Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Review — A Nostalgic Knockout or a Dusty Comeback?

For us oldies — aka anyone on the far side of their 30s, the last few years have been a feast of nostalgia, especially when it comes to remasters and retro collections. This golden era of re-releases has given longtime fans the chance to relive their youth while introducing new players to the classics that shaped gaming history. Capcom, a giant in the fighting game genre, has leaned heavily into this trend, and fans have been reaping the rewards.

Capcom fighting game producer Shuhei Matsumoto once said in an interview with IGN that the objective behind these collections is to “reach as many people who may have never had the opportunity to play these games back in the day.” With that mission in mind, Capcom has been on a roll. Over the past three years, they’ve re-released a total of 25 classic arcade fighting games across three major compilations: Capcom Fighting Collection in 2022, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics in 2024 (my personal favourite), and now Capcom Fighting Collection 2 in 2025.

So, does this latest compilation deliver a KO, or should some of these titles have stayed in the vault?

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 features eight titles spanning from 1998 to 2004. In chronological order, here’s the lineup:

• Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein (1998)
• Power Stone (1999)
• Power Stone 2 (2000)
• Project Justice (2000)
• Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 (2000)
• Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001 (2001)
• Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper (2001)
• Capcom Fighting Evolution (2004)

The main reason you’d pick this up is for the heavy hitters. Capcom vs. SNK 1 & 2, and both Power Stone games. In my opinion, these are the marquee titles. They look amazing and play nearly pitch-perfect to their original arcade versions. That said, other entries like Plasma Sword and Project Justice also hold a strong cult following. They may not do much for me personally, but for some players, these niche gems might be the main reason to grab this compilation.

That’s not to say the rest of the roster is filler. Cult favourites still have their niche fan bases. While they may not have the same mainstream pull, their inclusion gives the collection more depth and a sense of completeness. Depending on your history with these games, they might be hidden gems or simply curiosities.

One important detail to note is that these aren’t remasters or remakes. What’s on offer are faithful reproductions of the original arcade versions. This is game preservation, not reinvention. Capcom has made the conscious decision to present these games exactly as they were. A decision that may delight purists and disappoint those expecting a little bit more than what was on offer during their respective console releases.

Visually, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a mixed bag, but in a good way. The 2D games, especially Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, hold up remarkably well with crisp pixel art, fluid animation, and iconic character design. There’s something timeless about that era of sprite-based fighters. On the other hand, the 3D games like Plasma Sword and Power Stone show their age. They’re blocky, a bit awkward, and undeniably rooted in that early 3D experimental era. But that’s part of their charm; it serves as a reminder of how far the genre has come.

Controls feel tight across the board, and the overall performance is solid. Input is responsive to the action with no lag or delay. This feels like the arcade in the palm of your hand, and for fighting game fans, that level of authenticity matters.

Other great additions to these games include online play, cooperative modes, training modes, art galleries, and the ability to adjust graphical filters to replicate old TV sets. There are also difficulty settings, an option to listen to a variety of musical tracks, and detailed character renders. It’s a treasure trove of options to explore and customise to your heart’s content.

One of the biggest standouts for me, as I mentioned earlier, is the Capcom vs. SNK series. The games are fast-paced and frenetic, offering a wide range of playstyles that allow you to approach the game in many different ways. Power Stone was another standout, a huge hit on the Dreamcast that often competed with Smash Brothers as the ultimate home console party/fighting game.

I had an absolute blast revisiting these titles. It was great to finally play them again after so many years. While I wasn’t particularly fond of games like Plasma Sword or Project Justice, I can still appreciate what they were trying to achieve back in the day. They just didn’t resonate with me. They felt a bit too chaotic, or it came across too basic. There didn’t seem to be consistency with the gameplay of these titles. But as with anything, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There’s definitely something for every eclectic taste to enjoy here.