Quite a few actually. I believe I own all the US releases as well some of the JPN exclusives.So how many are there? Is there a list online somewhere since I cant find one. Thanks
There is a list on the official SNKPUSA site but unfortunately its mixed with all the other releases that came out for OG XBox, GBA, DS etc.
http://www.snkplaymoreusa.com/games
NOTE: I just realized the list on their site is incomplete.
Art of Fighting Anthology: Port handled by G1M2 studio. The port is well done from its JPN counterpart which is part of the Neo Geo Online Collection Catalog.*bump*
I have a couple Neo Geo collections for PS2 and think they're pretty great. But when I start reading things online, I hear people complaining about how SNK Arcade Classics vol. 1 is buggy or that the Japanese release of The King of Fighters is different from the American release.
Can anyone tell me what releases should be avoided? Or are they all good and maybe some fans are just exceedingly nitpicky? (I don't have a Wii so I can't opt for any of those versions.)
Fatal Fury Battle Archives V1: Another fine port handled once again by studio G1M2. JPN counterpart part of the Neo Geo Online Collection Catalog
Fatal Fury Battle Archives V2: The only major issue with the US port is that G1M2 or SNKPUSA made the choice to censor the blood effects on all 3 games. Blood effects look like milk
JPN counterpart part of the Neo Geo Online Collection Catalog.King of Fighters Collection - Orochi Saga: The second (or was it 3rd?) collection to be handled now by Texas based studio Terminal Reality after their previous work on MS Anthology. This collections has absolutely nothing in common to the superior JPN Orochi Hen Compilation which is part of the Neo Geo Online Collection Catalog. The emulation is handled with TR's in-house (and rather inferior) engine. This US release adds 94 and 98. As a result this US release is not considered a port of its JPN release.
Metal Slug 4 & 5: Released before MS Anthology. Great Ports! No conversion assistance needed for its release. Only in-house translation at SNKPUSA headquarters in New Jersey (at the time). As a result the games are essentially identical to their JPN releases that were released as standalone titles.
Metal Slug Anthology: First SNK collection to be handled by Terminal Reality. It HAD no JPN counterpart to compare it to as it was US premier release. It uses TR's in-house emulation engine.
NeoGeo Battle Coliseum: US conversion handled once again by G1M2. The US release was a mixed bag of sorts. On the one hand, they optimized loading times greatly compared to its JPN counterpart. On the other hand the console exclusive 3D battlegrounds are plagued by some nasty slowdown.
The King of Fighters XI: The second SNK Atomiswave Fighter to be released in the States with conversion handled by the same studio as NGBC. As a result, this release also shares the same unfortunate setback as NGBC where the console exclusive battlegrounds affect the games speed. There is some good news though, as these specific battlegrounds can be disabled by simply not playing the game in re-balanced mode (also known as Arrange in the games Options). Also Progressive Scan option available in the JPN release has been removed.
The King of Fighters 00/01: Released in celebration of SNK's return to North America. Both titles are identical to their JPN standalone releases. 00 is a perfect port and improves on DC release, with an unlockable intro gallery spanning KOF 94 though 99. It also fixes some slowdown issues that plagued the DC release. 01 is the exact opposite of 00. It's not arcade perfect at all! It's a visually retooled port with a brand new intro, "Hi-res" pre-rendered battlegrounds, translucent effects for projectiles, and new character artwork. In all honesty, If Eolith made KOF to be the black sheep of the series through their direction, SNKP unbelievably made things even worse for this game. Gameplay feels worse with this PS2 exclusive upgrade. Better to go for the JPN DC release or the JPN exclusive Nests Collection.
The King of Fighters 02/03: SNKP did good on both ports released in JPN as standalone releases. Gameplay is left relatively intact, with some complementary visual upgrades, that can be disabled as well. 02 even supports Progressive Scan. US combo pack of these game are identical.
KOF Maximum Impact: The only major problem with this US port was that SNKPUSA removed JPN voiceovers entirely. This was corrected on the Xbox conversion of the same game.
KOF 2006: Basically Maximum Impact 2 just with a new moniker for the US release. A great port and a very fun game. Major fan service for SNK diehards.
SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1: Another release handled by Terminal Reality that was also a US premier. Uses the same in-house emu engine with slight modifications to supports achievement/Medals to unlock throughout the collection.
World Heroes Anthology: The final US SNK compilation to be handled by dev studio G1M2. An identical port of the JPN release which is part of the Neo Geo Online Collection Catalog. A notoriously difficult game to find during its release out here in the states.
Samurai Shodown Anthology: Many things to mention of this US release. It's the only US port based off of a Neo Geo Online Collection Catalog game that was NOT handled by G1M2. Duties were instead handed over to Terminal Reality to the shocking surprise of many fans (as the former studio had a better track record than the latter at handling these compilations properly). There was SO much speculation before the end product materialized. Some believed the compilation was going to be truly complete and add what the JPN version lacked ( 5 Special). Many believed the game was going to be man handled the same way as KOF Collection Orochi Saga, Ignoring the JPN release and opting for another terrible in-house TR product as a means to conveniently fit SS Tenka (technically, this is what actually what happened to the PSP version) into the compilation. Many thought the game was never going to see the light of day due the constant delays and even after it did release many believed it just did not exist as it was SO hard to find locally in many parts of the US! It is said that Ignition Ent. had a hand in the games release out here in the states.
The King of fighters 98 UM: Its JPN counterpart is part the Neo Geo Online Collection Catalog. It's US release is the only PS2 SNK title to be handled entirely by Ignition Entertainment.
Well I hope this helps anyone who is remotely interested in collecting US SNK games for their PS2 console. I think I touched on every release.
