CROSSED SWORDS II

by ALPHA DENSHI / SNK

NEO GEO MVS NGM-054

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

The original Crossed Swords was classified as a real action RPG adventure quest game. Alpha Denshi put quite a bit of effort into trying to diversify the NEOGEO game library by implementing several original ideas for their game concepts. The vast majority of the NEOGEO games with unique genres came early on in the systems lifespan. Crossed Swords 2 expanded on the story from the first game with improved graphics and sounds.

Although Crossed Swords 2 was originally intended to be released on cartridge format in 1992, by the time it was ready for market, SNK had found their niche in the one-on-one fighting game genre. That genre became SNK's cash cow for the remainder of the NEO-GEO's lifespan. The software design for the CARTRIDGE based system was re-directed and almost completely influenced by the revenue trends of the arcade industry. This fact sadly led to the immediate cancelation of Crossed Swords 2.

However, all was not lost because as luck would have it, later down the road in 1995, SNK tried to re-market the NEO-GEO platform to the home console video game market with a less expensive CD ROM based system. And to help generate interest in this new format, Crossed Swords 2 was resurrected from the dead and officially released as an exclusive game for the new system.

INFORMATION TIMELINE:

-- September 1992 -- a beta Crossed Swords 2 cartridge is tested on location

-- May 1995 -- Crossed Swords 2 is released for the NEOGEO CD home system.

-- June 1995 -- SNK mentions Crossed Swords 2 in this advertisement.

-- August 2015 -- Crossed Swords 2 is converted to cartridge format and made available for sale. (however the rom build does not contain CS2 music tracks, rather they are taken from CS1)

-- (?) -- A newer rom build of Crossed Swords 2 is assembled containing the correct music.

CURRENT STATUS: RELEASED


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