SNK Neo-Geo Pocket: A Beginner’s Guide

Presented by Fastbilly1, pullmyfinger, Flake, GSZX1337, and Racketboy

The RetroGaming 101 series is aimed at gamers who are just starting out in the classic gaming scene or are curious about an older console that they don’t know much about yet. Those of you that are especially knowledgeable about the featured console, I encourage you to add any information that you think would be beneficial into the comments section.



Background Info

Two versions: Neo Geo Pocket and Neo Geo Pocket Color (abbreviated to NGP and NGPC respectively. )

The original Neo Geo Pocket was released in late 1998 in Japan.

After slow sales of the original, the Neo Geo Pocket Color was released onMarch 16, 1999.

The U.S. version of the Neo Geo Pocket Color had an exclusive launch on the website eToys

The system debuted in the United States with six launch titles (20 promised by end of year) and retail price of $69.95.

Six different unit colors were available: Camouflage Blue, Carbon Black, Crystal White, Platinum Blue, Platinum Silver, and Stone Blue.

Before SNK was bought out, the Neo Geo Pocket Color was being advertised on US television and units were being sold nationally in Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Toys “R” Us (and their online partner, Amazon.com)

Once SNK was bought out by the Aruze group, remaining inventory was bought back by SNK for repackaging in Asia, where the handheld would still be supported with games.

Historical Impact

Forward-Compatible: One of the only systems in which the earlier form (NGP) could play the majority of the new games for the new system (NGPC)

One of the only systems in which the earlier form (NGP) could play the majority of the new games for the new system (NGPC) SNK’s First Hardware Since the Neo-Geo :And although it carries the trademark Neo Geo name it has few true arcade ports (for obvious reasons).

:And although it carries the trademark Neo Geo name it has few true arcade ports (for obvious reasons). Hurt SNK’s Bottom Line: NGP is blamed as one of the reasons that SNK had to close their doors, other reasons cited were the decline of the American and European Arcades during the late 90s and the ease of playing backup copies of the MVS software on your home computer.

NGP is blamed as one of the reasons that SNK had to close their doors, other reasons cited were the decline of the American and European Arcades during the late 90s and the ease of playing backup copies of the MVS software on your home computer. Bringing The Arcade To The Road: While not true Arcade ports, the NGPC was blessed with a wide array of games based on its older brothers games – Metal Slug 1 st Mission, King of Fighters R-1, and Bust a Move Pocket for example – a first for the company and a defining point for arcade to handheld ports for the future.

While not true Arcade ports, the NGPC was blessed with a wide array of games based on its older brothers games – Metal Slug 1 Mission, King of Fighters R-1, and Bust a Move Pocket for example – a first for the company and a defining point for arcade to handheld ports for the future. Put Up A Good Fight Against Nintendo: The one of the few significant handheld competitors to the Gameboy, the Gamegear is the obvious first.

The one of the few significant handheld competitors to the Gameboy, the Gamegear is the obvious first. Portable Controls: One of the first handheld consoles to feature a Joystick as its primary mode of input.Another system that utilized a similar joystick would be the GP32, both are known for making a unique clickty-clack sound.

One of the first handheld consoles to feature a Joystick as its primary mode of input.Another system that utilized a similar joystick would be the GP32, both are known for making a unique clickty-clack sound. Battery Backup: To my knowledge it is the first handheld to utilize a second internal battery to backup the memory and clock.The battery is a CR2032, well know to Saturn fans, and sold here by Racketboy.

To my knowledge it is the first handheld to utilize a second internal battery to backup the memory and clock.The battery is a CR2032, well know to Saturn fans, and sold here by Racketboy. Linking With Console: Before Nintendo had their GBA-to-Gamecube linking, the Neo-Geo Pocket Color actually linked with the Sega Dreamcast for unlockable game features

Screen & Color Capabilities

The screen is high quality,160×152 display

Had a “virtual screen” that allowed for 256×256 resolutions, 16 palettes per plane, and 64 sprites per frame

No form of internal lighting it does need to be played in well-lit conditions.

The Neo-Geo Pocket Color can put out 146 colors at once out of a possible 4096 colors

This compares to the Wonderswan Color & Crystal’s 241 colors on screen out of 4096 and the Gameboy Color’s 56 simultaneously on screen out of 32,768

Hardware Variations In addition to a handful of standard color variations of the standard Grey, Crystal Yellow and Crystal Turquoise, you can also find Neo-Geo Pockets in Crystal [transparent], Camo, and a Hanshin Tigers Limited Edition Version.

There is also a slim version of the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Here is a video detailing the differences between the two versions. Bit of warning: You might want to keep the video on mute until the guy gets the ruler out. He moves the camera around a bit and creates a lot of noise.

Accessories

Shock n’ Rock by Nyko:

Link Cable:

Wireless Link: There was a wireless connector released in Japan that allowed several players in proximity to play together, with some cartridge moulding reshaped to hold it.

