SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash

SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash is a card game crossover between SNK and Capcom, released for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. It is the first game in the Card Fighters series and the first in the SNK vs. Capcom series as a whole. The game was released in November 21, 1999 in two different edition: the SNK Version and the Capcom Version.

Description and Gameplay
The first iteration in the series is a collectible card game with the theme being a crossover between the two companies. The game contains many references to both SNK and Capcom's games, early and new. In spite of being a crossover, the game does not bolster competition between the companies. The characters and the cards are illustrated in super deformed art style, and maps are created in overhead RPG style. Aside from card battles, one of the main goals of the game is deck building and card collecting. To do so, the player must battle several computer characters and complete the story mode to have as many cards as possible.

Gameplay focuses mainly on "card fights", where two players (two human players, or a human and the computer) play against each other, using their decks. Each deck must contain 50 cards of two different types: character cards (further divided in SNK and Capcom cards), and action cards. Character cards represent a character from either SNK's or Capcom's fictional universes and are the main kinds of cards in the game. A character card have two statistics: BP and SP. BP, short for Battle Points, are the character's attacking power and health points. Each card deals damage according to his current BP, and if taken damage, has its BP lown down accordingly. If a character card's BP reaches 0, it is discarded. SP, short for Soul Points, are an amount of points each player has that can be used to perform special actions. Each character card concedes a specific amount of SP to the player the moment it is brought into play. Character cards may also have special abilities that come in three different ways, represented visually by a square, a triangle and a circle. Square abilities must be activated with a character card already in play, and may be activated at any time by the player's choice. Triangle abilities are usually offensive abilities automatically activated when the character card is put into play. Circle abilities are passive or debuffing abilities active at all times so long as the character card is in the ring. Most character cards may also receive a "back-up". Back-ups are made during the main phase. The player uses one of his character cards to give back-up to another character card in play (every character card has a specific short list of possible back-ups). This adds 300 BP to the character in play.

SP are used mainly for two actions: Union Attacks and playing Action Cards. Union Attacks are special attacks on which two or three character cards are joined together for a single attack. Usually, a character card can counter another character card's attack. With Union Attacks, an enemy character card counters two or three character cards, one after the other, and if any of the united character cards survives, it will proceed to damage the opponent's HP with its remaining BP. Action cards have several special effects, each having a specific SP cost. There is no limit for Action card usage, save for the player's SP sum.

Both players have a set amount of HP (Health Points), which can vary from 2000 to 3000, depending on the match. The player who first lowers the other player's HP to 0 is considered the winner. To do that, a player must use his character cards to attack his opponent. The opponent can choose to counter the attack with any of his character cards, in order to defend himself. Each character card can counterattack another character card, except on Union Attacks, on which case, one character card counters all character cards involved in the attack.

The game is divided in phases. First, comes the draw phase, on which, in the beginning of a player's turn, he draws a card from his pile. Then, comes the set phase, on which the player sets a character card in the ring. A character card that has just been put into play cannot attack. A player may have up to three character cards in play at a time. In the set phase, a player may also use any action cards as he sees fit. Then, comes the attack phase, on which the player may or may not choose to attack his opponent. After the attack is complete, the player's turn automatically ends. And finally, comes the counterattack phase, on which, during the opponent's attack, the player may choose to counterattack with any (or none) of his characters cards currently in play.

Story
The player controls a male or female character of his choice (Shin or Kei in the SNK version, Cap or Comet in the Capcom version) that takes part in the SC Tournament, a competition where each player must visit six different locations and defeat their hosts, receiving a specific SC Coin for each victory. When the player has all six SC Coins, he proceeds to the finals in order to fight against his rival to become the champion.

Characters

 * Shin - the hero of the SNK edition and the rival character of the Capcom edition. Shin is a brash and cocky beginner at card battling who yearns to defeat Cap/Comet and become the champion of the SC Tournament.
 * Kei - the heroine of the SNK edition. Kei is a girl from west Japan who takes part in the SC Tournament. In the Capcom edition, she is one of the semifinalists.
 * Cap - the hero of the Capcom edition and the rival character of the SNK edition. Cap was the champion of the previous SC Tournament and wishes to repeat the deed one more time.
 * Comet - the heroine of the Capcom edition. Comet is Cap's little sister and takes part in the SC Tournament. In the SNK edition, she is one of the semifinalists.
 * The Kid - The Kid is the card leader at Joy Joy, and Shin and Kei's coach. He originally uses a deck filled with characters with triangle abilities. In the SNK version, he receives an invitation to the semifinals.
 * Fo - Fo is the card leader at Lost World, and Cap and Comet's coach. In the Capcom version, it is she who goes to the semifinals instead of the Kid.
 * Kana - Kana is the card leader at Plaza Capcom and dresses just like Chun-Li. She specializes in Capcom character cards. She gives away Darkstalkers character cards after the player completes the game.
 * Harumi - Harumi is the card leader at Neo Geo Land and is based on SNK's classic voice actress Harumi Ikoma. She is also the host of the Neo Chupi radio show and a famous idol. She specializes in SNK character cards. Harumi gives away Samurai Shodown character cards after the player completes the game.
 * Zombie - Zombie is the card leader at SC Park. He is one of the zombies featured in the Resident Evil Mansion attraction at the park, but challenges the player after he defeats Mikami. His deck is filled with monsters and other inhuman characters.
 * Yosiki - Yosiki is one of the hosts of the SC Card Clash tournament. He starts showing up in random locations after the player has got five SC Coins. He uses a deck that is a copy of the player's current equipped deck, and will always reward the player with character cards of the opposite company (Capcom in the SNK version, SNK in the Capcom version). He is based on Yoshiki Okamoto, one of the designers for the Street Fighter series.
 * Nishi - Nishi is another host of the SC Card Clash tournament. He rewards the player with a strong card if he is defeated. He is likely based on Takashi Nishiyama.
 * Taka - Taka is a card fighter in Joy Joy.
 * Nori - Nori is a card fighter in Lost World. Nori gives away Street Fighter character cards after the player completes the game.
 * Saki - Saki is a card fighter in Plaza Capcom.
 * Yuki - Yuki is a card fighter in Plaza Capcom.
 * Aki - Aki is a card fighter in Plaza Capcom.
 * Take - Take is a card fighter in Neo Geo Land and Mika's boyfriend. He was based on Takeshi, a character created by Keiko Kamitani. Take gives away Fatal Fury/Art of Fighting character cards after the player completes the game.
 * Mika - Mika is a card fighter in Neo Geo Land and Take's girlfriend. She was based on a character created by Harumi Ikoma. Mika gives away character cards from Capcom's arcade games after the player completes the game.
 * Nonaka - Nonaka is a guest in Harumi's Neo Chupi radio show and participates in the mini-tournament held in Neo Geo Land. He is based on Masahiro Nonaka, Kyo Kusanagi's former voice actor and his deck has many references to Kyo and to fire. Nonaka gives away King of Fighters character cards after the player completes the game.
 * Keiko - Keiko co-hosts Harumi's Neo Chupi radio show and takes part in the mini-tournament held there. She is based on Keiko Kamitani, Rimururu's voice actress and her deck has many references to Rimururu and ice-based characters.
 * Yuri - Yuri is a card fighter found in SC Park. She is based on Yuri Amano, former Ibuki's voice actress.
 * Mikami - Mikami is a card fighter found in SC Park. His deck has a horror theme, having many monsters and non-human character cards. He is based on Shinji Mikami, the creator of the Resident Evil series.
 * The Mask - The Mask is a mysterious character who starts showing up in random locations after the player completes the game. If defeated a certain number of times, he will reward the player with strong, rare cards.

