Capcom Fighting Collection 2 review: Return of the King

by

In discussions among veteran enthusiasts of the fighting game realm, Capcom vs. SNK 2 often comes up as a top contender for the greatest fighters ever. Back in ’90s arcades, fans of fighting games were divided between SNK and Capcom, with Fatal Fury and Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom and The King of Fighters being the primary titles. Despite their apparent similarity, these games originated from two separate camps, and players eventually gravitated towards either the unique style of play offered by Capcom or SNK. Over the years, both styles have evolved through various sequels, giving rise to distinct generations of fighting game formulas. The allure of a collection like Capcom Fighting Collection 2 lies in the fact that the way these games feel remains timeless, but none quite capture the essence of every title that came before as perfectly as Capcom vs. SNK 2 does.

In simple terms, CVS2 honors the legacy of both Capcom and SNK by incorporating its Groove system. You’ll find options like C, A, P, S, N, and K Grooves, each providing unique subsystems including running, dashing, rolling, and more. These features, reminiscent of past Capcom and SNK games, make CVS2 a celebration for both developers, their characters, and fans alike. Not only does it offer online play on modern platforms, but it also includes an additional seven games to enjoy.

Although CVS2 and even the original CVS are popular choices, many gamers were particularly thrilled by the resurrection of the Power Stone series, which hasn’t been active since a PSP port about 20 years ago. The original game and its sequel, Power Stone 2, are both available in CFC2, offering online multiplayer alongside the original game’s Adventure and Arcade modes. Power Stone stands out as one of the few true competitors to Super Smash Bros., featuring a four-player fighting game where players can brawl, with items and projectiles adding to the mayhem. Despite not having a new release in almost 25 years, Power Stone 2 remains an enjoyable experience during local multiplayer gatherings.

For a significant period, Capcom didn’t strive to challenge Namco in the 3D fighting game market dominated by Tekken and Soulcalibur. However, their efforts are frequently recognized as cult classics, such as Power Stone and Project Justice, also known as Rival Schools 2. This is a team-based fighter where you can knock opponents off the stage in 3 versus 3 matches. The characters represent various school gangs and stereotypes, ranging from boxers to football players, and are reminiscent of the Japanese Bancho subculture popular at the time, like Jotaro from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.

If you enjoy dueling in a 1v1 setting with a unique take on Capcom’s brief foray into 3D fighting, you might appreciate Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein, also known as Star Gladiator 2 in Japan. The characters in this game draw significant influence from Star Wars, but they’ve got enough quirky charm to stand out on their own – except for the one who bears a striking resemblance to a short Chewbacca. While it appears to be one of the less prominent games in the collection, it’s still a fun addition and a nice touch.

Unfortunately, CFC2 does not include the original Star Gladiator and Rival Schools games. Instead, it seems to highlight Capcom’s Dreamcast and Sega Naomi arcade games, which were not released on either of those platforms.

All Capcom’s retro collections share one commonality: they could benefit from having a Street Fighter game. As Capcom seems to be running low on unique versions of Street Fighter for their arcade compilations, CFC2 offers Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper instead. This is a distinctive arcade version of the game previously exclusive to Japan’s Sega Naomi hardware, mainly addressing bugs and glitches found in earlier iterations. However, don’t expect to find the extra characters from the PSP’s Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX in this edition. It’s a welcome addition, but it appears as though it was included more to keep Street Fighter enthusiasts interested in buying the collection, given that CVS2 was already included.

If you’re a fan of fighting games, have friends who are, or simply wish to explore one of the finest aspects of fighting game legacy, then Capcom Fighting Collection 2 stands out as an excellent choice. Despite the less impressive addition of Capcom Fighting Evolution, which I didn’t mention here, this collection is still well worth purchasing. Containing at least three unique games that various audiences will frequently revisit for multiplayer gaming, the rest of the package serves merely as a bonus. Capcom Fighting Collection 2 underscores the fact that Capcom and SNK have produced some of the greatest fighting games ever made, and with this collection, you don’t need to be a veteran to realize it’s true.

Read More

2025-05-14 19:27