SNK Neo Geo CD - Fourth VideoGame Generation Recap - Adam Koralik

It's Adam Koralik here and today we're discussing the SNK Neo Geo CD! This is a retro-active episode of my 4th generation recap videogame console series. I didn't originally own this console, but I do now!
I'm considering this part 11, even though there was no part 10. Reason is I added the Nintendo PlayStation Prototype at one point, and that kind of messed things up. Anyway, enjoy!
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[@LoquaciousBoyd]

The Neo Geo CD is possibly my most beloved console. I have a USA Neo Geo CD (I live in Scotland) and a Neo Geo CDZ . I just love the fact that I can put a Japanese game CD into my US console and it automatically plays in English and vice versa.

[@19grand]

What do you think of the load times?

[@cax1175]

The Neo Geo CD was a better console than any fifth generation console that came before, load times aside.

[@Halbared]

I had to go check which that included. It's funny how the NEo dropped into the 5th's timeline.

[@The-Fishkeeper]

The Neo Geo CD is really bizarre in that it while it's considered it's own thing, it wasn't even really supposed to a new platform, it's essentially a revision of the AES that uses an entirely different media. I suppose the only other example of this is the PSP Go.

[@duffman18]

Same deal as the PC Engine/turbografx CD, the same exact console but just a form of media storage that is way bigger. The Sega mega CD on the other hand boosted the power of the console and added some built in features like sprite scaling (which was barely ever used in any games despite the opportunity to port the Sega arcade games that featured heavy sprite scaling, they never bothered for some reason). But yeah the idea of just adding a bunch of space but using the same console specs otherwise is still a good idea. And especially for the Neo Geo, because the cartridges cost as much as other entire consoles cost. So switching to cheap ass CDs which cost pennies to produce and had way more storage space than even the neo geo cartridges, and still being the most powerful console around at the time anyway, made sense for both the game devs and the consumers. Cheaper games, still the amazing arcade power of the console.

[@BubblegumCrash332]

The equvilant of a modern neo geo today would be putting a 2,000 dollar pc in a box and calling it a console. And having custom designed games.

[@bricethompson1922]

So a high end steam machine lol

[@tHeWasTeDYouTh]

From what I have been able to read, SNK never had the money to actually push this as a competitor to other game companies like Nintendo and Sega. Really blows my mind that they put a 1x CD drive in 1994.....for the CDZ they just increased the cache, it does not have a 2x cd drive like many people say. Then you check the specs of the Hyper Neo Geo 64 and it all makes sense how SNK was always low on money. Fall of the arcades in the late 90s is what killed a lot of these great Japanese game companies.

[@Larry]

What bugged me was they should have had interneral memory to save a game or two onto the system to negate the slow load times. Even if it was an add-on.

[@AdamKoralik]

Essentially, that's just the AES again. :P

[@TheDeadman14]

10 years of nerdy and still loving this show!

[@snkfightfan0187]

I remember putting down some money for the Japanese release of the NGCD top loader at a mom and pop video game store that was really a movie rental place back in the day. It came out, I picked it up nobody really knew what it was. I passed up on the PS1 and Saturn and paid $350.00 for the NGCD, 2 Neo pads and Samsho1. I had to have them import it from Japan. I later sold my top loader and got the NeoCD Z. I am currently waiting for a pre-order copy of Xeno Crisis. This video gave me major nostalgia. Time to play some NGCD!

[@cax1175]

September 9, 1994 release date? I feel like something else released five years later to the day. Adam probably never noticed at the time.

[@baileyleasure2012]

Or 1 year later.

[@SkyScourgeGod]

The Dreamcast. 9/9/1999

[@MaxAbramson3]

The problem was that the casual gamer could buy a 32X CD by this point, and even some bone stock Genesis games now were as impressive as Neo Geo games.

[@Gecko1993HogheadIncOfficial]

Honestly, the Neo-Geo CD deserves more love.

[@juanmartinstehle5047]

x2

[@wafialarbi6936]

neo geo cd l need

[@joeyparkhill8751]

I've Been waiting for a KZbin video on the NeoGeo CD for years! Thanks Adam!

