A Dreamcast Comeback on Modern Consoles
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 launches across PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC with a loaded lineup of eight retro titles. This collection includes Power Stone, Power Stone 2, Capcom Fighting Evolution, Project Justice, Plasma Sword, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, and two versions of Capcom vs. SNK. For fans of arcade and Dreamcast-era fighting games, this release aims directly at nostalgia with new polish.
Power Stone and Power Stone 2 headline the collection. The first Power Stone, a 3D arena brawler from 1999, lets players transform mid-match after collecting gems. With chaotic weapons and interactive maps, it still holds up today, especially on a modern controller. Power Stone 2, the four-player sequel, leans heavier into chaos. Explosive level transitions and wild item usage make it a novelty, though the tighter strategy of the original still wins out for many.
Online Play, Menus, and Museum Modes
The menu system in this collection offers extensive options. Players can toggle between Japanese and English game versions, tweak display and audio settings, and adjust difficulty or gameplay speed. Each game features pause-menu overlays with arcade marquees and move lists. There are also fighter reward challenges that unlock art and music for the in-game museum.
Display filters allow customization with resolution boosts and aspect ratio toggles. Whether sticking to original 4:3 layouts or experimenting with widescreen, there’s flexibility for every player. Some quirks remain—wallpaper borders must be disabled manually for each title—but overall, presentation is polished.
The only real letdown comes from online play. Testing the matchmaking for Power Stone yielded no results after an hour of searching. It’s unclear how populated the online lobbies are for each game, which could hinder longevity for competitive fans.
Legacy Fighters Return
Among the games, Capcom Fighting Evolution (2004) stands out—but not in a good way. Despite pulling characters from Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, and Red Earth, its visuals and gameplay felt rushed even back then. Blurry backgrounds and poor balance mar the experience, making it more of a historical oddity than a competitive title.
In contrast, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper remains one of Capcom’s more polished updates. This 2001 release improved balancing over previous versions and removed known glitches. For veterans of Alpha 2 and Alpha 3, it offers a familiar yet refined experience with beloved characters and iconic music.
Rival Schools, SNK Crossovers, and More
Project Justice, the 2000 sequel to Rival Schools, also appears in this collection. Featuring 3v3 tag-team battles and a school setting filled with teachers and students, it brings personality and deep combo potential. It never saw wide release outside Japan, making this a rare chance to revisit—or discover—it.
Capcom vs. SNK Millennium Fight 2000 Pro and Capcom vs. SNK 2 (Mark of the Millennium 2001) showcase the dream matchups that fans craved in the early 2000s. The first game is a tight, focused fighter with classic matchups like Ken vs. Terry Bogard. The 2001 sequel expands the roster and groove system but loses some of the tightness and charm. Still, backgrounds like the dune stage bring cinematic flair to battles.
Plasma Sword
The last entry, Plasma Sword (1998), is a lesser-known 3D fighter with a wild cast of intergalactic characters. While never a genre leader, it controls well and adds diversity to the lineup.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is for those who lived through the arcade and Dreamcast golden years. The games may vary in quality, but the nostalgia is undeniable. With strong offline features, some museum content, and a few rare gems, it’s a package built for old-school players—especially if the online component improves post-launch.
