SNK Playmore Anthologies

[2600Lives]

Anybody else LOVING these? I've been snatching these up as soon as I see them. If you didn't know, SNK Playmore has been releasing compilations of some of their greatest fighting games on the PS2. Samurai Shodown, World Heroes, King of Fighters, Fatal Fury (2 different ones), Art of Fighting, etc. These are AWESOME, especially if you love old school 2D fighters like I do. There is also a compilation disc of various games, including some of the aforementioned, a mixed bag of shooters, side scrollers, etc., and of course, the Metal Slug anthologies. Man, big thanks to Playmore for giving these to us, and at a great price to boot! SNK really screwed up during their final days, but Playmore has really done a good job of keeping the original games alive, and making some great new games, too (NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, despite some graphical disappointments, is a DAMN good fighter). Here's hoping that maybe they will start releasing new installments of some of the old franchises.

[Gabriel]

Anybody else LOVING these?

 

Yep. Great stuff.

[bdog_147]

I enjoyed SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1 (still haven't played all the games yet) on PSP and I will be getting the King of Fighters collection for the Wii soon.

[Ze_ro]

I was disappointed that they split the Fatal Fury games across two discs... they could have easily put them all on one. Also, they left out Mark of the Wolves, which is the best game of the bunch. I've heard they left it out because they had already released it for the PS2, but only in Japan... so basically, us North Americans got the shaft with that one.

 

I'm really looking forward to Samurai Shodown Anthology though... I've been eager to play Tenkaichi Kenkakuden ever since it was announced.

 

--Zero

[godsey1]

I love the Metal Slug games on the WII. I have had the games on the AES and MVS systems, and these (I think) are the best. There are a few of the SNK games on the virtual console for the WII, but I haven't tried any of them out yet. I'd love to get some of their shooters for the PS3.

 

Tony

[2600Lives]

Oh, yeah, Sam Sho Anthology is going to RULE. I can't WAIT for it, but I'm curious. Is it going to contain both SS5 AND SS5 Special? I'd be fine with no 5 proper and just the inclusion of Special, as it was basically just an updated game with more characters and such, but I'm kind of a stickler for owning the absolute best version of a game available, and if they left Special out, that would totally suck.

[CGQuarterly]

A current gen release that includes Baseball Stars 2 would be nice.

 

Chris

[Jess Ragan]

The Wii versions are pretty good. I bought King of Fighters Orochi Saga and was really happy with how it turned out... my only regret is that I spent nine dollars on King of Fighters '94 before this collection was released.

[2600Lives]

I just grabbed FF Battle Archives Vol. 2 and World Heroes Anthology (NEVER thought I was gonna find that one!). Totally AWESOME stuff, man!

[Cynn]

I have all of them. I'm a huge SNK nut and collect AES and MVS as well. I have to disagree with NGBC though. I think it's pretty horrible.

 

What I really want is games like Rage of the Dragons and Matrimelee to be properly released here. I hate having to use my home carts because they are worth a pretty penny now.

[swlovinist]

I have all released comps on the PS2, and there are some good ones that are good plays, and then there are some that are kind of meh. I think that the Samurai Showdown Anthology will be the one I play the most.

[S1500]

Why can't I find any of the SNK comps for the PS2(or if there's a 360 version I'll take that) in ANY store?

[Gabriel]

Why can't I find any of the SNK comps for the PS2(or if there's a 360 version I'll take that) in ANY store?

 

Because brick and mortar stores suck.

 

If you want anything other than the most heavily promoted games nowadays, you have to shop online. Stores simply don't consider any "smaller" titles worth stocking. Many stores are outright hostile towards carrying games priced under $40.

[2600Lives]

I've found all of them at either GameStop or GameXChange, with only WH Anthology being somewhat hard to find.

 

They're not out for the 360, S1500, but you never know, they may release them at some time in the future.

 

I liked NGBC, actually. The graphics are really meh, but the system plays very well, I thought. Plus it's fun to play as Marco from Metal Slug!

[Gabriel]

I played some Fatal Fury the other day and decided the multi-plane stuff doesn't irritate me enough to severely ruin my enjoyment. My work bonus check came in on Friday, so I decided to finally go ahead and get the Fatal Fury discs.

 

I also decided to go ahead and get King of Fighters 98 Ultimate Match. I have all the other KoF games, why not that one too?

 

The only KoF game you can't play on the PS2 is '99. Or have I just missed a disc?

 

As for the other anthologies, I already have SNK Arcade Classics, Metal Slug Anthology, and World Heroes Anthology.

 

I won't be getting Art of Fighting or Samurai Showdown. AoF just doesn't have any appealling characters and it's overall kind of clunky. Samurai Showdown is a series I always thought was vastly overrated, and I never found it particularly entertaining.

[2600Lives]

Sam Sho can be a bit of an acquired taste, it's more deliberate and tactical than most fighters. You've got to judge each and every attack, as a missed one can end the game VERY quickly. SS2 is probably my overall favorite fighter of all time, it's just SO good.

 

I still need to get Metal Slug Anthology, but it seems to be VERY expensive compared to the other games, even used.

[MCHufnagel]

The only KoF game you can't play on the PS2 is '99. Or have I just missed a disc?

I have the PSX version of KOF '99. And it plays pretty well on my PS2.

[JohnnyBlaze]

My friend used to have the Wii version of Metal Slug Anthology. He got rid of it and bought the PS2 version because he said that the Wii controls were horrible.

[Gabriel]

The only KoF game you can't play on the PS2 is '99. Or have I just missed a disc?

I have the PSX version of KOF '99. And it plays pretty well on my PS2.

 

I forgot entirely about that release. Now that you mention it, I recall that I was at Best Buy and it was a choice of either picking up KOF 99 for the PS1 or Last Blade 2 for Dreamcast. I chose Last Blade 2. meh.

 

I guess I need to hunt that one down now. It's the only one I need for a complete set.

[Jess Ragan]

The only KoF game you can't play on the PS2 is '99. Or have I just missed a disc?

I have the PSX version of KOF '99. And it plays pretty well on my PS2.

 

I forgot entirely about that release. Now that you mention it, I recall that I was at Best Buy and it was a choice of either picking up KOF 99 for the PS1 or Last Blade 2 for Dreamcast. I chose Last Blade 2. meh.

 

I guess I need to hunt that one down now. It's the only one I need for a complete set.

 

Man, get yourself the Dreamcast version of King of Fighters '99 (actually titled King of Fighters Evolution, but it's the real KOF '99). It's got all the features of the Playstation version with faster load times, more strikers, and some bitchin' polygonal backgrounds.