Fairly priced, designed, and realized. This game is a really solid experience, and one I imagine will be elevated for anyone who looks back on this game with any nostalgia.
SNK vs. Capcom the Match of the Millennium for Nintendo Switch is exactly what it sets out to be. Despite not having any prior experience with the game, I have no doubt anyone longing to reignite the nostalgia of the original game will find this to be a thoroughly competent offering. There’s almost nothing negative to say about this game.
Almost, there are a handful of quirks and design decisions that weigh on the experience. However, to go over these issues feels very nitpicky. This game features the same decision to emulate the original game inside of a rendering of a Neo Geo Pocket that has become common among ports of the old SNK games. This is only a minor inconvenience because you can zoom in to fill the screen with the game. Which is emblematic of the issues with this game. They are all minor or fixable and do not detract from the enjoyment of the experience.
You can tell this game was made for a handheld system. This game is perfect for moments when you have to fill an awkward amount of time. The simple nature of the fights and tournaments allows you to quickly hop into a round and best the sorry champion who stands in your wake. Throughout the week I often found myself picking up the switch to play through a couple of rounds of a tournament whenever I needed to kill about 7 minutes. And I think that’s what the developers had in mind to some extent. This game doesn’t have a story, it doesn’t need one. It’s just fun to pick up and play.
The limited variety of contextual moves and fighters would be disappointing if this were a modern game, but this game is older than I am and was made for a system with only two buttons. Making what would otherwise seem like a limitation in the modern fighting game landscape somewhat impressive. I found I was able to do a lot with two buttons, and it never felt convoluted to the point where the moves were difficult to execute reliably.
Everything about this game is so straightforward, that my final thoughts will be as well. This is a solid port of an old game. It does exactly what it set out to do and does it well. If you like fighting games, you can’t find a better bang for your buck in this price range. Fairly priced, designed, and realized. This game is a really solid experience, and one I imagine will be elevated for anyone who looks back on this game with any nostalgia.