There was a wireless connector released in Japan that allowed several players in proximity to play together, with some cartridge moulding reshaped to hold it. Official Carry Case:

Strengths

Big-Name Backing: SNK had one of the best development houses in the world at that time.

SNK had one of the best development houses in the world at that time. Amazing Game Catalogue: From Last Blade to Densha De Go!, all major genres and most SNK series are represented (albeit in “petite” form)

From Last Blade to Densha De Go!, all major genres and most SNK series are represented (albeit in “petite” form) Decent US and Europe support/naturalization: Quite surprising for a limited release outside of Japan. This also brought aplethora of multilanguage carts

Europe Quite surprising for a limited release outside of Japan. This also brought aplethora of multilanguage carts Forward Compatibility : Early adopters were not overly screwed when the new version came out

: Early adopters were not overly screwed when the new version came out Durable Hardware: Not quite Gameboy durable, but better than previous competitors

Not quite Gameboy durable, but better than previous competitors Sega Partnership: Resulted in a Sonic game and a Dreamcast to NGPC cable that allowed some neat unlockables in games such as Capcom vs SNK 2

Resulted in a Sonic game and a Dreamcast to NGPC cable that allowed some neat unlockables in games such as Capcom vs SNK 2 Comfortable & Tactile Controls: The joystick is absolutely amazing for fighting and puzzle games, which thankfully there are a lot of on the system.

The joystick is absolutely amazing for fighting and puzzle games, which thankfully there are a lot of on the system. High Quality Screen: 160×152 resolution

160×152 resolution Amazing Battery Life: Roughly 30 to 40 hours with two AA batteries (compared to the Wonderswan Color’s otherwise impressive10+ hours on a single AA battery)

Roughly 30 to 40 hours with two AA batteries (compared to the Wonderswan Color’s otherwise impressive10+ hours on a single AA battery) Inexpensive Aftermarket Price: Can pick up a handheld and a bundle of games on eBay for about $60 in all.

Weaknesses

Difficult Living Up To SNK’s High Standards: Technical limitations in some games, several of the more intense action games suffered some pretty bad slowdown.

Technical limitations in some games, several of the more intense action games suffered some pretty bad slowdown. Timing: Originally released in 1998, in the midst of “Pokemania” and slowed even more by the 1999 rumors of a 32-bit Gameboy successory (the Gameboy Advance)

Originally released in 1998, in the midst of “Pokemania” and slowed even more by the 1999 rumors of a 32-bit Gameboy successory (the Gameboy Advance) Very Little Third Party Support: SNK had Sega on board, but that was just about it.

SNK had Sega on board, but that was just about it. Game Cases: American releases were boxed in cardboard boxes, instead of the hard cases that the rest of the world had (while I do not agree with this others do so I thought it should be mentioned)

American releases were boxed in cardboard boxes, instead of the hard cases that the rest of the world had (while I do not agree with this others do so I thought it should be mentioned) No Backlight: Don’t plan on playing in the dark with the Pocket



Notable Games & Imports

Games The Defined the Neo Geo Pocket –

Neo Geo Fighters – Last Blade, Samurai Shodown, King of Fighters, Capcom vs SNK – Card Fighter Clash, etc: Unlike their arcade counterparts, the portable titles adopted a super deformed graphic style but animated almost as smoothly with all the same moves and combos. Even with its diminutive two button control scheme and an amazing joystick these games are simply the best portable fighting games of their time.I would say of all time, but I feel that Street Fighter Alpha 3 on the GBA has finally surpassed them.The controls do take a little getting use to, but soon you will realize that they took a four button game and made a faithful two button version.I know I sound crazy but I believe most fighting game fans can agree on this.

Unlike their arcade counterparts, the portable titles adopted a super deformed graphic style but animated almost as smoothly with all the same moves and combos. Even with its diminutive two button control scheme and an amazing joystick these games are simply the best portable fighting games of their time.I would say of all time, but I feel that Street Fighter Alpha 3 on the GBA has finally surpassed them.The controls do take a little getting use to, but soon you will realize that they took a four button game and made a faithful two button version.I know I sound crazy but I believe most fighting game fans can agree on this. Metal Slug 1st and 2nd Missions: While I am a huge fan of the original Metal Slug (I have owned it several times in almost every format imaginable) these games are far from the intense run and gun action of it.These are slower paced (for an arcade styled game), uniquely controlled, and feature a health bar.So yeah it is kind of a downgrade from the arcade version, but they are still excellent games and set the standard for handheld run and guns (see CT Special Forces series on the GBA).

