The Conclusion:  Grades

GRAPHICS:

Neo Geo: A
    The 12-year old Neo Geo still pumps out the sprites with the best of them.  When you take a look at some of the top Neo Geo titles over the years, you will see graphics that have always been trendsetting.

PGM: A-
    The just turned 5-year old PGM can put out graphics on par with the Neo Geo, but due to the fact there are only 14 titles we have yet to see full potential of the system.  KOV9D is probably the marquee game graphic wise on the system, and it is quite eye-popping, I'm sure the system could create a game with graphics as beautiful as something like Art of Fighting 3, but just hasn't yet.  This is the only reason for the A-.

Crystal: B+
    The baby of the trio has produced a first-gen title that would shame the other systems even 3rd-gen stuff, but then again we are in 2002, and that is expected.  Based on a single title the system already scores a B+, which should tell you I am more than impressed with the Crystal system.

Sound:

Neo Geo: A+
    There is no doubt the Neo Geo has produced some of the greatest video game music of all time, in stereo no less.  There is an entire franchise based on the music of Neo Geo games.  With over 100 CD sountracks, and music from the King Of Fighters series setting standards, the Neo Geo has been king of the hill in the music category for 12 years, and as they say, long live the King.

PGM: B+
    The music for some of the titles, such as the KOV series and DonDonpachi 2 are very much Neo Geo quality.  The tracks for these games are tops, and will have your head ringing with the game music many hours after you step away from the machine.  The lack of stereo sound and the fact some of the games available have pretty weak soundtracks know the PGM down to a very respectable B+.

Crystal: A
    The sound has yet to be exploited to its fullest on the Crystal system, but what is available is great stuff.  The musical score from The Crystal of Kings is great, and add to that support for stereo sound and you have a nice solid A.

POWER:

Neo Geo: B
    12 years and still gets a B?  That is why the Neo Geo has lasted so long, probably the best designed video game board of all time, the Neo Geo still has the guts to play with the big boys.  At this point the programming staff is squeezing the Neo Geo for every last drop of power and I just don't know how much is left.  All I know is I could be happy with the current level of quality in the best of the Neo Geo games for years to come.

PGM: A+
    The PGM is very powerful, that's a proven fact.  Just play a little KOV9D, or especially DonDonpachi 2, and you will see a system that fears no sprite.  All I can hope for is more and more titles for the wonderful system.  This is what SNK should have put out 5 years ago, and made it backward compatible with the Neo Geo.  Dare to dream!

Crystal: A/Unknown
    So far everything is grand for the Crystal System.  There is not one spec of slowdown in the only game for the system.  That being said it is going to take more than one title to prove the power of an arcade motherboard.  There are many more genre's that will tax the board, such as a nice shooter, that hopefully will show up in the near future.  Everything is coming up roses so far, I only hope for the best in coming months.

BRAND NAME:

Neo Geo: A++++
    The Neo Geo is known globally by pretty much anyone that has walked into an arcade over the last 10 years.  There is a fanbase for Neo Geo like no other arcade product has ever seen.

PGM: C+
    In its home market the PGM is a solid winner.  When you get out of the Asian countries you will hardly find a person that has ever heard of the PGM or its games.  This would probably change if they would include more English in most titles.  ONly time will tell if a big distrib picks up the PGM and makes it more of a name in the USA for this great system.

Crystal: C
    Its a matter of time and games.  Will this system turn into a household name among gamers looking for that next hot 2D title? It is too early to tell, but I have a feeling the system will come on strong in 2002.