Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy

Game Details:

Amidst the arcade boom of the early '90s, *Top Hunter* stood out with its vibrant colors and exceptional interactivity. The characters not only possess various throwing techniques but can also unleash powerful special fireballs or a Rising Dragon Punch by inputting commands similar to a fighting game. The level design is full of clever ideas, such as magma eruptions on the fire planet and strong air currents on the wind planet. These environmental elements are not just obstacles but can also be utilized by the player. Additionally, grabbable rings and pilotable mechs are found throughout the game, significantly adding variety to the combat. As a classic on the NEO-GEO platform, it supports two-player co-op, where the joy of teamwork far surpasses playing alone.

Game Guide:

First, make use of plane switching. During combat, if you find too many enemies in the foreground or encounter unavoidable projectiles, quickly press the jump button to switch to the background plane. This is not only a way to dodge attacks, but many hidden health items and bonus treasure chests are also concealed on different planes.

Next is grabbing and throwing. Hold down the attack button to extend your arm and grab a grunt in front of you. Once an enemy is grabbed, you can throw them like a projectile, dealing damage to all enemies in their path. For some shielded enemies, direct attacks may be ineffective, but you can easily break their defense by throwing other grunts at them.

Regarding the use of special moves. Although this is a side-scrolling action game, the characters have moves similar to those in a fighting game. By quickly inputting a down, down-forward, right + attack combination, you can unleash a ground-hugging fireball. And by inputting down, up + attack, you can perform a powerful Rising Dragon Punch. These moves are very effective against large bosses.

Environmental interaction is also key. In the forest stage, players can grab hanging vines to swing over large areas, allowing them to avoid ground traps. In some stages, pilotable mechs will appear. Getting into a mech grants you extremely high attack and defense. You should prioritize using the mech's heavy punches to clear out elite enemies, but remember to jump out before it's about to be destroyed.

Finally, it's recommended that new players start with the Forest Planet, as its difficulty is relatively gentle, making it suitable for getting used to the controls and feel of the game. The Fire Planet has many lava traps and is best challenged later on.