Capcom Classics Collection
Capcom Classics Collection is a series of video game compilations published by Capcom, featuring emulated ports of the company's classic 1980s and 1990s arcade titles for seventh-generation consoles and handhelds.[1] Developed by Backbone Entertainment and other studios including Sensory Sweep and Klein Computer Entertainment, the series launched in 2005 and includes five main releases across PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation Portable, and Game Boy Advance platforms, preserving around 50 arcade and console games in total with features like save states, artwork galleries, and original soundtracks.[2] These collections emphasize authentic arcade experiences, including high-score challenges and local multiplayer support for compatible titles, appealing to retro gaming enthusiasts.[3] The inaugural Capcom Classics Collection, released on September 27, 2005, for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, compiles 22 games spanning shooters, beat 'em ups, and platformers such as Final Fight, Bionic Commando, Commando, Ghosts 'n Goblins, and Street Fighter II.[2][4] It received positive reception for its faithful reproductions and added extras like concept art and interviews, though some criticized the lack of online features and minor emulation glitches in lesser-known titles.[5] Notable for including rarities like Progear and Varth: Operation Thunderstorm, the collection earned praise as a definitive retro package, with Metacritic scores averaging 78/100.[3] Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2, a follow-up released on November 24, 2006, for the same platforms, adds 20 more titles including Street Fighter, Magic Sword: Heroic Fantasy, The King of Dragons, Avengers, and Captain Commando.[6][7] Like its predecessor, it offers unlockable content through in-game challenges and maintains arcade authenticity, but reviews noted a slightly weaker selection compared to the first volume, resulting in an average Metacritic score of 74/100.[8] For portable play, Capcom Classics Collection Remixed arrived on March 22, 2006, for PlayStation Portable, selecting 20 games from the console versions such as 1941: Counter Attack, Forgotten Worlds, Last Duel, and Quiz & Dragons, with ad-hoc multiplayer and widescreen options.[9][10] A companion title, Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded, followed on October 24, 2006, for the same platform, featuring 19 games like Adventure Quiz Capcom World 2, Battle Circuit, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, and Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom. Both PSP releases earned solid reviews for on-the-go accessibility, with Metacritic scores of 72/100 for Remixed and 75/100 for Reloaded, though some emulation adjustments were made for the handheld's hardware.[11][12] Capcom Classics Mini Mix, released on September 19, 2006, for Game Boy Advance, compiles three NES titles: Bionic Commando, Commando, and Warriors of Fate, offering portable access to these classics with no additional features beyond emulation. It received mixed reviews, averaging 70/100 on Metacritic, praised for value but criticized for limited content.[13][14]Background
Series Overview
The Capcom Classics Collection is a series of video game compilations published by Capcom, featuring emulated ports of the company's arcade titles from the 1980s and 1990s, with an emphasis on preserving authentic arcade gameplay alongside modern enhancements such as save states and artwork galleries.[3][15] The initial volumes launched on home consoles for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2005 and 2006, followed by portable adaptations for PSP in 2006, and a Game Boy Advance release in 2006.[2][16][15] Common features across the series include high-score saving, emulation for faithful recreation of original mechanics, unlockable digital art collections and developer interviews, as well as multiplayer support in titles that originally featured it.[3][15][17] The collections collectively encompass 41 distinct arcade titles, centered on genres like shooters, beat 'em ups, and platformers.[1][18] Capcom served as the publisher for all entries, while Backbone Entertainment (formerly Digital Eclipse) acted as the primary developer for the console versions.[2][18]Development
Backbone Entertainment, formerly known as Digital Eclipse Software, served as the lead developer for the console and PSP entries in the Capcom Classics Collection series, contracted by Capcom to handle the emulation and porting of classic arcade titles to home consoles.[19][20] The development team faced significant challenges in adapting 8-bit and 16-bit arcade ROMs to the PlayStation 2 and Xbox architectures, particularly in accurately emulating Capcom's proprietary hardware such as the CPS-1 and CPS-2 chipsets used in titles like Final Fight.[19] While the emulation generally achieved high fidelity, some games encountered issues like audio glitches or incomplete input replication, such as missing rotary controls in certain shooters, requiring extensive testing for graphical accuracy and low input lag.[19] Added features were a key focus, with the team creating unlockable museum content including developer interviews, scanned concept art, and photos of original arcade cabinets to provide historical context without altering the core gameplay.[19] They also implemented modern conveniences like save-anywhere functionality, which were absent from the originals, alongside adjustable settings for controls, screen filters, and high-score saving to enhance accessibility on console hardware.[20] Development for Volume 1 commenced in the years leading up to its 2005 launch, involving rigorous testing to ensure responsive controls and visual parity with arcade originals.[20] Volume 2 built upon these efforts, incorporating refinements from the first release and expanding the selection to emphasize beat 'em ups while maintaining the same emulation standards.[21] For the portable releases, the team adapted the collections by optimizing graphics and performance for the PSP's hardware limitations, including scaled resolutions to fit the handheld screen while preserving emulation quality.[22] Input schemes were refined with customizable button mappings and ad-hoc multiplayer support tailored to the PSP's analog nub and face buttons, addressing the challenges of translating arcade controls to a portable form factor.[22]Home Console Releases
Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 1
Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 1 was released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in North America on September 27, 2005.[23] The compilation arrived in Europe on November 18, 2005, for both platforms.[24][25] In Japan, it launched exclusively for PlayStation 2 on March 2, 2006.[26] Developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Capcom, the title served as the inaugural entry in the home console series, emulating 22 classic arcade games from the 1980s and early 1990s to bring Capcom's early catalog to modern systems.[4][1] The collection features a diverse lineup of 22 titles, primarily from Capcom's arcade era, including vertical and horizontal scrollers, run-and-gun shooters, platformers, and beat 'em ups.[1] The full list comprises: 1942, 1943: The Battle of Midway, 1943 Kai, Bionic Commando, Commando, Exed Exes, Final Fight, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Gun.Smoke, The King of Dragons (first four stages only), Knights of the Round (first four stages only), Mercs, Section Z, SonSon, Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Trojan, Varth: Operation Thunderstorm, Vindicators, and Willow.[5][27] These games were selected to represent Capcom's foundational arcade output, with a heavy emphasis on shooters like the 194X series and platforming challenges from the Ghosts 'n Goblins franchise.[28] Games are organized into three thematic "buckets" for easier navigation: shooters (e.g., 1942, Varth), platformers (e.g., Bionic Commando, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts), and beat 'em ups (e.g., Final Fight, Knights of the Round).[28] Each title supports up to two-player local multiplayer where applicable, preserving the original arcade co-op experience.[2] Unlockable content, earned through high scores or inputting specific passwords, includes art galleries, development tips, and training mode videos to aid gameplay mastery.[29][30] The physical release retailed for approximately $19.99 USD in North America and included a detailed manual providing historical context and strategies for each game.[31][30] This budget-friendly packaging positioned the collection as an accessible entry point for retro gaming enthusiasts on home consoles.[32]Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2
Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 was released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles in North America on November 14, 2006, followed by a European launch on April 13, 2007. Developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Capcom, the compilation expands on the arcade heritage showcased in the first volume by focusing primarily on action, beat 'em up, and fighting titles from the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unlike its predecessor, this volume was not released in Japan.[33][34][35] The collection comprises 21 arcade games, providing a diverse selection of Capcom's early output with emulated authenticity. Key titles include 1941: Counter Attack, Avengers, Black Tiger, Block Block, Captain Commando, Code Name: Victory, Eco Fighters, The King of Dragons (in its complete form), Knights of the Round (full version), Last Duel, Magic Sword, Mega Man: The Power Battle, Mega Twins, Pirates, The Speed Rumbler, Street Fighter, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Tiger Road, Varth: Operation Thunderstorm (with expanded features), Battle Circuit, and Three Wonders. Several games support local multiplayer, enhancing replayability for group play.[6][36] Compared to Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 1, this installment offers refined user interface elements, including improved menu navigation for quicker access to games, options, and bonus materials. Multiplayer capabilities were expanded in compatible titles to support up to four players simultaneously, a step up from the prior volume's limitations. Additional unlockables, such as developer interviews, gameplay tips, artwork galleries, and training videos, provide deeper historical context and strategic insights, unlocked through in-game achievements. The PlayStation 2 version also includes progressive scan support across all titles for sharper visuals on compatible displays.[37][38] Regional versions exhibit minor differences, primarily in packaging and language options, with the European release incorporating localized subtitles and manuals. No significant content variations were reported between the PlayStation 2 and Xbox editions, though the latter leverages system-specific features like custom soundtracks in some menus. These enhancements position Vol. 2 as a more polished expansion, emphasizing cooperative and competitive play while preserving the original arcade experience.[39][6]Portable Releases
Capcom Classics Collection Remixed
Capcom Classics Collection Remixed is a compilation of arcade games developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Capcom for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). It was released in North America on March 22, 2006, and in Europe on July 21, 2006.[9] The collection draws from the selections of the earlier PlayStation 2 and Xbox volumes, adapting 20 classic titles for portable play with enhancements suited to the PSP's hardware.[10] The compilation features a diverse mix of genres, including shooters, beat 'em ups, and platformers, originally released in arcades between 1984 and 1992. The full list of included games is as follows:- 1941: Counter Attack
- Avengers
- Bionic Commando
- Black Tiger
- Block Block
- Captain Commando
- Final Fight
- Forgotten Worlds
- Last Duel
- Legendary Wings
- Magic Sword
- Mega Twins (also known as Chiki Chiki Boys)
- Quiz & Dragons
- Section Z
- Side Arms
- Speed Rumbler
- Street Fighter
- Strider
- Three Wonders
- Varth: Operation Thunderstorm[40]