The Official NEO-GEO Thread!

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SNK_Nobuyuki Kuroki@NobuyukiKuroki 4h

 

Review: Samurai Shodown - This Blade Is Still As Sharp As Ever http://nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/samurai_shodown… #Reviews #NintendoSwitch #SamuraiShodown

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Review: Samurai Shodown - This Blade Is Still As Sharp As Ever

Another 'victoly' for SNK

nintendolife.com

 

 

Samurai Shodown Review (Switch)

Another 'victoly' for SNK

Version Reviewed: European

• 
• review by Damien McFerran  Tue, 7am

http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/samurai_shodown

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)

When Street Fighter II arrived in arcades in the early '90s and turned the one-on-one fighter into the genre of choice for millions of players, it predictably caused a deluge of copycat clones to flood the market, each offering a slightly different take on the concept. Few of these could hold a candle to Capcom's effort, but one title stood out from the rest not only due to its unique and atmospheric setting but the way it actually played. Samurai Shodown (known as Samurai Spirits in Japan) was the work of SNK's crack developers and former Capcom staff, which perhaps accounted for the incredible leap in quality over its rivals. With a focus on weapons, this was a more methodical fighter, in which victory (or 'Victoly' if you're going by the often amusing 'Engrish' translation work for which the series is famous) could be a matter of a handful of successful blows.

Fast forward to the present day, and Samurai Shodown continues to hold a high level of respect among fighting game aficionados, even if many of them argue that the series saw its zenith with 1994's Samurai Shodown II. After resurrecting its equally popular King of Fighters series in 2.5D, a rejuvenated SNK performed a similar trick with Samurai Shodown, bringing the game to modern consoles last year. Predictably, the Switch has had to wait a little longer, but the good news is that those few months have been totally worth it for fighting game fans. Safari Games – the company responsible for this conversation – has skillfully carried over everything that matters without having to cut too many corners when it comes to performance.

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)

If you've never played a Samurai Shodown game before, a brief introduction is probably in order. While it has things like projectile attacks, combos, super moves and all that jazz, it really is worth stressing that the core gameplay feels very, very different from the likes of Street Fighter V and King of Fighters XIV. The fact that the characters have lethal weapons means that fights are often over as quickly as they have begun; hitting home with a powerful heavy attack is enough to slash away a massive chunk of your opponent's health bar, and, as a result, the game is less about pressing your advantage as it is about playing defensively and waiting for an opening to appear.

Past sequels have tried to tinker with this slow-and-steady approach with varying degrees of success (and the less said about Samurai Shodown Sen, the last mainline update from 2008, the better), so it's pleasing to note that with this update, SNK has utterly nailed what made the series so compelling back in the early '90s. While Samurai Shodown in 2020 obviously looks a lot better than it did back then (more on the visuals in a moment), it 'feels' just as fresh and different now as it did in 1993. Battles have a wonderful ebb and flow to them, with the balance shifting quickly between opponents as they mix up powerful blows with tricky special moves. Knowing that a single mistake could leave you open for a crippling attack from your foe makes every dash, every leap and every attack something you need to consider carefully; few fighting games punish you as dramatically as Samurai Shodown (with the possible exception of Square's underrated Bushido Blade).

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)

Samurai Shodown's controls are relatively simple compared to those of Capcom's Street Fighter II, largely because the Neo Geo only had four action buttons compared to the six seen on Capcom's arcade game. SNK has tweaked things a little here by giving players weak, medium and strong attack strengths, along with a button for kicking – a cheeky move which can often help surprise and unbalance stubborn opponents. Having more granular control over the power of your weapon attacks gives the game additional depth, and this is supplemented by the famous 'Rage Gauge', which can be 'popped' when it's full once per match to make your fighter more potent for a limited period.

In this enhanced state, you'll also be able to unleash the new 'Lightning Blade' attack, which – along with Super Specials (which, again, can only be used once per match) – trigger a cool cinematic animation that calls to mind the eye-popping supers from Street Fighter IV and Street Fighter V. Some of these super-powerful special moves do feel like they unbalance the game slightly – especially when you consider how easy they are to execute – but learning how to deal with them is all part of the challenge.

