“ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” — is it a masterpiece or a dud? Many of you are probably wondering.
In this article, we’ve thoroughly researched the included titles, release date, supported platform, evaluations, and voices from social media to help you decide whether you should buy it.
This collection, which includes NEOGEO classics like “KOF2003” and “METAL SLUG 5,” begs the question: is it the long-awaited masterpiece fans hoped for, or a disappointing miss?
We deliver the definitive review that lets you decide after reading.
At the end, we’ll announce the overall score (out of 100), so be sure to read to the end.
At this rate, my wrist is going to give out from overdoing combo practice!
I’ll conduct a thorough investigation into the appeal and evaluations of “Vol. 7”!
Please rest your wrist in the meantime!
- What is ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7?
- Release date, price, supported platform, genres, and publisher for ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
- Strengths of ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
- Weaknesses of ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
- Frequently asked questions about ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
- Settings, environment, and peripherals to maximize your enjoyment of ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
- If you like ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7, don’t miss these related works & recommended masterpieces
- ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7 vs. Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection — which should you buy?
- Expectations and concerns from social media about ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
- Is ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7 a masterpiece or a dud? (Conclusion)
What is ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7?
“ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” is the latest entry in a collection series that brings SNK’s proud arcade games to modern players.
Volumes 1–6 have been released so far, each attracting attention as packages that include multiple NEOGEO masterpieces and popular titles.
Vol. 7 covers a wide range of genres such as fighting, action, shooting, sports, and puzzle, allowing you to enjoy titles that energized arcades in the 1990s all in one place.
Its biggest appeal lies in bundling previously individually distributed “ACA NEOGEO” titles into a single release.
It will be available as a packaged version on Switch, making it valuable as a collector’s item and offering not just play but also “the joy of ownership”—a hallmark of this title.
List of included titles
This release includes the following 10 titles.
Each left a strong impression on NEOGEO users at the time and still boasts a level of completeness that’s plenty fun today.
| Title | Genre |
|---|---|
| Fatal Fury SPECIAL | Fighting |
| THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2003 | Fighting |
| King of the Monsters 2 | Action |
| METAL SLUG 5 | Action / Shooter |
| Futsal ~5 ON 5 MINI SOCCER~ | Sports |
| Power Spikes II | Sports (Volleyball) |
| Prehistoric Isle 2 | Shooter |
| Puzzle Bobble | Puzzle |
| WORLD HEROES 2 | Fighting |
| Zupapa! | Action Puzzle |
From fighting to action and even puzzle games, it’s a luxurious lineup that lets you enjoy “NEOGEO’s diversity” in a single package.
Release date, price, supported platform, genres, and publisher for ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
“ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” is the latest packaged entry in SNK’s ACA NEOGEO series.
Here, based on official information, we clearly summarize the release date, price, supported platform, genres, and publisher.
Release date
The release date is November 6, 2025.
It’s being launched for the year-end shopping season, making it the perfect time to enjoy a collection of NEOGEO classics.
Price
The price is ¥5,940 (tax included).
Compared to buying each title as an individual download, this set offers great value, and considering it includes 10 titles, the cost performance is high.
Supported platform
The supported platform is Nintendo Switch only.
This release is package-exclusive, and a digital download version has not been announced.
Therefore, it’s designed for users who prioritize the value of owning a collection.
Genres
The genres of the included titles are as follows:
- Fighting (KOF2003, Fatal Fury SPECIAL, WORLD HEROES 2)
- Action / Shooter (METAL SLUG 5, Prehistoric Isle 2)
- Sports (Futsal, Power Spikes II)
- Puzzle (Puzzle Bobble, Zupapa!)
- Action (King of the Monsters 2)
It’s structured with the variety characteristic of NEOGEO, offering content that can be enjoyed by a wide audience—not just fighting game fans.
Publisher
The publisher/developer is SNK.
The trend of a company that represents NEOGEO’s arcade era reviving its own titles for the modern day has been consistent across the series.
Strengths of ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
“ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” offers numerous attractions you won’t find in other game collections.
Here we整理 the strengths and points users will appreciate.
Strong lineup from popular series
The biggest draw is that sequels from popular series like “THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2003” and “METAL SLUG 5” are included.
Even on their own, these titles are highly rated by fans, and being able to play them together in a package is extremely valuable.
Diversity of genres
Beyond fighting games, it includes a wide range of genres—action, shooters, sports, and puzzles.
It’s suitable not only for those who mainly enjoy fighting games but also for those who want to casually play puzzles or sports with friends and family.
High cost performance
At ¥5,940 (tax included) for 10 titles, it works out to less than ¥600 per title.
It’s overwhelmingly more economical than buying each title as a download, and the volume emphasizes its great value.
Collector’s item value
Another advantage is that it’s package-exclusive.
With high collectability, it’s designed to deliver the joy of ownership to NEOGEO fans and users who want to preserve retro games physically.
Faithful recreation optimized for modern environments
The “ACA NEOGEO” series not only faithfully recreates the original arcade experience, but also includes optimizations for comfortable play on modern TVs and the Switch.
