Capcom Classics Collection review

Classic compilations appeal to two types of gamer: the old-school, roughly 30-something player who waxes nostalgic about when these games were new, and the less discerning, volume-conscious gamer who quickly deduces, "$20? That’s less than a dollar a game!" If you don’t fit into either category, move along.

For those still here, after moving on from the obvious choices (Street Fighter II and a Final Fight that's still fun despite being ravaged by age) and exploring the rest of this sprawling 22-game compilation, two things occur to you. The first is that Capcom arcade games of old are really freakin' hard.

Yep, in the Eighties, videogames were small on memory and big on stealing your quarters by the fistful, so there's no room for namby-pamby "introduction levels" or tutorials here. Right from the word go, 1943 hates your guts, while Super Ghouls & Ghosts is rightfully renowned for being one of the most unforgiving games ever. Even cute shooter Son Son isn't the type of game you'd like to meet in a dark back alley.