Capcom Fighting Collection
Genre: Compilation / Fighting Game
Players: 1-2 Competitive (Local), 2-8 Competitive Tournament (Local Wireless), 2-9 Competitive Tournament (Online), Online Leaderboards
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Review:
(Note: This Game is included in the Compilation, Capcom Fighting Bundle, alongside Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. It is also included in Capcom Fighting Collection 1 + 2 Bundle, along with Capcom Fighting Collection 2.)
Capcom Fighting Collection, released in 2022 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, is a Compilation of 10 classic Arcade games that mostly consists of Fighting Games, and more specifically Fighting Games outside of Capcom’s megahit Street Fighter series (though there are a few of those games here as well).
Here is what I thought of each of the games in this collection:
| Game | Genre | # of Players | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberbots – Fullmetal Madness – | Fighting Game | 1-2 Competitive (Local) | B- |
tl;drThis fighting game with mechs is a bit confusing due to its unique approach to the genre, but that also makes it an interesting game that fans of the genre might want to give a try. The multitude of options makes this a bit intimidating for genre newcomers, though. | |||
| Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors | Fighting Game | 1-2 Competitive (Local) | B |
tl;drWhile it’s not nearly as iconic as the Street Fighter series it’s clearly modeled on, and its roster of only 10 fighters seems pretty quaint by today’s standards, this horror monster-themed take on the Fighting Game genre is still very good and even brings some new features to the genre that would become genre standards, like air blocking. Given the option, you’ll probably still want to go with one of the later games in the Darkstalkers franchise, but this is still a solid Fighting Game. | |||
| Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition | Fighting Game | 1-2 Competitive (Local) | B+ |
tl;drThis version of Street Fighter II lets you play using versions of the characters from each of the prior major versions of Street Fighter II. It makes for minor differences, but it’s a nice touch. I felt like the game’s detection for performing some moves seemed a bit off, and the game’s default difficulty setting has computer-controller characters dealing way more damage to you than you do to them, so you may want to adjust that all the way down before starting. This is still one of the greatest games of all time at its core, but I felt like this release didn’t show the game at its best. | |||
| Night Warriors: The Darkstalkers’ Revenge | Fighting Game | 1-2 Competitive (Local) | B |
tl;drThe second game in the Darkstalkers series makes the first game’s boss characters playable, adds two new characters, and allows players to save multiple Super bars at a time. Otherwise, this is much the same experience as the first Dark Stalkers. Which is to say, it’s good, if a bit dated. | |||
| Red Earth | Fighting Game | 1-2 Competitive (Local) | C+ |
tl;drWith only 4 playable characters, this game seems extremely limited for a Fighting Game, but I suppose you could argue that this is more like a Boss Rush take on the genre, with massive enemies to take down. However unique this makes Red Earth, it also makes it a lot more niche. Definitely not a game for everyone. | |||
| Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix | Fighting Game | 1-2 Competitive (Local) | A- |
tl;drThis is a chibi-ified and simplified take on the Street Fighter formula, but this actually makes this a pretty accessible game for newcomers to Fighting Games. There’s depth to be found here too, but if you’re a veteran of the genre the lack of complexity compared to most Fighting Games will probably make you want to skip this one. However, if you’re looking for all the fun of a modern Fighting Game without that complexity, Super Gem Fighter is an excellent choice. | |||
| Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo | Falling-Block Puzzle | 1-2 Competitive (Local) | A |
tl;drThis is one of the greatest Puzzle games ever made, with a flashy, colorful presentation along with some really fun combo mechanics and a multiplayer focus that makes this a great game to throw down in. Even if you have zero interest in the Street Fighter franchise and its characters, you should still consider this a must-have Puzzle game. | |||
| Vampire Hunter 2: Darkstalkers’ Revenge | Fighting Game | 1-2 Competitive (Local) | A- |
tl;drThis game is basically a version of Vampire Savior with the roster of fighters from the second Darkstalkers game. This is still a superb Fighting Game, though perhaps not all that necessary if you already have Vampire Savior. | |||
| Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire | Fighting Game | 1-2 Competitive (Local) | A- |
tl;drThe third game in the Darkstalkers franchise introduces multiple new characters, including some of the series’ most iconic characters, features slightly improved gameplay all-around, and utilizes a new “Damage Gauge System” that gets rid of “rounds” and makes each use of the life bar flow into the next. This game is 24 years old, and yet it still feels pretty close to modern pixel art 2D Fighting Games. | |||
| Vampire Savior 2: The Lord of Vampire | Fighting Game | 1-2 Competitive (Local) | A- |
tl;drYet again, this is just a version of Vampire Savior with a different roster. | |||
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It bears mention that the overwhelming majority of these games have appeared in either Capcom Arcade Stadium or Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium, available to purchase as a part of a bundle or a la carte for $4-$5 each. The only games that are not in those collections are Red Earth, Vampire Hunter 2: Darkstalkers’ Revenge, and Vampire Savior 2: The Lord of Vampire. So a total of 3 games out of 10. What’s more, both Vampire Hunter 2: Darkstalkers’ Revenge and Vampire Savior 2: The Lord of Vampire are basically just re-releases of Vampire Savior with a different roster, hardly worth getting this Compilation for. At the very least, Red Earth is only in this Compilation, and in fact this is the first time the game has been released on a home console. If you want a full rundown on which games appear in which packages, you can check here. Consult that before making a buying decision.
The good news is that nearly every one of the games in this Compilation is good, if not great, with the true standouts here being Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix, and Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire and its alternate versions. Unfortunately, probably the one worst game in this Compilation is the only truly unique game in this collection, Red Earth.
In addition to the games themselves, this bundle includes a full museum of content, including promo art, box art, manual scans, production art, and full soundtracks for all of the included games. Add to this the game’s support for both online and local wireless play, and you have quite a few features here that aren’t present in the Capcom Arcade Stadium titles… although I’m sad to say the online lobbies were completely deserted when I tested the game, so you may have to bring your own friends to play with. In addition to those features, each game includes screen settings, save states, and the ability to change button assignments (and even save a few custom layouts).
At this point, the one biggest remaining question is one of value. At $40, Capcom Fighting Bundle works out to $4 per game, which is pretty good considering the overall excellent quality of the games in this Compilation. Unfortunately, as I’ve kinda’ been alluding to throughout this review, this value is undercut greatly by the fact that most of the games in this bundle are available elsewhere on Nintendo Switch, and the few that are unique to this bundle are either just alternate versions of Vampire Savior, or the niche and somewhat lacking Red Earth. Having said that, the extra features and multiplayer options available here make this the better way to go if you’re looking to get most of the games in this package.
I have to be honest, the way Capcom is double-dipping with its content between this game and the Capcom Arcade Stadium releases makes it hard to determine the value of this game in the grand scheme of things. Should you get these games here or in Capcom Arcade Stadium 1 & 2? There are arguments either way, so that’s a decision you’ll have to make for yourself. However, just looking at the contents of this Compilation in and of itself, Capcom Fighting Collection is an excellent collection of classic arcade Fighting Games, and a must-have for fans of the genre.
tl;dr – Capcom Fighting Collection is a Compilation of 10 classic arcade games, mostly Fighting Games. Nearly all of the games in this Compilation are excellent… but nearly all of them are also in the Capcom Arcade Stadium titles. At the very least this Compilation comes with some good features and bonus content. Whether you get the included games in this Compilation or another, they are nevertheless superb Fighting Games, and fans of the genre should consider this Compilation a must-have.
Grade: B+
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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2022 Game Awards:
Runner-Up: Laziest Copycat
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