Capcom Fighting Collection 2 hands-on preview: An essential piece of fighting game history

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Capcom excels in bringing classic arcade games onto contemporary systems. They’ve already released 64 such games across their Capcom Arcade Stadium collections, and now we’re anticipating a third installment in the Capcom Fighting Collection series. This new collection gathers retro fighting games that many enthusiasts consider the best in the genre. In essence, yes, it’s another compilation of old games, but for fans of these classic collections, releases like this are exactly what they’ve been hoping for.

As a dedicated fighting game enthusiast, I’d highly recommend adding Capcom Fighting Collection 2 to your gaming library. This fantastic package brings back the iconic Capcom vs. SNK series with online multiplayer mode, alongside the much-loved Dreamcast Power Stone games. You’ll also find Project Justice, the lesser-known but equally enjoyable Plasma Sword, the top-tier arcade version of Street Fighter Alpha 3, and the ever-popular Capcom Fighting Evolution. It’s a must-have for any fighting game fan!

This collection is ruled by the dynamic duo of Capcom vs. SNK games. Adored by fighting enthusiasts, the prospect of these classics coming back with online multiplayer is what makes this bundle truly special. As suggested by the title, they unite characters from both Capcom and SNK rosters to battle it out on a shared stage. The first game offers you the choice to play in either a Capcom or an SNK style, while the sequel introduces six distinct playstyles, offering numerous possibilities for combinations and strategies among the vast cast of characters.

One aspect I really enjoy about these collections is that they always include something intriguing in the mix, and this sentiment applies to Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein as well. While Capcom isn’t typically associated with modern-day 3D fighting games – that territory belongs to Bandai Namco with Tekken and Soulcalibur – it’s worth noting that Capcom still made commendable efforts in this genre. The characters in Plasma Sword may not be instantly recognizable, and they do bear a resemblance to Star Wars characters at times, but the gameplay mechanics are robust, featuring dynamic animations. Although it falls slightly behind Tekken in terms of its time, while playing, one can envision a contemporary Capcom excelling in 3D fighter games.

The game titled Project Justice, belonging to the Rival Schools series, stands out as something unique. Instead of typical schoolchildren, these characters are inspired by anime and find themselves entangled in gangs. They’ve picked up quite a few fighting styles, ranging from ninja arts to boxing positions, which makes gameplay an enjoyable experience. It offers over-the-top aerial combination moves and a surprising degree of improvisation and character expression.

Fans of the Dreamcast, in particular, will delight in the resurrection of four-player brawls with Power Stone 2. To this day, it remains one of the most enjoyable Super Smash Bros.-style multiplayer games ever made, and it’s a blast to play even now.

Capcom recently announced that Capcom Fighting Collection 2, along with other fighting collections, will soon receive enhancements such as higher resolution options, an improved local multiplayer mode for every game, and more. These changes aim to address long-standing issues when playing original arcade versions of these games, making local play just as smooth and customizable as modern fighters. Fingers crossed that we get a chance to test out the update and all the games in the collection before its release on May 16, 2025.

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2025-04-15 18:17