The Beloved “100 Mega Shock” Revived with Modern Quality—A Hands-On and Presentation Report on “NEOGEO AES+” [TGS2026]

TGS 2026 was held for four days starting on September 17 (the final day was canceled due to a typhoon). In this article, we’ll bring you a report on the “NEOGEO AES+” booth—which stood out at the venue for its retro gaming atmosphere—as well as the highlights of the presentation given by the “NEOGEO AES+” developers.

Back in the day, the home NEOGEO was a dream-like, ultra-high-end console that allowed players to enjoy arcade-quality graphics and sound at home without any compromises. Both the console and the games were extremely expensive, and in the 1990s, many gamers likely viewed it as an “unattainable dream” they could only admire from afar.The “NEOGEO AES+” was developed with the concept of reviving that luxurious gaming experience and the nostalgia of that era using modern technology—all at an affordable price.

At the booth, we were able to hear direct explanations from the three key members of the development team—Ben Jones (Commercial Director),Bruno Steux (Technology Director), and Sean ‘Furrtek’ Gonsalaves (Technology Consultant), a specialist in NEOGEO architecture.

So, in this article, I’ll share my impressions from actually playing *Metal Slug* on the “NEOGEO AES+,” as well as highlights from the presentation where the development team discussed the product’s features and the attention to detail that went into its creation!

The first thing that catches the eye is how astonishingly faithful the console and peripherals are to the original. …Faithful is an understatement—I personally can’t tell the difference between this and the real thing. They reportedly went to great lengths to replicate the original, not only at a 1:1 scale but also in the texture of the plastic, the color scheme, and even the weight of the unit.

The texture of the included arcade stick and controller is also superb, and apparently, you can even connect them directly to an old NEOGEO machine from back in the day. It almost feels like it’s practically the real thing…? However, modern updates have been carefully incorporated as well—for example, the wireless controller comes with a USB dongle, allowing it to be used on a PC.

From the outer box down to the finest details of the unit itself, the craftsmanship makes it look just like the real thing. They even went to the trouble of meticulously recreating the indentations on the game case. Incidentally, the game used as an example here is *Zero Wing*. This was a shooting game originally released exclusively for arcades back in the day, and they apparently went out of their way to create a special package specifically for the “NEOGEO AES+.”

Furthermore, the design caters to every whim of the most particular gamers—for example, you can remove the game package and flip it over to hide the CERO rating in the lower-left corner. The attention to detail is so extreme that it feels almost insane.

Of course, it’s not just about replicating the original—it also features various additional functions, such as technology to reduce lag when connected via HDMI and DIP switches for switching aspect ratios, allowing you to enjoy fighting and action games seamlessly on modern large-screen TVs and monitors.I was also told that it even includes a BIOS switching function for Japanese, North American, and European specifications, as well as for consumer and arcade (MVS) behavior.

After the explanation, I was given the opportunity to actually try out the classic action game *Metal Slug* on the “NEOGEO AES+.”

I didn’t own a “home NEOGEO console” back then, so I’ve never had the chance to play on an actual unit at home. My experience with the NEOGEO consists almost entirely of memories of inserting 100-yen coins to play at video rental stores or in arcade cabinets.

However, the sensation of vigorously moving the joystick while shooting down pixel-art enemies felt distinctly different from playing the PC port—it had that solid, tangible feedback unique to the hardware itself.To be honest, before covering this story, I wondered, “How on earth did they get the budget approved for such an incredibly niche project…?” But it turns out there might actually be quite a few people who want to own one of these.

The “NEOGEO AES+” is a long-awaited item for NEOGEO fans, faithfully recreating the luxurious gaming experience of that era without compromise, while also adapting to modern monitor setups and convenience.The standard edition, which doesn’t include any games, is surprisingly affordable at 32,800 yen (that’s cheap, right…?), and I feel its quality will undoubtedly resonate with both players who think, “It was too expensive back then, so I couldn’t buy it, but I’d love to own one now!” and core gamers who played it to the fullest back in the day.I’m looking forward to future updates, including details on additional titles and release information!

The “NEOGEO AES+” is scheduled for release on September 16, 2027.