Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Fatal Fury: First Contact brings the fast-paced, combo-driven action of its arcade and console predecessors to the Neo Geo Pocket Color with remarkable fidelity. Despite the handheld’s limited buttons and smaller screen real estate, the development team has retained core mechanics such as Breakshots—special counter-moves executed while blocking—and the high-strength S. Power and P. Power attacks that define the Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 lineage. This ensures that players familiar with the franchise can pull off signature maneuvers like Terry Bogard’s “Power Dunk” or Mai Shiranui’s “Ryū Enbu” with satisfying responsiveness.

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The roster, while trimmed to fit the NGPC’s hardware constraints, still packs a punch. Eleven fighters await your command: fan favorites Andy Bogard, Joe Higashi, Kim Kaphwan, and newcomers Li Xiangfei and Rick Strowd, alongside powerhouses Wolfgang Krauser and Geese Howard. Each character boasts a distinct move set and tactical nuance. Li brings swift projectile juggling, Rick delivers heavy-hitting grapples, and Geese’s Reppuken wave attacks pressure opponents at mid-range. The absence of the multi-plane battle system simplifies stages, but the core one-on-one clashes remain as thrilling as ever.

Portable bouts on the Neo Geo Pocket Color feel remarkably polished. Tutorial prompts guide newcomers through the intricacies of Breakshots and Power attacks, while seasoned players will appreciate the depth hidden beneath the SD (Super-Deformed) charm. Matches are brisk, encouraging short bursts of play or longer sessions via the link-cable two-player mode. Whether you’re chaining juggles or baiting an opponent into a counter, the game holds up as a compelling fighting experience on the go.

Graphics

One of Fatal Fury: First Contact’s standout features is its adoption of the Japanese SD (Super-Deformed) artwork style. Characters appear in chibi form, with oversized heads and expressive animations that ooze personality. This stylistic choice not only sidesteps the Neo Geo Pocket Color’s pixel limitations but also gives each fighter an endearing look—Mai’s fan twirls feel playful, while Krauser’s hulking presence is comically exaggerated yet unmistakeable.

Stage backgrounds have been pared down to their essentials, but still manage to capture the spirit of the Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 arenas. Whether you’re battling on a moonlit rooftop or a wind-swept cliff, the color palette pops against the NGPC’s limited display, and you can instantly recognize each location’s atmosphere. Character portraits and victory animations are surprisingly detailed, ensuring that clinching a match-ending blow never feels underwhelming.

Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly at a steady frame rate, with crisp hit-spark effects and minimal input lag. Special moves flash on-screen with the proper flair—breakshots glow in contrasting hues, while Power Attacks generate satisfying screen shakes. All told, the graphics strike an admirable balance between technical feasibility and artistic ambition, making Fatal Fury: First Contact a visual treat on SNK’s color handheld.

Story

As with most traditional fighting games, the narrative in Fatal Fury: First Contact is lightweight, serving primarily to contextualize the tournament’s gathering of international brawlers. Each character embarks on a personal journey: Terry Bogard returns to defend his title, Mai Shiranui fights to uphold her family’s honor, and newcomers Li Xiangfei and Rick Strowd enter the fray seeking to prove themselves against seasoned veterans. The stakes revolve around Geese Howard’s shadowy machinations and Wolfgang Krauser’s challenge to the world’s finest fighters.

Between bouts, brief story interludes and character endings reward players who complete Arcade Mode with each combatant. These endings, rendered in compact comic-strip style, offer charming snapshots—Mai dancing in Kyoto, Joe Higashi winning a cockfighting contest, or Ryuji Yamazaki vanishing into the night after a heist. While the handheld format limits narrative depth, these vignettes deliver enough flavor to make each run-through feel unique and encourage experimentation with different fighters.

There’s no sweeping plot or voice-acted cutscenes here, but for a portable fighting game, the storytelling is more than adequate. It respects the source material from Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 and provides just enough context to keep players invested in unlocking every character’s secret ending. In the SNK tradition, plot serves the action, and in that regard, Fatal Fury: First Contact hits the mark.

Overall Experience

Fatal Fury: First Contact stands as a testament to how well-designed a fighting game can be on limited hardware. By embracing an SD art style, streamlining deep mechanics, and focusing on responsive controls, SNK has crafted an experience that feels both faithful to its arcade roots and perfectly suited for handheld play. The inclusion of Breakshots and Power Attacks ensures strategic depth, while the pared-down roster keeps matches concise and approachable.

Multiplayer battles via link cable add considerable replay value, though even solo players will find plenty to savor in Time Attack and Survival modes. Each fight is a quick adrenaline rush—ideal for commuting or short breaks—yet there’s enough complexity to settle in for longer sessions. Unlocking all character endings and mastering combos provides hours of entertainment, even for veteran fighters.

Ultimately, Fatal Fury: First Contact is a must-have for Neo Geo Pocket Color collectors and fighting game enthusiasts alike. It captures the soul of Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 in a pint-sized package without sacrificing depth or personality. Whether you’re reliving nostalgic duels or discovering SNK’s legendary roster for the first time, this handheld gem delivers a thoroughly engaging portable fighting experience.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10