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SNK revisits well, returns with 16-game compilation for PS2, PSP
We honestly believe that when it comes to SNK, they believe that nostalgia is job one. Why else would the company continue to keep one foot rooted in the past by re-releasing countless compilations of old releases in lieu of anything truly new? Not that there is anything wrong with that. The company has forgotten more about making fun games than most newcomers will ever know, polygons or not. On that note, SNK's latest trip back in time comes care of an impressive collection of 16 different SNK faves, which skirt across the surface of the company's storied history like flat stone. Set for release for both the PlayStation 2 and PSP sometime during the first half of this year, the not-so-creatively dubbed SNK Arcade Classics: Volume 1 will include a bevy of early-gen fighters, such as the first World Heroes, Art of Fighting, and Samurai Shodown titles, as well as Fatal Fury, King of the Monsters, and King of Fighters '94. Beyond fighting games, however, SNK has put together a rather eclectic mix from other genres, with action titles like Top Hunter, Last Resort, Shock Troopers, Sengoku, and Burning Fight, as well as sports entries Baseball Stars 2, Neo Turf Masters, and Super Sidekicks 3. And of course, where would any SNK tribute be without the original Metal Slug and Magician Lord? Nowhere, that's where, so it's a good thing it includes those as well. Not a bad salvo for the first volume, which has us already wondering what games should make the cut for what we hope will be a second collection soon to follow. What SNK greats would you like to see make a return?[Via press release]
Possibly Wii-bound SNK Arcade Classics collection is awesome
SNK Playmore sent a press release out announcing the lineup for their SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1 collection for PS2 and PSP. There's no mention of a Wii version, but a Wii version is listed in the game's ESRB rating, and it was discussed at TGS. We hope it's not a mistake, because we love old games, and this lineup is totally hot. We kind of suspect that this isn't actually coming to the Wii, because of the 16 games on the disc, 7 are already available as Virtual Console downloads. Metal Slug, of course, is also available on its own disc. We have no issue with redundancy, but we doubt SNK would give people the option of either paying $9 per game or (judging by recent disc releases) between $15 and $30 for a whole load of games. In terms of stuff that isn't on the Wii, the disc includes things like Shock Troopers and Samurai Shodown. Check after the break for the full, awesome list. Just imagine how much this collection would have cost in new Neo Geo cartridge form.
Friday Video: Run 'n tap
GBADev forumer SaruCoder put together this video to demonstrate how platformers -- Metal Slug in this case -- can be played on the DS with the system held sideways.The sound effects are annoying, and the mocked-up game takes a lot of liberties with Metal Slug's mechanics and pacing, but it's interesting to see someone else besides Tecmo take a stab at this book-style approach for an action-heavy title. We're not so sure how much we would enjoy holding the DS with one hand while moving around with the directional pad and tapping the touchscreen directly above it, though.
VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 1/7/08
Well now, if it isn't the first video wrap-up of the new year! Rock! And, we're glad to be kicking off another year of gaming with two quality titles in StarTropics and King of Fighters '94. So, without further delay, hit up the video above and head past the break for some more.Oh, and sorry for sounding kind of prepubescent. I have no idea why my voice was so high there ...
VC Monday Madness: StarTropics and King of Fighters '94
Today is a big day for the Virtual Console here at Wii Fanboy as Star Tropics makes itself available for download later on today. It's a title that one of our own has been looking forward to for quite some time. And, the title backing it up isn't so bad, as it's the first entry in the long-running King of Fighters series, King of Fighters '94.This week's titles are:. Star Tropics (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) The King of Fighters '94 (NeoGeo, 1 - 2 players, 900 Wii Points) Be sure to stop back later for our video wrap-up of the day's offerings.
