Here's Why The NeoGeo Pocket Color Was The Coolest Handheld Of The 90s

During the 90s SNK produced several home consoles like the Neo Geo AES in order to bring the Arcade experience to homes. Towards the end of the decade they attempted to create a more affordable system known as the Neo Geo Pocket and eventual Neo Geo Pocket Color. Today I wanted to take a look at the system and talk about why it was the coolest handheld of the 90s.
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#SNK #NeoGeo #TechWave

[@xflarearcadia1766]

40 hours on two AA batteries almost seems like wizardry.

[@WaysideWade]

That really is highly impressive.

[@Lucas_van_Hout]

OG Nokia’s pale in comparison to that.

[@pleasedontwatchthese9593]

The game boy pocket could of if they used AA batteries, but they used AAA which have much less capacity.

[@maximuscesar]

The wonder Swan uses a single battery and it is said that it goes on a long time like this.

[@looeegee]

@@maximuscesar Yeah but the Wonder Swan had almost no games given how unpopular it was.

[@chilly6470]

The second I used that joystick, I was hooked on this thing. To this day, it's my favorite stick on any handheld device.

[@WildVoltorb]

YES THANK YOU! I don't know why nobody ever went back to this design, not even SNK

[@dapperfan44]

Whoa, hold on. Even over the Vita's analogs? That's a bold claim.

[@kjrehberg]

They sold snap-in joystick attachments that click into the center of the D-pad. It made it easier to play.

[@yoghetty5636]

In a dpad type of gamer in fighting games myself and for difficult move analog stick

[@Howema]

SNK has always been great about their circuit boards being extremely well labeled, the Neo Geo CD systems outright tell you how to region mod them by switching jumpers and if you want 50hz for pal what components to replace with what.

[@cunt5413]

That is so cool.

[@zombieporen]

Dat clicky stick tho. And snk vs capcom: the match of the millennium is awesome.

[@hwogrillo]

Clicky sticks is hard to make

[@blue_ex3852]

hwogrillo 😂😂😂😂

[@Capesworld458]

Damn right

[@stephenaremu78]

it's on switch

[@KonohazFinest]

So mad at myself for selling mine I got one day one back in the day and had almost every game for it.

[@TheRealAmericanMan]

The NGPC is incredible and it’s sales numbers are ridiculously impressive when you realize that it’s initial US launch was online only... in 1999.

[@icefalcon2243]

SNK Gals on Switch is the closest I’ll ever get to playing one of these

[@KingBat]

I have that game and I love it to death.

[@simbin.]

Analogue Pocket would be a better investment at this point. Finding one of these things, in good condition, with no games, is crazy expensive!

[@TouhouGaijin]

Samurai Shodown 2, also.

[@pdraggy]

@@simbin. The Pocket's not out yet right? might be delayed due to the pandemic

[@mapledmike]

Get waku waku 7

[@ulmwxr]

Absolutely want to see this with the back lit screen.

[@Evan-ht4ih]

Yoy can buy a tft kit like for a GBC from retromodding for 60

[@thomasjmkyt1895]

not gonna lie, I'd love that kind of stick on joycons

[@Lucas_van_Hout]

They are analog sticks. Totally different use case. Maybe like an dpad alernative mod.

[@pdraggy]

@@Lucas_van_Hout but no joycon drift

[@leafshade3643]

@@pdraggy But also only 8 directions.

[@leafshade3643]

@@Lucas_van_Hout Would be pretty sweet, a three sticked system.

[@ozzelot3349]

"Flat, disc-shaped batteries" Coin cell. You're looking for the words coin cell.

[@jjoosshhb2193]

why do people refer to pc backup batteries as coin cellssss...... that deoesnt help anyone

[@MatroxMillennium]

Oh man, I remember I picked up one of these on clearance at EB Games for like $20 back in the day. Didn't come in the retail box, instead it was a blister pack with 6 games included. I sold it a few years later when I was short on cash and recently I've come to regret doing that.

