Video Game Review: Capcom Fighting Collection

It’s no secret that Capcom ruled the arcades in the 90’s. Street Fighter all by itself was a force, with Street Fighter II still regarded as one of the best fighting games of all times. Still, Street Fighter wasn’t the only sensational fighting game by Capcom. Darkstalkers might be lesser known, but eclectic characters and solid mechanics still made it a beloved game. 

Now, players have the opportunity to experience classics from both series and a little more in Capcom Fighting Collection. This collection bundles a shocking 10 games, some of which haven’t been officially available in the West until now. Fighting game enthusiasts are treated to arcade versions of:

Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors

Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge

Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire

Vampire Hunter 2: Darkstalkers’ Revenge

Vampire Savior 2: The Lord of Vampire

Red Earth

Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness

Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix

Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo

Hyper Street Fighter II

As the arcade versions, players are getting the exact experiences that they would have received in an arcade. These ports are beautifully made, with stellar performance and little to no input lag. Every animation and frame feels pristine, giving the most authentic arcade experience possible. Of course, there are some downsides here, as additions in the form of characters or stages in later releases won’t be found in Capcom Fighting Collection.

One thing that sets this collection apart from others is the amount of content players get. Vampire Hunter 2: Darkstalkers’ Revenge and Vampire Savior 2: The Lord of Vampire, are firsts for North America as far as official releases go. Red Earth has never been released in North America outside of arcades, making this a special release for that entry as well. Even the majority of the games that were previously available in the West like the Darkstalkers series and Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix are still harder to play on modern consoles. This new accessibility by itself makes this a collection worth exploring for both casual and hardcore fans. It’s a ton of content that the player likely hasn’t played before, unlike the many Street Fighter collections that are available. 

The biggest draw though is the ability to play every game online, giving all of them a new chance at life. The online play holds up wonderfully even on the Switch. Through my time, I never noticed laggy inputs. The fantastic net-code gives fighting fans an opportunity to enjoy their favorite fighting games, especially Darkstalkers more than ever possible. Everything feels more accessible, and the fighting game community is better for having this collection.