‘Stakes Winner 2 ACA NEOGEO’ Review – Getting Back On the Horse – TouchArcade

A couple of months again, Hamster and SNK launched Stakes Winner within the ACA NEOGEO cellular line. As I’m wont to, I reviewed it and located it to be a extremely pleasurable and distinctive recreation that match the wants of cellular gaming fairly effectively. Properly, now now we have Stakes Winner 2 ($3.99). What are the variations? Is it higher? Worse? Will it pull forward by a nostril, or is it simply one other previous nag? I’m making an attempt to jot down like an previous GamePro author. Do you prefer it? In all probability not. Look, I’ve completed so many of those video games, it’s getting arduous to jot down an introduction paragraph. The principle factor is that we’ve obtained the follow-up to a recreation that shocked me in a nice method, and it’s time to see if this one can do the identical.

Stakes Winner 2 was a comparatively swift sequel, as these items go. The primary recreation was a direct hit in Japan when it hit in late 1995, and SNK wasn’t going to relaxation on its laurels. Developer Saurus was tapped to make one other recreation within the collection, and it wouldn’t be the final time it must tackle this activity. It will, nevertheless, be the final time Saurus would accomplish that on the NEOGEO {hardware}. Given the fast growth cycle of only one yr, you’ll be able to in all probability think about that the sport doesn’t precisely reinvent the wheel. In loads of methods, it feels similar to the primary recreation. Not essentially a foul factor, however one thing to remember.

Meaning the racing motion goes to be acquainted for those who adopted my recommendation and performed the primary recreation. You’ll must handle your stamina as you make your method round every monitor. seize helpful gadgets, and check out to not run into any of the opposite horses whereas doing so. There’s a brand new Burst transfer you need to use as soon as per race within the closing dash and it may be the distinction between victory and defeat. Every horse now has a stat for this capability, so that you’ll wish to contemplate that when selecting between the now dozen-strong roster. Jockeys now have some particular strikes of their very own, busted out with preventing game-style instructions, and this provides yet one more layer of technique to every race. The races are quicker and much more enjoyable than earlier than, and whereas I’ll as soon as once more bang my drum that this recreation is super-fun with one other participant, it’s adequate to take pleasure in even for those who’re driving solo.

These new jockey strikes come courtesy of the Jockey Coaching choice between races, a brand new function added to the sport. Pay an enormous chunk of cash, get a slick transfer. You can too decide these strikes up for those who handle to beat a Rival once they problem you. As earlier than, you too can prepare your horse in a minigame between races to get some everlasting upgrades to their stats, a vital a part of protecting tempo with the pack as you go deeper and deeper into the profession mode. You’ll additionally discover yet one more new addition between races within the type of a particular store. You possibly can spend your hard-earned cash right here to purchase gadgets you need to use within the subsequent race. So right here once more we see the essential basis of the primary recreation left intact however with new issues constructed on so as to add some complexity and technique to the proceedings.

Yet another cool factor is that you may now select between two… what are they known as? Derbies? Properly, you’ll be able to decide between Europe or America this time, which suggests you’ve obtained two utterly totally different modes to clear in story mode, every with their very own tracks. On condition that you’ll probably be enjoying this cellular model of the sport in single-player, that form of further content material is extraordinarily significant. All the brand new methods to spend cash add one other consideration to your gameplay selections, as a result of your closing winnings is your rating. When you spent extra alongside the way in which, your rating shall be decrease. To push your rating larger, you must rely much less on the varied helpers the sport affords. On this ACA NEOGEO model, it’s much more necessary because you’ll be posting that rating to the leaderboards to compete with different gamers.

Look, I’ll put on it proudly: I really like Stakes Winner and I really like its sequel much more. I didn’t suppose I might, however after giving them a good shake I feel these are a few of my favourite non-fighters on the NEOGEO. The second recreation is without doubt one of the deeper single-player experiences obtainable on the platform, so far as I’m involved. I do know this sort of recreation is odd for Western tastes, however for those who’re affected person with it and take it by itself phrases, I feel you’ll find it irresistible too. As a recreation, Stakes Winner 2 is superb.

How is it as a cellular expertise, although? Properly, as talked about you aren’t going to get to play the enjoyable multiplayer mode until you’ve got exterior controllers and a need to huddle round your cellular gadget. I feel it’s fantastic at the same time as a single-player expertise, so it will probably survive that loss. As for the controls, I do must admit that pulling off the particular strikes is a bit trickier than I’d like on the digital stick. It’s a bit higher to play on an exterior controller in case you have one, however I’d say it’s nonetheless largely fantastic on contact controls. Simply bear in mind it is a extra complicated recreation than the primary one and which means the controls have extra to take care of.

The additional ACA NEOGEO modes are right here, and the Rating Assault mode is a superb problem. The Caravan mode doesn’t do a lot for me on this recreation, however you’ll be able to’t win all of them. The same old choices can be found, so you’ll be able to tweak recreation settings, controls, and so forth as you want. Hamster’s emulation is as on-point as ever, so the sport appears to be like, sounds, and performs simply the way in which it ought to. I’d love to do my common bitch about not having web or wi-fi multiplayer, however I acknowledge that a few of these video games are so area of interest that I ought to be comfortable we’re getting them in any respect.

When you favored Stakes Winner, you’ll love Stakes Winner 2. Whereas the core of the sport stays the identical and the general presentation hasn’t modified an amazing deal, the additions to the single-player mode considerably improve the general expertise. It’s a zippier recreation, a extra strategic recreation, and only a higher expertise on the entire. There aren’t many video games like this on the market, particularly in English, and I feel those that are keen to take the gamble on one thing uncommon will discover themselves rewarded for his or her braveness.