Compilation, you say? Yeah, I don’t like that word either. Game compilations tend to mean one or two good titles surrounded by three times as many bad ones. So I’m rather scared to admit that all the titles on SNK Arcade Classics: Volume 1 rock.

According to SNK’s press release, the compilation will appear in early 2008 and boasts:

* ART OF FIGHTING – The first game in SNK’s second fighting-game franchise, set in the same universe as FATAL FURY.
* BASEBALL STARS 2 – The sequel to SNK’s popular baseball arcade game.
* BURNING FIGHT – New York detectives battle organized crime in this fighter.
* FATAL FURY – First released in 1991, FATAL FURY introduced the two-plane fighting system.
* KING OF FIGHTERS ‘94 – The first game in the popular KING OF FIGHTERS series.
* KING OF THE MONSTERS – In KING OF THE MONSTERS, giant monsters fight for power in epic battles.
* LAST RESORT – A challenging futuristic shooter.
* MAGICIAN LORD – Players help the wizard Elta save his homeworld in this platformer.
* METAL SLUG – Known for its humor and fast- moving gameplay, this run-and-gun side-scroller was the first in the popular series.
* NEO TURF MASTERS – A golf game which debuted on the Neo Geo Pocket Color in 1999.
* SAMURAI SHODOWN – Set in the 18th century, SAMURAI SHODOWN features bladed-weapon combat and an international cast of characters.
* SENGOKU – In SENGOKU, players face off against undead feudal Japanese armies.
* SHOCK TROOPERS – In this run-and-gun adventure, players save a scientist and his granddaughter from the Bloody Scorpions.
* SUPER SIDEKICKS 3 – A soccer game featuring teams from all over the world.
* TOP HUNTER – Bounty hunters protect colonists from space pirates in this futuristic action game.
* WORLD HEROES – This classic fighter pits players against historical figures in a tournament enabled by time travel.

Yep, that’s 16 titles. If you’re not familiar with any of these, most are better than the official descriptions make them sound. This compilation has must-have written all over it. But of course there’s a catch– the compilation is only being released for PS2 and PSP. No word in the press release about the rumoured Wii version either.

This isn’t a massive surprise because there’s already Neo Geo support on VC – you can already get your mitts on Baseball Stars 2 for $9. But why would you? Buying all of those titles at that price would cost you $144. Or you can wait a few months and pick up a second hand PS2 and this compilation a sight cheaper.

One last reason to take heart: if this is volume one, imagine what’s coming for volume two.

Tags: bladed_weapon, giant_monsters, japanese_armies, king_of_the_monsters, metal_slug, neo_geo_pocket

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