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The NeoGeo Pocket Color was SNK's own color handheld gaming system. The company was originally known for its arcade/home console unit of the same name (sans the Pocket Color part), and the company capitalized on this namesake for its handheld. It was released in Japan in March 1999, and in early May 1999 SNK made the decision to bring the system to the US through the company's website (www.snkusa.com). Starting in August 1999 the availability of the system reached retail stores such as Babbage's, Software Etc., and Electronics Boutique.

The unit is nearly identical in size and thickness to Nintendo's Game Boy Color unit. However, unlike the Game Boy Color, the system has been designed in a horizontal fashion ? the screen in the middle, control pad on the left and buttons on the right. Because of this design, the NeoGeo Pocket Color is very comfortable and natural to hold in the hand, especially when you compare it to the cramped layout of the Game Boy Color system.

The controller on the left is a unique, recessed thumb-stick that you push. It's more comfortable than the D-pad used on the Game Boy systems, and prevents friction from rubbing your thumb to move the controller. The downside here is, the inside of the system is exposed under the thumb-stick, so dirt, crumbs, and liquids can find its way easily into the NeoGeo Pocket Color. On the right, you've got two action buttons (labeled A and B) as well as a smaller, rubberized Option button. Why SNK only gave the system two action buttons I'll never know ? the original console NeoGeo had four action buttons, and by limiting the system to two, the company has restricted the controls of its upcoming games. The Game Boy Color has a hard time with console conversions because of its limiting button configuration, and the NeoGeo Pocket Color is even more so.

The NeoGeo Pocket Color, like the Game Boy Color, sports a full-color reflective LCD screen. The existing light in the room bounces off the screen to illuminate the colors that the system is displaying. Obviously the brighter the room, and the more direct the light source, the brighter the image. Past systems have utilized backlighting ? a light inside the system that illuminates the transparent LCD screen from the underside. The problem here is two-fold ? sure, you can play those systems in the dark, but the battery power required is immense and the image appears washed out. The advent of the reflective LCD color screens means full color with very little power consumption. Most incredibly, the NeoGeo Pocket Color system will run for about 40 hours on two AA batteries. Compare that to the three-hour battery lifespan of the Atari Lynx and Game Gear on six AA batteries. In comparison to the Game Boy Color, the NeoGeo Pocket Color's screen is slightly bigger, and because it's closer to the surface of the system, it has less of a border shadow.

The power switch is actually a button. The system is turned on by holding the button down for a full second ? this prevents accidentally turning the system on when it's in your pocket or bag. What's excellent is that programmers can code a software power-down ? in Neo Turf, you can save your game in progress and power down the system. The NeoGeo Pocket Color also has a built-in power-down if a control hasn't been touched in a designated amount of time, 15 minutes usually. This is good for forgetful gamers, but obnoxious if you've paused the game to answer the phone, and it shuts off the game in progress because you took too freakin' long getting back.

The cartridges, slightly smaller than a Game Boy Color cartridge, plug firmly into the top of the system. Because of the molding of the system, once a cartridge is plugged into a system, it's fused there naturally and seamlessly. And the cartridges have been molded with a lip that makes it easy to pull them out of the system. To the right of the cartridge slot is where you plug in the cable to link two systems together. The port will also be used for other functions, like the upcoming Wireless Link.

The unit also has a built-in, replaceable Lithium battery to save data inside the system. The battery supposedly lasts one year, and saves data such as games in progress and clock and system settings. This keeps the cartridge price down since the developers can use the internal save instead of spending money on a cartridge with battery save built-in.

The Games

Technically, the NeoGeo Pocket Color is more powerful than the Game Boy Color. It can handle more sprites and backgrounds, and it can display more colors on-screen than Nintendo's handheld.

In the US, SNK was the only company to manufacture and develop NeoGeo Pocket Color games. Every game developed for the NeoGeo Pocket Color originates from first and third-party developers in Japan. When the system was launched in the US, a total of 12 games were available: