Over Top

Over Top[lower-alpha 1] is a racing arcade video game developed by ADK and originally published by SNK on April 26, 1996.[1][2] It is the spiritual successor to Thrash Rally, which was released earlier in 1991 on Neo Geo platforms.[3]

Over Top
Developer(s)ADK
Publisher(s)SNK
ADK (NGCD)
Director(s)Takashi Egashira
Producer(s)Kazuo Arai
Programmer(s)Yukinori Nishikata
Composer(s)Keiichiro Segawa
Takao Oshima
Platform(s)Arcade, Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD
Release
  • Arcade
    • WW: 26 April 1996
    Neo Geo AES
    • JP: 24 May 1996
    Neo Geo CD
    • JP: 26 September 1996
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player
Arcade systemNeo Geo MVS

Themed around rallying, Over Top pits the players with competing against AI-controlled opponents in races across various locations. Directed by Magician Lord designer Takashi Egashira, the game was created by most of the same team that previously worked on several projects at ADK. Though it was initially launched for the Neo Geo MVS (arcade), the title was later released for both Neo Geo AES (home) and Neo Geo CD respectively, in addition of being re-released through download services for various consoles.

Over Top was received with mixed reception from critics and reviewers since its initial release.

Gameplay
Screenshot

Over Top is a top-down rally racing game where players observe from above and races across various locations by participating in a single race against AI-controlled opponents.[4][5][6] Each location has their own weather conditions that changes how the car is controlled through the track, as well as shortcuts to gain advantage against opponents.[7][8][9]

The title uses a checkpoint in which the player gains extra time by reaching a tunnel at the end of each location.[7] Failing to reaching the checkpoint results in a game over screen unless players insert more credits into the arcade machine to continue playing. If a memory card is present, the player is allowed to save their progress and resume the last point the game saved at.[7]

Development and release

Over Top was created by most of the same team that previously worked on several projects at ADK,[10] with Magician Lord designer Takashi Egashira acting as its director alongside producer Kazuo Arai.[11] Yukinori Nishikata served as chief programmer, while the soundtrack was composed by Keiichiro Segawa and Takao Oshima.[11] Several other people also collaborated in its development.[11]

Over Top was first released by SNK for the Neo Geo MVS on April 26, 1996, and was then released for Neo Geo AES on May 24 of the same year.[1][2] The Japanese AES release has since become one of the more expensive titles on the platform, with copies of the port fetching over US$4500 on the secondary video game collecting market.[12] The game was later re-released for the Neo Geo CD by ADK on September 26, 1996.[1][2] The title has received multiple re-releases in recent years on various digital distribution platforms such as the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.[13][14]

Reception

Over Top received mixed reception from critics and reviewers since release.[18][19] AllGame's Kyle Knight commended its graphics, gameplay and replay value but criticized the introductory CGI sequence for being poorly done.[15] MAN!AC's Andreas Knauf compared the game negatively with Neo Drift Out: New Technology, criticizing the Sega Mega Drive-esque visuals and sound design, as well as the simple controls.[16]

Reviewing the Nintendo Switch re-release, Nintendo Life's Damien McFerran criticized the CGI graphics and introduction but commended the music and simple controls, regarding it to be "a very average racing title which lacks longevity and won't keep you occupied for very long."[3] Pure Nintendo Magazine's Trevor Gould and Heath M. Shusterman-Zimmerman gave the Switch re-release a mixed outlook.[17]

Notes
  1. Japanese: オーバートップ, Hepburn: Ōbā Toppu

References
  1. "Dossier: Neo Geo Y SNK — Deportivos". GamesTech (in Spanish). No. 11. Ares Informática. July 2003. p. 61.
  2. "Title Catalogue - NEOGEO MUSEUM". SNK Playmore. 2010. Archived from the original on 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  3. McFerran, Damien (May 3, 2017). "Over Top Review (Switch eShop / Neo Geo) — Let's go next stage!!". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  4. Zuruzuru (15 January 1996). "紹介 - オーバートップ". Gamest (in Japanese). No. 160. Shinseisha. p. 207.
  5. Zuruzuru (29 February 1996). "紹介 - オーバートップ". Gamest (in Japanese). No. 164. Shinseisha. p. 242.
  6. Zuruzuru (15 March 1996). "紹介 - オーバートップ". Gamest (in Japanese). No. 165. Shinseisha. p. 218.
  7. Over Top user's manual (Neo Geo AES, JP)
  8. "攻略ーン - オーバートップ". Neo Geo Freak (in Japanese). No. 14. Geibunsha. July 1996. pp. 56–57.
  9. "オーバートップ". Neo Geo Freak (in Japanese). No. 17. Geibunsha. October 1996. pp. 69–71.
  10. "サードパーティーリレーインタビュー 1: ADK". Neo Geo Freak (in Japanese). No. 11. Geibunsha. April 1996. pp. 58–61.
  11. ADK (April 26, 1996). Over Top (Neo Geo MVS). SNK. Level/area: Staff.
  12. Reichert, Nick (April 27, 2020). "The Rarest & Most Valuable Neo-Geo Games". Racketboy. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  13. Brian (April 11, 2017). "Neo Geo lineup on Switch adding Over Top at the end of this month". nintendoeverything.com. Nintendo Everything. Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  14. Carter, Chris (April 27, 2017). "Nintendo Download: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Also, Puyo Puyo Tetris". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on June 3, 2017. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  15. Knight, Kyle (1998). "Over Top [Japanese] (Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  16. Knauf, Andreas (August 1996). "Spiele-Tests – NG: Over Top". MAN!AC (in German). No. 34. Cybermedia. p. 69.
  17. Gould, Trevor; Shusterman-Zimmerman, Heath M. (June 10, 2017). "Review: ACA NEOGEO OVER TOP (Nintendo Switch)". Pure Nintendo Magazine. Pure Media, LLC. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  18. Delpierre, Christophe; Daniel, François; Sedikki, Reyda (April 1996). "L'arcade dépasse les bornes! - AOU'96, l'arcade se lève à l'est: SNK - Over Top". fr:Player One (magazine)Player One (in French). No. 63. Média Système Édition. p. 33.
  19. Osange, Elliott (October 4, 2017). "ACA NEOGEO OVER TOP Review". Bonus Stage. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
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