Super Sidekicks 2+3
| Super Sidekicks 2 / Super Sidekicks 3 (SSK2 / SSK3) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developers |
SNK |
| Publishers |
SNK |
| Systems |
NeoGeo AES/MVS |
| NeoGeo CD | |
| Online Play |
Rollback netcode |
| Fightcade | |
Introduction
The Super Sidekicks games is a series of Neo Geo sports games surrounding the ever so popular sport of football (or soccer if you’re American / wrong). Released in 1992, the original Super Sidekicks game made a splash amongst many players and was proven to be popular in many regions for its simple, fast paced gameplay as well as its aesthetics. However, the game came with many flaws, like the inability to switch players as well as other mechanical shortcomings with the game (e.g: having a goal that was way too wide, making goals far too easy to get).
Why Both Super Sidekicks 2 and 3?
Which is why this wiki chooses to focus on Super Sidekicks 2 and Super Sidekicks 3, the sequels that created the Super Sidekicks game feel that people love and solidified these games as absolute must-plays on the Neo Geo.
Super Sidekicks 2 (1994) would add the ability to switch players and let go of the ball; as well as added more teams (from 12 to 48). Super Sidekicks 3 (1995) would add even more teams (from 48 to 64), and manually executed tricks (motion inputs, this really is a fighting game). The amount of options that these two games have, added an element of nuance and strategy to the Super Sidekicks series of games that make it an incredibly simple game to learn, but an incredibly hard game to master.
These sequels would prove more popular amongst players as well as be somewhat known amongst fighting game players for its (thanks to homo-genius) legendary “BUT!” goal screen when the game is played in French.
What About The Ultimate 11? Or Neo Geo Cup '98?"
Super Sidekicks 4 (otherwise known as The Ultimate 11) would come out in 1996, would feature EVEN more teams (from 64 to 80), as well as add the power bar mechanic, which would allow you to charge up a powered up shot that would be virtually unblockable and score a free goal if you had the ball long enough. This game was less popular amongst players despite the critical acclaim it did receive. The mechanical changes to Super Sidekicks 4 are controversial among players you ask, either they haven’t played the game or they don’t like the power bar as a mechanic since it nullifies a lot of the strategy that the older games had. This lack of interest is why the focus of this wiki remains on Super Sidekicks 2 and Super Sidekicks 3.
Neo-Geo Cup ‘98 is a remake of Super Sidekicks 3, however, the animations and designs are the same as the original with a slightly different menu look, replacement of teams and nerfed goalkeepers. There are mostly minor differences with the game though, so what is said about the Super Sidekicks 3 teams here are applicable to the arcade version of Neo-Geo Cup ‘98.
These games can be played online on FightCade with rollback netcode!
