Neo Geo Demo 'Vaporous' Stuns at Revision 2025 with Groundbreaking 3D Effects

Earlier this month, the demoscene group The Twitch Elite made headlines in the retro gaming community by unveiling their latest Neo Geo demo, ‘Vaporous,’ during Revision 2025—the world’s largest dedicated Demoscene event.

Known for celebrating the technical artistry of coders and designers on classic hardware, Revision 2025 provided the perfect stage for ‘Vaporous,’ which has left audiences and experts alike awestruck by its remarkable 3D-style effects on the 2D sprite-based Neo Geo platform. The creative force behind ‘Vaporous’ includes h0ffman, widely recognized for his Neo Geo adaptations of arcade classics like Shinobi and his ongoing project porting Golden Axe.

Collaborating with coders hooverphonique, gigabates, emoon, and graphics artist Made, the team achieved a technical marvel: delivering complex, pre-rendered 3D sprite effects by leveraging the Neo Geo’s hardware capabilities.

Ingenious programming tricks, such as advanced sprite manipulation and shrinking, enable ‘Vaporous’ to simulate 3D visuals—a notable feat for a console architected primarily for 2D gameplay. According to demoscene archive Pouët, ‘Vaporous’ secured second place in Revision 2025’s highly competitive “oldskool” category, finishing behind Fairlight’s C64 demo, ‘The Trip.’ Its inclusion, however, sparked conversation about the Neo Geo’s role in the old-school demoscene landscape.

Given its more powerful sprite hardware compared to systems like the NES or C64, some scene veterans questioned whether the Neo Geo should compete alongside these older, less-capable platforms. Addressing the discussion in the Pouët comments section, h0ffman clarified that this marks only the third Neo Geo release showcased at Revision to date.

He explained that organizers approved its inclusion well in advance and expressed his hope that the Neo Geo might one day warrant its own dedicated competition category, recognizing its distinct place among retro gaming hardware.

Writing in response to the debate, h0ffman stated, "I understand not everyone sees the Neo Geo as an 'old school' platform, given its advanced sprite capabilities.

However, after confirming with the competition organizers prior to Revision, we felt this category was the most fitting.

This is now the third Neo Geo release in the Old School category at Revision—perhaps it’s time for a dedicated category to help the system’s scene thrive." For enthusiasts eager to experience ‘Vaporous’ firsthand, the demo is readily available for download, and a full showcase can be viewed on YouTube.

Additionally, h0ffman has published an in-depth commentary video, offering further insight into the technical artistry and programming ingenuity that brought this acclaimed Neo Geo demo to life. ‘Vaporous’ stands as a testament to how classic hardware continues to inspire innovation in the demoscene, bridging nostalgia with technical progress for long-time fans and new audiences alike.

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