SNK Arcade Classics 0

[Leo_A]

With what looks to be one of the final PSP releases that will be of much interest to anyone, SNK has this slated for a Japanese release for the PSP on April 21st.

It was rated by the ESRB in late 2009, but SNK hasn't said if it was coming stateside since. Given the state the PSP is in at this time in North America and the long gestation period for this title, this looks to be something everyone can count on not coming stateside. But with the import friendly nature of both the PSP itself and the included content, it shouldn't be much of a problem for anyone that is interested.

It's developed by G1M2, known for some of the better recieved SNK compilations of years gone by. Here is the case insert, a trailer, and the game list.

Included games:

Ikari Warriors (1986)
Dogosoken (1986)
Ikari III: The Rescue (overseas version) (1989)
Athena (1986)
Psycho Soldier (1987)
Sasuke vs. Commander (1980)
TANK (1985)
ASO (1985)
Prehistoric Isle in 1930 (1989)
Bermuda Triangle (1987)
Vanguard 2 (1984)
HAL 21 (1985)
Marvin’s Maze (1983)
Guerrilla War (1987)
P.O.W. (1988)
Street Smart (1989)
SAR Search and Rescue (1989)
Touchdown Fever (1987)
Gold Medalist (1988)
Super Championship Baseball (overseas version) (1989)

http://www.gamesetwatch.com/110201-snk.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjJ4vxIHfjA&feature=player_embedded

Nice to finally see some attention given to the real gems of SNK's library of classics. I just wish there hadn't been licensing issues with Vanguard. I'd of loved to finally have gotten a proper arcade port of that at long last.

[Lady Jaye]

Sounds great, but the game is currently $60 at Play-Asia. :(

And I also wonder how playable the vertical side-scrollers can be on the PSP...

[Kitsune Sniper]

Are you sure it was developed by G1M2 and not by those jackasses at Terminal Reality?

After the mess they made out of KOF Orochi Saga and SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1, I don't want to touch another SNK compilation.

[Blitzwing256]

wow, an snk collection NOT jampacked with awfull fighting games? I might have to get this one.

[Xexyz]

This game has been in the works for like 2 years now. And I do remember originally hearing that G1M2 was handling it (also did Data East Arcade Classics for Wii)

[Melf]

Portable release only = Fail, which seems to be synonomous with SNK.

[kainemaxwell]

Nice cover art.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

While I know that the last SNK Arcade Classics collection wasn't a hit amongst SNK/Neo Geo purists, I thought it was fine on both PSP and PS2 ... I really hope that this gets a US release and a console port.

Fingers crossed.

[Leo_A]

I wish we'd get a console version and a domestic release for the game since I really don't see SNK ever putting it out on UMD over here.

Hopefully SNK at least puts it up on PSN over here since everyone would have access to it then including those buying the Vita.

They're familiar with the Wii hardware so maybe SNK will put them to work converting this over to the Wii and bring it out over eventually. But the window of opportunity there must be closing quick.


Are you sure it was developed by G1M2 and not by those jackasses at Terminal Reality?

G1M2 was still handling the project back 3 months ago or so when I last talked to one of their employees I talk to on occasion. So unless something drastic has happened and they managed to get someone like Terminal Reality to put something together in a matter of weeks at the last minute, I feel safe in saying I'm sure.

[G-Boobie]

I'm not sure how much value these SNK collections have anymore. I've purchased SNK Arcade Classics 1 and a few of the other collections for the PSP and they've been, without exception, far worse in quality and playability than the same games played via emulator on the PSP. I don't mind paying for these games one bit... Assuming that they play properly. Arcade Classics 1 on PS2 was pretty garbage too. I've been burned enough to be a little wary.

Maybe a change in the guys responsible for the emulation code will make this worthwhile... But I'll probably wait to see what some of you guys think first. Assuming it comes out here, of course. Which it still might: it took the Samurai Shodown collection almost two years to come out here after its release in Japan.

[Leo_A]

I can't speak for any past PSP efforts since I don't own any of them. But I do know from first hand experience that SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1 and Metal Slug Anthology on the PS2 were developed by Terminal Reality (As I believe the PSP versions were). I guess their Wii version of Volume 1 was better done, but I believe all their SNK compilations that they developed have been poorly recieved.

I believe G1M2 has developed the following classic compilations.