[@danielscott70x7]

Same! Bought mine at Hastings when it was still around, in that same clear pack with the 6 games. Loved it, but sold it like an idiot to get some cash to buy a new game at the time. 🤦‍♂️

[@Bluesky-bx2ig]

Yes, I think that unopened blister pack is worth between $500 and $1000 now. Argh, huh?

[@adrienplazas554]

Me: *reads "Here is why the NGPC was the coolest"* Also me: BECAUSE OF THE MENU MUSIC!!!!!

[@justinc.5591]

A 16-bit handheld from 1998 has menu music, but Nintendo’s newest console doesn’t.

[@adrienplazas554]

@@justinc.5591 Honnestly the Switche's menu design is amazing IMO, notably its sound design.

[@pdraggy]

@@adrienplazas554 I think he meant at the time (gameboy color... I know it was just before the gameboy advanced but I think neither had it.... never had a GBA- oddly just about to play one right now BUT it'll be my first time playing one NOT on a DS lite lol)

[@G0Girt]

I owned a NGP and had Sonic Pocket Adventure. I also used the horoscope feature and asked my mom an grandma for their birthdays And told their fortunes. I love it

[@loohole81]

Most underrated handheld ever!!! Awesome console, excellent pick up for collectors.

[@zevzero]

I am so happy some of these games are on the Switch. I picked up Gal Fighters and Samurai Showdown still play great. Because buying carts is $$$ and sucks it doesn’t have a lite screen.

[@alvallac2171]

*lit

[@ZigealFaust]

I am so happy all of these games are on my android emulator. Lmfao

[@deg6788]

​@@ZigealFaust it's not thé same

[@ZigealFaust]

@@deg6788 my brother in christ, it's actually better with the ability to save state and speed up. Stop being a purist lmfao.

[@speedyink]

I remember seeing these in Toys R Us when the GBC was the shit. I thought it looked cool, but I was already dead set on the GBC line. I have one now with a decent selection of games, and while it certainly doesn't replace the Gameboy, it is very cool to have alongside it.

[@jr2904]

I'd never seen one of these before, I did have a neighbor who had the bigger gray neo geo... I think, it's been a long time haha. 40 hours on those batteries sounds amazing

[@ravagingwolverine]

This was fun to see and I appreciated seeing the teardown, which looked pleasant to do too since it's so nicely designed. I was closely following whatever news came out for this thing in 1998 because I was excited for the system and I pre-ordered the original black-and-white model, which I loved. I was as early adopter as was possible for not living in Japan. Unfortunately, Nintendo was ready to counter the NGP and Wonderswan with the GB Color. I didn't feel too bummed to have to buy the NGP Color after about six months. I got a lot of fun out of the first model so I was happy. I was committed to the platform and knew SNK had a good product. I even did a website with a friend of mine which allowed him(he was closer in proximity) to attend E3 as media back when it was media only. It was a fun period of time and a great system. My friend and I were able to get together and link up our systems to finish our card collections for Card Fighters Clash, which was a surprisingly fun game as well. The end of SNK and the NGP as well as the demise of the Dreamcast was a sad end of an era for me.

[@kjrehberg]

When they discontinued the Neo Geo Pocket Color in the USA they not only took units off store shelves, they even offered to buy back our units and cartridges! It was for some weird legal licensing reasons. What a weird time to be alive.

[@BIastProcX]

I remember owning that Sonic Pocket adventure game, it's heavily underrated

[@Bluebane-Designs]

The NGPC was my favorite handheld, it had great games like card fighters clash and match of the millenium. I would love for them to do a new handheld now and bring back all the games again - especially their golf game :)

[@AAAAAAAAA403]

I have one and I love it, it’s my favorite system of all time and I have 8 games for it 🙂

[@CabbagePatch8090]

Nice video!! I never saw this color/blue in person. Seen so many black ones. Was refreshing to see this. Thanks!

[@BraxtonKovary]

The Neo Geo Pocket was truly revolutionary. Too bad I had a GameBoy during the time. :(

[@dogg-paws]

Not a fan of games like Zelda or Pokémon?

