Let's talk about your NEO GEO collecting + PRICE GUIDES

[noiseredux]

I used to have a Japanese colour model (the kind of blue camouflage one). I played Japanese and UK carts on it no problem. Clicky stick rocks. No backlight sucks. If you can, do the mod.

I may have lost count now, but I've had 2 Japanese ones and 2 US ones haha. My current system is Japanese. I did have one of the blue camo ones too, but I really prefer the look of just the silver or blue, etc.

Man, yesterday I noticed that CatchFiveBats (who used to post here fairly often a couple years back) had a bunch of CIB US games ending last night. I think I bid on five of them, and lost out on all. :\

Anyway, I beat Bust-A-Move Pocket (again) last night. When I say 'beat' I mean the main "arcade" mode of 99 levels. But what's nice is there's actually also a Vs CPU mode which is another 8 rounds where you play against the computer of course. It's awesome that that's in there, as it offers a competitive mode even if you don't have someone to play against IRL.

But what I wanted to say was how these various modes are very common in NGPC games. And I love that. Many carts seem to have multiple things to do on them. Heck, even Sonic had a bunch of puzzles that you could using puzzle pieces you find within the levels. And I guess completing puzzles will unlock more stuff? It just seems like there was a really thoughtful effort to make NGPC games offer up a lot of replayability which is cool.

[Ack]

I used to have a Japanese colour model (the kind of blue camouflage one). I played Japanese and UK carts on it no problem. Clicky stick rocks. No backlight sucks. If you can, do the mod.

I may have lost count now, but I've had 2 Japanese ones and 2 US ones haha. My current system is Japanese. I did have one of the blue camo ones too, but I really prefer the look of just the silver or blue, etc.

Man, yesterday I noticed that CatchFiveBats (who used to post here fairly often a couple years back) had a bunch of CIB US games ending last night. I think I bid on five of them, and lost out on all. :\

Anyway, I beat Bust-A-Move Pocket (again) last night. When I say 'beat' I mean the main "arcade" mode of 99 levels. But what's nice is there's actually also a Vs CPU mode which is another 8 rounds where you play against the computer of course. It's awesome that that's in there, as it offers a competitive mode even if you don't have someone to play against IRL.

But what I wanted to say was how these various modes are very common in NGPC games. And I love that. Many carts seem to have multiple things to do on them. Heck, even Sonic had a bunch of puzzles that you could using puzzle pieces you find within the levels. And I guess completing puzzles will unlock more stuff? It just seems like there was a really thoughtful effort to make NGPC games offer up a lot of replayability which is cool.

Haha, you actually beat a puzzle game on the NGPC? I've run through the "arcade" mode of Puzzle Link up through the 8th set and have been working my way through the challenge mode, but I'm currently stuck around the mid-60s in that.

[noiseredux]

Haha, you actually beat a puzzle game on the NGPC?

yeah. The main mode of Bust-A-Move is 99 levels. Then you get a CONGRATULATIONS screen and end-credits. So... beat.

Once I finish up the VS CPU mode (I have 4 opponents left I think) then I'll prob move on to Puzzle Link as well.

[Stark]

I got a Japanese one with a sick black crackle finish. Thanks for keeping an eye open noise.

[noiseredux]

I got a Japanese one with a sick black crackle finish. Thanks for keeping an eye open noise.

proud of you.

Ok, so I beat the VS CPU mode in Bust-A-Move Pocket as well now. It was only 8 stages (sadly) but I got a 2nd end-credit roll.

Fired up Puzzle Link for the first time. Took me a few levels to wrap my head around what was happening, but good stuff so far.

When I play the system in my game room the lighting is so good that the screen just looks amazing. The refresh rate is so quick and the graphics keep impressing me. But when I play in my bedroom it's lower light (usually) as I'm just using a lamp on an end-table. I definitely think getting a front-light mod is in my eventual future.

[Ack]

Same here. I've started working on Puzzle Link again, but I've still got all of those challenges to do, and some of them get pretty brutal. There is a lot of trial and error. I like it though, and I wonder about the sequel.

[noiseredux]

last night I think I got to 2-5 or so, Ack. Normal mode, default.

I assume yours is cart-only right? The crazy thing is I read the manual before playing it, and it still took me like 2 or 3 rounds before I understood exactly what the heck was happening haha.

[Ack]

last night I think I got to 2-5 or so, Ack. Normal mode, default.

I assume yours is cart-only right? The crazy thing is I read the manual before playing it, and it still took me like 2 or 3 rounds before I understood exactly what the heck was happening haha.

Yeah, it took me a couple of rounds to figure things out in the "arcade mode," though by the time I was on 2-1, I was easily whipping through everything. Things get more difficult on later stages, but you should still be able to get up through the levels with easy. I find the "All Clear" mode to be more interesting and challenging, especially when you start getting to the higher levels which expect you to take 10 or more moves to win. Level 55 was the bane of my existence for months.

Also, did you collect any cards? If you beat a "Normal Game" stage within the imposed time limit, you unlock them as rewards. Unfortunately there seems to be no rhyme or reason to how you unlock them and no real purpose to them at all. And I don't think you get any cards from "All Clear" mode.

[noiseredux]

Also, did you collect any cards? If you beat a "Normal Game" stage within the imposed time limit, you unlock them as rewards. Unfortunately there seems to be no rhyme or reason to how you unlock them and no real purpose to them at all. And I don't think you get any cards from "All Clear" mode.

I got at least 3 of them already. Though I had no idea what they were, how I got them, or what I'd do with them.

[Ack]

Also, did you collect any cards? If you beat a "Normal Game" stage within the imposed time limit, you unlock them as rewards. Unfortunately there seems to be no rhyme or reason to how you unlock them and no real purpose to them at all. And I don't think you get any cards from "All Clear" mode.

I got at least 3 of them already. Though I had no idea what they were, how I got them, or what I'd do with them.

Apparently they're more important in Puzzle Link 2 but only serve as some kind of reward in Puzzle Link for beating the normal game stages under the time limit.

Beyond that, no ideas. There is only a single guide for this game that I've ever seen, and it barely contains any info on what is going on, so...guess we're up the creek for a better explanation.