With one of the biggest months in gaming here, and Sony's recent State of Play kicking things off with a real bang, Geoff Keighley's Summer Games Fest showcase had a lot of hype to live up to, and for some, the showcase managed to do just that. While Summer Games Fest wasn't packed to the brim with heavy-hitters like State of Play was, the 2-hour live event did, undoubtedly, have a lot to show fans. Of course, with the scale and sheer number of games shown off, it's natural that some get forgotten about, and Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium may just be one of those titles.
The sequel to the first Capcom Arcade Stadium, Arcade 2nd Stadium looks to be expanding on its predecessor in a number of ways. The general gameplay loop of Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium will see players create their own retro arcade, kitted out with a variety of classic Capcom arcade cabinets, all hailing from the glory days of video game arcades.
Every Game Included in Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium
Unlike other classic game compilations, players will be able to buy individual games for about $4 a pop, or they can purchase the "Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Bundle 1" for about $40, which gives them access to all 32 of the game's currently available titles. While some of the compilation's titles are obviously more well known than others, any gamer that grew up with these games or any fan of retro gaming is sure to find at least a good handful of titles that are worth the price of admission. Below is the full list of the 32 games included in Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium:
- 1943 Kai
- Black Tiger
- Block Block
- Capcom Sports Club
- Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors
- Eco Fighters
- Gan Sumoku (GunSmoke)
- Hissatsu Buraiken (Avengers)
- Hyper Dyne Side Arms
- Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition
- Knights of the Round
- Last Duel
- Magic Sword
- Mega Man: The Power Battle
- Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters
- Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge
- Pnickies
- Rally 2011 LED Storm
- Saturday Night Slam Masters
- Savage Bees (Exed Exes)
- SonSon
- Street Fighter
- Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors’ Dreams
- Street Fighter Alpha 2
- Street Fighter Alpha 3
- Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix
- Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
- The King of Dragons
- The Speed Rumbler (Rush & Crash)
- Three Wonders
- Tiger Road
- Vampire Savior
Some of the immediate stand-outs in this list are obviously the slew of Street Fighter titles included in Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium. Hyper Street Fighter 2: The Anniversary Edition is one of the more modern games in the collection, originally releasing in 2003 for arcades and PlayStation 2 to celebrate the franchise's 15th anniversary. The game is essentially a modified version of Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo, with some added content and the ability to play as any character in the franchise up until that point being particular highlights.
The Street Fighter Alpha series also gets some representation in this collection, with three games making the cut. This series was the first real new entry in the series since Street Fighter 2, so these games feature a revamped Super Combo system, a new art style, and some slight gameplay differences than the mainline entries.
The Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium collection is also chock-full of pretty good 2D side-scrolling beat 'em up. Titles like The King of Dragons, Magic Sword, and Knights of the Round are all decent arcade action experiences, although their similar premises, gameplay, and visuals may blend all the games together in the player's mind.
The two Mega Man games are also obvious stand-outs, being one of the most recognizable brands in this collection. Mega Man: The Power Battle offers a pretty unique twist on the franchise, trading in the usual 2D side-scrolling formula for a more Street Fighter-esque fighting game, where the player faces off against some of the series' most iconic bosses. Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters is the direct follow-up to Power Battle, adding some new characters, abilities, and bosses to the game.
Much like the first game, Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium also adds a whole host of modern features to these classic arcade titles. Some of these new features include a rewind button, letting players hop back 10 seconds to avoid a grisly fate, and adjustable game speeds. These additions won't be new to any gamer who's used to picking up arcade compilations, but they are neat little touches that can enhance the experience.
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium is set to release for the Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One on July 22 2022.