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Tom's Guide
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 makes me nostalgic for the Dreamcast
This article is part of Tom's Guide's inaugural Gaming Week, an entire week of content dedicated to all things gaming. From insights into the latest hardware, guides to the best games you can play today, to the essential accessories we can't play without. Tom's Guide Gaming Week will guide you through the world of video games in 2025. I've been having the time of my life playing Capcom Fighting Collection 2. Like Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection before it, this latest compilation features some of the company's finest arcade games in one package. It's fantastic not just for fans of these games, but for those who are brand-new to the likes of Capcom vs. SNK or Power Stone. I've been a fighting game fanatic since the Street Fighter II days, but I didn't get to play most of the games in Capcom Fighting Collection 2. Some weren't released in North America until years later, or weren't ported at all. Except for Street Fighter Alpha 3 and the two Power Stone games, this collection packs a bunch of titles that are brand-new to me. But while I'm just now getting acquainted with games like Plasma Sword and Project Justice, I'm also experiencing nostalgia for one of my all-time favorite gaming consoles thanks to Capcom's latest collection. As you can see from this article's headline, it's none other than my beloved Sega Dreamcast. That might seem random, but there are good reasons why Capcom Fighting Collection 2 takes me back to the glorious Dreamcast days. Read on to find out! The most obvious reason Capcom Fighting Collection 2 reminds me of the Dreamcast is that most of its games were available on Sega's final main game that takes me right back to 1999 is the original Power Stone. Playing on Falco's 'Londo' stage reminds me of the countless hours my friends and I sunk into a Dreamcast demo disc featuring that level. The game's colorful graphics and unique art style, which are way more imaginative than some current titles, were and are a grand showcase for what the Dreamcast was capable of. Power Stone is as fun now as it was back in the day. Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about Power Stone 2. I hoped that the intervening decades since I've played this sequel would make me appreciate it. But just as when I originally played it, this game is far too hectic and random for me to enjoy. I realize having four characters brawling on perilous stages is the main draw, but it's too frantic for me. Aside from its fun graphics, I still can't get into Power Stone 2. Then we have Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, which is the last arcade version of this game. I played the North American version of Street Fighter Alpha 3 on Dreamcast but didn't play Upper, which was only released in Japan. Still, since this is the same basic Alpha 3 experience, replaying it in this collection also took me back to the early '00s. The Sega Dreamcast had the same hardware architecture as the Sega Naomi arcade board. This made it easier for developers to port Naomi-based arcade games like Project Justice and Power Stone to the Dreamcast. Sure, the Naomi system had increased main memory, graphics memory and sound memory, but Dreamcast ports were virtually identical. The way Dreamcast generated polygons, textures, colors, and sound gave its games a distinct feel. If you're like me, you can likely spot a Dreamcast game from a mile away. It's for that reason that Project Justice and the Capcom vs. SNK games made me even more nostalgic for the Dreamcast, even though I've never played them. They're the embodiment of what the Dreamcast (and Naomi) could do. While on this topic, I want to single out Plasma Sword, which utilized the PlayStation-based ZN-2 hardware. While this Star Wars-inspired 3D fighter has a slightly different look than the Naomi-based 3D games in this collection, it still gives me that Dreamcast feel. Lastly, let me bring up my favorite games on this collection: Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 and Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium. The latter, which is overall the better of the two, features 2D sprites and 3D backgrounds like Marvel vs. Capcom 2. However, it does a much better job of melding the two. It's an excellent example of how well the Dreamcast was at generating 2D and 3D elements. The Sega Dreamcast only lasted for a year and a half in North America before Sega bowed out of the console race. Despite its untimely demise, it's a system I still cherish due to its excellent graphical prowess and library of incredible games. Playing Capcom Fighting Collection 2 takes me back to my late teens/early 20s, when things seemed simpler and purer. If you're also a Dreamcast fan or someone who just wants to play some awesome old-school fighting games, do yourself a favor and pick up Capcom Fighting Collection 2. I promise you'll have the time of your life.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Review: Power Stone & More Classics Return
