Is the (acd) arcade card worth it? Sapphire and Strider

[Keith Courage]

I was wondering what everyones opinion of the arcade system card is. The only two games that look good to me are Strider and Sapphire. I have no need for those neo geo fighting games since I already own them on other systems. So, is it worth buying just for those two games alone?  

[nodtveidt]

Sapphire's worth it. Also, there will be homebrew supporting the ACD very soon.

[vestcoat]

Considering a replicated, non-CD-r, Sapphire bootleg can probably still be found for free and a loose Arcade Card is only $15-30, yes, it's worth it for Sapphire alone. 
Strider is quite good if you can forgive it's flaws. 
Mad Stalker is OK, but not worth what it usually goes for. 
Kabuki Itouryodan is an excellent tournament fighter unique to the Arcade Card.
FF Special and WH2 are so cheap that you might as well pick them up even if you have other versions.

[blueraven]

Yes.

[vestcoat]

The Arcade Card and its few games is one area in PCE collecting where prices have gone down in the last fifteen years.
In 1997 I walked into the late Games to Go in Richfield MN and was swindled out of $50 for my Arcade Card Duo, $50 for World Heroes 2, $50 for Fatel Fury 2, and $40-70 (can't remember) for a barely functional Barney Converter that trashed my memory bank several times when used with a Tennokoe Bank (purchased for $40)....AHHHHH!  

All that and there was never any hope of tracking down Sapphire in those days.  It was mythical (yes, I know the real McCoy still is, but at least we have established internet sources these days).  There was one collector in Minnesota rumored to have purchased a copy for $400 at a convention in '96; no one else in the local scene had ever seen a copy.

EDIT:  And another thing - the day I purchased all of that ACD crap they had a copy of Dynastic Hero sitting on the shelf for $50.    

[Keranu]

If anything, the Neo Geo ports are worth checking out for the music alone. I actually enjoy playing the PCE port of Art of Fighting more than the original.

[grahf]

It's worth it for the reasons everyone already pointed out.

Also, quite a few SCD games will take advantage of the ACD if you have it. Mostly to decrease loading instances, and other stuff.

[DirkFunk]

In 1997 I walked into the late Games to Go in Richfield MN a

You're from Minnesota? Awesome! I grew up there.

I'd grab a Arcade card if I had access to a copy of Sapphire. That is all that really interests me.

I'm not a huge fan of SNK fighters.

I am a huge Strider fan and would consider getting it for that I suppose. . . I am also a huge Genesis fan, and I love that port of that game. It may be cool to have yet another version (with cutscenes and CD music) though.

[SamIAm]

I do have to say that if you don't like fighters (I sure don't), and if you aren't much of a PCE collector, then the almost sole-reason to get the card is Sapphire. The arcade card is cheap, but if you're looking to be choosy with how you spend your money, you should really do everything you feel good about doing to assess this one game before you buy anything.

On the other hand, if you're talking about also getting original, non-bootleg copies of Sapphire and any other AC games, then you need to take 10 times the care. Sapphire is so expensive, I really can't recommend it to anyone other than collectors or hardcore shmup fans. I think it's a great game, too.

[_joshuaTurbo]

if you need a sapphire boot (disc only, non CDr) works perfect and looks legit!

Hit me with a PM, I'll get it out to ya Monday!

And yes, it IS worth getting the ACD card alone!  Strider, Fatal Fury, WH2, Art of Fighting all rock!!

[SignOfZeta]

The Strider port is...depressing. I prefer the Genesis version.

If the "other systems" you have for the SNK games aren't the MVS, AES, or NeoCD, then get them again on ACD. They are super cheap and the best ports. The Fatal Furys are WAY better than the shitty SNES/Genesis/Sega CD versions.

The Kabuki fighter is pretty cool.

Saphire is great, although not quite deserving of some of the hype it gets. Its a must-have game, but at the same time here are better, less high tech, shooters on the PCE, IMO.

If you already have the means to play PCE HuCards then get a AC. IF you don't, then don't go and waste $200 on a converter just to play ACDs. Get a mod or another system.

[_joshuaTurbo]

someone should do a comparison of the NEO CD and ACD versions of Fatal Fury Special to see which one has longer load times

[Jesse813]

I was wondering what everyones opinion of the arcade system card is. The only two games that look good to me are Strider and Sapphire. I have no need for those neo geo fighting games since I already own them on other systems. So, is it worth buying just for those two games alone? 

Definitely worth it

[MasonSushi]

i have it, and sapphire is great. I am kidan depressed that there is only a handful of games that take advantage of the arcade card.

Is there a list of other games that take advantage of the arcade card, but don't require it to work??

[Tatsujin]

I have no need for those neo geo fighting games since I already own them on other systems.

As long you don't own 'em on the Neo Geo itself, they are worth it for sure.