Eight cult-classic brawlers (hello, CvS2 and Power Stone 2) come packed with rollback netcode, training tools, and museum goodies—plus a surprise post‑launch buff—making this the most generous retro fighter bundle Capcom’s shipped yet.
Here’s the short of it: Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is the kind of “wait, they actually did it?” compilation that turns long‑suffering whispers into a loud, happy clatter of arcade buttons. It gathers eight late‑’90s/early‑2000s fighters—including the once mythical Capcom vs. SNK 2—then modernizes them with solid online play, training suites, filters, and a sprawling art/music museum. The result isn’t just a convenient package; it’s a small act of preservation done with a surprising amount of care.
What’s actually in the box
Capcom didn’t skimp on the picks. The lineup leans hard into fan legends and Dreamcast‑era chaos:
- Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 Pro
- Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001
- Street Fighter Alpha 3 UPPER
- Capcom Fighting Evolution
- Project Justice (Rival Schools 2)
- Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein
- Power Stone
- Power Stone 2
The headliner is obvious: CvS2 remains one of the genre’s richest toys, thanks to the six Groove systems and team Ratio tinkering that let you cook up endlessly different playstyles. Its depth keeps it timeless, and multiple reviewers called out how well it holds up in 2025.
On the 3D side, Power Stone 2 still eats living rooms for lunch, scaling the mayhem up to four players and turning stages into evolving playgrounds stuffed with gadgets and transformations. Project Justice and Plasma Sword showcase an era when Capcom flirted with 3D movement and team antics without losing that 2D fighting game logic. Together, these “deep cuts” give the set personality far beyond a greatest hits mixtape.
Yes, Capcom Fighting Evolution is here, and no, the years haven’t miraculously fixed its awkward team‑of‑systems design. It’s fine as a preserved oddity; it’s not the reason you’ll keep booting the collection.
Modern features that actually matter
Capcom didn’t just slap ROMs on a menu. For every game you get:
- Rollback netcode with ranked, casual, lobbies, and even a High Score Challenge leaderboard mode.
- Training modes across the board, with hitbox display on the 2D titles to make lab work real.
- Quick save for Arcade runs.
- A buffet of filters/wallpapers, display scaling, and—key for the 3D entries—internal resolution boosts so those polygons don’t look like they time‑traveled through a blender.
- One‑button specials to help newcomers hop in without fear.
Beyond play options, the Museum is unusually meaty: 700+ pieces of art and 300+ music tracks (including a player) make it easy to fall down a history rabbit hole. And Capcom sprinkled in optional 2025 remixes for select titles—Project Justice, Power Stone 2, and CvS2—which you can toggle per game. It’s a crowd‑pleasing way to freshen up warm, familiar soundtracks.
Two more practical notes:
- Price & platforms: The collection lists at $39.99 on Steam (and has physical Switch/PS4 copies). Official platforms are Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam).
- Regional versions: Nintendo Life confirms Japanese and Western versions are included where applicable, a nice touch for purists.
Online play: the good news, the caveat
The good: Rollback works. Multiple outlets report stable matchmaking and overall smooth bouts—precisely what this collection needed to justify its existence beyond nostalgia.
The caveat: No crossplay. Capcom states it flatly on the features page; you’re siloed to your platform’s playerbase. It’s a bummer, especially for a community that lives and dies on population and matchmaking health. If you’ve got a group in mind—or a preferred online habitat—buy accordingly.
Standouts, sleepers, and the one we politely ignore
Must‑plays:
- Capcom vs. SNK 2 — The all‑timer. That Groove/Ratio alchemy makes it a perpetual lab. You’ll spend nights figuring out whether your heart belongs to P‑parries or K‑rage.
- Power Stone 2 — The party game masquerading as a fighter. Four players, evolving stages, instant chaos. Still sensational.
- Project Justice — Stylish, team‑based, and far more intricate than its high‑school anime veneer implies—an overdue return to modern hardware.
Worth your time:
Street Fighter Alpha 3 UPPER remains a peak 2D entry, with the familiar X/A/V‑ism mind games and a roster that still sings.
The curiosity:
Capcom Fighting Evolution is preserved for the record, but its clashing system mash‑up still feels off. Try it for context, then go back to the good stuff.
