SNK 40th Anniversary Collection

The SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is an essential title for retro enthusiasts. It may be very heavy on shooters, but most of the shooters here are decent. Meanwhile, the other genres represented have compelling entries of their own, but Street Smart can be seen more of as a curiosity rather than something you'd actually want to play constantly. It is the Museum mode, however, that makes this collection shine, as there is a ton of content here for retro historians. Anyone who likes retro games should absolutely own this title.

A literal museum of the SNK legacy. The only downside of this title is the preponderance of historical importance over plain and simple gameplay, but it still remains one of the best, if not the best selection of SNK games ever made.

There may be no battle royale mode in this bundle, but if you want a trip down memory lane that’s more than just a lazy port, then the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is an excellent bit of history that mostly holds up. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some quarters to dig out of my PS4.

All in all, the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is a fine way to experience SNK's humble beginnings. The included games cover a wide variety of genres, and even the worst of them have one or two admirable qualities. There are no complaints at all when it comes to features. Both region-select and console versions are accounted for, and the museum is loaded with bonus materials. Hopefully the dual-stick control issue is eventually sorted out, as it's the only stain on this otherwise impeccable set.

Digital Eclipse has proven once again that they do a great job of porting classic games into museums of retro gaming. The only issue is that the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is a little short on actual classics. However, there are more hits than misses in this somewhat eclectic mix that should please most, especially fans of Ikari Warriors and the many self-made clones that followed the series.

SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is essential for game historians and recommended for anyone that wants to experience some old-school charm without the annoying difficulty gates. The titles themselves are hit and miss, but the good outweighs the bad by a healthy amount.

As mixed in quality as you’d expect of an arcade collection spanning the ’80s , it’s the rare gems and added extras that make this a treat. [Issue#160, p.97]