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Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Review: A Nostalgic Bundle with Hits and Misses

Time：Fri, Oct 10, 2025 10:58:26 PM Reading：8982

Last September, Capcom fighting game enthusiasts saw a long-cherished wish come true with Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. This all-in-one package compiled every 2D fighting game centered on Marvel characters—plus a side-scrolling beat-'em-up as a bonus. It was exactly what Marvel Vs. Capcom fans had been craving for years, especially with the inclusion of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, and it instantly resurrected several fighting games that seemed destined to fade into obscurity.

Now, Capcom faces the challenging task of topping that success with Capcom Fighting Collection 2, the genuine follow-up to its 2022 classic fighting anthology. This new collection retains the same excellent quality-of-life features as its predecessor: a "museum" filled with concept art and design documents, a music player with instant access to each game’s soundtrack, rollback netcode, and more. Yet, Capcom’s archive of vintage fighting games is limited, and Capcom Fighting Collection 2 gives subtle signs that this well of retro titles might be running dry.

The headline games in this bundle—at least based on the key artwork—are the Capcom Vs. SNK series, which brought together fighters from both Capcom and SNK’s rosters for epic showdowns. Both titles employed the innovative Ratio system, allowing players to adjust the strength of their chosen characters. Each game implemented this mechanic differently: Capcom Vs. SNK assigned fixed ratio levels (ranging from 1 to 4) to specific fighters, while its sequel let players set the ratios after selecting their team.

Beyond that, players can opt for either Capcom-style or SNK-style gameplay. In Capcom Vs. SNK 2, this expands into the "Groove" system, offering C-Groove, A-Groove, P-Groove, S-Groove, N-Groove, and K-Groove options. Each Groove mirrors abilities and super meters from the respective company’s game library; for example, C-Groove features a three-level super bar similar to Street Fighter Alpha, while S-Groove functions like Fatal Fury Special, enabling players to charge the meter at will.

These systems are pivotal to the timeless appeal of both games—Capcom Vs. SNK 2 in particular—in the modern era. They remain just as intense and engaging as when they first launched, letting you experiment with various teams, ratios, and Grooves until you find your ideal playstyle. Thanks to the top-tier rollback netcode, you can now take your go-to teams online, making these classics even more enticing.

Next up are Power Stone and Power Stone 2, two highly requested titles finally making the leap from the Dreamcast to modern consoles. Unlike the other games in the collection, which use a traditional side-on视角, these two adopt a 3D arena-style approach. Players can roam freely across stages, pick up items, and wield them in combat. The original Power Stone supports two players, while Power Stone 2 allows for up to four simultaneous players.

Power Stone 2 refined the formula to near-perfection and remains a delightful party-style fighter when played with four people in the same room. It holds up remarkably well today, as the chaotic arena battles are sure to spark laughter while you pummel your rivals. The first Power Stone, however, doesn’t aged as gracefully. It’s slower and less precise, leading to sluggish matches, and the CPU opponent is notoriously tough even in the first stage of Arcade mode. Both Power Stone games deserve their place in this collection, but I anticipate Power Stone 2 will get more playtime as players dive into the bundle.

Then there’s Capcom Fighting Evolution, the black sheep of Capcom’s fighting game lineup. This 2D team-based fighter features a roster composed entirely of Capcom characters. On paper, it should have been a blockbuster—Capcom’s diverse roster is more than enough to craft a stacked fighting game lineup. Yet, Capcom Fighting Evolution feels disjointed in practice, especially when compared to Capcom Vs. SNK 2, which launched four years earlier.

Characters are grouped by the games they originate from, and they fight exactly as they did in those titles, including their unique super meters and mechanics. Even the groupings are odd: Ryu is categorized under Street Fighter 2, while Chun-Li is placed in the Street Fighter 3 group. These distinct playstyles clash with one another, particularly for characters from Red Earth—they’re fun to use but come with a far more complex system than, say, the Street Fighter Alpha crew. It’s a quirky game worth preserving in such a collection, but its chances of standing out amid stiff competition are slim.

Meanwhile, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper is widely regarded as the definitive arcade version of SFA3. It includes additional characters from the console ports along with balance adjustments. Casual fighting game players may not notice the differences—the most notable change is a crouch-canceling glitch that supported a specific playstyle—but even so, you’re still getting one of Capcom’s finest 2D fighters of all time, making it a clear win.

The final two games in the collection hail from Capcom’s 3D era, around the time of the original PlayStation. First is Plasma Sword, a title that will answer the question on many players’ minds: "Who is that Hayato character from Marvel Vs. Capcom 2?" This fun and unique futuristic fighter lets you disable an opponent’s super meter with a specific move, which also buffs your weapon temporarily. The character Rain stands out as particularly intriguing—her staff freezes opponents with every hit during this special state, making her a formidable pick.

Closing out the bundle is Project Justice, the former Dreamcast-exclusive sequel to Rival Schools: United By Fate. Rival Schools and Project Justice are fascinating entries in Capcom’s history, leveraging the technology of their time for full 3D graphics and movement, along with a 3v3 team-based format reminiscent of SNK’s The King of Fighters. Adding to their charm, the roster consists of high school archetypes—athletes like baseball player Shoma, lone wolves like Akira and her iconic skull helmet, and more—making them all the more captivating. While both Rival Schools games would have been welcome, including Project Justice was an excellent choice.

Regardless of each game’s individual merits, all benefit from exceptional emulation. Capcom’s ability to bring these classics to modern consoles in such bundles remains impressive. Nothing is lost in the transition, and very few issues are introduced—these are the same feature-complete games we played upon their original release, recreated with meticulous accuracy. Capcom’s dedication to preserving its gaming legacy is highly commendable.

All eight games also support rollback netcode, and nearly every online match I played ran smoothly with minimal technical hiccups. In fact, the only technical issue I encountered was in single-player mode: whenever I faced Guy in Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, the game struggled to keep up with his speed. I noticed background graphical glitches, occasional stutters, and other minor flaws, though these did eventually subside… even if that resolution often meant I ended up on the continue screen.

It’s unclear how many more such fighting game collections Capcom can release. Thus far, the selection of games in each bundle—including Capcom Fighting Collection 2—has been strong enough to justify the price tag. In this case, Capcom Vs. SNK 2, Project Justice, Power Stone 2, Plasma Sword, and Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper are outstanding titles worthy of a new spotlight. Capcom Fighting Evolution, Power Stone, and Capcom Vs. SNK Pro are solid ports, but the games themselves show more signs of aging than the others—especially when paired with their sequels.

All in all, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is another fantastic anthology of some of Capcom’s greatest fighting games. Just how many more such bundles Capcom can assemble, however, remains to be seen.

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