The August 7 update: an honest‑to‑goodness upgrade
Post‑launch, Capcom dropped a free title update (August 7, 2025) that quietly turns this bundle from “great” to “even better.” The patch adds new art, QoL tweaks, extra CAP‑JAMS remixes, and—most importantly—four additional characters to Street Fighter Alpha 3 UPPER: Maki, Yun, Eagle, and Ingrid. These were PSP/GBA special guests back in the day; now they’re officially selectable in the collection (enabled via game settings). For ranked/casual online, Capcom disables them to keep matchmaking standardized, which is a sensible compromise.
If you like to lab, Plasma Sword also got some training‑mode love, and Capcom’s patch notes mention fresh gallery content. It’s all free, and exactly the sort of stewardship these collections deserve.
The emulation & extras feel premium
Capcom’s recent bundles have nailed the “it feels right” test, and this one’s no exception. Emulation is crisp, control mapping is flexible (again, one‑button specials are great for new players), and the Museum’s depth makes this as much a coffee‑table time sink as a set of fighters. TechRadar’s verdict echoes that sense of polish; GameSpot also calls out how strong the rollback feels across the board.
There are limits to what a museum piece can be: these are the arcade versions, which means console‑exclusive adventure/shop modes (think Power Stone unlockable weapon crafting) aren’t here. Nintendo Life argues that’s actually a win for authenticity and latency; either way, it’s worth setting expectations.
Value check: is $39.99 fair?
For the price of a single modern costume pack, you’re getting eight games, robust online, training tools, and a 700‑art/300‑track museum, plus the post‑launch Alpha 3 character infusion. On PC, the base price is $39.99 with optional soundtrack DLCs; on consoles, pricing is similar, and Switch/PS4 buyers can hunt down a physical that includes a Capcom vs. SNK bonus comic (while supplies last). That’s a strong package whether you’re here for CvS2 lab hours or Power Stone 2 pizza‑night chaos.
The wishlist (and nitpicks)
- Crossplay remains the big omission. Street‑fighting communities are diaspora by nature; crossplay is the glue that keeps them healthy longer. Capcom’s site says “no,” and that hurts.
- No console‑exclusive modes. Authentic arcade builds are great, but it’s fair to miss the brawly single‑player fluff some home ports had. Nintendo Life flags this, and it’s the trade‑off you should go in knowing.
- Not every game has aged equally. Power Stone 1 trails its sequel; Capcom Fighting Evolution is still the wallflower at this party. Reviewers are pretty unanimous there.
Verdict
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a slam dunk for anyone with even a flicker of love for arcade fighters. CvS2 is the jewel; Power Stone 2 is the party; Project Justice is the stylish sleeper you’ll proselytize about. Rollback works, training is legit, the museum is generous, and the August update shows Capcom is still tending the garden. Crossplay’s absence stings and the arcade‑only stance ruffles a few feathers, but none of that stops this from being both a terrific set to play and a thoughtful archive to explore. At forty bucks, it’s one of the easiest recommendations of 2025.
Key facts at a glance
- Release: May 15–16, 2025 (Steam lists May 15; Capcom’s announcement is May 16).
- Platforms: Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC (Steam).
- Price: $39.99 (Steam).
- Post‑launch: Free Aug. 7 update adds Alpha 3 UPPER characters (Maki, Yun, Eagle, Ingrid) and more.
- Crossplay: Not supported.
Should you buy it?
- Yes if you want a legit way to play CvS2 with rollback, crave Power Stone 2 couch mayhem, or love spelunking through concept art and soundtracks.
- Maybe if you only want single‑player adventure‑style frills—those Dreamcast extras aren’t included here.
- No if crossplay is make‑or‑break and your friends are all on other platforms.
Platform pick tip
Because there’s no crossplay, pick the platform where your friends play or where you expect the biggest CvS2/Power Stone crowd (PC and Switch have strong showings at launch per reviews and storefront traction). Either way, the rollback netcode and lobby tools are solid wherever you land.
The bottom line
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 doesn’t just check the “finally!” box—it does right by these games. It’s the rare retro bundle that feels built for both today’s play habits and yesterday’s magic. Bring friends, bring quarters (figuratively), and bring a plan for which Groove you’re marrying in CvS2.