Capcom has been doing a great job of keeping its classic library of games playable on current systems through the release of retro collections and remasters. Many of its most beloved fighting games are now available on PlayStation 4 thanks to the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, Capcom Fighting Collection, and Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection. Now, even more are playable on current platforms with the release of Capcom Fighting Collection 2, which features some classic Capcom vs. SNK games, the two great Power Stone entries, and some more obscure titles. The two biggest releases in the lineup are the first two Capcom vs. SNK games. Thankfully, we get the enhanced version of the first game — Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 Pro, which includes two additional characters. It and its sequel, Mark of the Millennium 2001, are both dream crossovers as they brought the most beloved fighters from each company's lineup of stellar fighting games. They've each aged well, although the sequel is definitely better despite the ratio system of the first giving it a unique feel and allowing for teams of up to four fighters (an amount you never see in modern fighters). It's great to see these two finally on modern consoles, as only the SNK-developed SVC Chaos was available. Speaking of dream crossovers, Capcom Fighting Evolution is truly a wild, manic fever dream of a title. The crossover fighting game features characters from Street Fighter 2, 3, and Alpha, alongside those from Darkstalkers and Red Earth. Balancing? Not really, each character uses the fighting system from the games they represent. It's a bit of a mess if you're looking for a truly competitive game, but as a fun evening with a friend? It is actually a blast, and it's really interesting to see the different systems interact with one another. It's a cool oddity in the vein of Fighters Megamix on the Sega Saturn that I can't help but enjoy. While the three aforementioned titles all feature Street Fighter characters, the only actual SF game included is Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper. This arcade version came out in 2001 (not to be confused with the excellent Game Boy Advance port of the same name) and features all the characters from the console release, plus several balance changes. This is the first time an English version has been released, and there's a lot of variety in Upper, as you can pick from different play styles — thankfully, V-ism has been nerfed from the original. It's worth checking out if you enjoy vanilla Alpha 3 as the additional characters are a blast. My most anticipated part of the collection was getting to play Power Stone and its sequel again, which I loved on Dreamcast and PlayStation Portable. The good news is that both games are still a total blast to play, be it solo or online with other players. The 3D fighting game can get quite chaotic as you run around and use weapons, but whether you're winning or losing, you're sure to have a smile on your face. Power Stone 2 was what I played the most online, and I was impressed with the netcode as matches went smoothly across the US. It's been far too long since Power Stone has received some love, so it's great to see them be a key part of this collection. In a better timeline, we might be getting a new Power Stone right now, but I'll happily settle for these ports, which each include hidden characters playable. Finally, the last two games are two 3D titles that aren't super well known — Project Justice and Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein. I had never played Plasma Sword before, and the sci-fi fighter isn't the easiest game to get into. I hit a wall with it and never really enjoyed it, although I'm hoping to revisit it later on. Project Justice, on the other hand, is a real delight. The Rival Schools sequel (where is the original, Capcom?) features a ton of likable characters that pair into teams of threes, and a really fun vigor system that allows you to do team-up attacks. Nearly all of the playable characters from the original return, and the art style has aged relatively well despite it being a 2000 3D title. This is a real standout and is one of the best games in the collection if you're looking for a surprise. As noted, there have been various tweaks in all of the games (wonderfully detailed on Capcom's website) in the Capcom Fighting Collection 2. There's also a good amount of bonus content, as the in-game museum features a great gallery full of game design documents and art (usually around 70-100 per game), plus the ability to listen to all of the music from each game. The only downside is that there's no context provided, but it's still great to see these scans included, as the documents and art are fun to look through. Capcom Fighting Collection 2 brings together eight fighting games (some beloved, some obscure) into one slick package. Features-wise, those who played the first collection will know exactly what to expect. The long-awaited return of Power Stone and two Capcom vs. SNK games help anchor the collection and make it a worthwhile purchase for anyone with a shred of nostalgia or an itch to know more about fighting game history. As ComingSoon's review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to 'Great.' While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact. Disclosure: The publisher provided a PlayStation 4 copy for our Capcom Fighting Collection 2 review. Reviewed on version 1.01. The post Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Review: Power Stone & More Classics Return appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Metro
