SNK Arcade Classics Vol 1

I remember the Neo-Geo arcade games very fondly,and I was sad 2 see them go over the years.However,over the past few years alot of developers have been releasing arcade game/vintage game collections which I'm happy 2 see:)The SNK Arcade Classics collection features some of the best titles made by SNK such as Metal Slug,Burning Fight,Samurai Showdown,King of Monsters, & a whole slew of others.
A must get 4 fans of the older days of gaming!

I think that this game is great! I haven't played these games in a long time. And now 2 find them on the playstation 2 is fantanstic!

What a great compilation! This collection is a must have! I want more of these compilations.

I could not be more pleased, & this comes with my highest recommendation!

Oh yes, the Neo*Geo. For those who remember, this was the most powerful video game system 4 its time. But the high price keep it out of reach of most gamers. So we just played it at the arcade of the MVS (or arcade machine) rather than buy the AES (or home gaming system).

Fast-forward 2 2008. SNK Playmore releases SNK Arcade Classics Vol 1. This collection gives us some of the Neo Geo's most well known games(Samurai Shodown, MAGICIAN LORD, King of Fighters 94, Metal Slug, & Baseball Stars 2) & a couple of unknowns (Shock Troopers & Top Hunter which I never heard of til this collection was announced).

This collection uses a goal or "metal" system by which you can unlock things by doing certain tasks which vary from game 2 game. Unlockables include World Heroes, skill lists, game artwork & soundtracks. This should keep the fun factor up 4 a while. You can also set up checkpoints so you can come back later 2 that point at another time. This is very useable 4 tough games like Magican Lord, Last Resort & the 3 sports titles featured here.

Some have complain about emulation issues with some of the games. Yet I have no problems playing any of the games in this collection. The game with the biggest issues emulation-wise is Shock Troopers which has some slowdown & in-game loading... but is largely playable & is one of my favorite games in this set.

Also Fatal Fury & Art of Fighting are NOT the same as the ones that appear in their respective collections. (the former's date has been fix so when you beat Geese, the date they show is in real time just like in the arcade & Mr. Big & Mr. Karate's not already unlocked in the latter.)

At the end of the day, one can argue over the games chosen 4 this set or their emulation but they play well despite what previous reviewers have said. Also with 2 players, these games are very fun (NOTE: you can't win metals/unlock things in 2-player mode). Now we'll see if SNK Playmore
makes a Vol 2.

Very good & somewhat nostalgic collection of games collected 4 the PS2. For the most part you get unlimited continues with each game & three levels of difficulty which I have yet 2 look into adjusting. I bought it 4 the nostalgia & 2 have some interesting games 4 my PS2 since I have not yet been convinced 2 buy a PS3. For the purposes I bought it 4 it has sufficed admirably. Although a secondary reason is still aways off as I intend 2 give my nephew an education in video game history when he gets old enough 2 play these games.

Celebrate the history of SNK with the ultimate collection of arcade classic hits. 16 NEOGEO games on one disc 4 your Sony PS2 console. It's a comprehensive stack of popular SNK games. It's a must-have addition 2 any arcade fan's collection! Re-Live the classics of gaming in these amazing titles from SNK. The list of classics are Art of Fighting, Baseball Stars 2, Burning Fight, Fatal Fury, KOF94, King of the Monsters, Last Resort, Magician Lord, Metal Slug, Neo Turf Masters, Samurai Shodown, Sengoku, Shock Troopers, Super SIdekicks3, Top Hunter, & World Heroes.And you don’t even need a roll of quarters!10>

1 align=top> Metal Slug View larger.

1 align=top /> KING OF FIGHTERS ’94 View larger.

SNK ARCADE CLASSICS: VOLUME 1 will include the following SNK games:

• ART OF FIGHTING – The first game in SNK’s second fighting-game franchise, set in the same universe as FATAL FURY. It was the first fighting game by SNK 2 feature the character designs of former SNK illustrator Shinkiro, who would go on 2 do the character designs 4 the later Fatal Fury & The King of Fighters games.
• BASEBALL STARS 2 – The sequel 2 SNK’s popular baseball arcade game. Players can create leagues of up 2 125 games (6 teams playing each other 25 times) & view statistics such as League Standings, Average, Home Runs, Runs Batted In, Earned Run Average, Wins & Saves. Players can fire players & upgrade them using the same 15-point system introduced in the original Baseball Stars.
• BURNING FIGHT – New York detectives battle organized crime in this fighter. Duke & Billy, two popular & renowned New York City Police detectives, are hot on the trail of a dangerous Japanese crime syndicate. Their investigation has led them 2 the mean streets of Japan where they meet a police officer & martial arts expert named Ryu. Ryu agrees 2 join the NYPD detectives as they track down the crime syndicate bosses & end their reign of terror once & 4 all.
• FATAL FURY – First released in 1991, FATAL FURY introduced the two-plane fighting system. The main fighting game feature that the original Fatal Fury was known 4 was the two-plane system. Characters would fight from two different planes, & by stepping between the planes, attacks could be dodged with ease.
• KING OF FIGHTERS ’94 – The first game in the popular KING OF FIGHTERS series. King of Fighters '94 introduces the series' signature 3-man team system. Instead of a simple one-on-one, two round fight system, a player chooses a team of three characters, then determines the order 2 play them in. Each fight consists of up 2 5 rounds, & each round ends when one of the two fighters is knocked out; the remaining fighter stays & faces the opponent's next character. A fight is won when one of the two players loses the last of their three fighters.
• KING OF THE MONSTERS – In KING OF THE MONSTERS, giant monsters fight 4 power in epic battles. Players get 2 choose any one of six monsters (four in the ports) 4 battle, & two players can join forces 2 fight the monsters together. Battles end when one of the monsters is pinned 4 a three count or if time expires (in which case the player loses).
• LAST RESORT – A challenging futuristic shooter. The gameplay was heavily inspired by R-Type & its system of pod attached 2 the player's ship. Its first level remained memorable 4 its homage 2 the futuristic Neo-Tokyo depicted in the anime Akira.
• MAGICIAN LORD – Players help the wizard Elta save his homeworld in this platformer. The player controls the wizard Elta, the last magician lord, on his quest 2 save his homeland from the evil Gul-Agieze who plans 2 resurrect the god of destruction using eight tomes of mystical power. As Elta the player must battle through eight levels 2 find each of the tomes before he can reach the final battle & seal away the evil god once again.
• METAL SLUG – This run-and-gun side-scroller was the first in the popular series. It’s widely known 4 its sense of humor, extremely fluid hand-drawn animation, & fast paced two-player action.
• NEO TURF MASTERS – A golf game which debuted on the Neo Geo Pocket Color in 1999. The game included a VS mode & three single player modes, as well as having six players 2 choose from. You played in one of three countries, USA, Japan & Germany.
• SAMURAI SHODOWN – Set in the 18th century, SAMURAI SHODOWN features bladed-weapon combat & an international cast of characters.
• SENGOKU – In SENGOKU, players face off against undead feudal Japanese armies.
• SHOCK TROOPERS – In this run-and-gun adventure, players save a scientist & his granddaughter from the Bloody Scorpions.
• SUPER SIDEKICKS 3 – A soccer game featuring teams from all over the world.
• TOP HUNTER – Bounty hunters protect colonists from space pirates in this futuristic action game.
• WORLD HEROES – This classic fighter pits players against historical figures in a tournament enabled by time travel.

"With 16 of our most beloved games, SNK ARCADE CLASSICS: VOLUME 1 is a must-have addition 2 any arcade fan’s collection," said Ben Herman, president of SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION. "It’s the most comprehensive SNK compilation 2 date."