Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 review

Retro packs rule when they don't suck.

Let's interpret that statement. There are lots of great games from the past, and now that they can be packed together cheaply on a single disc, well, it sounds great! Fire up the presses! The "suck" problem often comes in the quality of translation, or lack thereof. Simply put, a lot of packs aren't worth the discs they're printed on. Other unfortunate retro collections have no games worth remembering, much less replaying.

Happily, Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 avoids both of these pitfalls. While its presentation isn't flawless, the games are ingood working order. Just as importantly, a lot of the games are worth playing. Capcom has a rich arcade heritage, and this is reflected pretty well in this collection. Not every game's worth your time, but the ones that are tend to be keepers. (For a complete title rundown, see our earlierpreview.

Shooting fans will be pleased with the inclusion of 1941; its vertically-oriented action is well-represented here. ECO Fighters, a 1994 horizontal-scroller, is really obscure, but surprisingly solid. There's also the shooting segment of Three Wonders, a neat three-games-in-one package with some beautiful art. The vertical shooter Varth's okay, but Side Arms hasn't aged well.

Like beating things up? The overrated Final Fight didn't make the cut, but the far weirder Captain Commando did. Knights of the Round, King of Dragons, and Avengers are also on offer. These games are repetitive and simple, but hey, if that's your thing, don't let us stop you.

The hack 'n slasher Magic Sword is probably the best bet for platform fans, followed by the cult classic Black Tiger. All-time classic Strider is on there too, though by this point you've probably played it on a previous collection.

On the fighting front CCC Vol. 2 offers two extremes: the absolutely wretched, original Street Fighter from 1987 and the all-time fighting classic Super Street Fighter II Turbo. The former is a frustrating curiosity, while Turbo is reason enough for some folks to buy this collection. A truly hardcore strategy video's included, too.