It features aspect ratio settings and simple save functionality, enabling play in an environment that’s even more comfortable than back in the day.
Weaknesses of ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
On the other hand, “ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” also has points to watch out for and elements that some may find unsatisfying.
Here we整理 the drawbacks visible from the actual play environment and included lineup.
No digital download version
This release is package-only.
Therefore, users who want to “buy digitally with ease” or “install everything on the console to play” may find it inconvenient.
It may be shunned by users who prefer digital purchases.
Preferences may vary on the included titles
Although the 10 included titles span a wide range of genres, they’re not all “blockbusters everyone knows.”
For example, “Zupapa!” and “Prehistoric Isle 2” are relatively lesser-known, and some users may feel the lineup is so-so.
Concerns about emulation quality
The “ACA NEOGEO” series is known for accurate emulation, but input lag and control responsiveness do occasionally draw complaints from some players.
Especially for fighting games, even slight latency can greatly affect comfort.
Few new elements or bonuses
Because this release includes NEOGEO titles as they were, it’s true that there are virtually no bonus elements like remakes, new modes, or additional content.
Users who have already played these titles to death may find it lacking in freshness.
Weak differentiation from other collections
Compared to “ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 1–6,” some say Vol. 7 lacks a special edge of its own.
While the included works are certainly appealing, those who aren’t collecting the entire series may find it hard to see what makes this one “the one to choose.”
Frequently asked questions about ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
We’ve gathered questions many users have had since before release about “ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7”.
To help those considering a purchase, we整理 representative questions and answers.
Q1. What titles are included?
Vol. 7 includes 10 titles.
For fighting: “KOF2003,” “Fatal Fury SPECIAL,” and “WORLD HEROES 2”; for action: “METAL SLUG 5” and “King of the Monsters 2”; plus puzzle titles like “Puzzle Bobble” and “Zupapa!”—a broad composition.
Its diversity of genres is the biggest feature.
Q2. Is online versus play supported?
Unfortunately, there is no online versus functionality.
Basically it’s single-player or local 2-player versus.
However, the “score ranking feature” remains, allowing you to compete in scores with players worldwide.
Q3. How is it different from past Vol. 1–6?
Volumes 1–6 similarly include 10 titles each, but the big difference is a different lineup of included titles.
For example, Vol. 1 included “KOF ’94” and “METAL SLUG X,” while Vol. 7 includes later entries like “KOF2003” and “METAL SLUG 5,” providing content that lets you enjoy more evolved NEOGEO titles.
Q4. Are the games identical to the arcade versions?
Yes, they’re basically faithful recreations of the original arcade versions.
However, modern conveniences like screen settings and save functionality have been added to improve usability.
You can enjoy the original atmosphere as-is while playing comfortably.
Q5. Is it still fun to play now?
Yes.
Games from that era are simple yet highly polished and addictive, so even those unfamiliar with retro games can enjoy them.
In particular, “Puzzle Bobble” and “Zupapa!” are casual titles ideal for short sessions, making them recommended regardless of generation.
Settings, environment, and peripherals to maximize your enjoyment of ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
“ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” is fun enough to play as-is, but you can enjoy it even more with a proper setup.
Here are settings, environments, and recommended peripherals to elevate your experience.
Optimizing display settings
This title includes options to adjust screen size and display filters.
– Original: preserves the arcade cabinet aspect ratio – Full Screen: scales to fill the Switch screen – Scanlines: adds a CRT-style effect for nostalgia These settings can be switched depending on the title to increase immersion.
Improving control setup
You can play with the Switch’s Joy-Con, but using a Pro Controller or an arcade stick greatly enhances the feel.
For comfortably enjoying fighting games, a stick and a 6-button layout are ideal.
Upgrading your audio
One of the charms of NEOGEO titles is their powerful BGM and sound effects.
By using headphones or external speakers, you can enjoy arcade-like immersion.
Especially the versus BGMs in “KOF2003” and “Fatal Fury SPECIAL” are hype-worthy, so upgrading your audio is worthwhile.
Recommended: local versus play
Since there’s no online versus, we recommend enjoying local battles with friends and family.
Connect your Switch to a big TV and prepare two arcade sticks, and your living room becomes an arcade.
Recommended peripherals summary
| Peripheral | Effect |
|---|---|
| Switch Pro Controller | Improves operability; ideal for long sessions |
| Arcade Stick | Optimal feel for fighting and action games |
| High-quality Headphones | Enjoy NEOGEO’s unique music and SFX with full immersion |
| Large-screen TV | Recreates the impact of arcade gameplay |
As you can see, with the right setup you can achieve a play experience that balances “nostalgia” and “comfort”.
If you like ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7, don’t miss these related works & recommended masterpieces
If you enjoy “ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7”, you’ll likely be drawn to other collections that include NEOGEO and arcade classics.
Here are related works and especially recommended masterpiece collections.
ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 1–6
If you liked Vol. 7, don’t miss the previous Vol. 1–6.
They include titles that colored NEOGEO’s history like “KOF ’94,” “Samurai Shodown,” and “METAL SLUG X.”
