Neogeo Pocket Color Selection  Vol.1 and Neogeo Pocket Color Selection Vol.2 are two amazing compilations released on Switch 1 and on Steam. While there was some slight variations between the Switch and Steam versions in terms of the game roster, these bundles should be celebrated for their quality emulation, robust feature set (multiplayer supported games are available to play split-screen!), and exclusivity – this is only way to officially play Neogeo Pocket Color games outside of owning original hardware.

NGPC Selection Vol.1 contained:

-Big Tournament Golf (aka Neo Turf Masters)

-Crush Roller (exclusive to the Steam version)

-Dark Arms: Beast Buster 1999

-Fatal Fury: First Contact

-King of Fighters R-2

-The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny

-Metal Slug 1st Mission

-Metal Slug 2nd Mission

-Samurai Shodown! 2

-SNK Gals’ Fighters

-SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium (was on the Switch version but sold separately on Steam)

NGPC Selection Vol.2 contained:

-Baseball Stars Color

-Big Bang Pro Wrestling

-Biomotor Unitron

-Ganbare Neo Poke-kun

-The King of Fighters: Battle de Paradise (with a secret game when played in B&W mode)

-Mega Man: Battle & Fighters

-Neo Geo Cup ’98 Plus Color

-Pocket Tennis Color

-Puzzle Link 2

-SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters’ Clash (combined both SNK and Capcom versions into one)

The NGPC had about 70 games released over its short lifetime with the two-dozen listed above as being some of the best. If you take all 70-ish games, minus this two dozen, and omit the unnecessary slot machine simulators, there are just enough good games remaining to create one more quality compilation – a Neogeo Pocket Selection Vol.3!

If a third edition ever happens, and I really hope it does, these are the games I would like to be included. Keeping in line with the other Volumes, I wanted to stick with the roster of 10-11 games to stay consistent.

Neogeo Pocket Color Selection Vol.3 wishlist of games:

Cool Cool Jam

Cool Cool Jam is basically Rock Band before Rock Band but wrapped around a top-down RPG. This music rhythm game is weird, tasking the player to play multiple musical instruments by holding the NGPC on its side or even by holding it completely upside down. Honestly, it isn’t the best game, but it is probably the most creative on the system which makes it worthy to be included. This handheld game could also be linked to its Dreamcast counterpart, but this would obviously be omitted from a Switch or PC port.

Crush Roller

This one is a bit of double dipping cheat since it was included in the Vol.1 Steam version but was not included in the Switch version. Crush Roller is essentially Pac-Man but in reverse. Instead of clearing the screen of dots, the player instead must cover the maze with paint, sort of like Splatoon. It is actually a lot of fun and has way more replay value than you think. Plus, the multiplayer mode is pretty awesome if you can find a linkable friend.

Delta Warp

Delta Warp is an interesting puzzle game where you make shapes and patterns using triangles. In addition to completing typical puzzles, the included edit mode offers deep customization and has a robust multiplayer offering.

Dynamite Slugger

Baseball Star Color is essentially the RBI Baseball of the NGPC whereas Dynamite Slugger is the equivalent to Baseball Stars as it is more arcade and exaggerated.  Both NGPC baseball games are solid sport titles for SNK’s handheld. Plus, having the ability to play linked multiplayer on one Switch is perhaps the best way to play.

Evolution Eternal Dungeons

Yes, the Evolution series saw a release on the NGPC but no one remembers it because no one had the chance to play it. Which means, including it in the Vol.3 would be a solid choice. With so many modern games including rogue and dungeon crawling gameplay, the timing is also right. Trading items is also a cool feature.

Fantastic Night Dream: Cotton

It only makes sense to include the rarest physical NGPC cartridge as a part of the third Volume. Cotton isn’t the best shooter but having it in a future compilation would do two things. First, it would give players access to an incredibly rare game. And secondly, round out the package by offering a shooter, a genre that wasn’t fully acknowledged on NGPC.

Faselei!

Faselie! is an excellent, unique, tactical RPG where you control a mech’s individual movements one step at a time. It is one of those games you need to think several steps ahead and there are some difficulty spikes, but there isn’t anything quite like it. The English PAL version is exceedingly rare in physical form too, making it the perfect game to include in the Vol.3. 

Kikou Seiki Unitron

Better known as Biomotor Unitron 2, this RPG with rogue elements gets bigger and better with this sequel. Unfortunately, it was only available in Japanese but an English patch is available, one that would need to be included otherwise English speakers would be lost. Unlike the original, Kikou Seiki Unitron offers linked multiplayer battles and item trading through the link cable.

Ogre Battle Gaiden: Prince of Zenobia

Out of all the games to potentially include, Ogre Battle Gaiden is easily at the top of the list. The only Ogre Battle game to never receive a port or English translation, not including this fan favorite gem would be a sin… but with a caveat – it would need to be translated. With a large emphasis on story, dialog, and complex game mechanics and menus, English speakers would be lost otherwise. Unfortunately, an English fan patch is available but is by no means complete, leaving this game lost to history. I personally think this game should be remade entirely but settling for an English patch would easily make the world a better place.

Pocket Reversi

Pocket Reversi is nothing more than classic Othello but it one that is well done and filled with charm (there is a Doctor Reversi in the game which means he went to the school for a really long time to be an expert at Othello). There is also a pleasant 2-player link cable mode.

Shanghai Mini

Shanghai Mini is Mahjong. Not the bizarre Mahjong that is played with those weird domino pieces that no one knows how to play. Instead, this is the tile matching Mahjong, one that is surprisingly fun. Thing is, the sleeper hit multiplayer mode in this game is awesome as matching certain power-up tiles can hinder your opponent. In fact, the multiplayer mode is the best part of this tile matching game no one has ever played.

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure

This one would be a little tricky as Sega would need to approve, but Sonic Pocket Adventure is probably the least played Sonic game. Personally, I am not a big fan of Sonic but enjoy Pocket Adventure I think it is actually my favorite Sonic game. There is also some replay value in finding collectable items and there is a 2-player racing link cable mode. Sonic Pocket Adventure was also bundled with Neogeo Pocket Color consoles when it first launched so it sort of goes hand-in-hand. Not including it in a Vol.3 would be just wrong especially since it was a pack-in.   

What do you think? Would you like to see these games in a Vol.3 compilation? Did you enjoy the first two NGPC bundles? Which games would you include in a 3^rd version?

Let me know in the comments or on the socials.

By: Zachary Gasiorowski, Editor in Chief myGamer.com

X/Twitter: @ZackGaz

Please consider supporting me on Patreon or BuyMeACoffee.

#NGPC #SNK #NeoGeoPocket #NeogeoPocketColor #SelectionVol1 #SelectionVol2 #SelectionVol3 #wishlist #codemystics #Switch #compilation