NeoGeo Battle Coliseum

While the presentation, gameplay and character selection is a bit better in KoF XI, NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is still a fantastic game, especially for the low budget price (usually between $15 - $20 US.)

It's a celebration of all you hold dear, you crazed fanboy/fangirl, you.

NeoGeo Battle Coliseum looks old and sounds old and plays in 2D - all things that will deter most modern-day gamers, but old-school fans of NeoGeo fighters and newbies interested in discovering where 3D fighters originated will not be disappointed.

Despite the graphical shortcomings, NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is still a good fighting game.

Besides a few frustrating issues, the battle mechanics are tight and very rewarding, and the character roster is extremely impressive. However, with fewer modes and only two-character teams instead of three, we're hard pressed to place Battle Coliseum above "King of Fighters XI."

With fast-paced gameplay and a slick tag-based combat system the style of play can be quite appealing to all fighting game fans, casual and hardcore alike.

Using a tag team style with two characters on each side, and with solid combo and superior moves this is a far harder and ultimately more satisfying game than Capcom's "Vs" series. [Jan 2007, p.84]

A good port of one of the best 2D fighters in the last couple of years. The only new thing it brings to the table is novelty, but with solid mechanics and visuals it's worth a look for fighting fans anyway.

The game may be underdeveloped and flawed, but it’s definitely worth the purchase.

The game has balancing issues. Some characters have the advantage of using Special Double Assaults, while others hit a hell of a lot harder than others. The modes are lacking, too. Beyond that, though, this is a reasonable – and fun – fighting game for $20.

This is an okay title, and maybe worth the twenty bucks if you're looking for a simple, fun, yet flawed old-school 2D fighter.

There’s not too much to the game besides the few modes, and though the character selection screen is certainly filled with choices, it’ll still be quite obvious that you’re playing in the same modes over and over again.

The biggest attraction to NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is the character selection, but everything else is below average.

As a starting point for those who want eccentric characters to get stuck into without being overwhelmed by the gameplay, this is as good as the genre offers. [Dec 2006, p.126]

A varied mix of disciplines and characters make this an entertaining if largely unspectacular fighter. [Dec 2006, p.107]

With over 40 characters to master, there’s a fair lot of classic brawling to be had here. Had it actually included a more substantial experience, rather than feeling so empty, it’d definitely be worth recommending to both fighting fanatics and casual goers alike. Instead, it feels more like a relic of a past age, thrown together to into an exceedingly demo-like affair.

By no means are the sprites lackluster, but they simply lack the detail and fluid animation which other titles of the genre shine at (Guilty Gear, Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom).

Given the quality of recognised classics of the genre such as Capcom v SNK 2 and Capcom's formidable Street Fighter Alpha Anthology disc (both of which retail for the same price) and Battle Coliseum’s bargain basement finish, there is no way this game can be considered anything other than average.

NeoGeo Battle Coliseum doesn't have the deeper, satisfying gameplay of games like Marvel vs. Capcom 2, but if you were in the SNK 2-D fighter camp, you'll find much to enjoy here, even if it is just for the sake of nostalgia.