[@segagenesis1989]

The gameboy was a great buy considering the library of games. The Neo Geo pocket's library pales in comparison and contrary to this video was not the coolest handheld of the 90s.

[@mielthesquid6536]

@@dogg-paws I guess he wanted to say that it didn't let any chance for other system to really shine because they were crushed.

[@Benjamin.Jamin.]

@@segagenesis1989 it wasn't really around long enough. But sega were behind it. Given its 16bit capabilities we could have seen a ton of game ported. Definitely the coolest system . Definitely not the most successful.

[@Benjamin.Jamin.]

@@mellohi6175 I think I meant behind as in 'supportive'.

[@MegaManNeo]

I had a NGPC Consolizer in front of my mind when seeing you opening up this thing. Very clean, very simple design.

[@nickpavloff8977]

I keep a look out for lots of gaming content. Your channel has done nothing but gotten better man n I mean it

[@rmeyer4066]

The way you opened the battery compartment literally gave me chills, I can see the dents!!!!!!!!!

[@suprastevio2264]

It also had comparability with the Sega Dreamcast in various capacities! Sooo cool.

[@alvallac2171]

*compatibility

[@bloodless653]

Even though you already showed us taking apart the Pocket Color, I'd still love to watch a video of you adding the backlight mod.

[@luissantiago5163]

Oh neato! Love this type of stuff. Thanks

[@Derecles260]

I am VERY surprised you didn’t ALREADY have a backlit screen to put in it. Hell yes I would be interested in seeing that. Love your content Spawnwave!

[@Phourke2Spork01110000]

It’s so cool that you mention NGPC I still have this handheld and complete box which came with Sonic the Hedgehog. Also got a couple extra games SNK vs Capcom and Metal Slug 1st Mission, I was trying to spread the word on this handheld, I was and still amazed how good it was compared to my GBC. Was a great handheld when it came out to bad it didn’t last on shelves, wanted to get more games and some how it disappeared off shelves a couple months or so later, was sad to not see it in stores.

[@GalacticStarForge42]

Put a backlight on the neo geo pocket in a tech wave!

[@SrNibb]

I bought one of these at a flee market a couple years ago and I played the shit out of sonic pocket adventure That game is so much funn

[@saltomorale1527]

I won one of these in a gaming magazine contest and I think me and the other winers were the only ones in Greece having a neo geo pocket color :P I bought just one game, it was hard to find any, but I liked that machine

[@bdillmore40]

Loved the video man! I own the same blue Neo Geo Pocket Color! I got mine as my middle school graduation present from my Dad. He asked me what I wanted, I went on eBay, and said a Neo Geo Pocket Color. A blue one arrived soon after in the mail. I've loved it ever since! I currently own only 9 games for it, but I still love it. I'd love to see make a backlit screen mod video, because I would like to do that! So knowing how, and having a great tutorial video from you would be great!

[@gregoriocruz4530]

I bought the system with the first paycheck I ever received. I bought the system and Sonic Pocket Adventure bundle, plus Gals Fighter and SNK vs Capcom Match of the Millennium. Someone broke mine after they stopped selling them. I have bought two more since. There were bundle packs in 2003.

[@crimsonshadow1140]

handheld gaming is something I’ve always had a deep seeded love and fascination for

[@justj-rod1411]

I didn't even know this existed. I LOVE your gaming history videos.

[@FutureAlien]

Happy to see this here. Back in the day, me and a friend happened across these while they were being cleared out and we got them, then somehow both of them ended up with me - one was transparent and one was metallic (EU versions). I also have several games for it - I definitely had one of the Samurai Shodown titles and Fatal Fury First Contact, but I recall playing an action puzzler called Crush Roller most of all. Fun fact: I didn't see you mention this in your video, but the system came with a red, soft plastic ring that you can install around the joystick to block the diagonal inputs - I remember that was convenient for games that only had 4 directions (like the aforementioned Crush Roller).

