"A suprisingly underrated little gem of a Handheld from the great folks at SNK."

Ah the Neo Geo Pocket Color, throughout the years SNK has had quite a history with making their own consoles for well over 10 years. However absolutely none of them were ever truly financially successful, and this underrated wonder is sadly no exception. (Heck they also tried to get this into the very mainstream market in the VG industry, remember the commercials they use to air regularly on TV a few years ago? Not all that many do unfortunately...)

One could initially call this handheld the ''Game Boy Color: The SNK Version'' (even though it ironically more looks like the Game Boy Advance). This wide and semi-thick rectangular wonder hasa slightly unusual control setting style of 2 circular buttons, 2 smaller line buttons (power, "function" which is usually pause), and a Direction pad. They are all placed rather well, except for the placement of the on/off switch which is at the top-left side, its not utterly terrible but you'll lets just say have to get use to it.

The good news is that many of these games for this system are very well suited for the console's gameplay style. Its refreshing to see a handheld console where you probably don't have to frequently worry about botching up the gameplay of a game just so it will be in there. (However unfortunately the mass majority of titles here are mainly availible for this system only. SNK has a rather strange habit of releasing a very good amount of games in their own consoles yet only release a few in other consoles.)

One other good thing is that it has PLENTY of great titles for 2-D Fighting Game fans. It may not be absolutely perfect for the genre's fans, but needless to say the chances of disappointment are quite QUITE low. The fighting games in there of course generally come from SNK (what with them making the system of course) though Capcom & Sammy do have a considerably decent amount of exposure here. (Especially with Capcom of course.) Even with more... unique fighters such as ''SNK: Gal Fighters'' and the Guilty Gear Petit series. However what this system's game library lacks is variety. There is an awfully small amount of games from other genres. Its certainly not non-existant as it has games such as ''Metal Slug 5'' and ''Capcom Vs. SNK: Card Fighter Clash'' and the like. But then again SNK does have an excuse since it mainly IS a Fighting Game company. Oh sure SNK CAN make games from other genres, but not quite often. And for a company that highly specializes in Fighting Games, they did have a pretty decent-sized selection of games from other genres.

However one especially good thing that this system has that doesn't have a bad underside to it is the price. Its a rather obscure handheld Video Game console yet despite that it costs only $65. Oh sure normally 65$ would be a rather steep price, but compared to how Neo-Geo systems generally go price range its actually quite a bargain. (ESPECIALLY for the fact that you can buy it as a bundle with 6 different NGPC games for the exact same price altogether. In a financial sense this system is QUITE a refreshing change of pace compared to how NG systems generally cost about $200-400 bucks especially with bundles.) So if you always wanted to play and own a Neo-Geo console you might be able to actually afford it. (A remotely affordable Neo-Geo system? I know its quite a strange concept.) The price might still be too steep for some gamers, but as the grand old-fashioned albeit cliched phrase goes ''You get what you pay for''. And putting all things into consideration here, that old phrase is a perfect descriptor for this handheld system.

One other very intresting oddity here is that this handheld is actually quite possibly the first to come with PDA-like features when you turn it on without a game in it. You can set up the time language (English, Japanese), alarm clock, date and time while you can check out your horoscope and see how your time is different to other areas in other time zones. Gimmicky? Perhaps but all things considered it was an intresting little innovation. Unfortunately due to this system only being 16 bits limited it considerably. (Kinda like the 4 bit VMU's on the late great Sega Dreamcast's controllers.) Oh yeah and even though they did try to make it go as an Alarm clock as well its lets just say not all that effective there.

So overall in conclusion, this is a great little handheld console that most definitely deserved all the praise it most justifiably got. Its a fine example of how a lot lesser known systems can be just as good (if not considerably better) than today's current systems. And its just simply another example of how SNK can be truly grand in Video Games.

+ A very simply efficient and genuinely competent design style with a then-innovative PDA-like design
+ GREAT for Fighting Game fans
+ It has a good amount of rather intresting rarities
+ For a collectable rare system it actually a suprisingly decent price of 65$
+ You can find a bundle for it that has 6 games and yet it still costs the same price.
- Aside from ''Metal Slug'' it doesn't have a lot of other games availible for it that AREN'T Fighting games.
- A good amount of games in there are exclusive to this system only.
- The position of the on/off switch isn't terrible, but its not all that terrific either...
- This handheld's 16 bit capabilites limited its PDA functions a bit.
- SNK may've made this thing as an Alarm clock but unless you have it right nearby your ear it most likely won't wake you up.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/22/04, Updated 02/07/05