[@JJop123]

I wish Adam would record in a higher resolution and fidelity. Running this through my mcable can only do so much and I want the best images possible

[@pinrod1]

sometimes 144p is the best that can be attained....... :(

[@volast]

I need to appreciate his beauty in at least 720p

[@guerrillaradio9953]

Can you even get a camera that only does 480p anymore? I only have a 1080p TV atm, and it's been years since youtube videos looked this bad even for me, lol.

[@samweller96]

You must mod your phone to output RGB scart to get the best analog signal.

[@joeyparkhill8751]

The NeoGeo CD controller looks like a chocolate donut with sprinkles for buttons... Sorry that was my breakfast this morning!

[@CCH3900]

I mean, I'd eat it. Somebody should make a cake shaped like that.

[@joeyparkhill8751]

@@CCH3900 As would I also, nice pic on your avatar

[@TechSpec814]

At first I thought this was an old video I missed but turns out it was only uploaded 13 minutes ago. Nice! Glad to see these videos can still be made.

[@thepoliticalstartrek]

When I traveled to Japan in the 90s in school. We went to the red light districts. My mom found out and thought it was the same as the western versions. Lots of discount e;electronics at the time vs western version.

[@RSans4210]

This series brought me to the channel, it's great to see you still continuing consoles you didn't have at the time.

[@MegaManNeo]

The NGCD emulator for Dreamcast is pretty much the reason I have found interest in this thing, regardless of its loading times. Unfortunately game prices are high these days on eBay, so the only game I managed to pick up is King of Fighters 94. A game I played years ago on MAME and actually liked a lot, so it was a good investment, I think.

[@izzymaedavidson1974]

These video game generation videos are so good! I find them so fun to listen to and I think they have a good rewatch-ability to them. I often rewatch these every so often after I have had time to forget some of the information in them.

[@MUSIKO]

Can we get 4k Adam in 2020 pleaseeee lol

[@fearanarchy]

What I appreciate is starting with "Let's talk about NGCD....." ..... 20 minutes later.... "and that's why Dreamcast is awesome!" *(at least that is what I heard 9.9.99)

[@chadbrick67]

My mate in Sweden modded his with a faster CD drive and other bits which speed the loading times up about 4x. Absolutely brilliant mod and is well worth doing. I'm not very technical but its amazing and it plays copies hahaaaaaa

[@duffman18]

Even though your videos are just you talking into a camera, no game footage, I find your videos really addictive to watch, they're great. You're a great speaker

[@PrinceAli1983]

Nice to see another recap video!

[@legitdownz8926]

Dang Adam, now I got a watch the whole series again. Keep up the good content bro🤙🏻

[@Arbteron]

Hey Adam, great video as always! Also, I'm watching this on my 3DS and I have no idea why I felt the need to tell you that!

[@joeyparkhill8751]

I'm pretty sure Guru Larry Bundy Jr. has an FM Townz Marty

[@alritedave]

Probably lol

[@supermattymaker]

Adam again, another fantastic video! SNK and the NeoGeo, my favourite dev/manufacture/consoles ever! Been a HUGE fan and collector since 89, I LOVE both system but I differ from the "SNK norm" have so many home carts, all the biggies, but my pride and joy - my CDZ... lol, absolutely love it! - Ooo, my Pocket and PocketColor (SvC:MatchOfTheMillennium - by far the best handheld fighter ever!) I adore too! Constantly posting my gaming pick ups on my Twitter and Insta all the time with my SNK pick ups always a joy! Just tweeted a pic I had to tag you in, showing an ever so tiny slice of my SNK obsesion! lol As I said great video! ;)

[@nimrodlevy]

big fan of the series, 2 videos in less than a month! Thank You Mr. Koralik! also go for the full set! ;)

[@Wheels8504]

Glad to see another video game generation recap video.

[@HCKNEOBOOM]

Good video Adam! I especially like to collect and play NeoGeo Cd games because of the CD quality providing crystal clear sound effects, but especially the music, being completely done from scratch. The new music arrangements are delightful in some titles.

[@ajtstvandmusicarchivechann1585]

The power supply isn't quite proprietary. My neo geo cd came with a HP laptop charger and it works.

