NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 Reviews

NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 is ranked in the 71st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10.0
Oct 20, 2021

NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 is an interesting and varied collection with great games from the SNK portable console. It's a product that is sure to appeal to retro enthusiasts and portable enthusiasts, with the potential to appeal to a wider audience, especially casual gamers, given the simple, “to the point” nature of the games. Although it's a bit under-resourced and despite the absence of SNK Vs. Capcom: The Match of Millenium, the quality of the collection will guarantee a lot of fun.

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TechRaptor
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Oct 18, 2021

While half the games in the collection are fighting games, the remainder are an interesting variety to choose from. The emulator itself however, could use some work.

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3.5 / 5.0
Oct 14, 2021

It’s hard to complain about a ten-game collection where every game is at least good. The NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 is a fascinating look back at a system that deserved better. With few games that are truly essential, though, and many of them having better versions out there, it’s also not a must-own. For those who have fond memories of these games, or who are just interested in checking out a sadly forgotten device, though, check it out.

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8 / 10.0
Jul 24, 2021

NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 has 10 of its popular games that were ported to be played on the Nintendo Switch. Each game has different language versions and also emulates the slight differences of the game versions based on certain regions. Some of the contents include 3D renders of the actual game cartridges that you can tilt and turn to see from different angles. Multiplayer features that required the original to have link cables between the two portable machines are now comfortably allowed to be played in local multiplayer. The selected games were rightfully some of the best games at its time so now’s the chance if you weren’t able to live those days back in the era of the OG portable gaming sensation.

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Cubed3
Luke Hemming
Top Critic
7 / 10
Jul 23, 2021

For those who didn't make the Neo Geo leap with the excellent SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium (which is included here anyway), Neo Geo Pocket Colour Selection Vol.1 is where to start. With an excellent range of titles as well as the only way currently to play two superb Metal Slug titles outside of picking them and a handheld up, it's an easy decision to p-p-p-pick up a pack. It's always going to be a tough sale to take a leap if not familiar with the handheld and lacking that deep nostalgic love, but even with some strange additions outside the recognisable (honestly, Dark Arms is bonkers, fantastic fun), there really is a lot to make that purchase totally justifiable.

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7 / 10.0
May 26, 2021

Another blast from the past with solid games that still hold up (mostly).

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6.5 / 10.0
Apr 15, 2021

The Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Volume 1 for Nintendo Switch brings a forgotten handheld to the forefront. Featuring 10 games that defined SNK's unique platform, this collection serves as a glimpse into gaming history. Six fighting games, two action games, an RPG and a sports title bring something for everyone, but has age been kind to them? This is an in-depth look into how the collection holds up over 20 years later.

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7 / 10.0
Apr 2, 2021

I’d sooner point you to the ACA NeoGeo offerings from the series, that’d be like writing off Link’s Awakening completely just because A Link to the Past exists. That analogy can be applied to the whole collection, in fact, particularly since SNK has made so much of its backlog available. You may be able to pick up a bigger, prettier game but don’t let that deter you from celebrating this unique handheld and its library.

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85 / 100
Apr 1, 2021

NEOGEO POCKET COLOR SELECTION Vol. 1 is the compilation that includes 10 games from the extinct SNK portable system that was on the market in the late 90's. The selection includes some of the best titles in the system, which is remembered for its conversions of Neo Geo's star franchises. For the rest, a highly recommended compilation for those who were lucky enough to enjoy this laptop, or for all those who could not enjoy it, and are curious about the interesting but unsuccessful Neo Geo Pocket Color.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7.8 / 10.0
Mar 31, 2021

Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol 1 is a fantastic selection of games, even if it does tilt a little heavy towards the fighting side of things. Given that the title has ‘Vol 1’ in there, I wonder if we’ll see one or two more of these collections (the Pocket Color had 31 games released for it). Assuming you haven’t already picked up all of the previously released fighting games, this is a very worthwhile collection for old school gaming enthusiasts.

