Over Top

Over Top is a top-down rally racing game where players observe from above and race across various locations by participating in a single race against AI-controlled opponents. Each location has their own weather conditions that change how the car is controlled through the track, as well as shortcuts to gain advantage against opponents.

The title uses a checkpoint in which the player gains extra time by reaching a tunnel at the end of each location. Failing to reach the checkpoint results in a game over screen unless players insert more credits into the arcade machine to continue playing. If a memory card is present, the player is allowed to save their progress and resume the last point the game saved at.

Over Top was created by most of the same team that previously worked on several projects at ADK, with Magician Lord designer Takashi Egashira acting as its director alongside producer Kazuo Arai. Yukinori Nishikata served as chief programmer, while the soundtrack was composed by Keiichiro Segawa and Takao Oshima. Several other people also collaborated in its development.

Over Top was first released by SNK for the Neo Geo MVS on April 26, 1996, and was then released for Neo Geo AES on May 24 of the same year. The Japanese AES release has since become one of the more expensive titles on the platform, with copies of the port fetching over US$4500 on the secondary video game collecting market. The game was later re-released in the same year for the Neo Geo CD by ADK on September 26. Hamster Corporation re-released the game as part of their ACA Neo Geo series for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Android and iOS.

Over Top received mixed reception from critics and reviewers since release. AllGame's Kyle Knight commended its graphics, gameplay and replay value but criticized the introductory CGI sequence for being poorly done. MAN!AC's Andreas Knauf compared the game negatively with Neo Drift Out: New Technology, criticizing the Sega Mega Drive-esque visuals and sound design, as well as the simple controls.

Reviewing the Nintendo Switch re-release, Nintendo Life's Damien McFerran criticized the CGI graphics and introduction but commended the music and simple controls, also saying that the game lacks longevity that will not occupy players for long.