Neo Geo X Handheld Gets Official

Weeks ago, an image floated around the Internet of a rumored handheld device, a la Nintendo DS or PSP Vita, that would give mobile gamers access to the best games ever to hit the old Neo Geo AES console. Yes, we’re talking Metal Slug, Fatal Fury and of course, The King of Fighters. Well, while it seemed unlikely that any company would release a handheld focusing on a specific console’s games, it is in fact real. And I’m excited.

This week, companies Tommo Inc and BLAZE jointly issued a press release that said the “Neo Geo X” would be shipping with 20 classic games, feature an SD card slot, a 3.5″ LCD screen, A/V output, internal speakers and a headphone port. The entire list of games that will ship with the device are as follows:

• Art of Fighting
• Baseball Stars
• Cyber Up
• Fatal Fury
• Fatal Fury Special
• Football Frenzy
• King of the Monsters
• Last Resort
• League Bowling
• Magician Lord
• Metal Slug
• Mutation Nation
• NAM 1975
• Samurai Showdown
• Sengoku
• Super Sidekicks
• The King of Fighters ’94
• The Ultimate 11
• Top Players Golf
• World Heroes

At this point, nothing aside from what’s been mentioned is known about the device. Whether it’s online-capable is unknown, and so is the use of its included SD card slot. The Neo Geo AES had a load of great games, however, so I am hoping that future expandability is in the plan. The price is also up in the air, so let’s hope it doesn’t cost as much as the AES when it was first released in 1991 ($650 USD).