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 review
The latest in Capcom's series of retro fighting game compilations focuses on Capcom Vs. SNK and GameCentral favourite Power Stone. Every time we talk to anyone from Capcom, no matter what the subject is, we always ask about a new sequel to Power Stone. We've been doing it for over a decade now, mostly just to annoy them, but now, finally, the series has returned. We don't know how many other people are excited about that fact – probably not many, given the length of the franchise's absence – but we couldn't be happier. At the same time, it can be a depressing jolt of reality when you return to a game after many years, with memories of its greatness, and realise that time has not been kind to it. Power Stone, and some of the other games in this collection, are over a quarter of a century old but, to our relief, they're still highly enjoyable today, with that classic Capcom combination of swagger and cheesy exuberance. In fact, it's remarkable just how well Capcom fighting games tend to endure, as evidenced by the previously released Capcom Fighting Collection and Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. A cynical mind might accuse this third title of starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel but that's not fair, as while these games might not be as well known they're every bit as interesting as Capcom's more famous headliners. Although it contained a number of unrelated titles, the main focus of the first Capcom Fighting Collection was the Darkstalkers series, with all five original arcade games included. There's a less clear-cut theme for this one, but the most high-profile inclusions (if you're a Power Stone philistine) are probably the two Capcom Vs. SNK games. There is something that connects all but one of the games though and that's that all of them were also ported to the Dreamcast, as everything but Capcom Fighting Evolution was released in a narrow window between 1998 and 2001. That matches up exactly with the life and death of Sega's last console, of which Capcom was one of the most prolific supporters. That creates a slight problem though, in that all these versions of the games are based on the original coin-ops – which the majority of people will never have played – and not the more familiar Dreamcast editions. That's a real shame, because a lot of ancillary options have been lost in the process, particularly for something like Power Stone 2, which had an additional Adventure mode involving unlocking extra weapons and items. That's not to suggest this is a lazy compilation though; like the previous ones it's anything but. It's just unfortunately the emphasis is solely on the arcade versions. As such, you get both the English and Japanese versions of each game, plus museum content, in-game achievements, and brand new online options including casual, ranked, and custom matches. Each game also has a new training mode, where the button presses are indicated on-screen; you can pause and restart the single-player modes at any time; and there's a ton of controller and difficultly level options, including the chance for one button specials. There's alternative sound mixes too, plenty of screen filter options, and they even bothered to scan in the original arcade marquee cards, that explained how the games work. We'll go through the games in chronological order, which starts with 3D fighter Plasma Sword: Nightmare Of Bilstein. Probably the most obscure title in the collection, it's known as Star Gladiator 2 in Japan and is essentially a sci-fi take on Soulcalibur, completely with faux lightsabers. It also shares a lot of DNA with Street Fighter EX but even in 1998 it was considered a generic outing, with sub-par graphics. Although it's still miles better than contemporary Star Wars: Masters Of Teräs Käs. The first Power Stone was released in 1999 and we strongly feel it's one of the most underappreciated fighting games of all time, especially when it comes to the use of 3D space. Instead of just sidling round your opponent you have full freedom of movement in a small 3D arena, using objects, walls, and architecture to increase your attack options, as well as picking up weapons and the titular power stones. Collect all of the latter and you briefly transform into a powered-up form, similar to the Infinity Gem gimmick from Marvel Super Heroes. The downside to this is that there are no real combos, except doing the same attack multiple times, and a very limited number of special moves, but that's not really the point. What the game loses in technical complexity it gains in terms of tactical intrigue, as you use the stage, and your opponents' desire to get to a weapon or power stone before you, to your advantage. Admittedly, it's still not exactly a deep game but the foundation was there to build it into something more complex. As it was though, Capcom went in the opposite direction for Power Stone 2 and while there were a few clones at the time, such as Shrek SuperSlam, the concept sadly just faded away. Which is a real shame because we've always felt it would make the perfect template for a new Super Smash Bros., especially after Ultimate left the series with nowhere else to go. 2000's Power Stone 2 takes the same concept and rather than trying to deepen the combat it turns the crazy up to 11. The four-player brawls occur over larger stages, which often transform during battle, and there's a much larger range of weapons, as well turrets and even moving vehicles to take control of. With four people who know what they're doing (which the AI often does not) it's glorious chaos but unfortunately that's as far as the concept ever went. If you want a more technical fighter then you need look no further than Capcom Vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 Pro, the first of several crossovers created with publishing rival SNK. SNK made a bunch of Card Fighters Clash games, plus a fighter for the Neo Geo Pocket, and the disappointing SNK Vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, but it's Capcom's two games which are considered the best thing to come out of the team-up. Despite the name, the only non-Street Fighter character from Capcom is Morrigan, while SNK's line-up is based on The King Of Fighters (which itself is a crossover of various SNK franchises, such as Fatal Fury). You can choose attack meters derived from either Street Fighter Alpha or The King of Fighters '98, although there were other modes and features in the Dreamcast version. Project Justice, aka Rival Schools 2, is another relative obscurity, at least in the West, but is arguably Capcom's best 3D fighter (in the non-Power Stone sense of the concept). It's a 3v3 team fighter but while there's a lot more depth and complexity to the combat than Plasma Sword it still comes across as a little late to the party, compared to something like Tekken – which had been around for six years at this point. The lone Street Fighter game in the collection is Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, which is a bit of a random pick but a very well regarded entry and the last in the Alpha sub-series of prequel titles. The pixel graphics are great and the introduction of the different '-ism' fighting styles went on to have quite an impact on Capcom fighting games in general. Power Stone aside, Capcom Vs. SNK 2: Mark Of The Millennium 2001 is the star of the collection, with a much larger selection of characters than the original, although the number of non-Street Fighter characters is still frustratingly small. More Trending The system for selecting your team is one of the biggest gameplay changes, with a ratio system that limits the selection according to the character's power and not just how many fighters there are – which, again, went on to influence many future games. 2004's Capcom Fighting Evolution (aka Capcom Fighting Jam) is the most recent entry in the collection but easily the least interesting. It's a very half-hearted crossover fighter, featuring characters from Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, and Red Earth. It barely even scratches the surface of the Capcom Vs. Capcom game that fans have long yearned for, with sprites stolen from Capcom Vs. SNK 2 – except with simplified animation and a lot of missing moves. Despite the odd dud game, all of these fighting collections have been great and while it does depend to a degree on how much nostalgia you have for the titles, most of them are significant in some way – and we'd dearly like to see new entries in the Power Stone and Capcom Vs. SNK series. The missing Dreamcast versions are a real shame but even without that Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a fascinating and sensibly priced compilation, that has clearly been produced with a lot of love and effort. In Short: Another excellent compilation of forgotten Capcom fighters, with the revival of Power Stone and Capcom Vs. SNK being especially welcome – even if it's a shame these aren't the Dreamcast versions. Pros: Almost all the games are interesting and enjoyable, while the range of new options, including fully featured online, training modes, and difficulty and display options are top notch. Cons: It's a real shame that the Dreamcast versions aren't included, as they had a lot of extra content and modes. Capcom Fighting Evolution is rubbish. Score: 8/10 Formats: PlayStation 4 (reviewed), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PCPrice: £34.99Publisher: CapcomDeveloper: CapcomRelease Date: 16th May 2025 Age Rating: 16 Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Kingdom Hearts 4 gets new update as Square Enix cancels spin-off MORE: Sony to increase first party games output as PS5 sales continue to fall MORE: More Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live now in UK with limited camera bundle