While I am a huge fan of the original Metal Slug (I have owned it several times in almost every format imaginable) these games are far from the intense run and gun action of it.These are slower paced (for an arcade styled game), uniquely controlled, and feature a health bar.So yeah it is kind of a downgrade from the arcade version, but they are still excellent games and set the standard for handheld run and guns (see CT Special Forces series on the GBA). Sonic Pocket Adventure – As part of the partnership between Sega and SNK, a Sonic game was produced for the system in 1999. Developed by Sonic Team and Dimps (a full 2 years before Sonic Advance), Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure is essentially a re-telling of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with elements of Sonic CD and Sonic 3 sprinkled in with the final result being Sonic’s first true game on a non-Sega platform.

– As part of the partnership between Sega and SNK, a Sonic game was produced for the system in 1999. Developed by Sonic Team and Dimps (a full 2 years before Sonic Advance), Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure is essentially a re-telling of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with elements of Sonic CD and Sonic 3 sprinkled in with the final result being Sonic’s first true game on a non-Sega platform. Dark Arms Beast Buster: Sequel to the arcade lightgun game Beast Buster, Dark Arms is an action adventure rpg, in the vein of Zelda 2, Crystalis, or Magic Knight Rayearth on the Saturn.So you have an isometric viewpoint and you do some fetch quest, but the mechanics are sound and the game is very unique for its time.When you kill monsters you can gather their “remains” for lack of a better word, and forge newer weapons based on what you are using.So if you kill a lot of fire badguys you can upgrade your gun to shoot fire bullets.With a decent bit of depth, fitting dialogue, and spot on controls, Dark Arms is by far my favorite original game on the system.It may have been surpassed by games like Boktai, Ghost Trap, and The Sound of Thunder, but I think it still has a lot of charm, besides who doesn’t like to kill zombies on the go every once and a while.

Sequel to the arcade lightgun game Beast Buster, Dark Arms is an action adventure rpg, in the vein of Zelda 2, Crystalis, or Magic Knight Rayearth on the Saturn.So you have an isometric viewpoint and you do some fetch quest, but the mechanics are sound and the game is very unique for its time.When you kill monsters you can gather their “remains” for lack of a better word, and forge newer weapons based on what you are using.So if you kill a lot of fire badguys you can upgrade your gun to shoot fire bullets.With a decent bit of depth, fitting dialogue, and spot on controls, Dark Arms is by far my favorite original game on the system.It may have been surpassed by games like Boktai, Ghost Trap, and The Sound of Thunder, but I think it still has a lot of charm, besides who doesn’t like to kill zombies on the go every once and a while. Legend of Ogre Battle Gaiden: Prince of Zenobia – the obligatory import: Serving as a gaiden (side story) to the Ogre Battle Saga, this game follows the Prince of Zenobia on his journey through the land.Taking place during March of the Black Queen (or just Ogre Battle if you care) but through different parts of the world.The game plays exactly like the original, and if it was not for different areas I would call it a port.However it is an amazing game and well worth looking into finding if you are a fan of the series.If you are not a fan I would suggest finding a copy of the SNES or PSX version of March of the Black Queen, mainly since the game is in Japanese and fairly heavy in dialog, it is a fantasy strategy game with rpg battles.

– the obligatory import: Serving as a gaiden (side story) to the Ogre Battle Saga, this game follows the Prince of Zenobia on his journey through the land.Taking place during March of the Black Queen (or just Ogre Battle if you care) but through different parts of the world.The game plays exactly like the original, and if it was not for different areas I would call it a port.However it is an amazing game and well worth looking into finding if you are a fan of the series.If you are not a fan I would suggest finding a copy of the SNES or PSX version of March of the Black Queen, mainly since the game is in Japanese and fairly heavy in dialog, it is a fantasy strategy game with rpg battles. Rockman: Battle and Fighters – Rockman: Battle and Fighters is a Neo Geo Pocket Color remix of Rockman The Power Battle, an arcade game created by Capcom in 1995. The game is essentially a Mega Man game without the levels. You choose your character (Rockman, Forte, or Blues) and proceed through a boss rush that is one part Street Fighter, one part Megaman. Rockman: Battle and Fighters borrows elements from the two arcade games and art assets from the original NES titles. This game is fairly hard to come by and collectors should expect to pay handsomely for this import title.

NGPC-to-Dreamcast Linking

King of Fighters R-2 (links with King of Fighters ’99 Dream Match and King of Fighters Evolution)

SNK vs Capcom – Match of the Millenium (links with Capcom vs SNK 2)

SNK vs Capcom – Card Fighters’ Clash (links with King of Fighters Evolution)

SNK vs Capcom – Card Fighters’ Clash Expand Edition (links with Capcom vs SNK 2)

Cool Cool Jam (links with Cool Cool Toon).

Emulation

Neopop – One of the few emulators that is actually updated.The best compatibility and a built in debugger makes this easily the best emulator.

Koyote – Many still use this older emulator, even thought the compatibility is not near Neopop’s, it does have TCP/IP enabled multiplayer that is smoother (on a whole) than Neopop’s.

Affordability