-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game Title: Capcom Classics Collection
Platform: PlayStation 2/XBox
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Compilation
Age Rating: PEGI: 12+, ESRB: T for Teen
Release Date: 27th September 2005 (US), 18th September 2005 (Europe), 2nd March 2006 (Japan)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game Score: 8.0/10
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summery:
Capcom has got big arcade classics that both hold up well and will give players a worthwhile look at their past of greatness.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Digital Eclipse brings together 22 of Capcom's arcade classic into a single for Capcom Classics Collection for the PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox. Many of Capcom's games featured are both big time legendary classics while others not so much.
The 22 games featured range form games like Street Fighter II, Ghosts'n Goblins, Final Fight, 1942, Bionic Commando and Forgotten Worlds to name only a few. The compilation has a simple menu navigation system that makes it easy to pick out a game you want to play. The menu also plays out a small video of the game you highlight which is also a cool thing. You can get a look into a game's history and also stuff that you unlock like tips to make beating through each of the games easier and also the game's music tracks. They do give replay value in having to go through each of the games to see what other stuff you can get.
Now for the games that hold up gracefully well, Street Fighter II in which there is about 3 versions of the game included, those are the original, Championship Edition and also Turbo Hyper Fighting. Ghouls'n Ghosts and the other two games in the series are still some of the most difficult games out there. Shooters like 1942, 1943 and Forgotten Worlds are really enjoyable once you actually get the controls to your liking. You also got Final Fight which is a great beat em up when it is not censored or edited out and that is a good thing.
Now there are some games featured on the disc that have not aged well and for various reasons. What is important to know is that all games have unlimited continues and while that isn't really a problem for games that place the player back at level start or checkpoint there's also games that let the player at the place they died which removes the overall challenge since you can breeze through those games without any form of punishment. For example in games like Final Fight you can get into a large group of enemies and get killed and then easily revive yourself with a press of a button and then continue the level without consequence. As I said there is achievement like system where you earn extras by either completing, killing a certain enemy or getting a high score and since there are some games that reset the score to 0 upon continuing so at least some games reward the player playing carefully and having patience. There are games in this collection that are very hard and for the wrong reasons, first of which some games like Ghosts'N Ghosts and Mercs have respawning enemies which can make progressing through stages a chore, Pirate Ship Higemaru has rather stiff controls to top of the unfair enemy spawning, 1942 as well as 1943 and 1943 Kai holding down the fire button fires your weapon very slowly which is something you don't want when you got dozens of enemy ships firing at you. The Ghosts'N Ghosts games make the player replay through the entire game again to be able to fully complete any one of those games and that is just insanely sadistic stuff. Gun.Smoke has very awkward controls that requires loads of time to get used to. I could talk about the rest of each game's problem but however this review should be more about explaining about the emulation of the games and how they function in this collection. They all play perfectly and have everything intact from their arcade orginals.
These games can be played alone or with a friend who can join in at any time. Some games are strictly 1 player while some other games are two player but alternate between their turns.
What needs to be said about the game featured is the emulation which is handled very well. All the games featured are the arcade original versions and the graphic quality fits well to them. You got options where you can stretch the screen if you want as well and also in some games have an enhanced screen which puts the game screen on one side while the score, lives and others are on the other side. All the game have all the sounds, graphics and music tracks as they were in the original arcade even with maybe one or two sound glitches but hey it's well done. Like I said before you can optionally change the controls with each game in the options menu before playing each arcade game which is a good thing. Some games have remix audio which is a great option but nostalgic fans are mostly glue to the original music tracks. Only a few games have the option included so those wanting to hear other remixes in other of their favourite Capcom games are out of luck.
Some Capcom games are outdated and are just worth playing today but this collection has got plenty of enjoyable that gamers will have loads of fond memories of these great gaming classics. You love the Street Fighter II games or Ghouls'N Ghosts then you'll like this collection for that reason alone. It's reasonably cheap to pick up in various areas on the internet and I think it's worthwhile if you still hold on to the PlayStation 2. I have no information on whatever or not the Xbox version is compatible with the Xbox 360 so I advice looking on the internet before playing it on the 360.
Like I said in my Mega Drive Collection review I might cover all of the various games in detail in the future if I fell like it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Good Points:
---------------------
1. 22 Games in one disc
2. 3 versions of Street Fighter II and Ghouls'N Ghosts games in one disc
3. Great emulation with screen and control adjustment options
4. Great menu system and also unlockable stuff
The Bad Points:
---------------------
1. Some games don't hold up well.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviewed by: Anthony Hayball (AQWBlaZer91)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------