SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium
By David Chapman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Classic fighting crossover loses some punch with age.
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What’s It About?
Worlds collide once again in SNK VS. CAPCOM: THE MATCH OF THE MILLENNIUM as the classic 1999 Neo Geo Pocket Color game finds a new home on the Nintendo Switch. With a roster of fighters featuring 26 characters from such hit franchises as Street Fighter, King of Fighters, Darkstalkers, and Samurai Shodown, players can create their dream matches in 1v1 Single, 2v2 Tag, or 3v3 Team battles starring all of their favorite fight game superstars. You'll choose your fighter and take them to tournament victory in Story mode, test their endurance in Survival mode, or beat the clock in Time Attack mode. Or you can step outside of the arena in Olympic mode and earn special rewards by competing in unique mini-games inspired by other classic SNK and Capcom titles.
Is It Any Good?
SNK's classic brawler returns to the fighting arena with this re-created title, but it's hard not to feel like this is something that's a bit stuck in the past. SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium was one of the most impressive games for the 16-bit Neo Geo Pocket Color system back in 1999, when SNK tried to carve out a niche for itself in the handheld gaming market. Now, more than 20 years (and a new millennium) later, the game has been given a new portable home on the Nintendo Switch. While the game is a near pixel-perfect re-creation of the original release, time hasn't necessarily been kind to the once former fighting game powerhouse.
One immediate issue that comes up when playing this port of SNK vs. Capcom is a simple matter of screen real estate. The bulk of the screen is taken up with a re-creation of the Neo Geo Pocket Color system, leaving only a small virtual display to view the action. Also, while the graphics might have been pushing technical boundaries on the once mighty handheld, it's hard not to notice the basic color palettes and stiff animations on the Switch these days. Gameplay is a cinch to pick up and play, thanks to a simplified combat system that doesn't require complex actions to pull off characters' special moves, some of which need to be unlocked to access. While fans of the original are sure to appreciate the authenticity and nostalgia of the game's faithful re-creation on the Switch, SNK vs Capcom: The Match of the Millennium also serves as a testament to just how far the genre has evolved over the past two decades.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium affected by the lack of realism? What are some of the different ways that violence is portrayed in video games? Can some games, such as fighting games, even inspire kids to get involved with actual sports such as martial arts?
What's the appeal of replaying classic games or reintroducing them to a new generation of gamers? Which games can survive the test of time, and which suffer from the evolution of technology?
Game Details
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: SNK Corporation
- Release date: February 17, 2021
- Genre: Fighting
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Sports and Martial Arts , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: T for Blood, Sexual Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Last updated: October 15, 2021
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