Neo Turf Masters

Before I'm going, this review is not for the game itself. The review will explain the whole PS4 releases with the additional modes, and enhancements so to not redundant the review of the original game. And to add, I love this game.

HAMSTER finally decided to release Neo Turf Masters, possibly after they took the rights from DotEmu while forgot to secure the beloved Windjammers. The game was released on the PlayStation 4 and the XBOX One consoles digitally via their respective storefront. Priced $8 on the PS4 in PSN USA which is the version I'm gonna review now.

The game like other ACA NEOGEO release is pretty much the same, you're given a simple front-end with selection to choose on whether to play the Japanese region or the International region (in this case Europe), and the extra 2 modes which is High Score and Caravan mode. We'll get to that later.

So you start by choosing the region, they give a quick control guide, and the game starts with the classic NeoGeo boot screen which is exactly run like you playing it on the original system. Pressing the touchpad on the DualShock 4 give the list of options that modify both the emulation and the game settings.

The list is pretty simple, you can have quick break with Interrupt save data, set the game view, set the game settings which also include sound settings, change the button config, read the manual, check the leader board, and the rest as you can see from the screens. It's get to the point like you play it on MAME actually.

The Display settings are great, although to be fair it's not exactly hit my taste. The game automatically sets the game to have background which is a shiny display glass thing, which you can turn off, with the Bilinear filter settings enabled. You can disable it to get nearest neighbor interpolation, or get a scanline mode, and scanline with black bar running like you play it on TV. You can even get the scanline up to 4 different level which is pretty awesome. You can also adjust the screen size, and the position so you can nudge it to the left or right and put your cam face on the screen and not disturb anything on the game.

The Game Settings is pretty cool too, you can change any settings about the game from the timer, to the hole rest number, to even how to play and demo sound which is pretty awesome. Feels like owning a MVS really. Audio settings is basic, you can add reverb filter, and some basic equalizer. What's really cool though is that you can test it on the fly by enabling the setting filter on the demo, and changing it with the right analog stick. Brilliant I say.

The game will play exactly like the original, when you finish all the hole and hit the high score, you get to enter your high score which will be listed among every region across the globe. I assume the leader board will be locked based on system though.

Now to the next 2 additional mode, basic stuff actually. High Score mode is simply a survival match. you got the default setting which you can't change and you need to play it under 3 hole rest. Meaning if you lost all your rest, you're game over. Every hole is counted as point which in the end will be submitted to the online leader board. The caravan mode is the same except if having 3 rest, you go with 5 minute rule to get as many hole as you can. Both mode are fun addition, with the only downside is that you can't pause in game, and opening the menu screen will basically mean restart your game mode. That's just how the mode was made I think.

So with that, all of the game is explained. It was really basic and simple, but it's exactly what we all need. Too bad there's no online multiplayer, but I guess you can use Share Play on PS4 and get that 2nd player going online. The price is pretty fair, and if you love Neo Turf Masters, you'll love this version of the game.