Arcade fans recently got an unexpected treat in the form of the Capcom Fighting Collection. It contains HD ports of various competitive titles which helped put Capcom on the fighting genre map. Unlike some remakes or remasters, this is a mostly faithful re-release of treasured classics. The developers have only made a few changes.
Thankfully, these are mainly quality-of-life additions. They are extra goodies for completionists and tweaks for those used to modern gaming standards. Fans who want a nostalgia trip from the Capcom Fighting Collection can still experience their favorite arcade titles in all their classic glory.
8 Settings
Fans get the best of both worlds here. If the collection doesn't contain the original versions of these games, it gets as close as possible to modern hardware. That said, consoles are not quite the same as arcade cabinets or even home gaming systems from back in the day.
For that reason, the Capcom Fighting Collection includes a wealth of options to personalize one's playstyle. Gamers can customize button layouts, difficulty settings, timers, and more. This is the perfect way for classic titles to transition to today, achieving both authenticity and accessibility.
7 Training Modes
By their very nature, old arcade games threw players into the deep end. They went straight to the action and left little room for adjustment. This, in turn, forced people to cough up more coins if they wanted to hone their skills. That's no longer an issue.
Each game now comes with a dedicated Training Mode. This is mostly a convention of console and/or modern fighters, Capcom titles included. It allows players to sharpen their abilities and get used to the controls before tackling the main event. Moreover, it's a great way for newbies to get their feet wet with these classics.
6 Quick Saves
On top of typical save files, the collection also has a quick save, otherwise known as a "save state." This lets players preserve their progress right down to the exact moment they exit the game. It's an odd inclusion for the fighting genre, but it's surprisingly convenient when something urgent comes up. Gamers can immediately deal with an issue in real life without losing the ground they've covered in an arcade ladder.
The downside is that only one quick save slot exists. Considering the ten games on offer, it seems counterintuitive for them all to share one save state. It's particularly puzzling since each title has individual settings which can be saved. There's no discernable reason that quick save slots can't operate the same way. Still, it's better than nothing.
5 Achievements
Each game comes with a series of milestones to reach. These range from beating a campaign with every character to winning a match with a certain technique. Sadly, these don't offer any extra rewards like more moves or costumes. They exist purely to challenge fans: a goal not entirely out of place in this genre.
These challenges harken back to the mindset of getting the highest score on an arcade leader board. Sure, it doesn't yield anything tangible in the grand scheme of things, but it's sometimes fun to challenge oneself for the sake of it.
4 Online Multiplayer
A core appeal of arcade fighters is playing with friends. There's nothing quite like competing with the person next to you. It gets the adrenaline flowing and raises the stakes above standard AI opponents. The Capcom Fighting Collection has local co-op to accommodate that, but gaming with buddies has evolved.
That's why the collection also includes online multiplayer matches. Now, players can challenge friends and strangers alike in every game. It ensures that they always have someone to play with, recreating the bouts of old from a distance. It's arguably more fitting since anyone using the servers has likely bought the game and, thus, has a common love for it.
3 Concept Art
This is relatively common with remasters or ports, and Capcom gets in on that trend here. Fans get a look behind the scenes with stacks of concept art. This gift stretches across all titles with sketches of various fighters.
It's an interesting feature all around. One can see the designers' thought processes at work as their ideas gradually progress to the finished product. Such a gallery may be a small addition, but a much appreciated one. Hardcore fans, in particular, will definitely dive into it, getting a fresh perspective on their favorite classics.
2 Music Player
Here's another extra for those so inclined. The collection has a dedicated music player. With this, gamers can listen to iconic tracks from each title in the lineup.
Sadly, this isn't quite as worthwhile as the art gallery. Anyone seeking these tracks has likely downloaded them or listened to them on other platforms long before this. Still, the music player is a neat feature due in no small part to the quality inherent in its content. Capcom games usually have catchy, energetic soundtracks. These titles are no exception, so it's only fitting to celebrate the musical legacy as well as the gameplay one.
1 International Accessibility
The people who ported these games know the worldwide appeal of Capcom's fighting titles. As such, some fans might want to truly experience the original versions. For that reason, the collection includes both the English and Japanese builds of the games.
This obviously doesn't apply to those only released in Japan. Several Darkstalkers entries fall into this area. Thankfully, those that got an international release are here in all their multilinguistic glory. Plus, English gamers can finally play Japan-exclusive gems like Red Earth. It's yet another way for worldwide fans to come together in their shared passion.