Featured series
This is a list of game series featured in the cards of the game.


 * SNK side
 * The King of Fighters
 * Fatal Fury
 * Art of Fighting
 * Ikari Warriors
 * Athena
 * Samurai Shodown
 * The Last Blade
 * Savage Reign
 * Metal Slug
 * Buriki One
 * Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy
 * Super Sidekicks
 * Quiz King of Fighters
 * Last Resort
 * Robo Army


 * Capcom side
 * Street Fighter
 * Final Fight
 * Darkstalkers
 * Resident Evil
 * Mega Man
 * Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness
 * Rival Schools
 * Star Gladiator
 * Breath of Fire
 * Strider
 * Ghosts 'n Goblins
 * Power Stone
 * Red Earth
 * Captain Commando
 * Legendary Wings
 * Forgotten Worlds
 * 194X
 * Quiz Nanairo Dreams
 * Commando
 * Capcom World 2

In-game references
Throughout the game, many references to both SNK and Capcom regarding places, people, games or the companies themselve can be found. This is a list of some verified references found in the game:
 * Neo Geo Land, Neo Geo World and Plaza Capcom were all based on real-life arcades and amusement parks.
 * In Neo Geo World, there is a line for a new attraction called No Fate, based on the attraction of the same name in the real park. Peep Gem, another Neo Geo World attraction is also featured in the game.
 * Also in Neo Geo World, there is a club named Pao Pao Cafe and its bartender is called Richard.
 * Joy Joy is based on Puzzled, which is called Joy Joy Kid in Japan. The Kid is the card leader in Joy Joy. It also appears in Card Fighters 2.
 * Lost World is based on Forgotten World, which is called Lost Worlds in Japan. The shopkeeper in Lost World, Sylphie, is based on the girl of the same name in Forgotten World. The Dust Dragon is based on a boss in the game. It also appears in Card Fighters 2.
 * Harumi Ikoma, Masahiro Nonaka and Keiko Kamitani make cameo appearances in Neo Geo Land, where they are hosting the Neo Chupi radio show and receiving opponents. The player must defeat Harumi in order to receive the Neo Geo Land SC Coin.
 * Yuri Amano, the voice actor for Ibuki appears as a card fighter in SC Park.
 * A character in SC Park named Yagyu is clearly a reference to Jubei Yagyu.
 * Also in Neo Geo Land, the characters Take and Mika were creations of Keiko Kamitani and Harumi Ikoma, respectively, for Neo Chupi.
 * Throughout the game, many Neo Carnival cranes can be found. Some can be played in order to receive cards.
 * A character named simply "The Mask" is visually similar to G-Mantle.
 * The default names of the main characters are all based on the names of their respective companies. "Shin" comes from Shin Nihon Kikaku, and "Kei" comes from SNK. "Cap" comes from Capcom, as well as "Comet" (Capcom).
 * A girl in Joy Joy is planning on adopting a dog and naming him Poppy or Rush.
 * In Neo Geo Land, there is person named Eiji Shiroi who says is working on a new design.
 * On the SC Park, there is an attraction called Resident Evil Mansion, where actors dress up and enact scenes from the Resident Evil games. In a room in the mansion, one can see an actor dressed as Chris Redfield fighting a horde of zombies. After the player completes the game, Chris will trade away his Kyo or Ryu cards. In the mansion, there's a card fighter named Mikami, who was based on Shinji Mikami, the creator of the Resident Evil series.
 * A character called Akiman is based on Akira Yasuda, one of Capcom's main illustrators at the time.

Versus TCG
SNK vs. Capcom: Gekitou Card Fighters Versus TCG (SNK VS. CAPCOM 激突カードファイターズ VERSUS TCG) is a real trading card game version of the game released only in Japan. It is mostly the same as the game version, but with some rule differences, like the deck having a limit of 40 cards and the addition of a star ability type.