SNK decided to hang on to the mini-console gravy train as it leaves the station. As the remains of their bloody corpse are dragged along the tracks, we bring you news of a new SNK console filled with classic games.
A teaser tweet from SNK has the certain corners of the web buzzing about the possibility of a new SNK console. The tweet references a “new game machine” (loosely translated) and includes an image of what we assume is the new console hidden under a sheet. Additional reports indicate that the company has confirmed that this machine will house a variety of classic SNK games. Beyond that, its exact functionality remains unknown.
Joining the unknown are the console’s price, release date, and full list of upcoming games. What we can tell you is that this console seems to have been manufactured as part of the celebration of SNK’s 40th anniversary. Assuming that this ends up being a console, it will be the first that the company has released since the Neo Geo console was discontinued in the 90s. If it’s a handheld, it will be the first since SNK released a little-seen Neo Geo handheld a few years ago.
You might be getting the impression that SNK has had a bit of a rough go of it the last few decades. They have, but that has nothing to do with the quality of their classic games.
Actually, many fans still consider SNK to be the premier name in the world of fighting games. Their King Of Fighters series is a cultural mainstay on the fighting scene, and games like Samurai Showdown remain in a class of their own. If this console is loaded with retro games, you can be sure that there will be more than a few fighting titles amongst them.
Beyond that, it feels safe to assume that there will be a couple of Metal Slug games on there along with some of the company’s other classic arcade action titles. Our real hope is that the company digs deep into its vaults and brings back some of their more obscure – but noteworthy – 90s titles. We’ll just have to wait and see.