[@jasonarmstrong5750]

I’m just waiting for the day when you make a video saying you have every console ever made, assuming of course you even have space for all of them

[@AdamKoralik]

Ha, impossible.

[@jasonarmstrong5750]

Adam Koralik you say that now but at the rate you’re going you’re just about there

[@Halbared]

@@AdamKoralik YOu have now, what, more than half of all made?

[@giornogiobama7053]

As long as he avoids the first generation and it’s over 100 pong consoles

[@Warbob11]

Neo Geo Pocket Color is one of my favorite handhelds

[@timmckernan8135]

Great video!!! Thanks for taking the time and updating your series!!

[@joeyparkhill8751]

Adam what was a bigger mistake: That frontloader on the NeoGeo CD or no legitimate Sonic Game on the SEGA Saturn?

[@AdamKoralik]

No legit Sonic game.

[@Noobsaibot21]

Sonic mania and streets of rage remake. These are the games we SHOULD have got on the Saturn. If some enterprising fellow ported them to it, I'd have to get them.

[@singletona082]

@@Noobsaibot21 If not on the saturn definitely on the dreamcast. I would have been such an insufferable ASSHOLE to my entire family to get a saturn if both of those games were o nthe saturn and JUST those games. To hell with evertying else that's 'bonus.'

[@CCH3900]

​@Retrogamer Dell That, and Sega Of Japan bickering with Sega Of America. And being real pains to deal with.

[@SwitchRetroGaming]

He did . Sonic Team started work on Project Sonic in 96 sadly poor sales mean it was moved to Dreamcast.

[@locked01]

They should have created an add on to play AES cartridges on that thing. That would have been awesome 👌

[@KevPez-IS]

Never thought id say this, but I binged this whole playlist while delivering mail all day. I feel like I’m ready to write a book.

[@KevPez-IS]

My girl is gonna ask how work was and I’ll respond with “I NEED THAT MCDONALDS GENESES GAME”

[@KevPez-IS]

Also rea quick, going through a rough patch right now. Stupid crap. These videos actuslly help the day go by, I appreciate the time you put into this series

[@JolliAllGenGamer]

If only I can find the CDZ for a reasonable price it’s expensive everywhere eBay, Japan, and the rest of the world.

[@thejackal007]

Very timely video for me. I just finished reading Bitmap Books' book about Metal Slug and the developers referenced the slowdown and missing features (missing frames of animation) for the CD console.

[@solonsaturngaming3727]

Fun fact when it came here in Canada Alberta that is very little stores had only 1 CD when i showed this to my uncle as he remembered seeing one at a local game shop at a mall years ago he was about to get but instead picked up the Turbografx-16 CD and Genesis with CD add-on.

[@asahe8392]

Ive watched this video like 20 times already, and once more now that the 8bitdo controller is on pre order, yet i still really like this video, just cant stop listening to Adam such a great content creator

[@TempoLOOKING]

I mimic his arm movements after 10 yrs of dreaming

[@sufamidan1006]

I always skipped over the CD as I had an AES and the downgrade in quality was significant. As far as budget is concerned it’s a great option, though.

[@starstarstar4643]

There is no real downgrade in quality with the CD version unless you think smaller sprites is a huge downgrade or something

[@sufamidan1006]

@@starstarstar4643 just the aesthetic and load times for the most part.

[@Native2Earth]

I’m still game for a gen 1 recap ....

[@jonathanlisowski5618]

Thank you Adam for another great and informative video!

[@IanNewYashaTheFinalAct]

19:00 I'm getting this visual of you as Elmer Fudd hunting for _Dweamcasts_ Pippin Season Dreamcast Season! Pippin Season Dreamcast Season! Dreamcast Season Pippin Season! *FIRE*

[@raamfanraamfan846]

thankyou for your time and effort,always entertaining

[@jeff97ish]

Been looking forward to this one! Thanks Adam.

[@PutlerHuyIo]

King of Fighters was milking the franchise and spamming yearly releases long before Assassin Creed made it cool (and later uncool). 😂

[@tounsi_m7ashesh]

Remarkably kof only got better substantially

[@BoozeAholic]

@Retrogamer Dell That's exactly what it was. I wouldn't consider it milking coz most of the entires play completely different. Kof 94 plays nothing like 98 which was the end of that saga, similar to how 99 plays nothing like 2003, with 2003 being a tag battle game similar to Marvel Vs Capcom.

