Since Christophor Rick grew up with games we believe he’s more than got the chops to give us some tips on what that retro gaming fanatic on your shopping list this season might be interested in receiving.

Old games are making a big comeback with new versions and updates to the originals. One of the masters of this is SNK who are famous for their fighting games and the Neo-Geo multi-game arcade machines that held them. As they’re rolling through the new millenium they’re bringing their old games with them and making them anew.

SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1 - PSP

Systems that have multiple games on them are nothing new anymore and neither are compilations of great old games. This title combines 16 classic arcade hits spanning 1990-1997 from SNK Playmore and includes:

Art of Fighting
Baseball Stars 2
Burning Fight
Fatal Fury
King of the Monsters
Last Resort
Magician Lord
Metal Slug
Neo Turf Masters
Samurai Shodown
Sengoku
Shock Troopers
Super Sidekicks 3
The King of Fighters ’94
Top Hunter
World Heroes

All of the games are single player but many can be used with the wireless connection on the PSP to play two-players. SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1 is rated 12+ by PEGI and is available at retailers worldwide. The game is also available for the Playstation 2 and the Nintendo Wii. Prices range from $14.99 (PS2) to $29.99 (Wii), and $17.99 (PSP)


The King of Fighters Collection - The Orochi Saga

Another SNK compilation title, the Orochi Saga compiles the King of Fighters games from 1994 to 1998. Five great games that helped to define a genre and generation. The Orochi Saga was a trilogy of KoF games from 1995 to 1997. The title features bonus content that is unlockable as you go and both single and 2-player action. The Orochi Saga introduced new characters, a new storyline and a new structure for the King of Fighters Tournament. Orochi is a powerful evil entity that is using the tournaments to awake from and a dimensional sleep and carry itself to Earth to take control.

The KoF Collection is available on the Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2 and PSP and prices range from $10.77  (PS2) to $29.99 (PSP) and $27.99 (Wii)