SNK VS. CAPCOM: CARD FIGHTERS’ CLASH – Review

Battle with your favorite characters in this classic trading card game – SNK VS. CAPCOM: CARD FIGHTERS’ CLASH. Originally sold as two separate games for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, both games are now combined into one for Nintendo Switch.

Gameplay:

I never played this gem as a kid, but it felt very reminiscent of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, so it was really easy for me to pick up the rules. When you start the game, you can decide between playing with the SNK deck or the Capcom deck, and you can switch between the two as long as you have separate save files.

You battle 1v1, and each player can place up to three character cards on the table. You draw one card per turn and place character cards alone or as a backup. There are attack cards and ability cards that have a BP and SP. Finally, when a player’s HP reaches 0, it’s game over.

However, don’t be fooled by the simple gameplay; this game is far from simple and proves to be quite difficult. Strategy is your friend and, of course, a bit of luck. I lost many frustratingly close games because the CPU happened to pull better cards, or I played too offensively. At some point, it felt like the game was “cheating”, so I really wished there were different difficulty levels to choose from. Despite this, the challenge makes each win feel so much more rewarding and fun.

One of my favorite things about this cross-collaboration is the collecting and trading aspect. Despite its age, the graphics are still stunning, and you can collect 300 cards. I felt like a little kid again, like how I used to collect my favorite trading cards; I was even excited when I got the Chun-li and Cammy cards. Overall, I think if you’re a Capcom or SNK fan, the trading aspects alone are enough to grab your attention.

In addition, it’s a small detail, but I loved that I could change the handheld size and colors. The original screen size is a bit too small, so I zoomed in as soon as I could.

Pros:

• Fun & Challenging
• Numerous cards to collect
• Can customize the handheld

Cons:

• Typos & strange wording
• No difficulty settings

Conclusion:

Even as a newcomer to the series, I think SNK VS. CAPCOM: CARD FIGHTERS’ CLASH is a pretty solid game. Other than a few annoyances here and there, I can say I enjoyed this classic title. If you’re an SNK or Capcom fan, or a card trading game fanatic, I’d say this retro goodie is worth adding to your collection.

Entertainment: 8/10

Replay value: 6/10

Graphics: 6/10

Sound: 7/10

Kid Friendly: Yes