Capcom has been excelling with its revivals of classic titles, giving some truly beloved games a second wind for long-time fans, while also showcasing why Capcom is a legendary publisher to a whole new audience. Capcom Fighting Collection and Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle have laid a solid foundation, on which Capcom is clearly building, as Capcom Fighting Collection 2 introduces another eight classics into the mix.
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The lineup includes heavy hitters like Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight from 2000 and its 2001 sequel Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium, as well as the Dreamcast classic Power Stone and its sequel, Power Stone 2.
Additionally, it features Project Justice, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, 2004’s Capcom Fighting Evolution, and rounding off the collection is an early 3D Capcom fighting game, Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein, which dates back to 1998.
Heady Mix
This is an intriguing mix of brawlers, each offering near-perfect arcade ports. Aside from a few minor tweaks and additions—such as a museum mode featuring around 100 pieces of artwork from each title, ranging from promotional posters to prototype designs—there are also a few modern options to smooth out the rough edges.
If you have played Capcom Fighting Collection, then you already know what to expect: a well-curated selection of both cult favourites and fan-favourite fighters from the early 2000s.
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In some cases, this is the first time these games have been truly playable on modern hardware in decades.
Newcomers will be pleased to hear that all eight titles now include training modes, allowing players to learn the mechanics and master their combos. Surprisingly, these are fairly in-depth, with even the Street Fighter title offering the ability to drill down into hitbox data, should you wish to study the finer details.
Access All Arenas
Accessibility is key, with multiple difficulty options to choose from, as well as numerous settings to tailor the experience to your preference—such as the speed of the countdown timer on the character select screen, which, if you’re wondering, has four settings… four. That’s insane.
Game settings and options vary across titles, meaning there are some differences, such as one-button specials and supers, which are available in most titles except the Power Stone series.
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A quick-save function is included, though oddly, only one save slot is shared across all eight games. This is fine if you’re playing just one game at a time, but if you want to hop between them while saving your progress, you cannot—which feels like a minor misstep in what is otherwise an outstanding collection.
For those looking to challenge opponents worldwide, the online modes are surprisingly solid, including ranked, casual, and custom matches, all powered by rollback netcode. There’s even a high-score leaderboard to climb. However, as with the first collection, cross-play is absent once again, which is disappointing.
Global Appeal
As for the games, this lineup is perhaps less niche than its predecessor and features two fewer titles, but it remains a fantastic selection, with each game playing extremely well. However, since these are arcade ports, many console-exclusive modes have not been included. While not a major issue, long-term fans might feel something is missing.
That said, having a modern build of the Power Stone series alone makes this worth the price of entry, even before considering the brilliant Capcom vs. SNK games and forgotten gems like Project Justice. Then there’s Capcom Fighting Evolution, which, if you know, you know.
Capcom Classics Collected and Curated
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 doesn’t introduce much that’s new, but that’s not the point—it serves as a beautifully presented showcase for classic brawlers, which remain the true stars of the show. This is a fascinating blend of both popular and cult classic titles, each getting another chance to shine.
If you’re already enjoying Capcom’s retro collections, then this is an essential addition. For newcomers, just buy it for the Power Stone games—simple as that—with the rest serving as gold-tier bonuses.
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Now, the real question is: which unearthed classic brawler do you want to see Capcom include in Capcom Fighting Collection 3? Surely, that must be on the cards.
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