Capcom Classics Collection Remixed Hands-On

LAS VEGAS--When it comes to compilations, the PlayStation Portable has had spotty luck. Some have been great, and others have been downright crappy. When we heard about Capcom's upcoming Capcom Classics Collection Remixed for Sony's portable system, we hoped for the best but braced ourselves for the worst. However, after playing a near-final version of the game at Capcom's recent press event, we feel pretty strongly that CCC Remixed is likely to be one of the great ones. Though the game shares the same name as Capcom's recently released console compilation, which contains some of the bright lights in its back catalog, it's hardly a port. Based on our sampling of what it has to offer, CCC Remixed looks like a slick collection of Capcom's hits.

The version on display at Capcom's event let us try out some of the 20 titles contained in it, although its "extras" were locked away from prying eyes. The games in the collection differ from those in the collection's console cousin quite a bit and offer a broader sampling of Capcom's heritage. 1941 is an old-school top-down vertical shooter. Avengers is a top-down, vertically scrolling beat-'em-up that has you busting heads in the gang-riddled streets of Paradise City as you search for hostages. Block Block is an old-school puzzler that has you using a shrinking paddle to clear boards filled with blocks. Captain Commando is a classic side-scrolling four-player co-op brawler that tasks you with bringing peace to the galaxy by beating people up.

Magic Sword is a side-scrolling game that sends you off to defeat the evil Drokkmar, who's holed up at the top of the 50-floor Dragon Tower. Quiz and Dragons was the most enjoyable piece of edutainment to hit the arcades in its day. The game mixes equal helpings of quiz drills, board games, and role-playing game elements as you navigate a virtual game board and battle foes you encounter by using the awesome power of your mind. Street Fighter is the granddaddy of 2D fighters, and it features a young Ken and Ryu as they attend different martial arts tournaments in their quest to be the best.

Strider is a side-scrolling platformer that stars one of the first cyborg monkeys. The game also features some crazy backstory about a martial arts warrior named Strider Hiryu, who's trying to save Earth from the evil Grandmaster Meio and his minions, but it's all about the monkey. Three Wonders is a three-game combo that features the platform game Midnight Wanders, the shooting game Chariot, and the puzzle game Don't Pull. Finally, Varth is a scrolling aerial vertical shooter that drops you in the cockpit of a plane facing impossible odds.

Each game was playable and handled well on the PSP. However, the extra touches were likely the coolest aspect. Hitting the select button on the PSP will let you cycle through several different display modes that let you alter the way the games appear on the PSP. You'll be able to switch the image sideways or stretch it to fill the screen, affording you a greater viewing range. As you do this, you'll be able to map your controls however you like. The multiplayer support is one of the smartest uses of the PSP's Wi-Fi capabilities to date. If you leave the switch to "on," anyone around you can hop into the game at any time for some ad hoc multiplayer action (in the games that support it). While you're connected with other players, your game will mix your high scores with theirs. Finally, the extras mode will let you check out artwork from all of the games, among other things.

Based on what we played, Capcom Classics Collection Remixed is looking like the compilation to beat on the PSP in 2006. The good spread of games, the Wi-Fi support, and the new content thrown into the mix make for a satisfying stroll down memory lane on the PSP. Anyone looking for a sharp retro game collection should keep an eye out on Capcom Classics Collection Remixed when it ships next month.