Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Review – A Solid Combo

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 on PC

Nostalgia is a powerful force, and when you combine that with utter classics in the fighting game genre, it is indeed a potent union. Capcom is well aware of that, having fulfilled many players’ dreams with Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics in September 2024. To keep up the momentum, the company has unleashed Capcom Fighting Collection 2 two years after the first, and for the most part, the good form continues.

Consisting of eight different titles across both 2D and 3D fighting, the main attractions are undoubtedly the two Capcom Vs. SNK games, with Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper and Capcom Fighting Evolution completing the 2D set. On the 3D fornt, you are looking at Power Stone and its sequel, Project Justice, and Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein.

It is a nice variety of games for any fighting game aficionado to sink their teeth into, wrapped nicely within the updated package of quality-of-life improvements, rollback netcode, and behind-the-scenes access to stuff like concept art and music. The emulation done here by Capcom is stupendous, with the games retaining their magic while being modern at the same time. But as they were in the past, the quality tends to differ from title to title.

Needless to say, the best of the bunch in Capcom Fighting Collection 2 are the two Capcom Vs. SNK games. The impressive roster aside, the fighting remains as crisp and tight as before. The Ratio system, which allows for manual balancing for your chosen fighters, means it’s much easier to get a fair fight if you are playing someone new, or give yourself the added challenge of taking on an overpowered foe.

It is also great to have the option to switch between the types of meters that characters can draw from during the fight. Perhaps you prefer the old-school tradition of tiered meters, or if you want, there’s always the option of charging whenever you have the breathing room. The flexibility on show for these two games is simply outstanding, and it’s the same across the board whether you are fighting offline or using the rollback netcode to its full potential online.

As for Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, you are getting that arcade experience you know and love. Furthermore, the roster is bolstered by previously console-exclusive characters, which means this is the best version of the game that you are ever going to get. Finally, we come to Capcom Fighting Evolution, the last of the 2D offerings, which is distinctly messy compared to the other games.

First, it’s a team-based affair that draws from Capcom’s colourful history of characters, but they are divided by the games they come from, and adhere to those systems. Clashing systems and the need to wrap your head around so many different elements make it less of an enjoyable affair than it should be, and there is no doubt it is the weakest of the bunch.

Moving on to the 3D fighting goodness, Power Stone and Power Stone 2 easily prove why they remain the top of many wishlists for a treatment like Capcom Fighting Collection 2. The arena perspective gives fighters plenty of room to manoeuvre, and using items to gain an advantage still makes for good fun.

The most refined experience is with the latter, as the first game is probably too slow and clunky, with an unbalanced AI that detracts from the fighting. Power Stone 2, on the other hand, really brings the party with four-player brawls, with everything feeling much tighter comparatively. Either way, you get to pick from two excellent games here.

For those who want to relive more of that Dreamcast goodness, Project Justice will be right up your alley with its visuals and team structure. Building on the foundations of Rival Schools: United By Fate, you can still get your fill of high school battles with familiar archetypes with full three-dimensional movement thrown in for good measure.

Then there is probably the most unique entry out of the bunch in Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein. Ahead of its time, this is a fighter that boasts genre-breaking mechanics. After all, it’s not every day that you get to nullify your opponent’s super meter entirely with Plasma Fields while you wail away, all powered up. Its futuristic narrative is also quite interesting to see all the way through.

Whether you choose to fight locally or online, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 has got you covered in all the best ways. Sure, not all of the games are made equal, and that’s true both in the past and the present, but in terms of a collection, it is still a significantly outstanding one. It remains to be seen just how much more Capcom can draw from the well, but since we are here, let’s enjoy the goodness while it lasts.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 will launch on May 16 on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.