Viewpoint, otherwise it looks to be a good machine, when price goes down

[@wesleybryant3552]

Wait so is there some input lag or no?

[@jc0609]

What joystick would Beast recommend?

[@RetroRGB]

Beast uses Sanwa sticks in his joysticks.

[@BeAsT1x5]

Sanwa baybee!!

[@murrij]

2:40 Can you tell us on your Patreon page who had their graffiti on the system before you got it?? We can guess who screwed it up.

[@splugereport]

uh oh mad little pixel in trouble 😂

[@atomiswave2]

It's pretty weird it has a Capcom style button layout instead of an actual four button neo geo layout.

[@RetroRGB]

Watch till the end...Beast explains why that was actually a smart move.

[@ZOMB0BBY]

Intro rips!!

[@Aberusugi]

Shoulda just taken a dremel to the screws :P

[@neocvera]

Do you still have it?

[@RetroRGB]

It was loaned to me and I'm shipping it back.

[@Deltax5]

I want to make a amazing table top arcade. Prob with a small seme powerful PC inside. Ill put a nice low lag monitor and nice buttons, sticks. It's something i gotta save up for. Ill prob give in and get this for the mean time, prob going to get a sale. Prob upgrade it a bit. Has all the metal stugs, that's what i care about the most. WTF is with McDonalds thing.. Retro RGB prob has the best retro stuff. Can't compete.

[@wiibrewlover5923]

$500 and it (reportedly) doesn't come with good speakers and/or has bad sound emulation? 🤨 And yeah, it looks decent for people who are not experienced with electronics or technology, but at that point, you might as well just buy something that's cheaper and is ready to use out-of-the-box with little-to-no tweaking or fiddling than paying $500 for something like this cabinet. Just saying...

[@Arctheladx]

hello Hack holy stick Yes or not . ?

[@cybernitemusic]

Great review. Yeah this doesn’t interest me at all sorry to say. Especially since I already have a retro pie and emulation is emulsion. One day I’ll get the real hardware!

[@ajdothack]

how can he beat those buttons like that!!! you gonna wreck it!!! :O

[@BeAsT1x5]

Buttons go brrrttt

[@TheUnlikelyToad]

What's the deal with the Ronald McDonald marquee? This is the first reviewer I've seen show this... did someone swap it in as a gag?

[@TimRoot-dotcom]

I think Szabo did this to this unit. It’s in his video.

[@RetroRGB]

Yeah, I found out AFTER the video went live that a reviewer that had it before me installed it. I really wish they didn't...I was confused as to why it was there.

[@AceTrainerX3]

Eh, I'll stick with my RGB-bypassed AES. Still an awesome video, otherwise.

[@JolliAllGenGamer]

Ronald McDonald looks out of place there lol. Looks cooler than Neo Geo Mini. Why are people autographing the Unit?

[@PartyRock6]

The few units circulating for review will be auctioned (for chairty i believe)

[@richm4100]

For 200-250 then it's a decent product, but 500? You can buy a next gen system for that

[@zombee38]

Yes I agree to that ...at least you are getting 50 games with this one ...unlike Arcade1up options 1 to 3 games per machine....common !

[@LVPB]

Metal Jesus striped the screws

[@StephanieHua]

I give the design 8/10. Better than anything SNK China has been putting out. Its designed as bartop in mind so whatever. Input lag is apparently garbage but I guess we can blame the panel, as well as the emulation... who knows which comes first. Everything else, from price, game selection, buttons/stick quality, LCD panel, etc. I give it meh....

[@rhm3408]

No CRT - no thanks :D

[@duramaxextreme1894]

arcade 1 ups aren't 200 bucks lol unless its 1 game

[@RetroRGB]

The prices range from $80 - $350 depending on when they're on sale: deals.consolekits.com/

[@ragexg]

OMG your friend abused the Buttons big time. I would never let him play any of my mashines.

[@Gvrb15]

Homie slams the shit out of the machine then complains when it stops working properly.

[@odcrl1]

Imagine paying for emulation and roms

[@RetroRGB]

Imagine not being such a troll in the comments?

[@BeAsT1x5]

I'm pretty sure similar to arcade1up it's marketed towards the casual audience

[@stublazinsky5690]

Thia thing is at least $200 overpriced... especially launching so close to new consoles/video cards.

[@lukasperuzovic1429]

You have to factor in that it's a bartop, which brings up the price a bit. I think a Pre-fab DIY Battop paired with a MiSTer would be a better choice if you want to be picky/demanding on the details. Which in that case you end up spending more.

[@AndreVandal]

I don't know, arcade 1 up are similarly priced and they only have a few games.

[@lukasperuzovic1429]

There is a Jamma adapter for the MiSTer. Plus there a couple of guides on how do use a MiSTer with Jamma using off the shelf parts. I did see someone squeeze a MiSTer into a PiCade Cabinet, although you would want to swap out the screen as the one that comes with is awful for gaming.

[@EMMETTCULLENHALE]

just got this played it for 1 hour stuck it back in the box and put on ebay and sold it, the thing is too small it smashes my hand , speakers distorting ,buttons suck & is a piece of shit

[@EMMETTCULLENHALE]

Neo Geo is a 4 button system NOT 6, and the joystick is junk. $200.00 more than it's worth is a easy pass

[@BeAsT1x5]

While true... We actually covered why it's a 6 button layout.

[@EMMETTCULLENHALE]

if it goes $300.00 or less maybe

[@nattila7713]

bad timing and game selection.... plus those filters, jesus!!! :(

[@joeyjojojunior4886]

Too many fighting games.