SNK 40th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION

About

"SNK 40th Anniversary Collection" compiles over a dozen classic arcade games from SNK's golden age, now with updated graphics, rewind/save features, and redesigned controls. Immerse yourself in a museum mode showcasing SNK's history through high-definition artwork and promotional assets. This anthology offers a nostalgic blast from the past, now available with modern enhancements.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

SNK 40th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION screenshot

+16

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 135 reviews

stability3 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

The collection features a wide variety of classic SNK games, including both arcade and NES versions, providing a nostalgic experience for fans.
Digital Eclipse has included several quality-of-life features such as a rewind function, save states, and a 'watch' mode that enhances gameplay and accessibility.
The museum mode offers extensive historical content about SNK and its games, making it a valuable resource for retro gaming enthusiasts.

Many players have reported significant controller issues, including input lag and drifting, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
Some games in the collection are considered outdated or poorly designed, leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment for new players.
The emulation has been criticized for bugs, such as games not starting properly and inconsistent audio quality, which have not been adequately addressed by the developers.

music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The music in the game collection is generally praised for its quality, with standout tracks like the theme from "Psycho Soldier" receiving particular acclaim. However, reviewers noted inconsistencies in volume levels and occasional issues with soundtracks cutting in and out. The inclusion of a museum mode featuring soundtracks and bonus content enhances the overall experience, though some users expressed a desire for more variety in the music selection.
- “The music is excellent, and though it may be a bit grindy at times as most RPGs tend to be, it's still a lot of fun.”
- “I have come to know Psycho Soldier as a bona fide classic, for one, with a killer theme song that is actually sung using a workable audio chip!”
- “The museum is a nice additional bonus, with guide books, arcade flyers, soundtracks, US ads, and more.”
- “On these emulations, they often cut in and out and the soundtrack also breaks up.”
- “The volume in the games is very inconsistent, and while many games had digitized voices, I could not understand any of them.”
- “In the soundtrack, some sounds are incorrectly labeled as 'unused' even though they obviously are in the game.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising the beautiful recreation of visuals and the extensive artwork included in the presentation, such as a museum section showcasing SNK's history. However, some users noted a lack of graphic mode improvements and criticized the clumsy interface, suggesting that the emulation does not significantly enhance the experience compared to free alternatives. Overall, while the graphics hold up and are complemented by excellent music, there are concerns about the game's reliance on older designs and the absence of translations for some content.
- “The graphics still hold up, the music is excellent, and though it may be a bit grindy at times as most RPGs like this tend to be, it's still a lot of fun.”
- “Beautifully recreated graphics and sound.”
- “Alongside the games, you get a museum that showcases a bunch of artwork, posters, and screenshots of all SNK games of that time, along with the soundtrack and achievements.”
- “Clumsy interface, no graphic mode improvements, why buy what emulators do better for free?”
- “Apparently a 21st century graphics card can be utterly defeated by game ROMs from the early 80's.”
- “You can also see a lot of laziness in games like Time Soldiers, where the bosses all share an AI, just having different graphics for different areas.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay experience is generally praised for its smooth transitions and diverse mechanics, including unique features like rewind functionality and the option to switch between arcade and console versions. However, some users note that many games in the collection feel repetitive or derivative, particularly for those not fond of specific titles like Ikari Warriors. While the collection offers great value and a wealth of extras, issues such as broken controller support detract from the overall experience.
- “I love the overall presentation, with its smooth transitions, background video gameplay, and the option to choose between the arcade and console versions as well as switch regions.”
- “My personal favorite was the Prehistoric Isle, with excellent and varied scrolling shooter gameplay and awesome art.”
- “The collection has an obscene amount of extra features including an artbook, soundtracks, rewind gameplay feature, save anywhere, and a watch full playthrough feature, allowing you to jump into the playthrough at any time.”
- “However, some games are about the same theme/gameplay, which may be a weakness of the collection.”
- “Great value on games and extras, but the controller support has been broken since launch, and they never bothered to fix it - the joystick movement keeps getting stuck in one direction during gameplay.”
- “I'd say it's worth it for the price (especially if you get it on sale, it's a whopping 80% off at the time of writing) mainly due to the museum feature actually being really cool and that you're able to play these games with a smooth rewind function, but a lot of it is 'try once and forget' unless you're a massive retro fan, and about half of it is just sequels to and clones of Ikari Warriors, so if you don't like that game, then half the collection already isn't for you.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
The story in Alpha Mission is described as somewhat convoluted, typical for the action RPG genre, and lacks clarity due to the absence of translations. While it provides a basic narrative framework, players often find the gameplay mechanics, such as maze navigation and control issues, overshadow the story's depth. Overall, the narrative is considered secondary to the gameplay experience.
- “Action RPG with a bit of story.”
- “The story is a bit convoluted and the mazes can be tedious, but that is to be expected from the genre.”
- “It would have been nice to have them translated to know how to play those games and to know the plot and characters.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has drawn criticism for aggressive advertising and perceived cash grabs, particularly for nostalgic content that is often available for free elsewhere. However, the collection offers a wealth of extra features, including artbooks, soundtracks, and various gameplay enhancements, which some users appreciate as valuable additions. Overall, while the pricing may be contentious, the extensive content provided is seen as a redeeming factor.
- “The advertising on Steam is crazy.”
- “Nostalgia cash grabs that cost this much for what's often out there for free should at least run smoothly.”
- “The collection has an obscene amount of extra features including artbook, soundtracks, rewind gameplay feature, save anywhere, watch full playthrough feature (which by the way you can jump into the playthrough at any time; no achievements for dealing the last blow and cheesing the game), English and Japanese versions of all applicable, arcade and console versions of all applicable, old school controller cheats, and a history section giving details on their first 12 years of developing including guide books, newsletters, behind-the-scenes concept art and advertisements.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The stability of the program is criticized for being buggy, with reports of it displaying upside-down graphics and resulting in black screens during gameplay on various computers. However, some users note that the emulation itself runs well and appreciate the additional features provided.
- “The emulation runs great, and the extra features (museum, artwork, manuals) included are a nice touch.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the online multiplayer is; I rarely encounter lag or disconnections.”
- “Buggy program that on many computers displays upside down and then gives a black screen when trying to play games. See discussions here on Steam for more info.”
- “Troubleshooting my system and will buy it again.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players note that while the game can be grindy at times, which is common in the RPG genre, it remains enjoyable despite some convoluted story elements and tedious mazes. Overall, the fun factor outweighs the grinding aspect.
- “The game is enjoyable, but the grinding can become tedious and repetitive, making it feel like a chore at times.”
- “While the gameplay has its moments, the excessive grinding detracts from the overall experience and can lead to burnout.”
- “The grind is real in this game; it often feels like I'm just going through the motions rather than enjoying the journey.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express frustration with the optimization of nostalgia-driven games, noting that given their often high price points, these titles should perform smoothly, especially when similar content is available for free elsewhere.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The replayability of the museum's game selection is limited, with only 25 out of 74 games being playable, and many of these are generic shoot 'em ups, which may not offer diverse or engaging experiences for repeated play.
- “Only 25 out of the 74 games shown in the museum are playable, most of which are generic shoot 'em ups.”
- “The limited variety in gameplay makes it hard to find reasons to replay the same levels.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and experience it again.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers consistently praise the game's unique atmosphere, highlighting it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.
- “I love the unique atmosphere they create.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive and captivating.”
- “Every detail contributes to a rich and engaging atmosphere.”