Fatal Fury Battle Archives Volume 1 for PS2
Art of Fighting Anthology for PS2
NEOGEO Battle Coliseum for PS2
King of Fighters XI for PS2
World Heroes Anthology for PS2
Fatal Fury Battle Archives Volume 2 for PS2
The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match for PS2
Data East Arcade Classics for Wii (Plus several standalone games as PSP Mini's)

I can only personally speak for Data East Arcade Classics (I hate fighters), but I felt like that was a decent effort. Most of the games ran just fine, beyond some sound oddities in the early 80s titles that dragged it down some. But my impression from forums like this over the years was that the SNK compilations from G1M2 were fairly solid releases while it was the projects from Terminal Reality that were to be avoided. In fact, as best as I can tell, this is G1M2's first PSP compilation. So I wouldn't let those failed products from a different developer deter you from this latest one.

As far as this collection is concerned, I'm most concerned about the games that used a rotary stick. Dual analog support is impossible (Which worked like a charm to allow independent movement and aiming with Heavy Barrel in Data East Arcade Classics), so I'm wondering just how it's going to work.

I really wish they'd put this on the Wii and bring it stateside.

[retroman]

If its a USA release I will get it

[Kitsune Sniper]

I can't speak for any past PSP efforts since I don't own any of them. But I do know from first hand experience that SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1 and Metal Slug Anthology on the PS2 were developed by Terminal Reality (As I believe the PSP versions were). I guess their Wii version of Volume 1 was better done, but I believe all their SNK compilations that they developed have been poorly recieved.

I believe G1M2 has developed the following classic compilations.

Fatal Fury Battle Archives Volume 1 for PS2
Art of Fighting Anthology for PS2
NEOGEO Battle Coliseum for PS2
King of Fighters XI for PS2
World Heroes Anthology for PS2
Fatal Fury Battle Archives Volume 2 for PS2
The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match for PS2
Data East Arcade Classics for Wii (Plus several standalone games as PSP Mini's)

I can only personally speak for Data East Arcade Classics (I hate fighters), but I felt like that was a decent effort. Most of the games ran just fine, beyond some sound oddities in the early 80s titles that dragged it down some. But my impression from forums like this over the years was that the SNK compilations from G1M2 were fairly solid releases while it was the projects from Terminal Reality that were to be avoided. In fact, as best as I can tell, this is G1M2's first PSP compilation. So I wouldn't let those failed products from a different developer deter you from this latest one.

As far as this collection is concerned, I'm most concerned about the games that used a rotary stick. Dual analog support is impossible (Which worked like a charm to allow independent movement and aiming with Heavy Barrel in Data East Arcade Classics), so I'm wondering just how it's going to work.

I really wish they'd put this on the Wii and bring it stateside.

G1M2 handled most of the ones you mentioned; I'm not 100% sure they developed 98 Ultimate Match since that was an Arcade port. They also made the other SNK collections released in Japan: Sunsoft, Last Blade, Fu'un Super Combo, ADK Tamashii, and the two KOF anthologies we didn't get (Orochi Hen [95-97] and Nests Hen [99-2001]).

I'm pretty sure they also created the main backend for Samurai Shodown Anthology and the emulation system for I through V, but someone else must've tacked on Samurai Shodown VI onto it since it feels like a crappy, somewhat hackish port to me.

I own all of G1M2's NeoGeo collections (official US releases) and they're 99% perfect, other than some very slight graphics glitches in some games. I've also ah, obtained less than legit copies of their Japanese releases and they're pretty good.

While G1M2's collections are usually damn near perfect in quality, they had next to no extras... whereas Terminal Reality's collections are pretty crappy, yet they have TONS of extras. Go figure.

[SpaceHarrier]

I'm not sure how much value these SNK collections have anymore. I've purchased SNK Arcade Classics 1 and a few of the other collections for the PSP and they've been, without exception, far worse in quality and playability than the same games played via emulator on the PSP. I don't mind paying for these games one bit... Assuming that they play properly. Arcade Classics 1 on PS2 was pretty garbage too. I've been burned enough to be a little wary.



I'm curious.. To those who felt the PS2 collection was not good, since I have very little Neo Geo experience outside of Arcade Classics 1, what exactly about the collection/emulation on the disc is bad?? What am I missing by not having played on the original hardware (or via emulation)?
:duh:

As for Collection 0... well that is pretty sweet artwork! Fireball shooting T-Rex and bikini chick with a sword! I've never played any of those games to my knowledge, though...

[Graham Mitchell]

I'm also curious about what's wrong with snk arcade classics vol. 1 on ps2. I play it with a hori stick and it's pretty sweet. I even love neo turf masters. ("player one had a baaaaad day. This is nelses report!")