Give Metal Slug 3 the blood it deserves
Fans of the Metal Slug series may have been disappointed to learn that Metal Slug 3 was stripped of its lifeblood for the Xbox Live Arcade release. The be more precise, the game was stripped of the fountains of blood created when characters get shot, stabbed, eviscerated, or otherwise dispatched. The blood was sneakily replaced with sweat for the North American release, as if the crafty people at SNK Playmore thought we wouldn't notice. Thankfully, there is a fix, and it's not even difficult to do. So, how does one turn on the red stuff? Is it ABACABB? No, much simpler actually. All you have to do is switch your console's language settings to Japanese. See, easy, right? The only hard part now is making sure you can find your way back to the language settings again. Good luck with that.[Via Joystiq]
Simple fix brings back the blood in XBLA Metal Slug 3
Come back with us, if you will. Back to the middle ages of video gaming. Back to the early '90s. Mortal Kombat was a huge, bloody (and we do mean bloody) hit in the arcades. Unfortunately, console makers were concerned with how such a gory game would be received in family living rooms. Thus, the game's signature red blood was replaced with white "sweat" for the console versions.Luckily we don't live in such dark times anymore, right? Not so. The Xbox Live Arcade version of Metal Slug 3 similarly has been toned down to include white "sweat" instead of red blood. This is especially odd considering the Metal Slug 3 port for the supposedly family-friendly Wii included what one reviewer called "arterial blood spraying everywhere."Luckily (for real this time), there's a way around this bit of historical revisionism that's as simple as the Genesis Mortal Kombat's famous "blood code." As Insert Credit points out, simply setting your Xbox language to Japanese brings back the original Neo Geo classic in all its gory glory. Apparently, someone at Microsoft thinks the Japanese have a higher tolerance for this stuff. Either that, or they think Japanese gamers are just more picky about historical accuracy in their re-releases. Which is probably true, but still ...
Metal Slug 3 side-scrolls its way to the XBLA
SNK's Metal Slug 3 just landed on the Xbox Live Arcade this morning and these Slugs are ready to blow stuff up. For 800 Microsoft points Metal Slug 3 will come packed with hours of side scrolling action, two player local co-op, (sorry, no Xbox Live functionality) Xbox Live co-op and updated HD graphics. It's time to stop General Morden once and for all fanboys. Your purchase will prevent the New World Order from forming and anarchy from infecting all of society ... go get 'em Slug.
VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 12/31/07
So, it's the final week of 2007 and what do we have to show for it? Frickin' Bubble Bobble is what we have got! It's enough for us, hopefully it'll be enough for you. But, on the other hand, the two titles available that don't have a bubble or a bobble in their name aren't that bad, either.
SNK wishes you a Witch-Touching 2008
SNK Playmore's Japanese website has updated with a series of artworks celebrating the upcoming new year. In addition to the various King of Fighters and Samurai Spirits character portraits, two of SNK's 2008 DS games are featured: Metal Slug 7 and Doki Doki Majo Shinpan Duo. Surprisingly, it's Metal Slug 7's artwork that brings cheesecake to the New Year's party. Although the young girl in the pictured Doki Doki Majo Shinpan Duo card seems to have left about 70% of her skirt at home, Metal Slug 7's Eri manages to both wear less clothing and have adult proportions. Compulsive collectors like us should note that these images will only be available until the 17th. For our part, we've got the two DS-related images downloadable in their full resolution after the break. As for the rest, if you don't get them now, you'll no doubt be looking for them on Google Image Search at some point.
This Wednesday: Microsoft to roll Metal Slug 3 onto XBLA
We know that there are some of you who have already tired of your holiday toys, and while we think this is incredibly selfish and that you should be ashamed, Microsoft has stepped up, announcing an "updated version" of Metal Slug 3 for Xbox Live Arcade. The game will roll onto the service next Wednesday, January 2, and promises updated HD visuals and two player co-op over Xbox Live, along with all of the 'rocket lowncher' antics you can handle. So, for those of you who are just like my mother, and are never satisfied, prepare to fork over a cool 800 MS Points ($10). There, happy now?%Gallery-12357%
Metal Slug 3 kicks off Live Arcade's 2008
If good omens really exist, then Metal Slug 3 being the first game for Xbox Live Arcade in 2008 is surely one of them. Microsoft has informed us that the game will be arriving on XBLA next week, starting off 2008 with a digital bang (followed by many, many more bangs, dead soldiers, and giant boss creatures). Part of one of the most popular action series of all time, the game will feature Live (and presumably local) co-op and updated graphics. Metal Slug 3 will be available next Wednesday for 800 MS Points. Our only worry is that so much on-screen action might make Live co-op a little sketchy. Let's hope not. Check out a new gallery of Metal Slug 3 screenshots below.%Gallery-12354%
SNK needs to save one of these calendars for themselves
Metal Slug Anthology just came out in Japan. Yesterday. It's a collection of emulated games, from a company that has always taken a unique approach to translation (basically SNK's games are in Engrish in either territory), and which were originally released in Japan. We have to wonder what held up the release for so long, besides the (completely necessary) addition of Classic Controller support.Possibly attempting to make up for the massive wait, SNK is bundling early purchases of Metal Slug Complete with jewel-case calendars featuring character art from the company's games. If only SNK had popped open one of those calendars and realized that it's not 2006 anymore, they might have released the game in a timely manner.