[@ravagingwolverine]

I don't remember that direction restrictor being widely available with the systems. Perhaps that was toward the end. I recall it being included with the games that needed it at least in the import versions of the games. I imported the system early on and didn't have that. It was a cool thing to offer for those games, as you say.

[@FutureAlien]

@@ravagingwolverine You may be right. I just remember the ring itself and thinking it's a great idea, but it is totally possible it was actually included with the games and not the system.

[@maxhammer4067]

I had one when I was in college and it was amazing, it only had a few games but they were amazing for the time

[@augustcelineiii946]

I would love to see a video where you upgrade the screen on this. Also maybe test it with some other games? This is a pretty cool little system for 1999. I was a GBC kid, and then I went straight to GBA.

[@HKgaming86]

I think everybody was a GBC kid, I wasn't even aware the neo geo pocket got released in NA

[@KaNawogirusa]

Oh man that opening tune was a nostalgia trip, thanks

[@ericp631]

Battery life aside, I always thought the nomad was the coolest 90's handheld. But this is just another example that library is what matters most to people, not spec. The Gameboy was outclassed by all of it's competitors, but had the largest/most compelling library.

[@stevesteve0521]

Nomad was cool but Turbo express did it first by making a home console playable as a handheld. I say the Gameboy is still the coolest handheld of the 90s

[@kumatorahaltmanndreemurr]

@@stevesteve0521 Reading this makes me wish I could go back to a time when there were tons of handheld systems on the market. Now it’s only Nintendo and Valve

[@stevesteve0521]

@@kumatorahaltmanndreemurr agreed I’ve always been a big handheld gamer

[@NecromancerAdr]

SNK actually released a NGP game a few weeks ago, SNK Gals Fighters. If you're curious about how this kind of games played go check it out.

[@GreigaBeast]

I actually had this as a kid , Target was sold out of game boy colors so i ended up with a silver ngpc with sonic pocket adventures.Oh the memories.

[@alexerson2226]

I still have the one my dad got me from the States as they weren't sold where I live. It's a legend and I loved it? Waiting for parts as some batteries leaked and I need some IPA that's sold out and the tri wing to clean it up inside.

[@Sciesdraspsp]

really enjoyed this vid, make more similar ones! :)

[@TheVileOne]

Thanks for the video

[@ash0man]

Hey, Jon. I'd also love to hear what you have to say about the Bandai's Wonderswan? It went through a few revisions and like the Game Boy was super affordable and nibbled on just one battery. It's a fascinating one, for sure.

[@oliverhees4076]

30 hours on one AA

[@darylmoffat8057]

Cool video, would love to see a backlit screen in one of those!

[@Xen0gears515]

One of my favorite handheld system. I really wished I kept mine but instead I sold it for dirt cheap at gamestop...

[@kennethd4958]

I had the NGPC. I got it from Babbages/Game Stop in my local mall. I loved it but sadly it was not supported for very long in the states.

[@Derecuda]

I loved this system so much! So many great games!

[@boogerjohnson4442]

Imagine opening up that horoscope to only 1 stars lol

[@frataltay4543]

NeoGeo Pocket Color has some awesome games. SNK vs Capcom - The Match of Millenium, Evolution - Eternal Dungeon, Metal Slug 1st and 2nd mission pretty awesome stuff.

[@kamikazelw4243]

I had one of these and it was amazing. I would love to see the screen upgrade video if one is made.

[@basiledaudet5774]

That clicky stick is sooo cool !

[@SuperKokuJin916]

I still have my Platinum color that I bought back then. I had most of the fighting games that came out for this thing. Unfortunately, I let friends borrow them in college and never got them back.😔 Match of the Millennium was the best game on this system hands down. It practically lived in my cartridge slot. Most console fighters STILL can't match the content this game offered. I still have Sonic Pocket Adventure and the Dreamcast link cable though. I may have to get a flashcart for it due to the crazy prices the games fetch for nowadays.