[@fossilfern]

Loved Neo Geo arcades as a kid. Always wanted an AES but there was no way. But with the games releasing on the switch my switch has turned into a portable neo geo.

[@emmettturner9452]

Might be good to mention games that didn't come out on AES, like Puzzle Bobble... also, exclusive games that didn't come to MVS or AES (Crossed Swords 2, Samurai Shodown RPG, etc).

[@G.G.___162]

Hell yeah, was wondering when this video would come into existence!

[@jokerzwild00]

Wii U and Switch are absolutely in the same generation. Both were competitors to the Xbox One and ps4. They're in the same ballpark performance-wise as well. Of course the Switch is more powerful, but not by a mile. It's gpu does support a modern feature set though, which makes a world of difference in what games can be ported to it.

[@sp0re8900]

The saturn was capable of outputting near arcade perfect ports only with games that utilized the ram cartridge tho. But for perfection the Aes was in a league of it's own

[@videogameobsession]

I've never seen a USA AES Neo•Geo cartridge sold as brand new for more than $275 USD. It's only been the aftermarket sales which have been jacked up. I used to buy brand new USA Neo•Geo AES, from my December 18th, 1990 launch titles for $125 (League Bowling) / $170 for Top Player's Golf to 2000's Metal Slug 3 USA (official release from SNK/Distributed by NeoGeo,com for $275. That was the most I had ever spent on a single game.

[@darthv72]

Welcome to the club Adam. I added a region switch to mine so it makes text heavy games easier to understand. I dont really mind the load times. It is what it is.

[@thepolarcool1]

Thanks for the video Adam! Your the best youtuber there is

[@greenhxify]

I love learning more about console generations including the ones I was not a part of. I had a Saturn and N64 and never heard anything about snk until I was an adult. Thanks for sharing and teaching us about this. J O Y C O N B O Y Z

[@mtshark7]

Awesome video Adam!

[@ThoseGuysPlay]

As a New Yorker, its like trying to buy the best t-shirt or mug at Times Square lol -Matt

[@-GameHacKeR-]

Aw man this could actually be a end of a era for the channel. Been a epic ride though over the years :)

[@AdamKoralik]

Why are people saying that? I'm literally doing three more of these this month alone.

[@-GameHacKeR-]

@@AdamKoralik Well you did point out in the video that you are coming to the end of this series because you are running out of consoles XD But it's ok, it'll leave more room to talk more about Shenmue :) Also the end of Shenmue III, EPIC!!!!!!!! Shenmue IV & V is going to be awesome :)

[@esperago]

"You can go to a petting zoo and shoot the thing in the face." LMFAO. Favorite thing you've ever said, Adam.

[@marccaselle8108]

I wanted to buy a neo Geo CD system back in the day but they were not common in the US. I emulated neo Geo CD on my computer in the early 2000s and I loved it, especially for the remixed soundtracks.

[@sonicshoes9299]

I have almost fell asleep twice to your voice, great videos

[@AdamKoralik]

Bob Ross effect. Try my travel channel for more.

[@CRGR1997]

What a time to be alive. I love the recaps. Sadly there isn't anymore generations so it's not like I can ask it to continue haha

[@danfisher1821]

So pleased to see this video. I'm in the middle of paying off a boxed mint condition front loader. A mate bought it in hast and then realised he didn't really have the space for it, and there is a load of other things he'd rather have in his collection. Nearly bit his hand off. :-)

[@fubarfubar1977]

Yeah but this video rekindled my interest so I might just keep it now 😝 Only kidding, it's yours mate!

[@danfisher1821]

@@fubarfubar1977 You know, when I was watching this I though "he's guna change his fucking mind" lol

[@1-eye-willy]

Im jelly of that neo geo cd collection. Its a sight to behold

[@joeljones8066]

interesting that you mention the Switch, as that's the only way i'm able to play Neo Geo games atm

[@humansrants1694]

I own a NEO GEO AES but I now only play NEO GEO games on my Switch.

