Neo Geo Pocket color: pound for pound, one of the best
Review created: 02/27/06(updated 02/27/06)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.
The Snk Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC) was truely a revolutionary handheld. Obviously compared to the PSP nowadays the graphics appear to be dated. However, it definitely can give any handheld out these days a run for its money. I'm going to describe and rate this handheld on the following categories: games, usability, aesthetics, availability/pricing, and finally, the overall product.
1)Games 3.5/5 (5/5 for fighting game fans)
The type of games on the system can make or break it. If the games are poor and few, then no matter how good the system is, it is doomed. There are a plethora of games for the NGPC ranging from fighting, to puzzle, to sports. For the most part, if you are one to enjoy the games on the Neo Geo MVS system, then the game selection is perfect for you. Like the MVS system, there are a few sports games here and there, a good amount of puzzle games, and a cornucopia of fighting games. The selection is decent albeit there is a shortage of games in the RPG department. If you are a fighting game fan however, this system is paradise.
2)Usability 4/5
Usability of the system consists of both ease of use of the system and how comfortable the system/layout is. This is a pretty simple system, no stylus or memory card to worry about. There is only two buttons so the system is not overly complicated. Basically it is a fairly simple, bare bones system. As far as the layout is concerned, it is fairly comfortable and light which makes prolonged playtimes much easier. The dimensions are fairly compact and the system is no bigger than the palm of an adult hand. However it is a bit thick and may take up a bit more space than the average pocket.
3) Aesthetics 3/5
When discussing aesthetics, I am referring to both the physical and outside looks and also the graphical capacity of the system. As stated earlier, the system is pretty basic and this may be good or bad depending on your own opinion. It comes in a variety of colors but other than that it is a fairly simple if not plan looking system. The graphics are nice and it displays the games in color (hence the name). Unfortunately, there is no backlighting and therefore suffers from the difficulties associated with that.
4) Price and availability 5/5
As far as retail is concerned, it can be difficult to find the hardware. About a year ago Fry's was selling a bundle of the system and 6 games for a bargain price. Not too long ago (approx 2 months) I saw a bundle of 6 games at a local EB games. However aside from these sporadic sightings, the chance of seeing this in a retail situation is limited. However, through the magic of ebay, the system is readily available at bargain prices. Games (which apparently are in abundance) can be easily bought for around 6 dollars apiece.
5) Overall 4/5
Overall, this is a truely bargain handheld. As stated earlier, if you are a 2D fighting game fan this is the system to get. If you enjoy puzzle games or if you enjoy most of the Neo Geo MVS games, this is a great system to buy. Aside from that, the handheld and the games can be found dirt cheap at bargain bin prices. At these prices, this handheld is truely pound for pound, the best bang for your buck.
The following are some of the shining games from this handheld:
-SNK vs. Capcom: MotM
-KOF R-2
-Sonic Pocket Adventure
-Metal Slug 2nd Mission
-SNK Gal's Fighters
-Bust a Move Pocket
-Dark Arms
-SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighter's Clash
Review ID: 10000000000772360
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