SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters’ Clash Switch Review

Nintendo might have sewn up handheld gaming since it unleashed the Game Boy upon outdoorsy gamers, but that hasn’t stop other companies having a go at it. From the battery-hungry Sega Game Gear through to the outstanding PlayStation Vita, these contenders lie exhausted on the gaming trail, but that isn’t to say that they weren’t worthwhile being in the race.

The Neo Geo Pocket, and it’s more colourful brethren the Neo Geo Pocket Color, released in 1999, and despite have a mere two-year lifespan it still enjoyed a number of high-quality titles. Top of that pile of chunky cartridges was SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters’ Clash, a collectible card game that brought an array of each company’s characters to the card-battling arena.

Thanks to its iconic line-up, and engaging gameplay, it was an instant winner, but it never really reached the audience it deserved. As handheld gaming goes full circle, Card Fighters’ Clash now finds its way to Nintendo’s Switch, and we get to wonder whether this iconic title still holds up some 23 years later.

You start things off by choosing your starter pack, and you can opt for either an SNK or Capcom flavoured beginner’s deck. Originally, much like the two editions of a Pokémon release, these decks were tied to a specific edition of the game. The Switch version handily brings together both versions, with their respective starter decks and exclusive cards in one place.

Amusingly, the Neo Geo Pocket Color re-releases are displayed as standard with a massive version of the original console on the screen. You can even cycle between the different variants of the console, from blue camo through to transparent yellow, and it’s a lovely touch. You can also toggle a filter that seeks to recreate the resolution of the original device, or have the game displayed in all its bright, non-filtered glory. It’s a great inclusion for original fans, while reminding newcomers where the game came from.

And what a game it is. Amongst the earliest digital collectible card games, Card Fighters’ Clash gets the fundamentals right for a tactical and strategic game, while leaning on the popularity of SNK and Capcom’s star-studded cast. You’ll come across characters from Street Fighter, Resident Evil, and Darkstalkers on the Capcom side, while SNK rolls out King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, and Metal Slug and many more. It ties the whole experience together in charming fashion.

Each player has three slots to play cards into, and once set you can then use these cards to attack the opposing player. While this sounds simple enough, once you factor in the ability to back-up cards with a smaller selection of other cards – these make thematic sense, so characters from the Street Fighter series will join up with those they’re associated with there – as well as the ability to perform linked attacks, take advantage of special abilities, and action cards, there’s suddenly a lot to think about.

As you beat your opposition in the Pokémon-esque overworld, you’ll nab new cards to add to your deck, filling out your hand with more powerful options, while searching for special, or hard-to-come-by cards. Even after all this time, Card Fighters Clash is a whole lot of fun, especially if you’re a fan of Capcom and SNK’s other games. With this release you gain a rewind function, letting you turn back a costly mistake to have another go.

Alongside the compulsive single-player experience, you can also try your hand at a spot of multiplayer as well. It mimics the original’s link between two Neo Geo Pocket consoles, but here players are able to play on one Switch, each having one side of the console. It’s easy to set up, and works brilliantly for a spot of card battling on the go.

Source: https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2022/01/21/snk-vs-capcom-card-fighters-clash-nintendo-switch-review/