Collecting the entire series delivers the satisfaction of owning a true “Complete NEOGEO Anthology”.
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection
A collection of SNK titles from before the NEOGEO era.
While not NEOGEO, it includes a valuable set of works that let you learn SNK’s origins, such as “Athena” and “Ikari Warriors.”
Samurai Shodown NeoGeo Collection
A title that compiles the “Samurai Shodown” series.
It includes all 7 entries, even the previously unreleased “Samurai Shodown V Special Perfect,” making it a must-have collection for fighting game fans.
METAL SLUG XX
A refined handheld entry in the “METAL SLUG” series that offers exhilarating side-scrolling action.
If you enjoy “METAL SLUG 5” in Vol. 7, this is especially recommended.
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
CAPCOM’s rival “Street Fighter” series compiled into one collection.
It includes all 12 titles and supports online play.
It’s worth checking out as a dream comparison of SNK vs. CAPCOM.
ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7 vs. Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection — which should you buy?
Both “ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” and CAPCOM’s “Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection” let you revisit the history of arcade fighting games.
However, their included content and play features differ significantly. Here we compare them to consider “which to choose.”
Differences in number of titles and genres
“ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” includes 10 titles spanning a wide range of genres centered on fighting—action, shooters, puzzles, and more.
Meanwhile, “Street Fighter 30th” includes 12 titles, all fighting games from the Street Fighter series.
In other words, pick NEOGEO for breadth, Street Fighter for depth.
Presence of online features
“Street Fighter 30th” supports online versus with players around the world.
On the other hand, “ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” does not support online versus; local play and score rankings are the main modes.
Choose Street Fighter if you prioritize online competition; choose NEOGEO if you value offline play and nostalgia.
Collectability and ownership
The NEOGEO collection is package-exclusive, so it has high value as a collectible and satisfies “the joy of ownership.”
Street Fighter also has a digital version, appealing to users who prioritize convenience.
Price and cost performance
“ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” offers 10 titles for ¥5,940 (tax included).
“Street Fighter 30th” can be purchased for around ¥4,000–¥5,000 and includes 12 titles.
Purely in terms of the number of included titles, Street Fighter may offer better value, but considering genre variety and rarity, NEOGEO is also highly attractive.
Conclusion: which should you choose?
“If you want to enjoy a variety of genres in one package,” choose ACA NEOGEO Vol. 7.
“If you want to dive into online fighting,” choose Street Fighter 30th.
Both are notable collections that let you experience arcade history, but the best choice depends on your play style.
Expectations and concerns from social media about ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7
Since its announcement, “ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” has been a hot topic on social media, with many fans expressing both hopes and concerns.
Here we’ve picked representative opinions actually seen online.
Voices of expectation
- “Being able to play KOF2003 in a package is the best!“
- “It’s worth buying just for METAL SLUG 5.”
- “With Puzzle Bobble and Zupapa! included, it looks fun for the whole family.”
- “I’m happy it’s a packaged release with high collectability.”
Attention is especially high for “KOF2003” and “METAL SLUG 5”, with fans looking forward to both fighting and action sides.
Voices of concern
- “It’s a shame there’s no online versus…”
- “I already have Vol. 1–6, so I’m not sure if I should buy just this one.”
- “Package-only is inconvenient. I want a DL version too.”
- “Some minor titles are mixed in, and I might not play them.”
On the other hand, dissatisfaction centers on the lack of online support and package-only sales.
There are also opinions that “some included titles are too niche,” suggesting that universal appeal may be divided.
In summary…
Taking the voices on social media as a whole, the impression is “high expectations for the titles themselves, but concerns about the specifications.”
In other words, while the game content is received positively, the lack of online support and sales format limitations may narrow the player base.
Is ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7 a masterpiece or a dud? (Conclusion)
We’ve整理 the pros and cons and examined feedback from social media.
So, is “ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” a masterpiece or a dud? Here’s our final evaluation.
Five evaluation parameters
| Evaluation Item | Score (out of 20) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics | 17 | Faithful recreation of NEOGEO titles from the era. Extra display options like scanlines are a plus. |
| Controls | 15 | High fidelity, but concerns about input lag remain. An arcade stick is recommended. |
| Included Titles | 18 | Includes fan favorites like KOF2003 and METAL SLUG 5. Genre diversity is also appealing. |
| Ease of Play | 16 | Convenient saves and screen settings. Lack of online versus is a missed opportunity. |
| Cost Performance | 19 | 10 titles for ¥5,940 is an excellent deal—less than ¥600 per game. |
Overall score
85 / 100
In conclusion, “ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7” is a collection leaning toward masterpiece status.
Its strengths lie especially in the lavish lineup and great value, and NEOGEO fans and retro game lovers will likely be highly satisfied.
Final verdict
While it has weaknesses like “no online versus” and “no DL version,” its collectability and the value of the included titles more than make up for them.
Therefore, we conclude that this is a solid collection leaning toward masterpiece.
Slash, now I can buy with confidence!
…Actually, I already pre-ordered it!
I’ll get a second copy ready so we can play together!
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