Neo Geo Pocket

Last updated
Neo Geo Pocket
SNK NeoGeo Pocket logo.png
Neo-Geo-Pocket-Anthra-Left.jpg
Manufacturer SNK
Product family Neo Geo
Type Handheld game console
Generation Fifth
Release date
  • JP: October 28, 1998
Lifespan1998–99
Discontinued
Media ROM cartridge
CPU Toshiba TLCS900H @ 6.144 MHz
SoundZ80 & SN76489 compatible
PowerTwo AAA batteries for 40 hours of play, CR2032 for backup memory and clock
Successor Neo Geo Pocket Color

The Neo Geo Pocket (NGP) is a monochrome handheld game console released by SNK. It was the company's first handheld system and is part of the Neo Geo family. It debuted in Japan in late 1998 and was primarily sold in Japan and Hong Kong. [1] The system and all five English games saw limited distribution in the west, where it could be ordered directly from SNK USA. [2]

Contents

The Neo Geo Pocket received lower than expected sales and it was discontinued in 1999, [3] immediately being succeeded by the Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC), a full color device allowing the system to compete more easily with the dominant Game Boy Color handheld, and which also saw an American release. Though the system enjoyed only a short life, there were some significant games released on the system such as Samurai Shodown! , and King of Fighters R-1 .

Technical specifications

Neo Geo Pocket motherboard Neo Geo Pocket Motherboard Back.jpg
Neo Geo Pocket motherboard

Neo Geo Pocket cartridges are smaller than Game Boy cartridges. [4]

Games

Only nine monochrome games were released for the Neo Geo Pocket before it was discontinued. The Neo Geo Pocket is forward compatible with 39 Neo Geo Pocket Color titles, although games for the color system will play in monochrome on a Neo Geo Pocket. Likewise, the NGPC is backward compatible and the entire Neo Geo Pocket library can be played on the color system. After the release of the NGPC, several of these titles began receiving re-releases, updated to include color.

One additional game, a remake of the 1979 SNK arcade game Yosaku, can be played by inserting the NGPC game The King of Fighters: Battle de Paradise into a Neo Geo Pocket. [5]

TitleDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)Re-released for NGPCRelease date
Baseball Stars Saurus, SNK SNKYesOctober 28, 1998
King of Fighters R-1 SNKSNKNoOctober 28, 1998
Melon-chan's Growth Diary ADK SNKNoOctober 28, 1998
Neo Cherry Master DYNA SNKYesDecember 25, 1998
Neo Geo Cup '98 Plus SNKSNKYesOctober 28, 1998
Pocket Tennis Yumekobo SNKYesOctober 28, 1998
Puzzle Link YumekoboSNKYesOctober 28, 1998
Samurai Shodown! Saurus, SNKSNKNoDecember 25, 1998
Shōgi no Tatsujin: Master of Syougi ADKSNKYesNovember 20, 1998

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Game Boy Color</span> Handheld game console by Nintendo

    The Game Boy Color is an 8-bit handheld game console, manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in Japan on October 21, 1998 and to international markets that November. It is the successor to the Game Boy and is part of its product line. Critics like IGN consider it more akin to a hardware revision than a next generation product.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Handheld game console</span> Portable self-contained video game console

    A handheld game console, or simply handheld console, is a small, portable self-contained video game console with a built-in screen, game controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are smaller than home video game consoles and contain the console, screen, speakers, and controls in one unit, allowing players to carry them and play them at any time or place.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Neo Geo (system)</span> Cartridge-based arcade system board and home video game console

    The Neo Geo, stylized as NEO•GEO and also written as NEOGEO, is a ROM cartridge-based arcade system board and fourth-generation home video game console released on April 26, 1990, by Japanese game company SNK Corporation. It was the first system in SNK's Neo Geo family.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">SNK</span> Japanese video game company

    SNK Corporation is a Japanese video game hardware and software company. It is the successor to the company Shin Nihon Kikaku and presently owns the SNK video game brand and the Neo Geo video game platform, and electronics. SNK's predecessor Shin Nihon Kikaku Corporation was founded in 1978 by Eikichi Kawasaki. In 1981, the name was informally shortened to SNK Corporation, which became the company's official name in 1986.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Neo Geo Pocket Color</span> Handheld video game console

    The Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC) is a 16-bit color handheld game console developed and manufactured by SNK. It is a successor to SNK's monochrome Neo Geo Pocket handheld which was released in 1998 in Japan, with the Color being fully backward compatible. The Neo Geo Pocket Color was released on March 19, 1999 in Japan, August 6, 1999 in North America, and October 1, 1999 in Europe, entering markets all dominated by Nintendo, competing with Nintendo's Game Boy Color.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyper Neo Geo 64</span>

    The Hyper Neo Geo 64 is an arcade system created by SNK, and released in September 1997, as the successor of the Neo Geo MVS, within the Neo Geo family.

    <i>Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure</i> 1999 platform video game

    Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure is a platform game developed by SNK and published by Sega for the Neo Geo Pocket Color in 1999. The game is based on Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) for the Sega Genesis, borrowing much of the stage themes and gameplay elements, but featuring unique stage layouts, elements from other Genesis Sonic the Hedgehog games, and extra game modes. Sega's Yuji Naka and the rest of Sonic Team supervised over production.

