After delivering a fan-favorite knockout with Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics last year, Capcom returns with Capcom Fighting Collection 2, a follow-up to its 2022 compilation of retro brawlers. The new bundle preserves the same strengths: rollback netcode, museum extras, music players, and solid emulation. But this time, the roster feels like it’s pulling from deeper in the vault—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.
A Solid Headliner: Capcom Vs. SNK and CvS2
The stars of this collection are clearly Capcom Vs. SNK and Capcom Vs. SNK 2, crossover fighters that pit characters from both Capcom and SNK’s libraries against each other. The Ratio system in both games—where fighters are assigned (or selected with) power levels—adds strategic depth. CvS2 takes it further with its Groove system, offering six different play styles that borrow mechanics from games like Street Fighter Alpha and Fatal Fury. These layers of customization still shine today, especially with modern rollback netcode enhancing online play.
Power Stone and Power Stone 2: Long-Awaited Returns
Dreamcast cult classics Power Stone and Power Stone 2 finally make their way to modern platforms. These arena-style 3D fighters break from the typical 2D mold, offering chaotic, item-filled brawls. Power Stone 2 holds up remarkably well, especially with four players on screen, making it a perfect party game. The first Power Stone hasn’t aged as gracefully—it’s slower, less precise, and has some surprisingly brutal AI—but it’s still a welcome addition.
The Odd One Out: Capcom Fighting Evolution
This team-based 2D fighter sounds great on paper—iconic Capcom characters battling it out using the styles from their original games—but it never quite gels. The roster is uneven, the game systems clash, and the experience feels disjointed compared to more refined titles like CvS2. Still, for completionists, it’s a piece of Capcom history worth preserving—even if it won’t become a go-to for most players.
A Refined Classic: Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper
This version of SFA3 is widely considered the definitive arcade edition, thanks to extra characters and balance tweaks from the console ports. While the differences might be subtle to casual players, it’s still one of Capcom’s all-time greats and a strong addition to the lineup.
A Glimpse Into the Past: Plasma Sword and Project Justice
Plasma Sword, the futuristic 3D fighter that introduced Marvel Vs. Capcom 2’s Hayato, is a curious gem. It plays with ideas like disabling opponents’ super meters, and characters like Rain offer unique, memorable mechanics.
Project Justice, the Rival Schools sequel, is arguably one of the highlights of this collection. With full 3D movement, 3v3 battles, and a colorful cast of high school archetypes, it’s a distinctive fighter that blends charm, chaos, and competition in all the right ways. While both Rival Schools games would’ve been welcome, having Project Justice alone is a win.
The Technical Picture
Capcom continues to impress with its emulation efforts. Each game plays like its original counterpart, and rollback netcode makes online matches a breeze. In dozens of matches, technical issues were rare—though Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper had occasional stutters and visual glitches, particularly when facing off against fast characters like Guy. Thankfully, they were minor and resolved quickly.
Final Thoughts
While not every game in Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a hit, the bundle still offers excellent value. Titles like Capcom Vs. SNK 2, Project Justice, Power Stone 2, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, and Plasma Sword make this a worthy follow-up, even if others—like Power Stone, Capcom Vs. SNK Pro, and Capcom Fighting Evolution—don’t shine as brightly.
The big question now is how many more of these collections Capcom can realistically deliver. If this release is any indication, they’re getting close to the bottom of the barrel—but for fans of classic fighting games, there’s still plenty here to celebrate.