[@Zion767318]

I’m pretty new to the Neo Geo Pocket Color and so far I’m really enjoying playing games on it. The joystick on this handheld is very much a treat for the senses. Great tactility and audio response. I wish I’d gotten one of these back in the late 90’s or early 2000’s. I agree that if it had more time to grow and mature that it may just have been a decent competitor to Nintendo’s Gameboy Color. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Great review of a handheld that in my opinion died too soon. Cheers!

[@bluetarantulaproductions6179]

I remember wanting a Neo Geo Pocket Color back in '99 after seeing it in the pages of both Gamepro and EGM.

[@AaronKaiMCDNLD]

Man Imagine setting up your Neo Geo Pocket's alarm to wake up early to go to school lol.

[@criznittle968]

What would make the the power-on intro perfect would be the Sega voice angelically whispering “neo-geo”, like a cool breeze on a summer day, without covid.

[@JohnBazan]

I love this system. Really wanted one back in the 90s but instead had the GBC. Now I own both the color and b&w versions of NGP. Games are pricey but still worth playing nowadays.

[@johnodaz1273]

Awesome TechWave Jon(SW). The Neo Geo Home Console back in day was absolutely expensive but was Arcade Perfect, just the system n games was mega. The Neo Geo Pocket was very neat, didn't last around long and really needed a D-Pad tho, better for Fighting Games unless it's an Arcade Stick.

[@johnodaz1273]

@@mellohi6175 decent D-Pad for Fighting Games is awesome, I never use Thumbsticks not as accurate for me, when I'm Playing Fighting Games.

[@spgooglesucksass6812]

European here! I love it when its multiple languages in seperate booklets; we got like 30 languages, some of them soo incredible close to each other, and our ‘all in one’-manuals can get the size of an 80’s phonebook (keyboards and samplers in particular) - love it when I can take everything thats irrelevant to me and bin’ it! :)

[@graphicsblacksmith]

aw, I remember having this handheld. I believe I only had two games for it though, samurai showdown as you just have shown and also the metal slug game. My only problem with it as a child was trying to find games for it, but anyway thanks for the trip down memory lane. And yes, I did use the horoscope function once a day as a kid; don't know why just did.

[@streetwaxtv]

I loooooved my neo geo pocket color back in the day

[@rafal2675]

I remember me as a child, walking around the store telling my self: there is no way, mom won't buy that to me. And i was right 😂

[@popixel]

Great console! I still play mine just about every day.

[@sifter224]

I'd love to see that thing backlit. I had heard about it, but this is the first I've seen one.

[@bricegraham8256]

I'd like to see a Backlit screen. I'm that one guy who has never heard of this system. I really don't know a whole lot about Neo Geo

[@mielthesquid6536]

I found a great video on youtube about the company, it's about 30 minutes, try looking for " The Story Of NEO GEO" from Wrestling With Gaming if you want to know the basics.

[@stpworld]

Ive got one with a backlight screen that someone modded for me

[@cubanrum]

I love my neo geo pocket I am lucky enough to have. Almost if not all the different color variations they made and a large selection of games. Would love to see the backlit modification would love to attempt it on one of my units . I also have the Atari Lynx you should do a tear down of one of those

[@mielthesquid6536]

I had one and loved it.I discovered it in a mall without having even heard of it before, this was a stealth release.

[@sodisheveledcrew]

My cousin had one growing up, that was how I knew who terry was... Metal slug was pretty fun too.

[@23jparra]

I bought one of these ten years ago. I just got it out playing sonic and capcom vs snk

[@gokusondbz]

Just Picked up a Neo Geo Pocket Color ❤

[@virginiacharles5357]

I have the silver and the ocean blue one but this color also looks neat. It has a small but cool game library. I love cotton, metal slug second mission and gals fighters especially.

[@gibbles3216]

This was a great little handheld. I still have mine.

[@Cosper79]

That neo geo home console was like a legend/myty to my group of kids.

[@horimo8920]

This thing is so ahead of it's time!

[@UsernameU222]

Did anyone else look at that joystick and think if only the joycon used that instead? I remember seeing one of those a few years back. It seems like the NeoGeo Pocket Color is a fun handheld.

