Released originally on the Neo Geo Pocket Color handheld back in 1999, FATAL FURY FURST CONTACT is a fighting game based on the title Real Bout Fatal Fury 2. The game however adds a brand-new fighter to its roster Lao. Since its 1999 debut on the original console, SNK Corporation has now released this brilliant fighter for Nintendo Switch as part of its NeoGeo collection of titles. This is our review of FATAL FURY FIRST CONTACT for the Nintendo Switch in which we revisit this classic from our childhood.
When it comes to fighters released for the Neo Geo Pocket console, FATAL FURY FIRST CONTACT is probably the most-straightforward title and also the one that comes with the least amount of content in the game as well. The new Nintendo Switch release is no different than the original release. Like I previously mentioned, FATAL FURY FIRST CONTACT is based on Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 however it is more of a shrunk version of the game it is based on. It was the only title in the franchise that was developed for a handheld console back then.
Since handheld consoles were not as powerful as full video game consoles back then, FATAL FURY FIRST CONTACT was made for handheld, but it did not change the fact that it was a fighting game at its core. While the game lacks the experience of its console counterparts, it is still an excellent title that still today holds its place with its crisp and responsive fighting controls. The fighting controls are simple two-button mashing but for the advanced players, there are plenty of different moves and advanced attacks in the game as well. This is what set the classic fighters apart because despite having a simple control scheme, the games still offered solid combat.
It features around 11 characters from the main game right from the start including locked characters that you can unlock in the game. Each fighter brings unique attacks that you can land by combining the two attack buttons with the B and A key on the Nintendo Switch. Tapping the two keys land light attacks while if you long-press them, you will land stronger attacks on the enemies. Apart from these main attacks, you can also combine these two attacks with the left joystick to land some additional and more powerful attacks on your enemies. Each fighter comes with its own set of advanced moves and attacks and despite the game not having any sort of proper guide for attacks, you can figure them out fairly easily.
This accessible combat is probably one of the strongest suits of FATAL FURY FIRST CONTACT despite the game lacking multiple playing modes and content overall. Upon starting the game, you get to see that the game only has a single-player fighting mode where you keep defeating fighters to move on or the 1v1 mode which can be played with a local player in handheld form or the tabletop form. This even works on the Nintendo Switch Lite as this screen transforms into two sides with each controller side switching to a full controller allowing both players to enjoy the game on the same Nintendo Switch Lite console.
The game also comes with all the NeoGeo functions that previous releases had. This includes the ability to change the frames of the NeoGeo console, rewinding the game, zooming in or out, setting the brightness, and set custom controls as well. While the game offers pretty solid combat and is satisfying, it is best for smaller gaming sessions. With its linear single-player mode which you are stuck with if you have no one to play the game with, there is not much that you can do in the game. Due to this limited content, you can only play it for shorter amounts of time before switching to some other game. Many similar modern titles offer a lot more content which makes FATAL FURY FIRST CONTACT a little tough choice to go for.
Final Verdict:
SNK has been bringing its range of NeoGeo Pocket titles to Nintendo Switch and FATAL FURY FIRST CONTACT is also one such title. It brings the same action-packed combat action to Nintendo Switch in its tiny NeoGeo Pocket screen for added realism. If you played the original title back in 1999 and love the NeoGeo library available on Nintendo Switch so far then you are going to love FATAL FURY FIRST CONTACT as well. With its simple to learn mechanics, a decent selection of fighters to choose from, and the ability to jump in a few matches quickly on-the-go makes it a solid addition to your NeoGeo collection on the Nintendo Switch however do not expect too much content out of this little fighter.
Final Score: 7.5/10
