Capcom Classics Collection [PS2]

Capcom isn't new to the emulation scene; after all, it has been licensing its game ROMs to various manufacturers for a few years now. The problem is that the company hasn't really released a proper arcade collection for the home consoles. Thankfully, that shortcoming was rectified recently when Capcom Classics Collection was released. Developed by the venerable emulation masters over at Digital Eclipse, the collection is an excellent slice of arcade life over at Capcom.

Flipping through the game list, there is little to complain about as all of the selections are notable in some regard. The 22 games featured in the Capcom Classics Collection span the years 1984-1992 and include the following titles: 1942, 1943, 1943 Kai, Bionic Commando, Commando, Exed Exes, Final Fight, Forgotten Worlds, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Gun.Smoke, Legendary Wings, Mercs, Pirate Ship Higemaru, Section Z, Son Son, Street Fighter II, SFII Champion Edition, SFII Hyper Fighting, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Trojan, and Vulgus.

All of the games are the arcade originals, with the notable exception of Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts which debuted on the Super NES. For the most part, this isn't a big deal, but hardcore Bionic Commando fans are sure to miss the vastly superior NES version of the game. The only game noticeably absent is Strider.

Practically every genre is represented here (from shooter to action to fighting), ensuring plenty of variety for even the pickiest fan. While the three versions of Street Fighter II may seem like overkill, it's nice having the different options especially for the Street Fighter purists. After you've been playing for awhile, it's possible to unlock a deluxe mode which allows you to pit all of the Street Fighter characters against one another -- sort of like a mini-version of the Street Fighter Anniversary Collection.

While some players may be tempted to dash directly to their favorite title and settle in for the long haul, the collection draws you in to the other games through a wisely structured unlock system. Each title has a number of bonus features ranging from music and concept art to historical notes. The majority of these are locked from the start but can all be opened by playing their respective games.

Since the majority of old-school games are twitch based, responsive control is a must, which Digital Eclipse managed to nail to perfection. Default controls are rock solid and the D-pad makes an excellent replacement for the original joysticks, but you always have the option of using the analog stick or remapping the controls. The only game that requires a bit of adjustment is Forgotten Worlds, which used a custom rotary joystick in the arcade.

The default audio, while authentic, is a bit basic by today's standards given that many of the games on the disc originally shipped in all their monophonic glory. Surround sound, it ain't. Thankfully, a few games allow you to choose remixed audio which sounds cleaner and clearer than the originals.

With a diverse selection of top-notch games, an incredibly creative "sketchbook" front end, and plenty of unlockable extras, the Capcom Classics Collection is an appealing choice for any retro-gamer.