Volume 1 of the NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection combines a number of excellent fighting games and run-and-gunners to create a completely worthwhile Switch collection. The additional special features, combined with the impressive number of games, make this one collection that NeoGeo fans can’t miss.
NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1
Developer: SNK
Price: $40
Platforms: Nintendo Switch (reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a Switch code for review
This review is going to be a bit different from our usual stuff. Since it’s a collection, I’ll be listing the available games here, complete with links to our reviews of the games we’ve already covered. The rest of the review will be centered on the collection’s exclusive games and the features of the collection itself.
The NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 includes:
- Samurai Shodown! 2
- The King of Fighters R2
- Metal Slug: First Mission
- Metal Slug: Second Mission
- Dark Arms
- Big Tournament Golf
Exclusive Games: Metal Slug First and Second Mission, Dark Arms, and Big Tournament Golf.
We’ll start with Dark Arms and Big Tournament Golf. Dark Arms is a suitably dark action-RPG that revolves around fighting various zombies and demons. The tone is the game’s greatest strength, as it’s surprisingly quite macabre. The gameplay is a bit tough to get into at this point, but the system of catching demons in battle and using them to power up is a fun one. It may take some time and effort to get into, but it’s a worthwhile game to try out.
Big Tournament Golf is a fairly standard but fun golf game. If you’ve ever played the Gameboy Mario Golf, it’s somewhat similar. You pick a character with set stats in different areas of golfing, then a course from various places around the world. You control your swing’s strength and direction, then you try to get in the hole. It’s nothing crazy, but it’s a pleasant, laid-back golfing experience that will likely only appeal to a certain set of players.
Now we get to the big guns, literally. Metal Slug: First Mission is surprisingly quite identical to its home console predecessors. Jumping and shooting feels as fun as ever in First Mission, and I’m glad that both this game and Second Mission are on the Switch to enjoy. This is a great first Metal Slug for any newcomers, as the basics of Metal Slug are all present alongside charming visuals and sound design. Levels are quick and challenging, and the various different weapons try to keep things fun the whole way through.
“I was never bored while playing Second Mission, and I could see myself playing it again purely because of how straight-up fun it is.“
The biggest winner of the exclusive games is definitely Metal Slug: Second Mission, which takes everything fun about First Mission and expands upon it. The visuals are more layered and complex, but the running-and-gunning is as fun as ever. There’s a variety of different vehicle stages to keep gameplay fresh, and some huge bosses that are pretty impressive for a NeoGeo Pocket Color game. There are two playable characters, lots of unique stages, and plenty of weapons to try out on enemies, making Second Mission one of the best games of the collection. I was never bored while playing Second Mission, and I could see myself playing it again purely because of how straight-up fun it is.
The Contents of the Collection
Outside of the previously discussed games, you get quite a few excellent portable fighting games. The visuals and music of each are full of resourceful charm considering the console they were originally released on, and the gameplay is normally diverse enough to make each game feel unique in its presentation. While some are better than others in terms of additional content, having all these NeoGeo Pocket Color fighters in one place is a great deal in and of itself.
There are some impressive bonus features in the NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection as well. You can switch between NeoGeo Pocket Color and non-Color systems, Japanese and English versions of the games, and you can look at 3D replicas of the game cartridge and the case it came in. You can even read through a digital recreation of each game’s manual, which is a nice touch for collectors and NeoGeo purists. Plus, all the features from previous NeoGeo Pocket Color releases are present. You can rewind frames if a level is too difficult, you can pick a border for your virtual NeoGeo Pocket Color, and you can swap screen filters to make it look like you’re playing on the console’s real screen. It’s the best way to play these games, as they’re more customizable and accessible than ever.
The Final Word
NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 is a fantastic collection of NeoGeo Pocket Color games that fans of fighting games and Metal Slug alike will thoroughly enjoy. The variety of games is stellar, as there’s something for almost everybody in this package. There are plenty of customization options and special features to enjoy as well, making this the definitive way to play these NeoGeo classics.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