    <i>SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium</i> 1999 video game

    SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium is a crossover fighting game developed and published by SNK for the Neo Geo Pocket Color in 1999.

    <i>Ogre Battle Gaiden: Prince of Zenobia</i> 2000 strategy video game

    Ogre Battle Gaiden: Prince of Zenobia is a 2000 real-time tactical role-playing game developed and published by SNK for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. The game is a spin-off within the Ogre Battle series, originally created by Quest Corporation. The storyline takes place parallel to Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen, and follows the path of Prince Tristan of Zenobia during his quest to reclaim his kingdom. As with other Ogre Battle titles, the player controls squads of an army, moving to different parts of the map accomplishing tasks and battling armies encountered on the route. Choices made during the narrative impact the ending.

    <i>SNK Gals Fighters</i> 2000 video game

    SNK Gals' Fighters is a fighting game for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, released in 2000. The game was ported to the Nintendo Switch in the eShop on April 29, 2020, and included as part of Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 in 2021.

    <i>King of Fighters R-2</i> 1999 video game

    King of Fighters R-2 is a fighting game released by SNK in 1999 for the Neo-Geo Pocket Color handheld system, part of The King of Fighters series. It is the sequel to King of Fighters R-1 for the Neo-Geo Pocket, the previous generation of the handheld. A port for Nintendo Switch was released on August 7, 2020, which was included as part of Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 in 2021.

    <i>Biomotor Unitron</i> 1999 video game

    Biomotor Unitron is a role-playing video game (RPG) developed by Yumekobo for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Released in Japan and North America in 1999 by publisher SNK, Biomotor Unitron was the first RPG for the SNK handheld console. A Nintendo Switch version was released on May 26, 2022. The game was later re-released as part of Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 2 in 2022.

    <i>Rockman Battle & Fighters</i> 2000 fighting video game

    Rockman: Battle & Fighters is a Mega Man fighting game developed and published by Capcom for the Neo Geo Pocket Color handheld system in 2000. It is a portable version of the two arcade fighting games Mega Man: The Power Battle, and Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters. The game involves choosing one of four characters and fighting through a series of boss battles. The game was originally only released in Japan, but was localized in 2022 as Mega Man Battle & Fighters for the Nintendo Switch. This version was included as part of Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 2 for Switch and Microsoft Windows later that year.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Neo Geo</span> Family of video game hardware

    Neo Geo is a family of video game hardware that was developed by SNK. On the market from 1990 to 2004, the brand originated with the release of an arcade system, the Neo Geo Multi Video System (MVS) and its home console counterpart, the Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System (AES).

    <i>Faselei!</i> 1999 video game

    Faselei! is a tactical role-playing game developed by Sacnoth for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. It was published by SNK in 1999 in Japan and 2000 in the United Kingdom. A prospective North American release was cancelled when the console was pulled from sale. Following the exploits of the titular mech-piloting mercenary group during a civil war, the gameplay focuses on combat using mechs, with actions determined by commands imputed using a pool of action points.

    SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash is a series of SNK Playmore games between 1999 and 2006 for hand-held consoles. It is a digital collectible card game, spun off from the popular series of fighting games by SNK and Capcom, and also including references to many other kinds of games from both companies. The game uses cards based on Capcom and SNK characters from a variety of earlier games. The first two versions of this game were released for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, and a new version for the Nintendo DS was released in 2007.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Neo Geo X</span> Handheld game console

    The Neo Geo X (NGX) is a hybrid video game console manufactured by Tommo, licensed by SNK Playmore. Information about the Neo Geo X was first reported in January 2012 and later confirmed in March. It is the first Neo Geo system to be released since the discontinuation of the brand in 2004 and the third Neo Geo handheld console, following the 1999 release of the Neo Geo Pocket Color, which was supported until 2001.

    <i>The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny</i> 2000 video game

    The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny is a fighting game released by SNK in April 2000 for the Neo-Geo Pocket Color handheld system. It is the third game in The Last Blade series. The European release was subject to a recall when SNK ceased all foreign operations a month later, making it one of the rarest English language titles in Neo-Geo Pocket Color's library. The game was later re-released as part of Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 in 2021.

    <i>Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection</i> 2021 video game

    Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection is a pair of video game compilations developed by SNK and Code Mystics. Each of the two volumes contain emulated versions of 10 games originally published by SNK between 1999 and 2000 for the company's short-lived Neo Geo Pocket Color handheld game console, including some featuring characters from fellow game developer Capcom. The first volume was released for Nintendo Switch in March 2021, followed by a release for Windows the following September. The second volume was released for both systems in November 2022.

    References

    1. Kotaku (2012-02-12). "Screw the Vita, Let's Talk About the Other NGP". Kotaku. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
    2. "NEOGEO POCKET". SNK USA. 1999-10-05. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
    3. Snow, Blake (2007-07-30). "The 10 Worst-Selling Handhelds of All Time". GamePro . Archived from the original on 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
    4. IGN Staff (2000-09-15). "NeoGeo Pocket Color". IGN. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
    5. "Retro Re-release Roundup, week of November 10, 2022". Retronauts. 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2023-09-06.