Despite Picross not initially performing as well as hoped in the West when Mario’s Picross on Super NES kicked off the nonogram puzzle series, the success of the Nintendo DS’ Picross DS a good decade or so later ensured most editions of this long-running franchise now make it outside of Japan. Although a Nintendo-owned IP, Jupiter has been self-publishing the series for many years, and most will be familiar with the plentiful Picross e and Picross S games that have appeared on Nintendo 3DS and Switch. Like any form of entertainment, collaborations with other companies and franchises are appealing and work wonders, and next in line for this addictive number-based puzzle is a match-up with SNK.
Following some already quality crossovers with the likes of Sega, Namco and Doraemon, Picross S: SNK Classics & Neo Geo Edition releases in tandem with another collaborative entry: Picross S: Capcom Classics Edition. These two well-established arcade fighting game experts have pitted their respective series together on many occasions, and fans can get a taste of that in Capcom Fighting Collection 2, where the Capcom vs. SNK titles offer up all the character dream bouts they desire.
It is a natural decision for Jupiter to keep broadening the Picross horizons, working with two more historically important and still relevant developer titans in the industry. Focus here is on Picross S: SNK Classics & Neo Geo Edition, where dozens of retro games from SNK’s arcade and Neo Geo system archives are represented to an extensive degree.
Putting the noggin to the test and filling in squares by using the number hints for each row, completed grid-based puzzles reveal familiar sprites from such recognisable franchises as The King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Samurai Shodown, The Last Blade, and Metal Slug. Players will also uncover pixel art from a range of other gems, including Beast Busters, Alpha Mission, Nam-1975, TNK III, Crossed Swords, Psycho Soldier, and all sorts of deep cuts from SNK’s storied history.
Completing the tougher Color Picross challenges will show off the sprites in animated format, spinning around or performing various moves for fighting game characters. It is definitely more rewarding going for Color Picross puzzles due to the animated sprite reveals, but it makes all other standard puzzle images feel less exciting as a result. It would have been great to open the completed images up for a closer look or to compare them with the full sprites from the games they come from.
Clip Picross, where mini puzzles must be completed in order to form a giant image, showcases promotional artwork of some of the games represented. Players can already hop into the gallery from the main menu to view key visuals; a lovely little extra that brings back all sorts of memories while reminding just how cool Neo Geo box art used to be. The selection is a little small, unfortunately, especially given the vast number of games represented here, but perhaps a more stacked gallery would be better served in a dedicated SNK compilation title.
Picross experts will be eager for major tests, and although a few giant puzzles provide that, it is the new Time Attack mode that will really challenge seasoned pros. With a strict timer in place that punishes each mistake further by taking off more seconds, players must try to solve nonograms as quickly as possible, all set to the backdrop of a fighting arena in which the likes of The King of Fighters’ Kyo and Fatal Fury‘s Terry unleash moves off to the side. Good luck!
Presentation is upped over traditional Picross entries, with the option to display scrolling artwork in the background, as well as the ability to turn on coordinates for the grid as a means of helping others when sharing online. The music selection is a mixed bag; there are a few solid choices, while others really grate, and it is still bothersome that track names aren’t shown, making it harder to know which is which when choosing one.
Picross S: SNK Classics & Neo Geo Edition is another excellent example of Jupiter’s collaborative efforts paying off, and this one can absolutely be added to the list for series fans eager for more nonogram madness. With another big name ticked off, surely it is only a matter of time before a Nintendo edition or dedicated entries featuring Super Mario or The Legend of Zelda are on the way. They would certainly make great companion pieces for both franchise’s 40th anniversaries.