[@compelevision]

I had one. It was awesome and the graphics where amazing for the time

[@dudeelduderino9583]

My brother traded some Yu-Gi-Oh cards for one of these in the early/mid 00s. The kicker was we never had a game for it, so it just kinda sat in our room and we'd occasionally just turn it on for the start up sound and go to the calendar. It's in storage somewhere at my parents house, so now I need to go dig it out.

[@orangeoctober.]

I bought one of these like 15 years ago. SNK vs Capcom Card Fighters Clash is an excellent game, also SNK vs Capcom: Match of the Millennium, Faselei!, Gals Fighters, Metal Slug 1st Mission and 2nd Mission, Sonic Pocket Adventure, and Bust A Move are all fun.

[@G.G.___162]

Would definitely like to see a vid for the back-lit screen

[@OmniNexuz]

The Neo Geo Pocket Color had the best Portable Fighting Games in the 90s! The GameBoy Ports of Fighters just didn't compare since they were pretty much Demakes of Arcade & Console Games while NGPC Games were more Original & not to mention it had that Microswitched Thumbstick instead of a D-Pad! 😮

[@stevesteve0521]

It had great fighting games although I believe killer instinct for the Gameboy was the best Handheld fighting game of the 90s

[@OmniNexuz]

@@stevesteve0521 I dunno, up against SNK VS. Capcom: Match of the Millennium (which many consider the BEST Game on the NGPC) it's a pretty stiff competition.....Especially when the option of just playing Killer Instinct on SNES or putting the Cart in a Super GameBoy was still an option 🤔

[@NeoVejiita]

The Neo Geo Pocket Colour was incredible (especially if Japanese wasn’t a barrier) :) It had great games that covered most genres. The fighting games were great obviously, but the puzzle bobble port was good, the sonic game was good, the metal slug games were good, the sports games were good, and it even had strategy covered with games like Faselei and Ogre Battle. Also SvC Card Fighters Clash was super cool :)

[@roxynano]

Fun fact the Wonderswan had 40 hours of play off of a SINGLE AA battery. The Swan reign supreme there.

[@DisketteDreams]

i had one of these and i felt so cool

[@Laternater]

I own 3 of them. Looking to get a transparent one eventually

[@KayJay_EU]

Both the Gameboy Colour and the Neo Geo Pocket Display were meant to be used outside underneath the sun. Unlike todays displays, these displays are amazing outside.

[@adamgardner28]

I need to find mine. I had the blue one with the silver Shock n Rock battery pack by Nyko. I only had 2 games for it, and one of them I got used. I worked at Target at the time I got it and these were barely on the shelf for the half the summer. Then they went clearance, and some Asian woman came in and bought EVERYTHING, and she knew quite a bit about the system, saying how much better it was than the GB Color. She left me one console and one game, and bought the rest. This was in an area where there were a lot of Asian resellers, so she was likely a reseller buying what she could and make money on it all.

[@singhda03]

Ahh the Neo Geo Pocket, I always wanted one as a kid.

[@paulsit3624]

I had this exact same color model too which I got from EB in 2004 I think. They repackaged and sold it in a clear plastic bundle with some games rather than the original box. I also got the bundle of extra games in the same kind of packaging. I liked it but they were never going to compete with the Gameboy, that clicky stick was so satisfying to use, shame they cheaped out by not using it for the Neo Geo mini and their controllers. Also I think you could link this with the Dreamcast if I recall but I didn't have both systems to try it out.

[@ranchan215]

The killer game for this system was snk vs capcom the match of the millennium i used to buy the blister packs i think 4 per pack so good i couldn't believe my eyes when they ported snk gal fighters for the Nintendo switch i hope more are available from the pocket library on to the switch 😀

[@pockets6794]

Love that Warioland style menu music

[@PokeRetroFan]

This is so freaking cool

[@VAULT-TEC_INC.]

The Pocket logo reminds me of the Dreamcast logo, with the wide, colorful paint strokes. Very early 90s

[@lucag.lisickza425]

i had this handheld and was amazing

[@jimobrien84]

Great little handheld