SNK keeps 2D alive, classic fighters coming to PS2 this fall

by Jason Dobson { Sep 28th 2007 at 8:00PM }

We can't help but love SNK. Like that girl in the back of the class who refuses to accept that big hair and jelly bracelets have long since gone out of style, SNK continues to hold onto the the idea that 2D is where it's at. While the company has already committed to supporting both the Virtual Console and XBLA with its back catalog of sprite-based games, SNK today announced plans to bring two of its more recent PS2 fighters to the U.S. as well, namely The King of Fighters XI and NeoGeo Battle Coliseum.

While the eleventh installment of anything boggles the mind, SNK promises that King of Fighters XI will see a return to the series' classic gameplay, with added refinement and a few new bells and whistles like the 'match-deciding' Judgment Indicator and Dream Cancel (aka 'the wake-up call'). In addition, the PS2 version will also include new features not found in the arcade original, including new characters, music, and bonus stages.

That's all well and good, but SNK's promise to bring 'fan-service megamix' NeoGeo Battle Coliseum to the U.S. is what seals the deal. The tag team fighter features a roster packed full of 40 characters from across SNK's catalog of favorites, including Metal Slug's Marco, Samurai Shodown's Hoahmaru, and even King of the Monsters' Cyber Woo. Maybe that girl in the back of the class is onto something.

[Via press release]

Tags: battlecoliseum, kingoffighters, metalslug, neogeo, retro, snk

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Sep 28th 2007 8:06PM

are they ever going to make a completely new game?

impact24 @ Sep 29th 2007 1:36AM

KoF 12 is going to be a new game complete with completely redone sprites. They were hyping it up last year with the intention of making it the "ultimate 2D fighting game".

The recent article by Kotaku made the issue a bit confusing though. Appparently Ashcraft talked to an SNK executive who said that it will have 3D-like graphics in a 2D gameplay. However nothing concrete has come out of Japanese blogs and news sites.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Sep 29th 2007 6:04PM

it's king of fighers TWELVE

that's not new

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 28th 2007 8:16PM

The only game I want from SNK is Metal slug for the Xlive with Local and online Co-op.

BPM (FDF - Hypno-Toad) @ Sep 28th 2007 8:21PM

Dude, 2D IS where it's at.

ZippyDSMlee @ Sep 28th 2007 9:11PM

Isn't SNK owned by capcom now?

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 28th 2007 10:29PM

No you get it all wrong.

There is a difference between being owned by Capcom and getting OWNED by Capcom.

Nutchos @ Sep 28th 2007 9:49PM

That all sounds good but we need release dates!!!

Also, I hope SNK sticks with the 2D thing. KOF in 3d doesn't work. What they need to do is bring the 2d into the HD era with sharper graphics. KOF XI was a step in the right direction.

AxelFury @ Sep 28th 2007 9:53PM

Big hair and jelly bracelets forever!

ZippyDSMlee @ Sep 28th 2007 10:42PM

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler).

ah so Clover studios would be in the "p0wned" section,and SNK would be in the owned?

Blue_Falcon @ Sep 28th 2007 11:15PM

I wish they'd bring NGBC to the XBLA or something.

JP @ Sep 29th 2007 12:29AM

oh yeah, come to papa

vgxtremist @ Sep 29th 2007 2:37AM

2-d shall never die...I'm picking up both KOFXI and NGBC, and with the announcement of KOF Orochi Saga and Samurai Showdown Anthology coming over, the PS2 has all the SNK love it can handle.

Thank you SNK for keeping 2-d alive.

sheppy2.0 @ Sep 29th 2007 9:57AM

I'm sorry all, I didn't know this was news. Otherwise I would have mentioned it when they went on Amazon three weeks ago.

NGBC on November 13th for $14.99
http://www.amazon.com/SNK-NeoGeo-Battle-Coliseum/dp/B000V788A6/ref=pd_bbs_1/105-2597905-7494020?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1191074061&sr=8-1

KOF XI on October 23rd for $14.99
http://www.amazon.com/SNK-King-of-Fighters-XI/dp/B000V7889C/ref=pd_bbs_2/105-2597905-7494020?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1191074138&sr=8-2

I was honestly very tempted to pick up NGBC from Play-Asia until these dropped on Amazon. After all, why pay a lot for the import when the domestic release is a budget title? ROKK!

NintendoFanbot @ Sep 29th 2007 10:30AM

OHSHITOHSHITOHSHIT

Please come to Wii!!!! ^_^

Wii's also getting a King of Fighters Collection and a Samurai Shodown Collection. +1000000 points SNK

sheppy2.0 @ Sep 29th 2007 10:12PM

Well, aside from the obvious "Because it will be on the Wii" reasoning, I have to ask... why in the hell do you want this on the Wii? Have you PLAYED an SNK fighting game before? I mean, Wiimote is out, Classic Controller is only viable option and IT has those highly uncomfortable bulges and shape. It's got a decent d-pad, yeah, but the rest of that controller is so unfighterly it's scary to even imagine Hanzo Hitori on the Wii.

I mean, facing facts, Dual Shock is the most decent controller for fighting games and even that's trumped by Saturn. I mean, I want games to come to Wii and hell, maybe even some 3D fighters (Bleach... WooT! Almost makes up for region locking... *looks at Mobile Suit Gundam Ace Pilot 2*), but 2D on a Wii? Just SOUNDS painful to me.

JRB @ Sep 29th 2007 2:31PM

2-D for the win. You haters can shove it.

Pal @ Sep 29th 2007 2:48PM

I'm a huge fan of 2D; SNK has the right idea! 3D's great and all, but it's not a replacement by any means - I like the variety, rich colors, and the little details that 3D hasn't been able to replicate for me yet. The games feel faster and more responsive in general, I just can't imagine Odin Sphere, Guilty Gear, or Marvel vs Capcom being as unique in 3D. Viva 2D!

http://www.last-gen.com