Stakes Winner

{{Infobox video game

|title = Stakes Winner

|image = Neo Geo AES Stakes Winner cover art.jpg

|developer = Saurus{{efn|Additional work by AM Factory.}}

|publisher = SNK

|series = Stakes Winner

|platforms = Arcade

|released = {{vgrelease|WW|27 September 1995}}

|genre = Racing, sports

|modes = Single-player, multiplayer

|arcade system = Neo Geo MVS

}}

Stakes Winner{{efn|Also known as {{nihongo|Stakes Winner: GI Road to Complete Conquest|ステークスウィナー: ＧＩ完全制覇への道|Sutēkusu U~inā: GI Kanzen Seiha E no Michi||lead=yes}} in Japan.}} is a horse racing arcade video game developed by Saurus, with additional support from AM Factory, and originally published by SNK on September 27, 1995. In the game, players compete with either AI-controlled opponents or against other human players across multiple races. Though it was initially launched for the Neo Geo MVS (arcade), the title was later released for both Neo Geo AES (home) and Neo Geo CD respectively, in addition of being ported and re-released through download services for various consoles. It was received with mixed reception from critics and reviewers since its initial release. In 1996, a sequel titled Stakes Winner 2 was released for the arcades.

Gameplay

File:NEOGEO Stakes Winner.png

Stakes Winner is a thoroughbred horse racing game similar to Winning Post, where players take control of any of the available horses, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, to compete against either AI opponents or other human players across multiple races.{{cite magazine|author=ACE|title=紹介 - ステークスウィナー|magazine=Gamest|issue=144|publisher=Shinseisha|date=May–June 1995|page=226|lang=ja}}{{cite magazine|author=ACE|title=紹介 - ステークスウィナー|magazine=Gamest|issue=150|publisher=Shinseisha|date=August–September 1995|page=238|lang=ja}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/neogeofreak0004#page/n72/mode/2up|title=新作情報 - ステークスウィナー|magazine=Neo Geo Freak|issue=4|publisher=Geibunsha|date=August 1995|pages=70–72|lang=ja}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/neogeofreak0006#page/n76/mode/2up|title=新作情報 - ステークスウィナー|magazine=Neo Geo Freak|issue=6|publisher=Geibunsha|date=October 1995|pages=74–77|lang=ja}}{{cite magazine|author=ACE|title=紹介 - ステークスウィナー|magazine=Gamest|issue=152|publisher=Shinseisha|date=15 October 1995|page=85|lang=ja}}{{cite magazine|author=ACE|title=攻略 - ステークスウィナー|magazine=Gamest|issue=154|publisher=Shinseisha|date=30 October 1995|page=222|lang=ja}} Players control their horse with the joystick while two action buttons are used; one controlling the reins for small accelerations that drains little portions of the horse's stamina and another for the whip for fast speed, which drastically consumes stamina from the horse and if the stamina is depleted completely, racing is given up for a short period.Stakes Winner user's manual (Neo Geo AES, US) Two quick taps on the joystick at any direction allows the horse to push back an opponent in front of them, however two quick taps on the opposite side reduces speed. Power-ups also spawn on the race track for players to pick up. Failing to qualify for the next race results in a game over screen unless players insert more credits into the arcade machine to continue playing.

Development and release

Stakes Winner was developed by Saurus, with additional support from AM Factory, and the project was first announced in mid-1995 across Japanese publications such as Neo Geo Freak, with previews showcasing various differences compared to the final release.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/neogeofreak0001#page/n78/mode/2up|title=新作情報アーケード - ステークスウィナー|magazine=Neo Geo Freak|issue=1|publisher=Geibunsha|date=May 1995|pages=76–77|lang=ja}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/neogeofreak0003#page/n119/mode/1up|title=新作情報 - ステークスウィナー|magazine=Neo Geo Freak|issue=3|publisher=Geibunsha|date=July 1995|page=118|lang=ja}} The game was first released by SNK for the Neo Geo MVS on September 27, 1995 and was then published for Neo Geo AES on October 27 of the same year.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamesTechMagazine/GamesTech%2011#page/n58/mode/1up|title=Dossier: Neo Geo Y SNK — Deportivos|magazine=GamesTech|issue=11|publisher=Ares Informática|date=July 2003|pages=61|lang=es}}{{cite web|url=http://neogeomuseum.snk-corp.co.jp/english/catalogue/|title=Title Catalogue - NEOGEO MUSEUM|publisher=SNK Playmore|date=2010|access-date=2020-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828035857/http://neogeomuseum.snk-corp.co.jp/english/catalogue/|archive-date=2018-08-28|url-status=live}} The North American AES release has since become one of the more expensive titles on the platform, with copies fetching over US$4000 on the secondary video game collecting market.{{cite web|last=Reichert|first=Nick|url=http://www.racketboy.com/retro/the-rarest-and-most-valuable-neo-geo-games|title=The Rarest & Most Valuable Neo-Geo Games|publisher=Racketboy|date=April 27, 2020|access-date=2020-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209210829/https://www.racketboy.com/retro/the-rarest-and-most-valuable-neo-geo-games|archive-date=December 9, 2019|url-status=live}} The game was later re-released by Saurus for the Neo Geo CD and released only in Japan on March 22, 1996.{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AEGM_US_077.pdf&page=186|title=Next Wave - Protos: Stakes Winner|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=77|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=December 1995|page=186}} The title was later ported by Saurus to the PlayStation and Sega Saturn, both of which were released on December 6, 1996.{{cite web|url=https://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/slps00468.html|title=ステークスウィナー GI完全制覇への道|work=PlayStation Official Site Software Catalog|publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment|date=2020|access-date=2020-04-30|language=ja}}{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee2.html|title=セガサターン対応ソフトウェア（ライセンシー発売）- 1996年発売|encyclopedia=SEGA HARD Encyclopedia|publisher=Sega|date=2020|access-date=2020-04-30|lang=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320230509/https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee2.html|archive-date=2020-03-20|url-status=live}} It has since received multiple re-releases in recent years on various digital distribution platforms such as the Virtual Console, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.{{cite web|url=https://game.snk-corp.co.jp/event/virtual-console/stakeswinner/index_stakeswinner_j.html|title=ステークスウィナー - ゲーム情報GAME|work=SNK Playmore|publisher=D4 Enterprise|date=17 July 2012|access-date=2020-04-30|language=ja|archive-date=2019-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708082314/https://game.snk-corp.co.jp/event/virtual-console/stakeswinner/index_stakeswinner_j.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Moyse|first=Chris|url=https://www.destructoid.com/neo-geo-horse-racing-title-stakes-winner-returns-on-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch-502242.phtml|title=Neo Geo horse racing title Stakes Winner returns on PS4, Xbox One and Switch - Giddy up|work=Destructoid|publisher=Enthusiast Gaming|date=May 9, 2018|access-date=2020-04-30|archive-date=2020-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107221718/https://www.destructoid.com/neo-geo-horse-racing-title-stakes-winner-returns-on-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch-502242.phtml|url-status=live}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

