Metal Slug*

Metal Slug*

neogeostationplaceholderDigital Release:For more on this release visit the NEOGEO Station page
Delisting:Late Summer 2012
Developer:M2
Publisher:SNK
Available On:For more on this game's availability visit the NEOGEO Station page
Links:NEOGEO Station homepage [Archive]

Delisting

This is a placeholder entry to be expanded at a later date.

All of the titles released under the NEOGEO Station banner on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable were delisted during late Summer 2012. The earliest mention of their delisting was found in August on a GameSpot forum but SNK’s final “End of Summer Sale” on the titles in North America ran through September 25th. The reason for the NEOGEO Station delistings is unsubstantiated but our theory follows.

NEOGEO Station was launched as an exclusive platform to differentiate itself from other titles on the fledgling PlayStation Store. But by 2012 it’s possible SNK didn’t see the need to segregate its releases or wanted to separate them from the branding to release on other platforms.

This would’ve required re-releasing them on PlayStation Network as new, individual titles. This would mean those who purchased the NEOGEO Station versions would have to re-buy the games or SNK would have to field the consumer outcry and potential PR headaches. Peculiarly, several other SNK titles released for the PlayStation Portable remain available on the PlayStation Store as of April 2017. However, none of the delisted NEOGEO Station games returned until Hamster’s Arcade Archives series began in late 2016 on PlayStation 4.

See the table below for NEOGEO Station titles, release dates and current digital availability. All titles remain available on original Neo Geo carts and hardware, and many are available on physical media for other platforms.

Original Release Dates
Title N. America Europe Japan Available On
Art of Fighting 12/21/2010 12/22/2010 12/22/2010 Arcade Archives (PS4, XONE), Wii
ASO II: Last Guardian (Alpha Mission II) 12/21/2010 12/22/2010 12/22/2010 Arcade Archives (PS4, Switch), Wii (JP)
Baseball Stars 2 7/19/2011 8/24/2011 7/14/2011 Steam, Wii
Baseball Stars Professional 12/21/2010 12/22/2010 12/22/2010
Fatal Fury: King of Fighters 12/21/2010 12/22/2010 12/22/2010 Arcade Archives (PS4, Switch, XONE), Wii
League Bowling 12/21/2010 12/22/2010 12/22/2010 Wii (JP)
Magician Lord 12/21/2010 12/22/2010 12/22/2010 Wii (JP)
Metal Slug 12/21/2010 12/22/2010 12/22/2010 Arcade Archives (PS4, Switch, XONE), Metal Slug Anthology (PS2, PSP/Vita, PS4, Wii), Steam, Wii
Metal Slug 2 10/11/2011 3/28/2012 9/29/2011 Metal Slug Anthology (PS2, PSP/Vita, PS4, Wii), Steam, Wii
Samurai Shodown 12/21/2010 12/22/2010 12/22/2010 Arcade Archives (PS4), Samurai Shodown Anthology (PSP/Vita), Wii
Shock Troopers 8/30/2011 3/28/2012 8/25/2011 Steam, Wii
Super Sidekicks 12/21/2010 12/22/2010 12/22/2010
The King of Fighters ’94 12/21/2010 12/22/2010 12/22/2010 Arcade Archives (PS4, Switch, XONE), KOF Collection (PSP/Vita), Wii
The King of Fighters ’95 7/19/2011 8/3/2011 7/14/2011 Arcade Archives (XONE), KOF Collection (PSP/Vita), Wii
The King of Fighters ’96 10/11/2011 3/28/2012 9/29/2011 KOF Collection (PSP/Vita), Wii
World Heroes 8/30/2011 12/21/2011 8/25/2011 Arcade Archives (PS4, XONE), Wii


*Listing and release dates from
Wikipedia.