3RRDC Super Mag Neo

When you have been playing video games since the NES was still the
king, you come across at certain times, games that will frustrate you.
The difficulty of a game is always key. Games that are too easy, give
the player no incentive to want more. Games that are too hard cause
the player to pull their hair out and cry because they have to perform
inhuman tasks in a video game. There is at least one such game on
Dreamcast. This game still sneers at me with its childish yet evil grin.
That game is super magnetic neo. What would seem like a childish
walk in the park can become, for some, a nightmare in video game hell.

Upon looking at the cover, with the main character a baby boy robot,
one can assume that this is for little kids. Just look at the story. The
main villain is a little baby girl named "Pinki," who with the help of two
clumsy but cute servants, is planning to take over "Pao Pao Park." So
you are Neo, a cute and stupid looking robot boy who has to stop her.
Such a story is not going to win any academy awards, but it manages
to fit in with the theme of the game. Characters are at least cute and
memorable. None of the villains can be taken seriously, and the main
hero is an idiot. But the cute and wacky theme is at least somewhat
unique to American audiences, as we don't get games like this all the
time. So story and character wise its ok. Just be ready for really
childish things. And weird things. Get a game over and watch in horror
as Pinki bounces up and down on Neo's huge rear.

Now here's a dying breed of game, a platformer. You know, a simple
game where you get from the beginning of a level to the end, only to do
the same thing again and again just with different environments. So it
was a refreshing change of pace to play. Neo can run and jump all
around his cute little 3D world. There are 4 worlds, with 4 stages each
and a boss stage. Find a ticket in each level and the go to a short
obstacle course to gain an extra life. There is also a challenge mode
which is kinda similar to the obstacle courses in Mario Sunshine. The
locations are varied, from your standard nature world, to more obscure
cowboy and future worlds. But the key that makes Neo different from
other platformers is that he is magnetic. There are certain magnets
which neo can get attracted to and then stick to. They come in red
and blue colors. So Neo must pull out the opposite color from his head
to magnetize to them. This is also how he destroys enemies by sucking
them into his head and then throwing them out in boxes. Strange
indeed. And I don't even know how many times I accidentally used the
wrong polar side of the magnet.

But if there is but one factor that truly makes Neo one to remember, it
is the inhuman and sadistic difficulty. First Neo only has one hit (unless
he collects a power up). It seems there are a million ways to die in
every level too. Drown, get flattened, spikes, holes, or just touching
evil things will all kill the moron in a second. Then he will make an
incredibly annoying noise "uuugha" and fall down. You will then start
from the checkpoint until you lose all your lives. The game is just way
too hard. Tear jerking hard. From difficult jumps to slippery floors. And
this is very intimidating because look at the game! Crying over some
stupid blue and white baby robot that looks and acts like the biggest
loser in the world. You too will learn to despise Neo. With the difficulty
turned down a notch this could have been way more enjoyable. Don't
get me started on the difficult robot camel riding levels.

While the kiddy image may turn some off, it does look really good here.
These are some of the most colorful and sugary sweet graphics I've
ever seen. The characters and their worlds look great. Especially the
huge bosses. However hard they may be, they did look very cool! I
really liked the artistic designs for the levels. Also after you beat all 4
stages and right before the boss level you are treated to funny still
pictures (with voice) about the bad guys in Pinki's gang. So to go over
this again, the difficulty is as hard as a rock, but the graphics looks
like yummy candy. Now if only Neo didn't look so stupid all the time.

How about Sound? No complaints here. In fact some of the music I
actually still remember even after like two years of owning this game.
So musically, it's upbeat and fits well with the oddball nature of this
game. Characters speak in mostly Japanese (just to add a more unique
flair to potential American consumers) and the voices sound great. I
still remember the voices for every main character. So yeah they did a
good job. Then there is Neo. His stupid grunting (if you call it that) will
get extremely annoying but he doesn't really talk much (If I remember
correctly he speaks in English most of the time). So those looking for
zany sweet graphics and sound have come to the right place. If you're
looking for a more epic score then bye bye.

I kinda hoped there were more levels (What am I a masochist!?).
Including the boss stages there are like about 20 levels. 20 hard,
grueling levels. These levels are found in the overworld. Here Neo can
ride conveyors to get to the next room for the next land. He can also
go back to his room. In the game, you can find and accomplish certain
conditions to get items to decorate his room with. That means you
gotta beat levels fast, find a hidden secret item in that level, and
collect 8 pinki medals (just like 8 gold coins in Mario 64). There really
isn't much to do in Neo's room so, finding the hidden furniture really is
no big deal. But don't forget the challenge mode. 100 small little
stages where you jump and connect, all the while getting closer to the
goal. The ending was also a let down. Too short, and not rewarding at
all.

But in the end, this game was able to bring me to tears, which very few
games can. And it wasn't because of a moving story line. The difficulty
makes this game infamous. Get ready to die over and over and over
again. Sometimes it is so stupid. Like drowning in chest high water!
What!? Touching the side of a spike (which is smooth, how would that
kill you?!??!). Thankfully there are checkpoints in the level, and you
can collect 100 zebi to gain an extra life. But grrr, it's just too hard. So
gamers looking for a challenge do not be put off with Neo's kiddy look.
For this game houses an extreme beast who could bring even Hercules
to his knees crying like a little baby. Ouch.

Review by: Orochi Sonic