Of course, fighting games live or die by the selection of characters they offer, and the good news is that Samurai Shodown's somewhat modest cast of 16 fighters offers plenty of variety and challenge, even for veterans of the franchise. It's also worth noting that the three all-new combatants (Darli Dagger, Yashamaru Kurama and Wu-Ruixiang) who rub shoulders with the 13 returning cast members (Charlotte, Earthquake, Galford, Genjuro Kibagami, Hanzo Hattori, Haohmaru, Jubei Yagyu, Kyoshiro Senryo, Nakoruru, Shiki, Tam Tam, Yoshitora Tokugawa and Ukyo Tachibana) are a fairly likeable trio, and SNK is supporting the game with additional characters via a DLC campaign. Hisame Shizumaru from Samurai Shodown III is free, but the other fighters who make up the 'Season One' DLC pack – Rimururu, Kubikiri Basara, Kazuki Kazama and Wan Fu – will cost you real money. We're still not entirely comfortable with the notion of having to pay more cash to access additional characters in a game that already costs quite a large amount, but it would seem that's the way the market has gone now, so moaning about it makes little difference.

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)

Visually, Samurai Shodown is a treat, running at a reasonably smooth 60FPS in both docked and handheld modes. When played in the former, it's incredibly close to the PlayStation 4 version in terms of how things look, although the animation on background elements can be a little choppy compared to the smooth movements of the fighters themselves. Granted, Samuari Shodown doesn't aim for the same graphical complexity as, say, Street Fighter V, but it's still a gorgeous-looking spectacle; we especially like the way each character is covered in brush-strokes which makes them look like they've stepped straight out of a painting from the Sakoku period. Sadly, the visuals do take a noticeable hit when played in handheld mode; the overall resolution plummets and elements of the on-screen UI also degrade quite alarmingly. However, the gameplay remains the same, which is what really counts. Load times are a little longer than we'd like, too, but not so excessive that they ruin your enjoyment.

There's no denying that the core fighting engine for Samurai Shodown is as solid as a rock, and if you've got a local opponent to fight against, then you're in for a treat. Likewise, those of you who love playing online should find plenty of challenge here. The only people who will feel left out in this situation are those who crave a solo challenge, as the game is somewhat lacking when it comes to single-player content. Each character has a unique narrative to uncover in the main 'Story' mode, but there's little to unearth beyond that – unless you're unreasonably excited by the prospect of unlocking videos, artwork and background music, that is. While fighting games, by their very nature, are social affairs that are best enjoyed with a second player, there has been a concerted effort in the genre recently to bulk-up the amount of content for solo players. That hasn't really happened with this update, and that's worth keeping in mind if you plan to play alone more than against other human foes.

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)

It doesn't help that SNK's effort to change this doesn't really work. The 'Dojo' mode sees you facing off against 'Ghost' fighters in what is misleadingly termed 'asynchronous multiplayer'. These are CPU-controlled characters who base their fighting style on those of the player who created them, with the idea being that as you play, the game 'learns' your signature style and applies it to the Ghost in question. It's a neat idea on paper, but we're not entirely convinced it works; even the Ghosts with seemingly high rankings were fairly easy to defeat, with some displaying some rather odd tactics and strategies. SNK might be able to tinker with this aspect a little more to make it more robust, but at the moment, it feels like a failed experiment to us.

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Conclusion

While Samurai Shodown has taken a very slight visual hit as part of its protracted journey to Switch, the most important thing is that the core 60FPS gameplay remains intact. The downgrade is most noticeable when playing in handheld mode, but it's still incredibly enjoyable and compelling, especially if you appreciate fighting games that exercise your mind as well as your fingers. The single-player portion of the game is perhaps a little too lacking by 2020 standards and some of the ideas don't work as well as they should (Dojo mode, we're looking at you) but with its appealing cast of fighters, decent multiplayer options and a host of new gameplay ideas to keep things feeling fresh, Samurai Shodown is nonetheless a confident and assured update of a classic fighting game series – and bodes well for SNK's future attempts to resurrect its enviable stable of titles for the modern era.

Anthony...

 

 

 

[+Charlie Cat]

Hi guys,

 

This morning we are with Player One Start. Here we see the kind sir making a Neo-Geo AES purchase. Enjoy. 

 

From the description,

"In this video the Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System (AES) makes its presence known in my collection. It started off with a post on Social Media and ended with my wallet being a lot lighter. Lets a take a look at this unique piece of gaming history and I will give my overall initial impression of this console."

 

 

Anthony..

