SNK vs. Capcom:
The Match of the Millennium
North American cover art
Developer(s)SNK
Publisher(s)SNK
SeriesSNK vs. Capcom
Platform(s)Neo Geo Pocket Color, Nintendo Switch, Windows
Release
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: February 17, 2021
Windows
  • WW: September 30, 2021
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

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

Gameplay

Game screenshot

Play options includes 2-fighter tag teams (like in the Marvel vs. Capcom series), 3-fighter queue teams (like in The King of Fighters series) and one-on-one. After that, the player can choose a Capcom-style level gauge (Average mode), an SNK-style charge gauge (Counter mode) or a 'neutral' meter that enhances super attacks if full (Rush mode, similar to the "Advanced" mode in The King of Fighters '97 and '98).

Every character also has a rival, whom they will fight between stages 4 and 5. The last two stages has the player fighting the tag team of Geese and Bison, then, depending what the side opposite to the player character's is and if the player's rival had been defeated beforehand, Orochi Iori or Evil Ryu. Only by reaching and clearing this final stage will the player's leading character's ending play; otherwise, a bad ending will be triggered. Upon clearing the game and achieving the character's true ending, a secret character unlock sequence will appear.

In Olympic mode, one can play themed minigames such as blasting Martians FPS-style (lifted from the final boss of Metal Slug 2) or helping Arthur from Ghosts 'n Goblins hop pits to snatch up treasure, as well as time-attack, first strike and survival events. The player's performance in these games awards special Versus points which can be used to unlock a special attack for each character or, via link-up, to unlock extra content in SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash and in The King of Fighters: Dream Match 1999 and Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 for the Dreamcast.

Characters

The game features a total of 26 characters from SNK and Capcom. Some characters, including Jubei, Arthur, Marco and Fio only appear as part of the Olympic Mode mini-games. Others, such as Billy Kane and Vega, make non-playable appearances.

SNK characters

Capcom characters

Development and release

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2020)

The series was developed after former SNK director Takashi Nishiyama met with Capcom head of development Yoshiki Okamoto to work on a collaborative project between the two companies. The two met with SNK and Capcom presidents Eikichi Kawasaki and Kenzo Tsujimoto respectively, to convince them to cooperate with their rival company.[3] Art director Toyohisa Tanabe suggested that the series was put in motion to help make games for the struggling Neo Geo Pocket Color, with SNK speaking with several companies in order to produce games for the system.[3] This was also the first game in a collaborative SNK vs. Capcom series, resulting in several games and projects from both Capcom and SNK.

A port for Nintendo Switch was released on February 17, 2021, which was included as part of Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 later that year.[4] The Switch port adds local multiplayer and TV mode support for the first time.[5] It was later ported to Windows on September 30, 2021.[6]

Reception

The game received overall positive reviews.

On release, Famitsu magazine scored the game a 30 out of 40.[11] IGN gave the game a perfect 10 out of 10 score on January 5, 2000.[13] The Match of the Millennium was a nominee for "9th Annual GamePro Readers' Choice Awards" for "Best Handheld Game of The Year", but lost to Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition for Game Boy.[19][20]

In 2023, Time Extension identified SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium as one of the best games for the NGPC.[21]

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: 頂上決戦最強ファイターズ ＳＮＫ　ＶＳ．ＣＡＰＣＯＭ, Hepburn: Chōjō Kessen Saikyō Fighters SNK vs. Capcom, "Final Great Battle of the Strongest Fighters: SNK vs. Capcom"

References

  1. ^ IGN Staff (1999-10-29). "SNK Debuts Two for Japan". IGN. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  2. ^ "GameSpot: Video Games News: Playing SNK vs. Capcom: Millennium Battle". 2001-11-05. Archived from the original on 2001-11-05. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  3. ^ a b Leone, Matt (2021-01-07). "Capcom vs. SNK: An oral history". Polygon. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  4. ^ "SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium coming to Switch on February 17". Gematsu. February 4, 2021.
  5. ^ "SNK VS. CAPCOM: THE MATCH OF THE MILLENNIUM for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details". www.nintendo.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  6. ^ "SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium now available for PC". Gematsu. September 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  8. ^ "SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  9. ^ Ottoson, Joe (1999). "SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 2014-11-14. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  10. ^ Chou, Che; Johnston, Chris; Davison, John; Hsu, Dan (February 2000). "Review Crew: Match of the Millennium - SNK vs. Capcom". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 127. Ziff Davis. p. 185.
  11. ^ a b "ネオジオポケット - 頂上決戦最強ファイターズ SNK VS. CAPCOM". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 915. Enterbrain. 30 June 2006. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  12. ^ Mielke, James (January 28, 2000). "SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium Review — The two giants of the 2D fighting-game industry joining forces to create, perhaps, the most highly anticipated fighter ever". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  13. ^ a b Harris, Craig (January 5, 2000). "SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium — What we have here, folks, is the finest fighting game ever to grace a portable screen". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  14. ^ Karels, Ralph (April 2000). "SNK vs. Capcom - The Match of the Millennium". Video Games (in German). No. 101. Future-Verlag. p. 130. Archived from the original on 2016-08-05. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  15. ^ "NGP - Neo Geo Pocket Couleur: Que De Gros Titres! — SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium". Dreamzone (in French). No. 10. FJM Publications. March 2000. p. 118.
  16. ^ Lewis, Ben (1999). "SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium". gamevortex.com. Game Vortex. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  17. ^ "Hand-To-Hand Combat - The Match of the Millennium?: NeoGeo Reviews & Previews - SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium". Pocket Gamer. No. 1. Imagine Media. 2000. pp. 54–55.
  18. ^ Al (February 2000). "SNK vs Capcom : Match of the Millenium (par PVG24)". Pockett Videogames (in French). ACBM.
  19. ^ "9th Annual GamePro Readers' Choice Awards". GamePro. No. 138. International Data Group. March 2000. pp. 50–51.
  20. ^ "Your Final Answer". GamePro. No. 142. International Data Group. July 2000. pp. 48–49.
  21. ^ McFerran, Damien (February 3, 2023). "Best Neo Geo Pocket Color Games". Time Extension. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-02-05.

External links

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