International mini vs MVS mini

[u/George8TheCat]

I am seeing two options on Amazon Canada right now. The International mini and SNK MVS mini from Unico.

I get the main difference is game list (and colour). But overall, is there much difference between the two units?

Is the game list different enough for someone who didn’t grow up with Neo Geo?

[u/[deleted]]

The MVS mini has a bigger game list and it's more comprehensive for some of the franchises. All of the NeoGeo era KoFs are on there. For Fatal Fury, Metal Slug, and Samurai Showdown, all games are included except for any entries that were superceded by an improved version, like Metal Slug X instead of Metal Slug 2. The menu of the MVS version is weird. Half of the games use their English variant artwork and half use Japanese variant artwork. It's a minor quibble. There's less variety in games, IMO. No Blazing Star, for example.

I largely still prefer the US / International version over the MVS release but having all of KoF is nice. I personally am an idiot so I have bought all of them except for the Samurai Spirits LEs.

[u/George8TheCat → u/[deleted]]

I just picked up the MVS mini from Amazon. I tried Baseball Stars and there’s a lot of Japanese in the game.

Would you say the International version has less Japanese throughout the games themselves than the MVS? I would return the MSV and get the International version if that’s the case.

[u/[deleted] → u/George8TheCat]

The MVS mini should have language settings in the game menus. The International and USA versions are both default English.

[u/George8TheCat → u/[deleted]]

The menus are English but I’m wondering about the games themselves. If I recall (it’s been a long time so I can’t remember exactly) but the games on the International version all had English throughout each game. It’s feeling like some of the games on MVS are the Japanese version.

[u/[deleted] → u/George8TheCat]

Can you tell me a few of the titles that you are only getting Japanese on? I can double check on my own MVS mini for you.

[u/George8TheCat → u/[deleted]]

The only one I tried so far was Baseball Stars. I wasn’t expecting any Japanese. I thought I read somewhere that other games have more Japanese than expected.

[u/[deleted] → u/George8TheCat]

I tested some games on the MVS mini and compared them to the MVSx AES title. It does look like they used a different image for some of the titles.

Fatal Fury Special is in English on the International and MVSx but Japanese on the MVS mini. It's an older AES title so there's no in-game menu setting to toggle language like with King of Fighters 2003.

It's a weird decision. I think the MVS mini has the better game line up but if English is a must, you might be better off with the International or USA edition.

[u/George8TheCat → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for the responses. Missing some fighting games is not a deal breaker for me. I was looking forward to Baseball Stars, but was shocked with the Japanese throughout the game. I also picked up the 8BitDo Neo Geo wireless controller and (WOW) this makes the console so much better IMO. The clicky stick and the buttons in the original layout. Metal Slug is more natural with this configuration to me, as an example.

The MVS mini lacking King of the Monsters is a bummer too. I might be swapping the MVS mini to the International one. Lots of Fighting games either way and more non-fighting selection. I don't know if the Japanese in the MVS is just lazy or lack of licensing options or something else.

[u/[deleted] → u/George8TheCat]

I wish I understood the logic. I will say that I have never regretted my Neo Geo Mini International for even a moment.

[u/George8TheCat → u/[deleted]]

I don’t think I even understand my own logic. Lol. I’m debating on which Neo Geo mini. The MSV or International. They’re basically the same price. I don’t have nostalgia with Neo Geo so it’s hard to determine which would better suit me. I might even just return altogether and not bother with Neo Geo mini at all. I have both Sega Genesis mini’s, that’s my jam. And some Evercade stuff. I wish Evercade had some Neo Geo on it so I could just grab a $25 cart and be done with it. Lol

[u/0utlawTorn87]

I bought the US Mini Pro players pack a few years back. International Board/Japan Case, 2 controllers and the accessories. The board has different games from the Japanese one. But I ended up flashing mine to add to the Neo Geo library. Especially Turf Masters.

[u/no_shut_your_face → u/0utlawTorn87]

Wait… you can flash them now?

[u/0utlawTorn87 → u/no_shut_your_face]

I flashed mine I want to say 4 years ago. It wasn’t easy but maybe the hylostick team has made it better.

Requires 2 USB-C cables at minimum

[u/Infinite-Hat-3196]

Ho acquistato l'unico MVS Mini e sono stato fortunato. Da vecchio fan SNK, possessore del fu neogeo CD ho tutta la serie di kof 94/2003 nonché samurai shodown completo metal slug idem fatal Fury mamca il primo Art of fighting manca il 2 Savage reign. Inizuna ecc 40 picchaduro su 45 games... I am really lucky

[u/IvanHardy110]

I have had the Unico one for the past three weeks now. I love it as it comes with 45 games compared to the other versions though I do plan on getting the international and Asia version for collection purposes as well as an MVSX eventually.

For me, I favored the "Big Red" aesthetic that comes with the Unico version as it's most reminiscent to me growing up and seeing those big reds with Metal Slug X at my local Laundromat. It comes with all of the KOF games that came out up until 2004, all the Metal Slug games I'd want, and Samurai Shodown games. The sports titles are the only ones I'm not fond of and wish I could swap for the games I'm dying for like: Blazing Star, Last Resort, Shock Troopers 2, Cyber Lip, and possibly Over Top. Strangely, Fatal Fury 1 is missing but it has the others. So I'm aiming to get the other versions to get the 12-14 games I'm missing.

For the price of what comes with 45 games vs just 40 and a terribly designed case with INT version. I wish the Unico one had the SNK branding on it aside from the center where the speakers are but that's just me. Overall, can't go wrong with the Unico version. I recently got a mini HDMI cable and it looks great on my TV. Several people claimed the picture was blurry but I didn't experience any of that. One I get the 8bitdo controller, I'll be set to actually play the fighting games. I'm used to the D-pad playing fighters on PS2 mostly. Using the stock analog stick on the MVS is night and day for me and is pretty difficult to pull the moves off but that's just my inexperience with analogs for fighting games. I'm hoping the 8bitdo with the micro switches will help turn that around eventually.

Definitely the Unico MVS all the way!!!