Over Top
Is a 1996 racing video game developed by ADK and published by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home platforms. It is the spiritual successor to Thrash Rally. Themed around rallying, Over Top pits players against AI-controlled opponents in races across various locations.
Also recorded as ACA NEOGEO OVER TOP
Over Top
- Date
- 1996.
- Publisher
- SNK.
- Genre
- racing video game.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Is a 1996 racing video game developed by ADK and published by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home platforms. It is the spiritual successor to Thrash Rally. Themed around rallying, Over Top pits players against AI-controlled opponents in races across various locations.
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wikidata · Q3358879
In this article
The object
The object
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. Received with mixed reception from critics and reviewers since its initial release.
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Over Top • Developer — ADK • Publisher — SNK ADK (NGCD) • Director — Takashi Egashira • Producer — Kazuo Arai • Programmer — Yukinori Nishikata • Composer — Keiichiro Segawa Takao Oshima • Platforms — Arcade, Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD • Released — ArcadeApril 26, 1996 Neo Geo AES Neo Geo CDSeptember 26, 1996 • Genre — Racing • Modes — Single-player • Arcade System — Neo Geo MVS
Gameplay
Gameplay
• Illustration — Screenshot Over Top is a top-down rally racing game where players observe from above and race across various locations by participating in a single race against AI-controlled opponents. Each location has their own weather conditions that change how the car is controlled through the track, as well as shortcuts to gain advantage against opponents. The title uses a checkpoint in which the player gains extra time by reaching a tunnel at the end of each location. Failing to reach 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.
Development and release
Development and release
Over Top was created by most of the same team that previously worked on several projects at ADK, with Magician Lord designer Takashi Egashira acting as its director alongside producer Kazuo Arai. Yukinori Nishikata served as chief programmer, while the soundtrack was composed by Keiichiro Segawa and Takao Oshima. Several other people also collaborated in its development. 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. 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. The game was later re-released in the same year for the Neo Geo CD by ADK on September 26. Hamster Corporation re-released the game as part of their ACA Neo Geo series for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Android and iOS.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Japan.
Country
Over Top is associated with Japan.
Country
Reception
Over Top received mixed reception from critics and reviewers since release. AllGames Kyle Knight commended its graphics, gameplay and replay value but criticized the introductory CGI sequence for being poorly done. MAN!ACs 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. Reviewing the Nintendo Switch re-release, Nintendo Lifes Damien McFerran criticized the CGI graphics and introduction but commended the music and simple controls, also saying that the game lacks longevity that will not occupy players for long.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Ares Informática. Dossier: Neo Geo Y SNK — Deportivos. GamesTech. 11. 61. July 2003.
- 2.SNK Playmore. Title Catalogue - NEOGEO MUSEUM. 2010.
- 3.Zuruzuru. 紹介 - オーバートップ. Gamest. Shinseisha. 160. 207. 15 January 1996.
- 4.Zuruzuru. 紹介 - オーバートップ. Gamest. Shinseisha. 164. 242. 29 February 1996.
- 5.Zuruzuru. 紹介 - オーバートップ. Gamest. Shinseisha. 165. 218. 15 March 1996.
- 6.Over Top user's manual (Neo Geo AES, JP)
- 7.Geibunsha. 攻略ーン - オーバートップ. Neo Geo Freak. 14. 56–57. July 1996.
- 8.Geibunsha. オーバートップ. Neo Geo Freak. 17. 69–71. October 1996.
- 9.Geibunsha. サードパーティーリレーインタビュー 1: ADK. Neo Geo Freak. 11. 58–61. April 1996.
- 10.SNK. Over Top. April 26, 1996.
- 11.Reichert, Nick. The Rarest & Most Valuable Neo-Geo Games. Racketboy. April 27, 2020.
- 12.Brian. Neo Geo lineup on Switch adding Over Top at the end of this month. nintendoeverything.com. Nintendo Everything. April 11, 2017.
- 13.Carter, Chris. Nintendo Download: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Also, Puyo Puyo Tetris. Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. April 27, 2017.
- 14.Knight, Kyle. Over Top [Japanese] (Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System) - Review. AllGame. All Media Network. 1998.
- 15.Knauf, Andreas. Spiele-Tests – NG: Over Top. MAN!AC. Cybermedia. 34. 69. August 1996.
- 16.McFerran, Damien. Over Top Review (Switch eShop / Neo Geo) — Let's go next stage!!. Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. May 3, 2017.
- 17.Delpierre, Christophe. L'arcade dépasse les bornes! - AOU'96, l'arcade se lève à l'est: SNK - Over Top. Player One. Média Système Édition. 63. 33. April 1996.
- 18.Osange, Elliott. ACA NEOGEO OVER TOP Review. Bonus Stage. October 4, 2017.
References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 19 August 2026.
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