Editorial ReviewLook out, Game Boy Color. When it comes to serious portable gameplay, there's finally some legitimate competition for the popular Nintendo system (which has sold over 80 million units). If you dare to be different, consider the NEOGEO Pocket Color, a hand-held system created by the Japanese company SNK.
The screen is 10 percent bigger than Game Boy's, but the overall machine has roughly the same convenient pocket-sized dimensions and light weight as the Game Boy. The NEOGEO Pocket Color provides up to 40 hours of continuous fun on just two AA batteries. The 16-bit graphics are crystal clear--making it easy to tell the difference between humans and animals, friends and foes, and walls and doors--and easily viewed in both bright and dim lighting. The color palette has three times the range of its competitor's, with 146 possible shades. There is also a built-in calendar, daily horoscope, alarm clock, and global clock that can be accessed even without a game cartridge in the slot. Two players can go head-to-head with a simple cable connection (sold separately). NEOGEO is available in six different casing colors: silver, clear, blue, ocean blue, stone blue, and anthracite.
The only drawback is that NEOGEO is new and, therefore, playing catch-up to Nintendo's well-stocked list of titles, which boasts A-list offerings such as Super Mario Brothers, Pokémon Pinball, and Tetris. But SNK scores points for the few titles that it does offer for the system. Among the better titles for NEOGEO are Dragons Wild video poker, arcade classics Bust-A-Move and Pac-Man, and your basic serve-and-volley Pocket Tennis. Most of these games are pretty addictive and perfectly suited to the well-designed, thumb-friendly, eight-position joystick. --Carrie Bell
Pros:
Better graphics than other portable players
Very good visibility in bright sun and dim light
Variety of fun colors
Cons:
No Pokémon titles yet
Response of the joystick isn't the best on games (such as Crush Roller) that require sharp, quick turns
What Others Say
A Finished Masterpiece of Design and Quality
I just purchased this system (current date: July '08) and have been using it for over a month. I believe that this portable system is perfect. The time that has passed between now and its active production only sharpen my feeling that the NeoGeo Pocket was a masterpiece production.
This review will be improved by the fact that I am not a hardcore video game player and I had not owned a portable game device in years. I purchased the Nintendo DS at the same time that I purchased the NeoGeo Pocket and so my comparisons/perspectives here are fresh and objective.
The NeoGeo Pocket has a terrific design that makes it easy to handle. It has a much more functional design than the Nintendo DS. Human hands fit the device perfectly ... Read More
Questions from an interested buyer
The Neogeo Pocket Color in Ocean Blue looks like a great hand-held system. I always thought about getting one, but never got around to do it.
Does this Neogeo Pocket Color console in Ocean Blue really comes with six games? If so, which ones are they? Please, write back, somebody.
One of the best handhelds EVER, especially for Fighters!
Since I'm reviewing the system as a whole, I'll try not to go into detail about individual games too much, but rather give you reasons to buy this system and which games you should look into.
I got my NGPC a little late in the game (about 3 years ago), but I have to say that since then, I've played it more than most other handhelds...even to this day (with only my DS rivaling it at the moment). I now have about 20 games total, including a few rare ones and not a single one of them is bad (which is a lot more than I can say for some of my GBA and PSP games).
Now I know a lot of people wouldn't bother picking one up for a few of the more common reasons:
1. Dated graphics
2. No lit screen
3. No recargable ... Read More
Greatest system ever!!!!!!!!
I own all three neogeo systems and by far it is the best system ever made. It leaves gameboy in the dust.It is more powerful and battery life is superb. Here are a few specs. so you know what your getting.
Neogeo supports a 16 bit color palette that can have as many as 146 colors out of 4,600 colors on the screen.
It is relatively smaller than gameboy advance, but is a little bulkier.
It fills right into your pocket so you can take it anywhere.
Take my work, BUY THIS SYSTEM! You won't regret it.
Better than gba sp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got the neogeo a long time ago and i still have it! the neogeo is very durable and is much better than the game boy advance sp.