Oh, and the bikini chick with a sword is athena...you may want to skip that one.

I'm excited to see these games on a comp, but a others have mentioned, im pissed about it being on psp. I hate playing games on that thing, especcially arcade games. Couldn't they at least put this on psn as a ps3 game? Or even a ps2 game. It could be as low-budget as hell a long as it's on a console.

[Kitsune Sniper]

A while back I was planning on doing a video review that explained exactly what was wrong with SNK AC Volume 1 on the PS2... (I never went ahead with it due to issues recording stuff off my PS2, plus the quake that happened last year.) But off the top of my head, a lot of the games had quite a bit of slowdown, the worst one being Shock Troopers - which ran at HALF THE SPEED IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. Some games also lost some sound effects, Shock Troopers was missing the voices you heard when you switched characters. KOF 94 and World Heroes were pretty weird, they ran okay for a bit, then slowed down for an instant, then sped up to try to catch up - ALL THE TIME.

And Top Hunter... it plays fine, until you enter a bonus stage. Then you have to wait one or two minutes for the screen fadeout / transition to finish. THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT TWO MORE SO THE SCREEN FADES IN AGAIN.

I really liked the "bonuses" they threw in, though. And yes, Neo Turf Masters is pretty damn awesome in there.

[Graham Mitchell]

So what it sounds like is that if theres a game on there that shows up on psn's neo geo station I should probably download it, huh? I have virtually no experience with original aes games so this is interesting to hear.

[Kitsune Sniper]

So what it sounds like is that if theres a game on there that shows up on psn's neo geo station I should probably download it, huh? I have virtually no experience with original aes games so this is interesting to hear.

I noticed these issues since I played most of them in their original arcade form, and I also compared the games to MAME. I only have experience with the PS2 version; I've never played the PSP version. However, I've seen next to no complaints about the Wii version. I think Terminal Reality just didn't know crap about how to code an efficient emulator on the PS2 - but the Wii's additional CPU power might have helped them fix the issues the PS2 version had.

Plus it's a helluva lot cheaper to just get this disc on the Wii instead of paying what, 800 Wii points (I think) on the shop per game.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I noticed these issues since I played most of them in their original arcade form, and I also compared the games to MAME. I only have experience with the PS2 version; I've never played the PSP version. However, I've seen next to no complaints about the Wii version. I think Terminal Reality just didn't know crap about how to code an efficient emulator on the PS2 - but the Wii's additional CPU power might have helped them fix the issues the PS2 version had.

Plus it's a helluva lot cheaper to just get this disc on the Wii instead of paying what, 800 Wii points (I think) on the shop per game.

I haven't heard any criticisms about the emulation or game speed on the PSN versions, plus you get the added bonus of online multiplayer.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I haven't heard any criticisms about the emulation or game speed on the PSN versions, plus you get the added bonus of online multiplayer.

By PSN you mean PSP download, right?

I'm basically going by what people have said online, so for all I know, the PSP version is fine.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

By PSN you mean PSP download, right?

I'm basically going by what people have said online, so for all I know, the PSP version is fine.

While yes they are available for download on PSP, I was specifically talking about the PS3's Playstation Network Store.

The following NEO GEO games are available for individual download each with online multiplayer and trophy support:

* Fatal Fury
* Alpha Mission II
* The King of Fighters '94
* Samurai Shodown
* Baseball Stars Professional
* Magician Lord
* Metal Slug
* Bowling League
* Super Sidekicks
* Art of Fighting

[Leo_A]

G1M2 handled most of the ones you mentioned; I'm not 100% sure they developed 98 Ultimate Match since that was an Arcade port.

They announced its release on their own website, so I presume they were the programmers for the PS2 release. Doesn't seem like they'd advertise the availability of some other developer's release.

http://www.g1m2.com/news_archive_03.html


They also made the other SNK collections released in Japan: Sunsoft, Last Blade, Fu'un Super Combo, ADK Tamashii, and the two KOF anthologies we didn't get (Orochi Hen [95-97] and Nests Hen [99-2001]).

Looks like G1M2 did develop those two King of Fighters collections (Although the Orochi Saga that we got was done by Terminal Reality and was recieved poorly, as I recall, so buyers beware). I'll take your word on the others. It's surprisingly difficult without having the game itself in your hands to watch the opening or look inside the manual to know who developed what as far as SNK compilations go. That information, for some reason, isn't widely available online (You'd think with the wide difference in quality depending on who developed it, that there would be sites with this information for each SNK compilation to assist buyers).