[@STP.83]

End of the 90th I really was interested in the Neo Geo Pocket Color, but because of the price I didn't buy one. I spent all the little money of my paperboy job into Playstation games and later the Dreamcast with all Dreamcast Magazines and many games and accessories and I don't regret it.

[@JLMtime]

In my elementary school talk of the neo geo was like talk of city of Atlantis... super advanced & out of reach but every one imaged they could go

[@barebarekun161]

I got one of the slow top loader off of Hard Off junk section back in 2018 for $45 almost complete in box with two barely played controllers only missed the manuals. Bought the cheapest NGCD games I can find at the store got earlier gen golf game and bowling for testing $10 each. It was in great shape and loads and plays great I'm shocked that someone would throw away a great working console like that,what a steal. Ditched the package box at the hotel since I don't have space for it,felt a little sad for that. I concluded my Japan trip with this purchase as the highlight of that trip.

[@ginovavienne7581]

I just remember every game I played from Art of fighting to Metal Slug X on arcade. I only had one friend that had a NEO GEO

[@Rubycon99]

For Fatal Fury: King of Fighters, that's not a crossover. "King of Fighters" is just the subtitle for the first game. When they released KOF 94 a few years later, I think it was probably meant to be a successor series to Fatal Fury, but of course they ended up releasing a bunch of new Fatal Fury games anyway.

[@salgeno2849]

SNK had the best fighting games. they took inspiration from Street Fighter of course!!

[@Shiro128b]

I had a top loader. It was my first Neo Geo. I think a lot of folks consider it a footnote compared to the success of the AES/MVS. The rest just piss on about load times. Some games also got sprite chops to help reduce load times. Mai Shirinui's P.Power super in RBS is an example.

[@schooltrashers]

I wish I could travel to Japan. I would love to buy some consoles and games for way cheaper. Ebay prices are insane.

[@worldhello1234]

You can use a proxy to buy from Japanese only stores: www.fromjapan.co.jp/en/

[@chrisgreen521]

I like these generation Recaps, Let's hope these game companies don't make the same mistakes as the pass. Good stuff as we head into the 9th Generation🎮💖👍

[@entertainmentwizard2703]

The Dreamcast emulation still needs work!

[@Nelbroth]

If this thing wasn't so late to market, it might've stood a chance. Sure, the console was cheaper to produce by 94, but much of the library was already long in the tooth. It needed to be price accessible when the games were relevant and gamers were already setting their sights on the PSX era.

[@alritedave]

I just got a NeoGeo AES! :D

[@Ben-do1bf]

Unrelated to the Neo Geo CD but it is still incredibly fascinating to me that the intended follow up to the 3DO, a system built around not having one console manufacturer, was going to be a solely Panasonic system.

[@Kain5th]

A couple of exclusives I know of for the NEO GEO CD are crossed swords II, the samurai Shodown RPG(the fan english translation on this has stalled for a long time sadly) , and Ironclad which luckily is now on GOG.com

[@COBOL]

Great recap! Just a little appoint: The Neo Geo CD was powerful as an AES, sharing the same hardware, but the quantity of RAM wasn't enough to store all the frames of later bigger AES games, so many transposition from cartridge to CD lacks frames, resulting in poorer conversions. One of the examples could be KOF from 96 to 99, that have more frames on the Saturn (with memory expansions) or Dreamcast than the NGCD. Somehow compensated by great CD quality soundtrack rearrangement but, still, a big problem in the "arcade perfect" phylosofy of the Neo Geo...

[@omegarugal9283]

the ngcd loads the games in 4 mb chunks... not enough

[@egotram]

Cool vid fella. With the exception of the MVS in arcades, I have never seen any Neo Geo systems or games here in England.

[@Riz2336]

That is quite the obscure console, I have never seen one in real life ever

[@emmettturner9452]

The AES and Neo Geo CD perfectly support and fit the same DIN-5 composite AV cables from a Genesis Model 1 or Master System. If your composite AV cable is DIN-8 then the pins that don't fit right are vestigial since they are used for RGB. Of course, the NG CD has stereo AV on the back with no need to use the mono multi-out. Personally, I use the RGB output with the HD Retrovision Neo Geo adapter for their Genesis 2 cables. I recently read that they discontinued the adapter, which is a shame since a lot of people are buying NGCD for Furrtek's new SD Loader.

