Some years ago I bought a Neo Geo CDZ to get an extra controller. Not the smartest purchase I ever made, but I did manage to drop an import mod switch in it. However, all my Neo CD gaming has occurred on a reliable, tank-like Neo Geo CD top-loader. The CDZ sits unused and unloved, but all my instincts say I should hang on to it. Any truth to the Internet wisdom about CDZ drives being less reliable and more prone to failure? Any inherent value or collector interest in the CDZ at all? I ask because the local game shop is offering me an obscene amount to sell it, and I'm tempted to let them have it just for the trade-in value against new PS2 games. I await your advice with appreciation.
Depends what you mean when you say you were offered an "obscene" amount of money. If it's substantially more than what you see them going for on eBay then I'd say begone with it. Personally I think top-loading systems are cool, but that's just a matter of personal taste. Surely there's collector value in anything Neo Geo, with the possible exception of the Pocket.
The only thing I can say is that it is indeed a collector's item above all. It is the rarest of the CD console variants and very much sought after (I'd prefer the frontloader though). Regarding the drive I've heard only the same rumors that's it's of inferior quality. If your set is complete and mint and you are a console collector you should keep it. If not then sell.
The CDZ is a pile of junk with a optical drive that makes the Xbox drives look bulletproof. When I worked in a games shop in London, we had more top loaders and we had maybe 1 break down, CDZs we had maybe a dozen and well over half came back with faulty drives. Front loaders, 6 in, 6 out, no returns. Seriously if you are offered a lot of money for it, ie more then $200 then take the money and run.
The CDZ is not really good for much besides collecting. It is louder and seems to get hotter than the standard top loading Neo CD. Also, the speed improvement in loading is barely noticeable. If you can get a good price, I'd unload it.
CDZ is the only way to go as far as Neo CD Gaming is concerned, loading times twice faster than the rest of the Neo CD Systems? yes please. and I had many CDZ units - not a single one broke on me. it's a really great system, it really is.
From what I've read the CDZ wasn't exactly high quality, and the drive actually isn't any faster than the other units. It just has a larger cache or something which reduces load times by a bit, but nothing like having a twice as fast drive or anything. But it's all silly when I think you should ditch the CD and go MVS.
I've been comparing loading times and it's close in most cases to 2x faster(thanks to cache, I know drive is the same speed). on mvs you won't hear arranged soundtracks and you won't be able to play brikinger and crossed swords 2. just get mvs or aes for perfect arcade experience, but keep cdz for its features. I do have front and top loaders as well but I'm only playing on cdz (neo cd games wise).
Drop an import mod switch in it? Its region free out of the box. Top Loader is the king on Neo CD, ive had mine since it came out and its a tank.
The switch is probably to change the language and potentially the default settings. Ex: Metal Slug has blood when played in japan region setting, but not USA by default. Atleast I remember it that way and being annoyed.
Mott's got it right. Games from all regions play on all systems, but the switch allows you to switch the region. This is particularly important for games that disable certain features outside of the JPN region, like some of the KOF games. Thanks everybody for the feedback, I've got some things to think about. Between Space Giraffe sessions, that is.