SNK vs. Capcom vs. Markdown
SNK vs Capcom: Card Fighters Clash is by no means perfect, failing to match the fun of its NGPC predecessors and suffering a glitchy initial release, but that doesn't mean it isn't a solid title (provided that you have the reissued version without the game-breaking bug). If you're interested in collectible card games that mash together characters and elements from your favorite franchises (e.g. The King of Fighters, Ace Attorney), then this one should top your list of DS games.Amazon currently has SNK vs Capcom: Card Fighters Clash available for $9.99, $20.00 less than what the title usually sells for. It will likely be a while before a better deal comes along for this game, and if you slap a few Christmas gifts onto your order to bring the total over $25, you can even get free shipping! Joys be thine![Via CAG]
VC Monday Madness: Pokemon Snap, Ghosts 'n Goblins and Baseball Stars 2
As predicted, the arrival of December the 10th on your calendar coincides with the release of Pokemon Snap on the Virtual Console. Of course, you all know about the added feature to the Virtual Console edition of the N64 game by now. Well, hopefully this opens up a whole new world of possible improvements to other Virtual Console games in the future.Today's Virtual Console releases are: Pokémon Snap (Nintendo 64, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points) Baseball Stars 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points) Ghosts 'n Goblins (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) And, as usual, be sure to stop back here later for our video wrap-up of the week's releases.
VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 11/12/07
With the day of the week being Monday and all, some new Virtual Console games have hit our digital doorstep. And, as you can imagine, we were anxious to download and play them. And play them we did. So, be sure to hit up the video above and head past the break afterward for some more of our coverage.
World Heroes collection for PS2 coming next spring
World Heroes is certainly not SNK's crown jewel, nor is it the most polished among 2D fighting games, but the series, which includes over the top historical fighters based on historical figures, is not without its charms. Sometimes a dragon punch just can't scratch our itch, and when that happens Rasputin's mammoth hands (and feet) fit the bill.Now SNK has confirmed that it is bundling all four games in the franchise, including World Heroes, World Heroes 2, World Heroes 2 Jet, and World Heroes Perfect, together in a new compilation for the PlayStation 2. The collection, released last month in Japan as World Heroes Gorgeous, will be released in the U.S. in spring 2008 under the much less interesting name of World Heroes Anthology. With the PS2 on its way out, we can't help but admire SNK's efforts to keep the old girl on life support, while simultaneously frustrating those of us who forked over the geld to import the game originally thinking it wouldn't make an appearance stateside. Patience, it would seem, is a virtue.
VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 10/29/07
Oh, how we love Mondays. Our wallets, however, have a whole different idea regarding the start of the work week. And, this week, our wallets hate us that much more as the titles on offer cost their fair share of dough. Lucky for us, and for you all, this week's available titles are more good than bad.
VC Monday Madness: Simon's Quest, Magician Lord and Samurai-Ghost
Another week, another Virtual Console update. And, with this week's update, we've got three new titles to check out. The obvious high-profile game here is Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, which you all likely remember (whether you enjoyed it or not). That doesn't mean we should forget about the other two games, though.This week's releases are: Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Samurai-Ghost (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) Magician Lord (Neo Geo, 1 - 2 players, 900 Wii Points) And, as usual, be sure to stop back later for our video wrap-up of today's releases.
Friday Video: Lord of the magic
We don't often show off Virtual Console videos in our weekly spotlight, since they get a video spotlight of their very own, but we just couldn't resist this footage from the Neo Geo's Magician Lord, which was released today for European gamers. The video offers a good, long look at the gameplay, controls, and music, and it comes complete with a warm feeling of nostalgia. In other words, it's a perfect way to kick off the weekend.
