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TOP HUNTER: RODDY & CATHY
review | NEO GEO CD
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Publisher: SNK.
Developer: SNK. Released: September 1994 (CD) (JP); June 1994 (AES). Genre: Scrolling beat 'em up. Other versions: NEO. Posted 22nd April 2026. By Tom Clare © 2026 |
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The brainchild of former Irem employees, Top Hunter represented an elaborate crossover of genres, and precipitated Metal Slug with its humorous sprite-led design, occasional vehicular combat, and arcade-centric two-player high-jinks. Roddy & Cathy is somewhat indicative of the quality we’d expect from a mid-nineties SNK venture, with ample attention-to-detail and lavish presentation. However, the reason the game was largely forgotten can be pinpointed to its suspect, often frustrating level design, and the lack of a clear gameplay identity.
Released in arcades, then the Neo Geo AES, and finally the Neo Geo CD over a period of around four months in 1994, the CD version would eventually make it to the West via a North American release, two years later. Top Hunter is a busy jumble of ideas, taking the lush visuals and planet-hopping of Gunstar Heroes, the cooperative close-quarters combat of Streets of Rage, the multi-button fighter move set of Street Fighter II, and a sprinkling of Mega Man’s tricky bosses. It’s brave, but never quite gels.
Top Hunter shows off SNK's trademark, detailed settings and fun character animations
There are four initial areas, planets that encompass forest, ice, wind and fire settings. These can be tackled in any order, with a final, fifth area available upon finishing them all. Each setting comprises two levels, with the first ending recurrent battles against a dictator-like figure somewhat reminiscent of M. Bison, and the second concluding with a bigger boss, typically packing some form of mobile artillery. Roddy and Cathy navigate similarly, except for their special moves list.
Unusually, Top Hunter’s gameplay takes place across two separate 2D planes, with players (and enemies) able to hop between them at the tap of a button. This is handy for allowing Roddy and Cathy to dodge landslides and boulders, locate hidden items and switches, and for giving foes the run-around in combat. To beat certain bosses, mastery of jumping between planes is crucial to avoiding lasers and certain attacks, and a well-timed leap can have the player land on the head of the enemy, causing damage and keeping them on the back foot. Whilst it delivers some novel moments, there’s also a fair bit of tedium associated with the system. Not least, the ease and frequency with which foes spring on you from the opposite plane. You’ll endure tonnes of cheap hits, and though the game is staged as a roaming beat ‘em up, Roddy and Cathy can typically only withstand one to two blows before perishing.
Unusually, Top Hunter’s gameplay takes place across two separate 2D planes, with players (and enemies) able to hop between them at the tap of a button. This is handy for allowing Roddy and Cathy to dodge landslides and boulders, locate hidden items and switches, and for giving foes the run-around in combat. To beat certain bosses, mastery of jumping between planes is crucial to avoiding lasers and certain attacks, and a well-timed leap can have the player land on the head of the enemy, causing damage and keeping them on the back foot. Whilst it delivers some novel moments, there’s also a fair bit of tedium associated with the system. Not least, the ease and frequency with which foes spring on you from the opposite plane. You’ll endure tonnes of cheap hits, and though the game is staged as a roaming beat ‘em up, Roddy and Cathy can typically only withstand one to two blows before perishing.
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There’s a clumsiness to the navigation which heightens the difficulty. The extendable glove, which grabs ledges and pull-switches, cannot be fired diagonally and requires a fair degree of precision. You’ll regularly find characters fail to pick up weapons, unless you’re absolutely pinpoint with positioning. This is especially trying during boss fights that require players to retrieve bombs and throw them back at the baddies. Traps such as the presses have harsh hitboxes that will see players robbed of a life, despite having seemingly moved beyond danger. To compound this issue, a lot of traps kill Roddy and Cathy outright, even from full health, and with a non-existent damage cooldown period, it’s easy for things to spiral and for players to lose lives aplenty.
With all the mayhem going on, it’s sometimes difficult to judge whether sprites are switching planes or merely jumping, making some of the bosses more arduous. Additionally, sections where boulders transition from background to foreground prove trying, for much the same reason. Perhaps recognising the futility of trying to make progress in the game with just a handful of credits, the limited continues setup of the AES version has been passed over for a Free Play experience. This is definitely a good thing, as it alleviates the stresses outlined above, and though it is blighted by several lengthy loading times, it’s still preferable to tackling the game with only a few lives or spending mountains of money beating it in the arcades.
With all the mayhem going on, it’s sometimes difficult to judge whether sprites are switching planes or merely jumping, making some of the bosses more arduous. Additionally, sections where boulders transition from background to foreground prove trying, for much the same reason. Perhaps recognising the futility of trying to make progress in the game with just a handful of credits, the limited continues setup of the AES version has been passed over for a Free Play experience. This is definitely a good thing, as it alleviates the stresses outlined above, and though it is blighted by several lengthy loading times, it’s still preferable to tackling the game with only a few lives or spending mountains of money beating it in the arcades.
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Watch out: you'll be ambushed by enemies and traps with an alarming frequency
The game’s greatest strength lies in its graphics. Whilst it’s true this Metal Slug prototype lacks the distinctiveness of SNK’s run ‘n’ gun classic, Top Hunter nevertheless exhibits a lot of positives. Many of the backdrops are very pretty, and include lush forests, verdant fields, sizzling lava, and bone-chilling snowscapes. There is a fair smattering of fun touches: goons hiding in trees and bushes, players encountering igloo restrooms, and little details in the distance, like UFOs. Sprites are crisp and clear, and there’s the odd humorous cartoon touch, such as characters being flattened like pancakes, or their shocked expressions when taking hits. The music is suitably jaunty, if a little kitsch. It fits the light-hearted, slightly odd tone rather well.
Ultimately, the CD version is a good bet for those wanting to reach the end of Top Hunter. It’s a humorous, attractive game with plenty of personality, and you certainly can’t fault the ambition. Unfortunately, the sum of its ideas amounts to a less impressive experience than the games that inspired it. Imprecise controls and frequently cheap, unsatisfying level design mean that, even in two-player, Roddy and Cathy’s escapades never manage to match the fun of a Gunstar Heroes or Final Fight CD. An interesting footnote in SNK’s catalogue, even if it isn’t one of their better offerings.
Ultimately, the CD version is a good bet for those wanting to reach the end of Top Hunter. It’s a humorous, attractive game with plenty of personality, and you certainly can’t fault the ambition. Unfortunately, the sum of its ideas amounts to a less impressive experience than the games that inspired it. Imprecise controls and frequently cheap, unsatisfying level design mean that, even in two-player, Roddy and Cathy’s escapades never manage to match the fun of a Gunstar Heroes or Final Fight CD. An interesting footnote in SNK’s catalogue, even if it isn’t one of their better offerings.
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VERDICT
"Top Hunter looks really good, but its cauldron of ideas amounts to a less cohesive and enjoyable experience than the games that inspired it. An interesting outing, if you can overlook frustrating design elements." OVERALL: 5/10 |
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