A Knockout Nostalgia Trip
Capcom is a developer synonymous with fighting games. The Street Fighter series is arguably the best example out there, and shows no signs of slowing with the release of Street Fighter 6.
It was for the franchise’s 35th anniversary that we got treated to Capcom Fighting Collection, a bundle of ten arcade versions of various fighting games released by the video game company over the decades. Nearly three years later the sequel, Capcom Fighting Collection 2, is almost upon us and I’ve been lucky enough to get some hands-on time with the latest bundle of fighters.
A Stacked Roster
Amongst others, the Capcom Fighting Collection 2 includes the following titles: Capcom vs SNK 2, Project Justice, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Capcom vs SNK, Power Stone 2, Plasma Sword 2.
Fighting games require a certain set of skills, and these are no different. Long and varied move sets require all sorts of button combos so thankfully you can jump into a training mode first if you wish. In Capcom Fighting Collection 2 you can review the move lists, as well as view the original instruction cards that were attached to the arcade cabinets themselves. Cool.
To further compensate those who are rubbish at these types of games (incidentally, thank you Capcom), you are also gifted the ability to quick save and pull off specials with one simple button. That’ll save you a bit of cash compared to those trips down the arcade.
Crossover Clashes and Global Combat
To kick off, I jumped into the Capcom vs. SNK games which are all about your play style. Combos and different speed options change up your experience depending on the type of fighter you are. Button mashing won’t get you too far either, as your opponents get gradually smarter and more difficult to defeat as you progress.
Street Fighter Alpha 3 UPPER is the title which is probably the closest to the classic arcade fighter experience. There’s not really any gimmicks here, it’s simply all your favourite Street Fighter characters touring the globe and trying to knock lumps off each other.
Project Justice and Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein are the most obscure entries I played. The first takes place across a network of schools where an evil master plan is being orchestrated, whereas the latter is set in a futuristic universe where the evil Dr Bilstein threatens the peace. I actually found this game to be the most accessible of the one on one fighters, perhaps due to the simplified control input and move set compared to some of the other entries.
But my favourite of the lot was Power Stone 2. I have fond memories of playing the ported version on Dreamcast and the nostalgia was almost overwhelming. I jumped straight into arcade mode and unlike the other games, it plays out on a 3D battlefield arena similar to Mario Party as four characters duke it out.
Only two players could advance through each round by balancing scrapping with their opponents while avoiding the constantly evolving stage at the same time. There are a whole range of items which appear to assist, but the most exciting part was unleashing your character’s special attack after collecting three power stones. Even after all these years, it’s bonkers but a lot of fun.
Online Arenas and Competitive Spirit
There’s an interesting mix of games included in Capcom Fighting Collection 2, and despite them all being fighting games, a good variation on show across 2D and 3D releases which originally appeared on a variety of platforms. There’s bound to be some games here even hardcore fans of the fighting genre haven’t played.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 boasts online play which can be accessed via some extremely slick lobbies. You can play casually or compete in ranked matches if you’re feeling competitive. Or take on the high score challenge and try to top the global leaderboards.
There’s also the ability to sift through several options, such as which regional version to play and the lobby you would like to wait in whilst matchmaking. As expected, the servers were extremely quiet so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in properly closer to the release date.
A Promising Package for Fighting Game Fans
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is shaping up to be a real crowd pleaser, as well as an avenue of discovery for fighting game enthusiasts. It will be punching and spin kicking its way to Xbox on 16th May 2025. Stay tuned for a full review closer to the time.
Huge thanks go out to Capcom for providing us access for preview purposes. We’ll be sure to remind you when Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is available for play on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Get it pre-ordered for £34.99 from the Xbox Store if you like.