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9 / 10.0
Mar 31, 2021

Best part is that I don't have to try and find a working NGPC in good condition anymore.

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B+
Mar 30, 2021

There’s one other feature that is fun and worth mentioning, which is that it’s also possible to play the black and white versions of these games thanks to the color filter options. If you’ve yet to read our history of NeoGeo Pocket Color feature, SNK originally launched a colorless version of NeoGeo Pocket—only to be aghast to learn that Game Boy Color would debut soon after. Not wanting to be instantly outstripped by Nintendo’s latest handheld, SNK swiftly updated to NGPC soon thereafter, and the rest was history. SNK has been doing wonders keeping its back catalogue of games alive through retro hardware and compilations like NGPC Selection Vol. 1, and we sincerely hope that fans take the time to pick this one up for themselves.

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7 / 10.0
Mar 29, 2021

Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 will be a letdown for those who've already purchased some (or all) of the fighters released prior. But if you've been wondering why SNK hasn't bundled these handheld games together, wonder no more. While very much a mixed bag, there's enough here for the curious, and more so for fans. Bring on Vol. 2.

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4 / 5.0
Mar 29, 2021

If you’ve yet to pick up the six previously-released games on this collection, then Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 is easy to recommend. Packed with hours upon hours of retro-gaming goodness, it’s as close as it gets to a definitive look at SNK’s 16-bit handheld. I only hope that Big Tournament Golf, Dark Arms, and Metal Slug: 1st & Second Mission are added to the eShop down the road so that those who purchased the earlier releases don’t have to shell out another $40 to play these titles.

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7 / 10.0
Mar 29, 2021

All in all the NeoGeo Pocket Colour Selection Vol.1 is a fascinating, if not slightly unbalanced look into the history of SNK and its short-lived foray into handheld gaming. What is commendable is the dedication to getting fighting games working well on their handheld project, but also putting out stuff like Dark Arms which was quite unexpected for the market at that time. While this is a A+ emulation collection with some nice extras, filling it with 6 fighting games really puts this title into a niche. If you’re a fan of SNK/NeoGeo history and curious about the Pocket this is an easy purchase. On the other hand for people less versed or not interested in fighting games, it’s a rather pricey lesson in death by excess. It’s a quality product – just laser-pointed directly at a certain audience.

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Nintendo Life
Stuart Gipp
Top Critic
8 / 10
Mar 27, 2021

A strong showing for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, this is an eight-game compilation with seven avowed recommendations. That's a pretty high ratio, and that tantalising "Vol. 1" in the title makes us hope and pray that more SNK handheld goodness is to come. Now that Match of the Millennium has been accounted for, after all, there's surely no reason to hold out on us vis-a-vis Card Fighters Clash, the absolute best game on the system. Sonic Pocket Adventure would be ace, too. But that's all speculation – in the here and now, Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 is a great little compilation and all the better if you didn't buy all the previous standalone releases. If you did, is it worth the money? To this writer, yes, but you can quietly seethe about the financial imposition.

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9.5 / 10.0
Mar 26, 2021

NEOGEO Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1’s timing has weird optics, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a quality compilation of underappreciated classics. The historical features are great, so is the emulation. And it helps that this is a pretty powerful set of games by themselves. The physical release is icing on the cake, and I hope this means the brand has been successful enough to keep things rolling.

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Mar 26, 2021

I have to say I’m very impressed with NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1. The game selection here is great, the extras (such as the boxes and manuals) are a nice touch, and the price is very reasonable. You get 10 great classic games for the low price of $39.99. The Metal Slug titles, SNK Gal Fighters’ and SNK vs. Capcom are worth that alone. I feel this is a great pickup for any SNK fans, fighter fans, or anyone that is looking for some fun classics to play on the go.

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4.5 / 5.0
Mar 24, 2021

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.

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7 / 10 stars
Mar 24, 2021

A decidedly niche retro fix for fans of the beloved if underappreciated Neo Geo Pocket Color.

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