|Allgame = (Neo Geo) {{Rating|1.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Knight|first=Kyle|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=17074&tab=review|title=Stakes Winner (Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System) - Review|work=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|date=1998|access-date=2020-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115183633/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=17074&tab=review|archive-date=2014-11-15|url-status=live}}

|Fam = (Saturn) 60 / 100{{cite magazine|title=NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ステークスウィナーＧＩ完全制覇への道|magazine=Famitsu|issue=417|publisher=ASCII|date=December 13, 1996|page=32|lang=ja}}

|NLife = (Switch) {{Rating|7|10}}{{cite web|last=Lopes|first=Gonçalo|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/stakes_winner_neogeo|title=Stakes Winner Review (Switch eShop / Neo Geo) - A horse with no name|work=Nintendo Life|publisher=Nlife Media|date=May 10, 2018|access-date=2020-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911165159/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/stakes_winner_neogeo|archive-date=2019-09-11|url-status=live}}

|rev1 = Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

|rev1Score = (Saturn) 6.33 / 10{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:SSM_JP_19961122_1996-20.pdf&page=217|title=Sega Saturn Soft Review - ステークスウィナーＧＩ完全制覇への道|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=34|publisher=SoftBank Creative|date=November 22, 1996|page=215|lang=ja}}

}}

Stakes Winner was met with mixed reception from critics and reviewers since its release.{{cite magazine|last=Hain|first=Mark|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:EGM_US_075.pdf&page=71|title=Arcade Action - Pulstar/Metal Slug/Stakes Winner/Aero Fighters 3/Puzzle De Pon/Neo Mr. Do! by SNK|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=75|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=October 1995|page=71}} In Japan, Game Machine listed it on their November 1, 1995 issue as being the fourth most-successful arcade game of the month, outperforming titles such as Puzzle Bobble 2, Virtua Striker and Street Fighter Alpha.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=506|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 November 1995|page=25|lang=ja}}

Sequel

A sequel, Stakes Winner 2 was released in 1996 for the arcades, Neo Geo AES, PlayStation and Sega Saturn.{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee3.html|title=セガサターン対応ソフトウェア（ライセンシー発売）- 1997年発売|encyclopedia=SEGA HARD Encyclopedia|publisher=Sega|date=2020|access-date=2020-05-02|lang=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320230533/https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee3.html|archive-date=2020-03-20|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/slps00850.html|title=ステークスウィナー2|work=PlayStation Official Site Software Catalog|publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment|date=2020|access-date=2020-05-02|language=ja|archive-date=2020-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008003706/https://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/slps00850.html|url-status=live}} It was later re-released in recent years for the Virtual Console, PlayStation Network, Nintendo eShop and Xbox Live.{{cite web|url=https://game.snk-corp.co.jp/event/virtual-console/stakeswinner2/index_stakeswinner2_j.html|title=ステークスウィナー2 - ゲーム情報GAME|work=SNK Playmore|publisher=D4 Enterprise|date=12 February 2013|access-date=2020-05-02|language=ja|archive-date=2019-07-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706235105/https://game.snk-corp.co.jp/event/virtual-console/stakeswinner2/index_stakeswinner2_j.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Moyse|first=Chris|url=https://www.destructoid.com/waste-all-your-cash-at-the-gee-gee-s-as-stakes-winner-2-returns-to-modern-platform-531731.phtml|title=Waste all your cash at the gee-gee's as Stakes Winner 2 returns to modern platform - Spend a pony at the old airs and graces|work=Destructoid|publisher=Enthusiast Gaming|date=November 18, 2018|access-date=2020-05-23|archive-date=2020-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008003705/https://www.destructoid.com/waste-all-your-cash-at-the-gee-gee-s-as-stakes-winner-2-returns-to-modern-platform-531731.phtml|url-status=live}}

Notes

References

External links

[https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/arcade/562711-stakes-winner Stakes Winner] at GameFAQs
[https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9750 Stakes Winner] at Killer List of Videogames
[https://www.mobygames.com/game/stakes-winner Stakes Winner] at MobyGames