Capcom Arcade Stadium

A bundle of 32 retro games offers classic Street Fighter action, ghostly quests, air battles – with the added bonus of not having to stop when your pocket money runs out

Capcom Arcade Stadium is a nostalgic look at a time when stained space carpets and deafening cacophonies were all the rage, performing admirably in its role at offering classic thrills in portable form. The lack of online multiplayer is disappointing, and the package will never feel truly complete until certain titles break free from licensing limbo, but as a way to while away lazy afternoons or dull commutes, CAS is worth its weight in credits.

Viewed as a traditional 32 game retro collection, there's value in journeying through PS4 Capcom Arcade Stadium's history from 1984 to 2001. It's a pleasure to revel in the origins of CP System, as it evolved from CPS-1 to CPS-2. There's a celebratory feel in the balance between Pack 1 and 2's popular hits, alongside Pack 3's cult favourites, plus targeting leaderboards to achieve Timed and Score Challenges is addictive when earning CASPO to reach a higher Class. As Zac Zinger's infectious song, A Brand New Day, plays over Capcom Arcade Stadium's title screen, there's a party vibe to dancing between game selections, especially when discovering Pack 3's superb, less widely available shmups like CAVE's Progear.

Overall, Capcom Arcade Stadium is a very good package filled with brilliant games, each updated with modern functionality. It doesn't rival the quality of original hardware or the likes of M2's sublime individual ports of arcade masterworks as seen with the release of Esp.Ra.De Psi, but at £30 for 32 games, it is well worth the price, warts and all.

Capcom Arcade Stadium is not the first (and likely not last) compilation of classic Capcom games, but this is one of the better ones they've put out.

Capcom Arcade Stadium is, ultimately, a competent product. It does a great job of emulating the company's iconic classic games, offering an experience that is faithful to the original titles while also adding modern features like save states and rewind. Unfortunately, it lacked a little more care with Capcom's own history. For those looking for an accessible way to access several classics, this collection is a good option.

Final Fight has aged extraordinarily well for the most part. It’s still one of the most beautifully presented games in Capcom’s back catalogue, with detailed backdrops and enormous, wonderfully animated sprites. The basic gameplay is straightforward but solid — though fans of later beat ’em ups may find themselves missing slightly later conventions such as the ability to run — and the sound effects are satisfying. My personal weak point of the game is the music, which is unremarkable at best and a nightmarish cacophony at worst.

Capcom Arcade Stadium took me right back to my early days as a gamer. It really brings back an appreciation of where gaming first started to excel. For us older players out there it is a chance to show our own children what we used to play. There are endless hours of exhilarating fun to be had here depending on your taste.

Capcom Arcade Stadium is a great opportunity for a trip to the 80s and 90s.

Capcom Arcade Stadium is a great way to look through the history of some of Capcom's arcade titles, and boy does it reveal how much some of these games were coin eaters! Jokes aside, this collection is a lovely way to revisit your nostalgia.