Neo Geo Cup '98 review by Torture

What can I say about Neo Geo Cup ‘98? Quite simple, it is 8 megs of Neo Geo Pocket goodness. It is quite amazing that it is only 8 megs, considering just how much they squeezed into this tiny cart. I’m not the type who really likes sports games, but when I saw the screenshots, I became open minded. Because of a friend’s recommendation(and the overwhelming desire to expand my NGP library) I finally got the game...and what a game...

Graphics

This game shines most in this category, by far. This game is filled with impressive visuals from the moment the title screen comes up. The detail level of the NGP really struts its stuff in this one. After the title screen, it takes you to the menu, and each option has it’s own artwork to go along with it, quite impressive. If it’s the first time you’re playing, you’re taken through the steps to establish which team you will be using for the cup. Again, the artwork here is a great way for the NGP to show off its wonderful screen. All the game artwork is great, although exaggerated, but that gives it a lighthearted feel. The scientist, the trader, the bandit, they all look great. The artwork is top notch throughout, and doesn’t falter anywhere. The in-game graphics are equally impressive, with large sprites. The players all look the same, but that’s not really a problem during a game. With the large sprites on the screen, the game doesn’t slow down at all. The screen keeps up with the fast pace of the game. Al so, small details like the grass texture, and the detailed goals are just nice little touches.

Sound

I was never good at rating sound, myself. Overall, I think the sound in this one is quite good. The sound effects are good overall, like the whistle blows, and sliding tackles. This is a portable system, so, ideally, the sound could be better, but I haven’t heard Gameboy do anything better. Overall, I’d say the sound is good for what it is, not really a positive or a negative.

Gameplay

So how does it play? Quite nice, thanks for asking. This is arcade style sports at its finest. The action is fast, the games are quick, and it’s tons of fun. Games are two 3 minute halves(it’s longer than it sounds). On offense, button A is for passing, button B is for Hard kicks/shots on goal. The longer you hold a button down, the harder the kick. I find that short passes are more effective, though I’m not much of a passer. On defense, button A is for stealing/stopping the ball, while button B is for tackling as well as heading or kicking a loose ball. The computer is pretty tough, especially at first. They are aggressive with stealing and tackling, and the goalies can be annoyingly good. There is no offsides call in this game, to make scoring easier. It also adds to the arcade feel, and keeps the fast pace going. Little details add to this game too in Neo Geo Cup mode, to make it more than just a quick and dirty arcade style game. You get to change formations using a lot of choices, you can buy special equ ipment to enhance the abilities of players. Characters also come along to sell stuff, and to try to enhance items. Items can also be stolen, or players can get sick, and in these cases you have a chance to fix that. There is also a fan rating, and fan mail, which can affect the team’s attributes. These events keep the game interesting. The soccer itself is great fun, but these extras really make it more fun to play.

Overall

This game is what a game should be. It had great graphics, great artwork, and it plays like a dream. It is really easy to learn, yet is hard enough to keep you coming back. In one tournament, I beat Japan 16-0, onyl to struggle to come from behind to beat Mexico 2-1. The game seems to get harder as you keep winning, which keeps things interesting. But what really sets this game apart from others is the presentation. The gameplay is great on its own, but the game’s lasting power comes from the random events, buying items, and such. All in all, the game is fun, is presented well, and makes a great addition to any Neo Geo Pocket library. In my opinion, it is a must-have, along with King of Fighters R-1. All this in only 8 megs...it makes me wonder what it could have been with 12 or 16, as I really don’t know what they could have added to this game.