SNK 40th Anniversary Collection

Collecting retro games has been a longtime hobby for many a gamer, but the context of that hobby has been steadily evolving. Retro gaming on original, physical media has a shelf life, after all. Your favorite Nintendo cartridges and PlayStation discs will soon rot and be completely unplayable. Much like a huge percentage of movies from before a certain time, many games have likely already vanished and we haven’t noticed. Many retro enthusiasts have turned their hobbies into historic action, and game preservation has become a bigger and bigger deal in recent years. This trend is particularly at...

Bundling classic arcade games has become a theme lately. Arcade titles are possibly the most ripe and relevant for ports. Unlike console games which these days are often released and re-released time and time again, it's not like you can actually just pop down to the local arcade to play arcade titles of yesteryear. I mean, even if you still actually have a local arcade, what are the chances they have a bunch of machines from the 80s in working condition?

Still, with nuanced features like being able to just watch the gameplay through itself, and having alternate versions of titles for some of the games, this really ends up feeling like a solid package. And there’s more free content to come post-launch, including 11 more games that are planned to be patched in and two that will be free on the Nintendo eShop.

When it comes to retro arcade games, SNK have produced many timeless classics and hidden gems. Here we have a brand new compilation to celebrate their 40th anniversary (mazel tov!) and what a wonderful collection it is.

Needless to say, SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is well worth a look for retro fans. Like any collection of games from yesteryear, those who have fond memories of playing the titles included will get the most out of it, but it’s such a comprehensive package that it’s sure to attract some new fans too. This is a collection that has had a lot of care and thought put into its construction. It has all the features that you’d expect and more, and while it’s not quite the budget release that other retro compilations tend to be, you do get what you pay for.

SNK’s a name that may not ring a tune with you young whippersnappers, but for those in the 25+ age range, they’re a very familiar name. Known for hits such as Samurai Showdown and Ikari Warriors, they’re a company very steeped in the seemingly ancient world of video arcades. Can you believe people use to just stand at big wooden boxes and funnel money into them? It’s true!  SNK is easily one of the more recognizable names on this front, creating a number of titles that were both a blast and the danger to kids’ allowances everywhere. Digital Eclipse has paid special detail to the SNK 40th Anniv...

Have you ever played a game from your youth, ready to relive those glory days with rose-tinted glasses firmly in place? Ever rip those rosy specs off and throw them against the wall in a fit of rage shortly after?

The 14 dated games included in the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection aren’t the stars of the show -- the care that was taken in dusting them off and presenting them is. I doubt too many people were clamoring to revisit obscure arcade releases like Prehistoric Isle or Psycho Soldier, but demand or not, Digital Eclipse put together just about the most thoughtful package of these games one could ask for. More games would have been nice at launch (11 free additions are coming in December), but as someone who grew up feeding quarters to SNK’s arcade machines and playing the NES ports, I’m just glad s...

This collection may not appeal to everyone, as when you boil it down a lot of these title feel the same. This serves more as a collector’s piece, which isn’t a bad thing; it’s just very niche. As you can see though, SNK 40th Anniversary Collection does has a lot on offer. With thirteen titles from the off, eleven more coming the month after, and the various versions included, this anniversary bundle makes for quite the collection of portable nostalgia. Old games are very hard and it’s important that we know where all the wonderful games we play today, started out. If you’re interested in seein...