NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 Reviews
While the games themselves haven't aged terribly well and there are too many fighting games here, NeoGeo Pocket Color Selections Vol. 1 demonstrates the best way to preserve old games. On top of simply playing the games themselves, you can take a look at everything that came with the cartridges way back when on top of taking advantage of convenience features like rewind. Unfortunately, this is undermined by the incredibly small screen size which you cannot change.
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.
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.
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.
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.
NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol.1 is as good as you'd expect a collection of 10 portable games from the turn of the millennium to be. Throw in a couple of hidden gems and some cool features and you're left with a decent offering from SNK.
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.
Another blast from the past with solid games that still hold up (mostly).
Review in Slovak | Read full review
A decidedly niche retro fix for fans of the beloved if underappreciated Neo Geo Pocket Color.
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.
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.
While I used to have nearly every Nintendo handheld system and enjoyed both of the ones from Sony as well I was never inclined to take a chance on the Neo Geo Pocket...
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.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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.
Review in Korean | Read full review
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.
Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol.1 is a fantastic (and cheap) way to play some of the best games available on possibly the best portable system you have never managed to put your hands on. I wish they have added some other cult classics like SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash and Sonic Pocket Adventure, but I’m pretty sure SNK and Code Mystics will eventually release them in a second volume. I for one, will eagerly look forward to it.
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.
Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 is a must buy for anyone who has wanted to enjoy what the classic portable had to offer and missed out on the individual releases.
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
NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 offers a quality retro experience. The collection features an interesting selection of action and fighting adventures, and all titles together offer hours of fun. When it comes to features, there are basic options and a few extras, and it's a shame that some of the issues in the individual titles persist here. In the end, NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 is a great way to get to play some of the biggest highlights of the SNK portable console.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review