Edited February 28, 2020 by fdurso224

[+Charlie Cat]

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Real Otaku Gamer@realotakugamer 5h

 

The Samurai Strikes - Samurai Shodown Review (Switch)

 

 

The Samurai Strikes - Samurai Shodown Review (Switch)

A Magnificent Port of SNK's Fighting Game

realotakugamer.com

 

https://realotakugamer.com/the-samurai-strikes-samurai-shodown-review-switch

 

The Samurai Strikes – Samurai Shodown Review (Switch)

By Jonathan Balofsky On 28 Feb, 2020 At 08:31 AM | Categorized As Featured, News, NINTENDO, Nintendo Switch, Reviews, Reviews, ROG News | With 0 Comments

There is something about SNK fighting games that makes them stand out among others. There is almost always a sense of polish and familiarity to them, that makes them very appealing to experience. I had a great time with King of Fighters XIV on PS4, and while SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy was not the best game and instead was a big step down, SNK bounced back quickly with their return to Samurai Shodown. Released last year for Xbox One and PS4, the game has now come to Nintendo Switch in all its glory.

Samurai Shodown has all the great refinement of an SNK fighter and more. The controls are responsive whether the game is played on a controller or a fightstick, and there is a tightness to them that is appreciated among the genre. Every movement and attack has purpose and this is a true game of skill.  When I said all the control schemes work, I meant it. I tested a fightstick from Hori, the Switch pro controller, the Joy Cons on the Switch and a single Joy Con as well. All of these worked perfectly, and even the single Joy Con worked great. This makes multiplayer using two Joy Cons something to consider, as they are an acceptable means of playing.

Samurai Shodown’s training mode is useful for figuring out the moves for each character, though I like to practice in Vs CPU battles, as I am forced to react quickly there with moves and counterattacks. Once you do learn the moves though, there are a variety of online and offline modes to choose from. For offline modes, there is the story mode that is the arcade ladder of the game, with other modes including the aforementioned Vs CPU and local Vs modes. There is also a Gauntlet Mode that sees you take on every character in the game, a Survival Mode that sees you take on an endless amount of CPU battles, and a Time Trial mode where you have to fight as many opponents as possible in a set amount of time. These modes are fun, and are good for offline players, but you might be left wanting a bit more to do since they get a bit repetitive.

 

Now for the online modes, we have our standard Ranked Matches and Casual matches, but also Dojo Mode. Dojo Mode is an asynchronous online mode that sees you fight Ghosts that grow in skill and have learned to mimic the players. To be more specific, you are fighting the CPU opponents of other online players, that have adjusted the AI to learn from these players. It is a great addition to a fighting game, and something very different for online matches.  There is the standard Ghost Match mode and the Insane Challenge that sees you take on 100 CPU Ghosts in a row. I really like this mode and encourage you all to try it.

The gameplay of Samurai Shodown is an interesting one. It harkens back to a slowed paced style of fighting game, compared to what is commonly seen today, and is more methodical. The game also goes back to the single-stroke battle mechanics, where one hit can take away a lot of health, so you must be very careful how you make your moves. In addition, there is a Rage Burst attack that you can use to cause a lot of damage on the opponent. It is not an instant kill move and takes time to set up, while also being a bit predictable, but pulling it off will shift the fight in your favor. The game is a refreshing return to the classic feel of fighting games, and Samurai Shodown’s glory days. Even the blood is here, with gory attacks and characters shedding lots of blood. In fact, the characters’ clothes will get bloodier as the fight goes on and they take more damage. Don’t take this for a Japanese Mortal Kombat though, as it is a very different beast with its own unique feel.

But now you might be wondering, how does the game look and feel on Switch. While playing, I had a rather consistent framerate with only minor bumps here and there. Visually, the game is not as impressive as the PS4 and Xbox One versions, but that doesn’t hold the Switch port back. Due to the art style of the game, the slightly washed out visuals actually end up looking a bit more stylized and it fits very well with the aesthetic the developers were going for. The music of course is amazing, and I touched on the controls above.

The last thing I will mention, is the port of Samurai Shodown! 2 by Code Mystics. This is an excellent port of the Neo Geo Pocket Color game and was included as a bonus with the Switch version. The game is not only emulated perfectly, but some nice touches have been added as well. Almost every aspect of the Neo Geo Pocket Color was replicated, including the options for a system set up if you want, and a Neo geo Pocket Color appears on screen for you to play the game on. You can adjust the controls as you want, adjust display options, and there is even a rewind function included. In addition, there are a variety of skins for the on screen Neo geo Pocket Color in the form of the various different models of the system. The manual for the game is also digital replicated here and that is a nice touch. This gives me hope we will see more Neo Geo Pocket Color games come to Switch, because this emulator being used is amazing.

All in all, Samurai Shodown on Switch is an amazing package and I encourage you all to check it out. You will not regret it, as it is an excellent game and an excellent port that uses the Switch hardware well.

