Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy
| Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | SNK |
| Publisher(s) | SNK |
| Platform(s) | Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, Virtual Console |
| Release date(s) | June 24, 1994 |
| Genre(s) | Platform |
| Mode(s) | Single-Player, Two-Player |
Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy is a side scrolling arcade platform game developed by SNK for the Neo Geo in 1994. It was also released on the Neo Geo CD, and the Wii Virtual Console. The game has been re-released as part of SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1, on May 1, 2008.
It was one of the few Neo Geo Games to be dubbed "100 Megashock" due to the large, for the time 100+ megabit cartridge. This was over twice the size of the largest SNES cartridge and over 3 times the size of the largest Genesis cartridge. Later cartridges would routinely top 100 megabits so the branding was dropped. This was also referred as to a precursor to Metal Slug because of the use of the robotic vehicles, which are very similar to the Slugs.
Gameplay
The player, as Roddy (the second player plays as Cathy), must navigate through the stages, collecting items, killing enemies, and defeating a boss at the end of each area. The characters can also execute special moves, done by moving the joystick in certain directions and pressing the attack button, similar to Street Fighter and King of Fighters fame.
The game is split into four planets: Forest, Ice, Wind, and Fire. Depending on what stage is picked first, the layout of the stage will change. For example, if the player picks the Ice world before the Forest world, the Forest world's beginning layout will be different. After completing all 4 worlds, the player is taken to the final stage, where they must rematch with the four bosses and battle the game's antagonist, Captain Klapton.
Storyline
The galaxy's top bounty hunters Roddy and Cathy are sent to put a stop to a colony of Galactic Pirates called the Klaptons who threaten and plunder the cosmos. Four high members of the colony have taken control of four elemental planets. Big rewards are offered for the captures of Sly, Misty, Mr. Bigman and Dr. Burn. The top hunters battle their forces and destroy the bosses' war machines but they all get away. In the Last Hunt, Roddy and Cathy will have to battle in Captain Klapton's Mothership, defeat the four bosses again and take care of the captain once and for all.
Reception
On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the Neo Geo version of the game a 24 out of 40.[1] The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave it a 7 out of 10 average. Two of the reviewers criticized that "the difficulty, even on the hardest setting, is still way too easy", allowing players to breeze through the game very quickly, and thus making it a poor value given the high price of Neo Geo cartridges. However, all four felt that the game was very enjoyable for its brief length due to its numerous techniques, outstanding graphics, bizarre bosses, orchestral music, and ability to move between the foreground and background.[2]
References
- ↑ NEO GEO GAMES CROSS REVIEW: トップハンター. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.332. Pg.21. 28 April 1995.
- ↑ "Review Crew: Top Hunter". Electronic Gaming Monthly (61) (EGM Media, LLC). August 1994. p. 34.