View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX site.

NCS Game Notes
* The full roster of fighters includes 40 combatants from twelve SNK properties. While many are recognizable and familiar to fans of the Neo Geo and SNK in general, there are some obscure ones. Note that there are 34 playable fighters at the outset. Six are unlockable. The full pantheon is as follows:

BOSS CHARACTERS: Mizuchi, Shin Shishioh, Neo Dio, Gooman
AGGRESSORS OF DARK COMBAT / SUPER TAG BATTLE : Shishioh
ART OF FIGHTING : Mr. BIG, Lee Pai Long, Robert Garcia
BURIKI ONE : Mr. Karate
FATAL FURY : Terry Bogard, Mai Shiranui, Geese Howard, Kim Kaphwan, Tung Fu Rue, Jin Chonrei, Jin Chonshu
GAROU MARK OF THE WOLVES : Rock Howard, Hotaru Futaba
KING OF FIGHTERS : K', Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, Shermie, Athena
KING OF THE MONSTERS : Cyber Woo
LAST BLADE : Akari Ichijo, Kaede, Keiichiro Washizuka, Moriya Minakata
METAL SLUG : Marco Rossi, Mars People
SAMURAI SPIRITS : Asura, Genjyuro Kibagami, Haohmaru, Nakoruru, Shiki
TOUKAI GAN GAN : Kisarah Westfield
WORLD HEROES : Hanzo, Fuuma, Mudman
NEW CHARACTERS : AI, Yuki

* In the intro to the game, the various fighters are introduced starting with Yuki and AI who are new characters followed by more familiar faces in poses and montages.

* The game modes upon pressing START are as follows: Arcade Play / Arcade VS / Tag Play / Survival Challenge / Practice / Gallery / Game Option / Network Match. In the Game Options, the level of the CPU may be set from 1 to 7 and a host of other options may be set including defense level, power gauge, key settings, sound settings, and graphic settings which moves the screen around and change the focus from normal to soft.

* In the Practice mode, players select which players to pit against each other starting with the first player and then the second player in each team. To switch players during a match, hit the R1 trigger. In Practice Mode, the action of the other player may be sell to NULL or handed over to the CPU. If the control is set to NULL, an action may be assigned to the opposing players such as STAND, FORWARD, BACK, JUMP, CROUCH, or other actions. The attack, counter, and guard actions may also be toggled on or off.

* Only the D-pad is used on a Dual Shock 2 analog pad and the L-analog is not recognized. However, NCS staffers prefer playing this particular game with a Hori RAP 2 for accuracy, fluid control, and combo chaining.

* In the Now Loading screen, strange colored bars stream across the screen. We were hoping for an animated monkey playing the cymbals while grinning maniacally like the simian from the olden Neo CD days.

* One of Ai's special attacks allows her to call down huge Tetris blocks to rain down on her opponent.

* When blood is spilled, it jets out red and sloppy. We're guessing the blood in the USA version of the game (if Sony approves a localization) will be censored white or green.

* In the Gallery Menu, gamers may view 85 pieces of CHARACTER artwork (all but 1 must be unlocked), 48 pieces of ART WORK (all viewable at the outset of the game) which feature individual character pieces as well as strange gimmick art, and 43 ENDING cinemas for the fighters in the game. Three of the ending cinemas are viewable for some reason when we checked it out but everything else needs to be unlocked.

* To view the available moves for an active fighter at any time, hit the "START" button and select "Skill List." Check out the moves and press the D-pad left or right to scroll through the pages of attacks.

Animation Frames
* The animation quality of the various fighters differs. Check out the amount of detail and frames of animation for Asura and watch how his cloak swishes when he performs a roundhouse kick. Then check out the new girl AI and her movements. Although she moves smoothly and in chipper fashion when she dances in place, the frames of animation aren't as fluid as Asura's. Another good contrast is Nakoruru and Hanzo. While Hanzo animates in fairly clunky fashion, Nakoruru is as smooth as silk when waves undulate through her outfit when she prances up and down. Iori looks and animates like a blonde Lurch but we love him anyway...

Haohmaru is beefier and bigger than usual but he animates well. When he performs a strong slash, check out how his hair follows up the move a second later in a fluid wave. Mudman moves like he's exercising in place by pumping his arms up and down. Perennial favorite, Mai Shiranui is another well animated fighter but that's for granted since SNK needs her chest to heave up and down in jostling fashion. The twins do bounce. Mars People also animates beautifully with its wavering tentacles.