 

 

 

Anthony..

 

[+Charlie Cat]

Hi guys,

 

Welp, it's Friday night. After a strenuous week. How about we watch a movie. So let's get the popcorn and soda pop ready for us to see, Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf. Enjoy. 

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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AKIHABARAゲーマーズ本店 @akiba_gema

 

【SNK美少女祭りinゲーマーズ】 再入荷情報ゲマ～！ 先行販売商品「サイコソルジャー アテナ」のアクリルスタンドが再入荷したゲマ！お待たせしましたゲマ～！ お求めの方はAKIHABARAゲーマーズ本店７Fまで！ #SNK

Translated from Japanese by

[SNK Pretty Festival in Gamers] Restock information Gema ~! Gema re-stocked the acrylic stand of the pre-sale product "Psycho Soldier Athena"! Gema that kept you waiting! If you are looking for AKIHABARA Gamers Main Store 7F! #SNK

 

 

11:09 PM · Feb 28, 2020·

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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SNK JAPAN@SNKPofficial_jp 23h

 

METAL SLUG ATTACK: イベント「SILENT EVOLUTION」開催！ #MSA App Store　URL https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1012231677?mt=8… Google Play URL https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.snkplaymore.android014…

 

 

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[+Charlie Cat]

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THE KING OF FIGHTERS for GIRLS【公式】@KOFG_info

 

 

特効カードのご紹介

 

開催中のイベント「狼と真実のジャッジメント」で編成するとイベントポイントがたくさん手に入るカードのご紹介

 

SSR [善良なる市民に祝福を] ナギ SR [ゲームマスターの祝宴] 包 R [嘘つきな牙] 矢吹真吾 特効カードは覚醒をするとさらに効果がアップしますよ！ #KOFG

Translated from Japanese by

 

Introduction of special effects card

 

Introduction of cards that can get a lot of event points when organized at the ongoing event "Judgment of Wolf and Truth"

 

SSR [Bless the good citizens] Nagi SR [Game Master's Feast] R [Liar Fang] Shingo Yabuki The special effects card will be more effective when you wake up! #KOFG

 

 

1:11 AM · Feb 29, 2020

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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SNK GLOBAL @SNKPofficial

 

In order to lessen the continuous spread of Corona Virus (COVID-19), #SNK will momentarily suspend support for offline tournaments. Online tournaments are unaffected. We will contact events that have already submitted for support individually. Thank you for your understanding.

 

 

4:09 AM · Feb 28, 2020·

SNK e-Sports Support Program

The SNK e-Sports Support Program is a support program that supports organizations that host SNK game contests and provides announcements and prizes.
Welcome to apply for it.

[Notice of suspension of e-Sports Support Program (February 28, 2020)]

As the new coronavirus (COVID-19) has gradually expanded worldwide, we have decided to suspend support for offline matches at risk of infection.
Online match support continues, and players please understand.
If you have any questions, please write to SNK e-Sports Support Program.
snk_esports@snk-corp.co.jp

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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Cheap Ass Gamer@videogamedeals 12h

 

Neogeo Mini Pro Player Pack USA Version & 2 Game Pads (1 Black & 1 White) Amazon Lightning Deal Starts. http://ow.ly/qKIR30qlJW3

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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Wario64@Wario64 38m

 

Neogeo Mini Pro Player Pack USA Version - Includes 2 Game Pads (1 Black & 1 White) and HDMI Cable on Amazon Lightning Deal in 30 minutes (5:35 PM PT) https://amzn.to/2ToVeOg Lightning Deals page: http://amzn.to/2FfdPpi

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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Retro Gamer T-Shirts @sc50832681 Feb 28

 

NEW #NEOGEO #RETRO #TSHIRT Neo Geo The 100 Mega Shock Gamer T Shirt | RETRO GAMER T-SHIRTS https://retrogamerteeshirts.com/product-page/neo-geo-the-100-mega-shock-gamer-t-shirt…

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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SNKオンラインショップ公式 @snk_onlineshop

 

【受注締め切りまで残り僅か！】 「Special Birthday Panel Series "Iori Yagami" 2020ver.」の受注受付は2020年3月1日（日）23:59までとなります。 額縁付き仕様のため、すぐにお部屋に飾ることができる商品です♪ https://snk-onlineshop.com/item/4580015698776.html… #SNK #八神庵

Translate Tweet

 

 

 

10:54 PM · Feb 27, 2020·

 

Anthony...

