There was a time when you couldn’t walk into a pizza restaurant without seeing an SNK arcade machine. SNK’s arcade titles were some of the best you could find, and hold a very special place for a good deal of nostalgic gamers. Therefore, it’s pretty safe to assume that this collection of games is primarily geared towards them. SNK Arcade Classics Vol 1 for the Wii comes out about a few months after the PSP and PS2 versions, but luckily does away with the original release’s bouts of slowdown, with each title being a very accurate emulation of the original coin-op hit. While there aren’t a lot of bells and whistles in the compilation, there’s still a lot for old-school gamers to enjoy in the eclectic mix of arcade classics in this collection.

SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 touches on a lot of ground from SNK’s arcade hits. The mix contains 16 different arcade titles from SNK’s storied history, with fan favorites like Samurai Shodown, Metal Slug, and King of Monsters appearing, as well as more obscure titles that you may have missed the first time around, like Top Hunter and Last Resort. The titles in the collection span just about every arcade genre, from fighting games and shooters to sports games, meaning that there should be something for everyone.

In a noted improvement over previous collections like the Metal Slug Anthology, SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 for the Wii supports classic controllers as well as the Wii remote/Nunchuck combo. This is good, considering that most purists will prefer to use the gamepad method, and the Wii-mote/Nunchuck controls are pretty tough to get used to.

The games in SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 are very well emulated, with very little slowdown. The one problem in the collection is the dearth of any sort of extra content in it. The only unlockable extras within the game are move lists that you can unlock by playing certain games and earning medals. It would’ve been nice for some more features, including videos and interviews, but sadly none of that can be found here.

Graphically, the game does a fine job of emulating the great 2D graphics of the original arcade games. Granted, in the age of high poly counts and high-def graphics, many gamers might not be in to the seemingly simple nature of the game’s 2D aesthetic, but old-school gamers with an appreciation for the quality of the original games’ sprites should appreciate the look.

Soundwise will equally cater to old-school gamers, as you’ll either love it or hate it. The music, sound effects, voice acting are faithfully emulated from the original games, for better or for worse, so you’ll either enjoy the nostalgia factor or you won’t.

Ultimately, the best part of the collection is the price. For 30 bucks, you’ll get 16 Neo Geo titles, which clocks in at between two to three bucks per game. Considering that some of these same titles are going for 900 Wii Points apiece on the Virtual Console ($9 USD), this is a pretty sweet deal for Neo Geo fans who have yet to purchase any of these titles for download.

Although the collection is decidedly barebones, offering little more than the games themselves, it still stands as a fantastic bargain for gamers looking to relive Neo Geo’s classic arcade franchises, or those looking to make the leap for the very first time.

Gameplay: 8.0
Offering a varied mix of well emulated titles from myriad genres, there really is something for everyone in this collection. The inclusion of Classic Controller support is a great, if not necessary, touch.

Graphics: 7.5
While 2D sprites might not be everyone’s cup of tea, old-school gamers will appreciate the collection’s faithfulness to the original arcade hits.

Sound: 7.5
For better or worse, the collection emulates the original games’ sound effects very well, meaning that every cheesy voice effect and musical score is here.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 7.0
The collection does a fine job of spanning many titles of SNK’s storied history, but some extras would’ve been nice.

Multiplayer: 8.0
The collection allows for the same two-player gameplay elements as the original arcade titles.

Overall: 7.5
What the collection lacks in extras it makes up for in value, as there is no better (or cheaper) way to get your SNK fix on the Wii.