Fatal Fury: First Contact Reviews
On Switch, Fatal Fury: First Contact is forced to fend off worthy alternatives on two fronts as anyone interested in this title has probably already bought one of the more fully-featured Neo Geo Pocket fighters available on the eShop, and Hamster has provided a painstakingly accurate portable version of the game its based on as part of its Arcade Archives series, but that still leaves us with a fast-paced and fluid scuffle-'em-up that's easy to enjoy in short, commitment-free bursts, making it perfect for a quick round of lunch break gaming.
Fatal Fury First Contact is a solid little fighting game, but it has little to offer beyond that. Unless you are specifically a huge fan of the Neo Geo Pocket or all things Fatal Fury, there are definitely better fighting games you can spend your money on.
More a curiosity than anything else.
In 1999, a portable arcade fighting game probably blew a few minds. Like many games of the era, time hasn't been too kind to Fatal Fury First Contact. You can't deny the charm, though, and its simplicity allows for a quick fighting game fix during breaks or right before bed. Serious fighting game fans may want to look elsewhere, but it's not altogether terrible.
Fatal Fury: First Contact is still a joy to play and - I really can't say this enough - it remains impressive that the developers were able to create such pristine fighting games on such modest hardware. With that being said, the five games Neo Geo Pocket Color games that have now been released really should have been compiled together into one collection, and I would really like to see some of the other, non-fighting games that appeared on the console given the same emulation and restoration process now. I don't begrudge SNK going to the effort with the five fighting game classics that it has, but enough's enough with this genre. It's time for something different, please.
While Fatal Fury: First Contact's nostalgia factor and smart fighting mechanics mean that its appearance is welcome on the Switch, it sadly doesn't offer enough content to justify spending ages of time with. Still, it's perfect for a quick bout and shines in its presentation, meaning that there's still something to appreciate and admire here - even if not for overly long.
There still isn't an on-screen moves list, although even a passing familiarity with the usual SNK fighter directional combos will serve you well here. Otherwise, there's a big beautiful scan of the game's manual for you to consult (just write everything down somewhere). While I remain tickled that these NGPC ports even exist, though, I am beginning to long for different things, especially since these fighters all look more or less like the same game.
It may not be the best Neo Geo Pocket Color fighter on Switch but Fatal Fury: First Contact is certainly a charming and fun game.
Fans of fighting games who also happen to have fond memories of playing their favorite series in handheld form may get a kick out of this one...
Fatal Fury: First Contact is an awesome game. It doesn’t look good if you compare it, as an individual purchase, to its peers that are also available. But those games don’t exist without this one.
This game is great for a quick pick-up and play, especially if you are really into retro 2D games. But that seems to be a niche market these days.
At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a basic but fun fighter for your Nintendo Switch, you can’t really go wrong with Fatal Fury First Contact at the mere $7.99 price tag. The fighting is very smooth and the great roster will have you wanting to play around with them for many hours on end. It may not have a ton of modes, but it has it where it counts, and Mai makes a super cute chibi as well!
Fatal Fury First Contact is no stranger to the fighting arena as a Neo Geo release. However, in modern times, age does begin to show behind the veil of nostalgia.
Fatal Fury: First Contact is the latest Neo Geo Pocket Colour title to be ported onto the Nintendo Switch. The pocket fighter originally debuted way back in 1999 and was released onto the SNK produced console – the Neo Geo Pocket Colour.
Fatal Fury: First Contact isn’t a bad game by any stretch. However, when you compare it to SNK’s more recent NGPC ports to the Switch, its lack of content is hard to ignore. It really shows its age with its slower pace (and frequent slowdown). And with only one single-player mode to experience and a pair of characters to unlock, you’ll likely find yourself burning through everything it has to offer in a single afternoon. Of course, the ability to play against a friend adds a bit of replay value to the package. But given that you can buy the superior Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 for the same price on the eShop, it makes this entry a little tough to recommend to all but the most ardent SNK fans. At the end of the day, Fatal Fury: First Contact isn’t wildly ambitious. But if you’re looking for a quick and dirty 8-bit fighter to add to your Switch library, it gets the job done.
Overall, I feel like the developers of this game just tried to make a quick buck by porting over their old game without adding any new constructive updates. With bigger, better, and more entertaining fighting games in the market today, Fatal Fury: First Contact does not have any features that would keep me playing for long hours. I wouldn’t recommend it to any fighting game enthusiast to get the game unless it’s for nostalgia’s sake. Casual players might find it fun for a while but probably wouldn’t spend hours on end on the game.
As a beat ’em up, Fatal Fury First Contact is a cracking little game that shows off the power the Neo Geo Pocket could achieve. But as a port, it’s just too niche when there are far better alternatives from the same catalogue available.
It’s a fun game with great visuals and music, and it plays rather well, there’s just not as much content to keep you entertained as there is in other portable SNK titles.
Fatal Fury: First Contact may not make you a fan of the NeoGeo Pocket fighters due to its lack of additional content, but there is a rather enjoyable fighter for those looking for a nostalgia trip. The animations and pixel designs are gorgeous, but I couldn’t help but want more to do.
Fatal Fury First Contact is a neat and enjoyable little fighting game to play if you want to experience something more Retro. I also gotta admire and like the fact that SNK releases these various classic games from their library of games which is especially good for preservation. These games may fetch high prices on the original hardware, for 7 or 8 bucks you can play them on the Switch. If you are an SNK fan that is collecting these re-releases digitally. You’re in for a fun time!