Fighting game lovers have been waiting for the return of some of the most cult classic names from the niche of arcade fighting games. The first Capcom Fighting Collection debuted last October and featured all-time classics from the mid to late ’90s such as X-Men: Children of the Atom, Marvel Super Heroes, and the legendary Marvel vs. Capcom 2. And now, Capcom is planning to release Capcom Fighting Collection 2, which aims to capture the essence of the early 2000s and is set to feature an even grander roster of games.
This new anthology serves as a compilation of the best fighting games from that time, and is officially set to be released on May 16. Following the hands-on preview I got of the game, it is apparent that the collection doubles down as a love letter to nostalgic gamers, while also offering a unique experience enriched with modern touches.
Capsule Collection of Fighting Classics II
Whereas the demo of Capcom Fighting Collection II was limited to three playable games: Capcom Vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millenium 2001, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, and Project Justice, the full version contains eight iconic titles.
- Capcom Vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 PRO
- Capcom Vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millemium 2001
- Capcom Fighting Evolution
- Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper
- Power Stone
- Power Stone 2
- Project Justice
- Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein
All titles in the collection have accompanying original artwork, marquee cards, instruction and move lists, making it easy for seasoned players and newcomers to enjoy the legacy these games offer.
Revisiting Classics: Underrated Gems in Fighting Games
Not every title from the collection was part of my past, but exploring Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper and Project Justice proved to be more interesting than I expected. Even as polygonal graphics age in Project Justice, it remains a fun-to-play fighting game with depth. Having access to educational resources in addition to contextual information made the process of learning the basics from each game easy, making the collection feel like a museum of fighting games.
Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper – The Collection’s Loving Secret
One of the most fun fish in this barrel is Alpha Street Fighter 3 Upper – a game that was ever so renowned for being near impossible to locate outside of Japan. Unlike others, this one comes with the whole pack and has six more characters which were available only in certain consoled versions. This also fixes the infamous gameplay issue known as the V-ISM infinite glitch that rocked the balance of the game and competitively ruined it for many in the West.
Capcom vs. SNK 2: The Glory of the Capcom Fighting Collection
Let’s face it, the best part of Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is undoubtedly Capcom vs SNK 2: Mark of the Millenium 2001. Approved as one of the most wonderful of the fighter games ever, CvS2 is particularly special due to the most colorful character select screen and legendary […] with arguably the most complex combat system. There’s the unique Groove System that lets one pick from different combat styles based on older Capcom and SNK fighting games which makes it so much more strategic from a gameplay standpoint.
Playing CvS2 made me feel the same excitement I had over two decades back. The combination of A-Groove Ken’s custom combos and overwhelming four ratio Haohmaru as opponents is seamless in the game, which has excellent visuals. Smoother gameplay is also guaranteed with modern arcade sticks and controllers, which is better than ever before.
Online Play and Modern Enhancements
Rollback net code for every game upload is one of the outstanding improvements to Capcom Fighting Collection 2, guaranteeing multilayer for the users. The collection is a huge improvement in comparison to community driven alternatives such as Fightcade, which can be useful st times, yet fails at pace server stability.
The collection also contains graphical filters tailored to enhance the appearance of these classics on modern screens. Unfortunately such filters are not labeled with characteristic descriptions making it harder for the players to choose the most suitable filter for his display.
A Collection That Is Valuable and User-Friendly
This release’s most significant feature is how it assists people in accessing previously obscure titles. CvS2 and Power Stone 2 have been nearly impossible to legally purchase since their original releases on the PS2 and Dreamcast over a decade ago. Now being able to play these classics on modern consoles is much easier than searching for retro hardware, so that is a huge bonus.
Players are given an outstanding 8 fighting games for just $40, which also include bonus artwork, reworked training modes, some added music, and even a limited edition comic book (in physical copies). These might be considered re-releases, but anyone nostalgic for early 2000s fighting games will gleefully purchase this collection.
Concluding Observations
The Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is not just a compilation of aged games but a cherished love letter to a distinctive period in the history of fighting games. This anthology is perfect for both old fans who are attuned to reliving the classics and newer audiences wanting to try the legendary games for the first time. With the integration of iconic gameplay, modern updates, and online multiplayer Capcom has shown they are truly restoring compassion for the community.
You can preorder The Capcom Fighting Collection 2 for $40 starting May 16.
