Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium

Another wonderful retro compilation from Capcom. It's sorely lacking in supplementary behind-the-scenes content, and it's a shame it couldn't have just been a big DLC pack for the first Arcade Stadium, but what's here is a nice, varied selection of vintage coin-op titles.

Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.

The crossover between Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium and last month's Capcom Fighting Collection is bizarre, but there's more than enough additional content in this compilation to justify a double-dip. While we wish the publisher would have integrated more social features to make the pursuit of high scores more fulfilling, the reality is that retro game enthusiasts will want to revisit much of what this package has to offer.

As long as you're okay with its unreasonable lack of online functionality and screen filter niggles, there are hundreds of hours of fun to be had with Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium. 32 mostly excellent games and another historically notable preservation piece, it recalls the essence of what an arcade felt like. Achieving that feeling, however brief, will be enough to justify a purchase for those with an affinity for gaming's rich history.

Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium shows that Capcom has created so many memorable arcade games that it takes more than one collection to hold them.

Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium is, in some ways, superior to the first collection. The game selection has become even more interesting, and the emulation has been slightly improved, demonstrating that the company is listening to fan feedback. However, the same structural problems persist: the bland presentation and the lack of extra materials reveal a product that feels made with minimal effort. Again: it's a valid and accessible experience to experience nostalgic titles, but it lacked more love.

The list of games is inferior to that of Capcom Arcade Stadium, and it is not unreasonable to wonder why the 2nd is needed, since everything could fit in the first.

Hissatsu Buraiken is worth persevering with, though, because aside from its cumbersome boss fights, it’s an enjoyable game and an interesting twist on both the beat ’em up and top-down run and gun formulae. It’s presented well, has some catchy music and is a decent amount of fun in two-player — just don’t take it too seriously, particularly while you’re getting to grips with it, and there’s fun to be had for sure.

More gold from the big guns

If we add it to its first part, we get a real arcade encyclopedia that illustrates part of the history of the best of the 90's and some magical rarity.