They typically don't even mention who the developer was on the back of the case, which seems somewhat unusual.



I'm pretty sure they also created the main backend for Samurai Shodown Anthology and the emulation system for I through V, but someone else must've tacked on Samurai Shodown VI onto it since it feels like a crappy, somewhat hackish port to me.

Perhaps, but they seem to pretty regularly announce releases of their own products on their news section for their North American site, and I didn't see that mentioned last night as I scanned through it. And this old Digital Press thread says that Terminal Reality are the ones given credit for the programming.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-129563.html

Either way, thanks for helping establish their reputation. I was pretty sure they had a good reputation for their past SNK compilations, although I never bought any (Just never got into fighters, so the only ones that interested me unfortunely have been the subpar Terminal Reality efforts with their other arcade games like the Metal Slug series).



The following NEO GEO games are available for individual download each with online multiplayer and trophy support:

Any idea of who programmed the emulator that is being used and prepared these? Doesn't appear to be G1M2 since they make no mentions of it on their site (They've announced the release of each of their Data East PSP Mini's, so I'm sure they would've had they been responsible for these).

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Any idea of who programmed the emulator that is being used and prepared these? Doesn't appear to be G1M2 since they make no mentions of it on their site (They've announced the release of each of their Data East PSP Mini's, so I'm sure they would've had they been responsible for these).

http://www.snkplaymoreusa.com/neogeos-20th-anniversary-commemorative-project-neogeo-station-is-finally-available

No mention of the developer, and I haven't purchased any of them (since I'm generally satisfied with the PS2 collection release and my PS3 is backwards compatible) so I'm not sure myself.

[XYXZYZ]

Man, guys are going to buy it to get a load of that saucy dame on the cover...

http://www.gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Nintendo_NES/Snap/Thumb/Thumb_Athena_-_1987_-_SNK_Corporation.jpg

Then they'll be like WTF is this shit?

[G-Boobie]

I love the PS2 fighting game collections that SNK put out, which are exceptional ports of the original games. If the developer that handled the Last Blade collection and the Sunsoft collection did Arcade Classics 0, I'm a lot more excited for it.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Looks like G1M2 did develop those two King of Fighters collections (Although the Orochi Saga that we got was done by Terminal Reality and was recieved poorly, as I recall, so buyers beware). I'll take your word on the others. It's surprisingly difficult without having the game itself in your hands to watch the opening or look inside the manual to know who developed what as far as SNK compilations go. That information, for some reason, isn't widely available online (You'd think with the wide difference in quality depending on who developed it, that there would be sites with this information for each SNK compilation to assist buyers).

The frontend for all of the Japanese collections I mentioned is exactly the same as the US releases... so I'm fairly sure G1M2 developed them. Of course I could be wrong, I just hope I'm not!

I wish I'd taken screenshots and uploaded them to MobyGames before I quit working there so I could show you. >_<

[Leo_A]

I believe you, so no need.

If anything, it was more a complaint that no SNK fan has ever taken the time to toss up a small website with such information and reviews to help people interested in the collections weed out the garbage.

[Leo_A]

Looks like the original Vanguard is on it's way as a PSP Mini.

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=30779

I assume the Star Trek and Flash Gordon tunes will be edited out.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I believe you, so no need.

If anything, it was more a complaint that no SNK fan has ever taken the time to toss up a small website with such information and reviews to help people interested in the collections weed out the garbage.

The only big name reviewer that has played the Ps2 version is that Inecom Company guy... and that review doesn't even mention the problems the games have. I almost made a review of my own but then my PC died and well. Yeah. :(

[Leo_A]

Thought I'd bump this since I haven't seen any discussion about this.

G1M2 has released several 1980's SNK arcade classics, including the original Vanguard (With intact audio, even), as PSP's Mini's. They're $2.99 a game and are playable on both the PSP (And the PSVita, when that releases) and the PS3. Looks like they plan to not only release the entire lineup of this PSP collection, but release pretty much SNK's entire pre NeoGeo arcade lineup.

Also worth mentioning is that G1M2 released several Data East games as PSP Mini's a while back. All three were the most problematic games on their retail Will collection with multiple audio issues in each. Those audio problems have been largely resolved here (Sadly, no Burgertime, despite also having some audio problems just like the other early 80's games).

Bump 'n' Jump/Burnin' Rubber (1982)
Express Raiders (1986)
Lock 'n' Chase (1981)