[@solonsaturngaming3727]

I should now get one of these as man i love all of SNK’s fighters

[@ComicBooksandVideoGameNerd96]

you had this modded years later and the reason you found out the reason why it was in the junk bin was because the composite video output was broken not that you use that anyway

[@bdillmore40]

Adam you definitely got a good deal on both Neo Geo CD consoles you got! You got both for less than $100! What a steal! I paid $180 for my top loader Neo Geo CD off of eBay. It's a Japan import. Did the front loader come out first, or did the top loader come out first? I thought the top loader was the first model, but I could be wrong. Loved the video man! -Brendan

[@AdamKoralik]

Front loader.

[@marccaselle8108]

The neo Geo CD is kinda like the Sega CD. Both systems and the same games with a few extras. In the neo Geo CDs case, it was a gallery mode, or remixed soundtracks on a few games or new modes. The Sega CD had the same games as the genesis except the CD ones had CD soundtracks and lots of video clips.

[@arhops9078]

those load times dont even sound that bad compared to what we had in the now previous gen

[@juanmartinstehle5047]

I really like this console despite it's infamous loading times. And the NEO GEO CD controller is one of the best video game controllers ever made. Sooner or later I'll get my NEO GEO CD from Japan (2nd Model) with box and manual.

[@Ish0tJR]

11:25 SNK didn't drop support for the Neo Geo CD until December 1999, the King of Fighters 99 was the last game released for it.

[@AdamKoralik]

That's not exactly what support means. Games can still get released, but they stop making new units and being responsible for repairs and so on.

[@Ish0tJR]

@@AdamKoralik So they dropped hardware support in 97 ?, my bad.

[@andrewvanhalen1984]

The Fourth Generation was the best era in gaming.

[@shenmeowzo]

Wow great find in the 'broken' bin!

[@fanglord13]

The NG CD was a massive missed opportunity by SNK. Had we got the CDZ from the get go, even if it was slightly more expensive, who knows how big it could have been? The load times can be unforgivable (KOF 98 is near unplayable), but most games were acceptable waits and the sound output was better than the AES in most cases. Really noticed the difference in sound (even in mono!) on the game Viewpoint. A banger for an opening stage track that sounds so much cleaner and crisper on the CD. The AES is my dream machine and glad to have one now, but I have become enamoured with the CD and do find myself playing it more than occasionally. Now, if only they would release and English version of Samurai Spirits RPG…

[@oblivieon1567]

HAHA "Affordable" is a relative term... The console was still $400.00 at launch. It is a underappreciated console for sure, I love the one that I have. It also surprisingly has most of the library available so it's a great way to play on original hardware if that's your thing.

[@GameLocadora]

Most of these power supplies need recap; as soon as you replace those capacitors, it works again.

[@wonderfulwardy]

Awesome. You finally got one!

[@SkyScourgeGod]

I may be one of the few gamers on earth who'll stand proudly with this console. I recently got a very nice model 2 complete in box and I've had nothing but fun collecting for it and playing on it. The only time I have gripes with loading issues is when I play late release fighting games like KoF 98 & 99, Last Blade 1 & 2 and Samurai Shodown 4. The load times on those games are borderline infuriating. Everything else doesn't feel all that different from other CD consoles I played like the PC Engine Duo, 3DO and even the PS1. 95% of the time the games are much more affordable and the arranged soundtracks they have are outstanding. Compare the soundtracks from Far East of Eden Kabuki Klash on the AES and the CD; the difference is night and day and the CD version sounds absolutely gorgeous. The only real issues I have with the Neo Geo CD is that the AES and MVS got more games overall and those late release fighting games I mentioned before have those awful loading times even on a CDZ. Other than that I adore the Neo Geo CD.

[@ianlindsay6652]

Feel so stupid for not picking one of these up last time I was in Osaka and still kicking myself. Next time my mission is to focus on the Neo Geo CD. There was this shop with stray cats everywhere that had some GEMS dude! Always spent way too much by the time I've bumped into one. Hahaha

[@TempoLOOKING]

Be careful you might get iesakied