[+Charlie Cat]

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KOFクロニクル公式 @kofchronicle

 

新ファイター登場！ 全てを焼き尽くす黒の炎 「K'」 登場を記念しピックアップ ガチャキャンペーン」開催！ 紹介動画も公開中♪ 「俺一人で十分だ」 https://youtu.be/GSPceJI2O3s #KOFクロニクル #KOFC

Translated from Japanese by

New fighter appearance! Black flame `` K '' 'that burns everything Pickup Gacha Campaign to Commemorate the Appearance! Introductory video is also available ♪ "I am enough alone" https://youtu.be/GSPceJI2O3s #KOFクロニクル#KOFC

 

 

11:00 PM · Feb 26, 2020

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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KOFクロニクル公式 @kofchronicle

 

#KOFクロニクル 近日リリース予定のイベント 「Episode of Fighters紅丸編 ～クロニクルモード外伝 KOF'98～」 トレーラーを公開！！ https://youtu.be/CTrQX6wvNoo #KOFC

Translated from Japanese by

#KOFクロニクル Upcoming Event "Episode of Fighters Benimaru Hen-Chronicle Mode Gaiden KOF'98-" Publish trailer! ! https://youtu.be/CTrQX6wvNoo #KOFC

 

 

12:00 AM · Feb 26, 2020·

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

Hi guys,

 

This morning, we are with Brian Crecente. Here we see him with a purchase video of the Neo geo Mini. He certainly like it. Glad that he does. Enjoy. 

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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John Andersen@JohnAndersen21 Apr 17, 2019

 

Staff at work in the Tokyo office of SNK (1996).

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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John Andersen@JohnAndersen21 Aug 5, 2017

 

The SNK booth at the 1997 AMOA show.

 

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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John Andersen@JohnAndersen21 Mar 14, 2019

 

A forgotten SNK Playmore official event blog from 2006: https://snk.weblogs.jp

 

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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John Andersen @JohnAndersen21 Jul 7, 2016

 

Another 2006 SNK office photo-this time from the front showcasing the mobile, game console and pachislot offerings.

Quote Tweet

 

ヤマザキ ー レトロゲーマー

 

@Retrogames_JP

· May 29, 2015

2006年にSNKの本社を訪ねてきたときの写真です。懐かしいな！ When I visited SNK in 2006 for an interview! #SNK #江坂　#新日本企画　#ネオジオ

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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John Andersen @JohnAndersen21 Jul 7, 2016

 

Inside the office of SNK 2006 years ago.

Quote Tweet

 

ヤマザキ ー レトロゲーマー

 

@Retrogames_JP

· Jun 20, 2016

2006年でSNKの本社でFalcoon様とインタービューをしました。 懐かしい！残念ながらも連絡がしなくなっちゃったんです　（涙 #snkplaymore #ネオジオ　#KOFXIV

 

 

 

 

 

Anthony..

[ohfivepro]

 

[+Charlie Cat]

Hi guys,

 

Here's an interesting video of a UK competition in order to win a Neo-Geo AES console. Nice. 

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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Red Side of The Force@RedSideForce 16h

 

"‘Samurai Shodown’: Game ganha versão para o Nintendo Switch - R7" https://twitter.com/BlueSideForce I https://twitter.com/GreenSideForce #Nintendo #NintendoBrasil #NintendoSwitch #NintendoSwitchBrasil #NotíciasNintendo

 

 

‘Samurai Shodown’: Game ganha versão para o Nintendo Switch

O jornalista e especialista em games, Théo Azevedo, comentou sobre o lançamento de ‘Samurai Shodown’ para o Nintendo Switch. O game traz embates frenéticos entre lutadores.

noticias.r7.com

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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SNK GLOBAL@SNKPofficial 1h

 

Announcement: We are supporting this online tournament via our e-sports support program!　#SNK #SAMURAISHODOWN #RoninRumble https://smash.gg/tournament/ronin-rumble-samurai-shodown-xxiii-week-23/…

 

 

Anthony..

[+Charlie Cat]

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SNK JAPAN @SNKPofficial_jp

 

『METAL SLUG ATTACK』 おかげさまで4周年！ 4周年を記念したアップデートとキャンペーンを実施！#MSA https://game.snk-corp.co.jp/official/metalslug_attack/news/20200227_01h3ld5.html…

Translated from Japanese by

"METAL SLUG ATTACK" 4th anniversary thanks! Updates and campaigns commemorating the 4th anniversary! #MSA https://game.snk-corp.co.jp/official/metalslug_attack/news/20200227_01h3ld5.html…

 

 

4:01 AM · Feb 27, 2020·

 

Anthony..