Mega Twins (1990)- Definitely leaning a bit on the "cute" side, Mega Twins is a platforming adventure for one or two players where boys use swords and magic to kill various enemies. If the game looks a bit familiar to you, that's because it previously found a release on the Sega Genesis under the name Chiki Chiki Boys- a favorite game of our editor-in-chief, Chris Buffa. (He won't admit it- go figure).
Magic Sword (1990)- A fast-paced side-scrolling game where one or two knights must battle enemies in an attempt to destroy the vicious Black Orb, seated at the top of a tower. They pick up various power-ups and "helpers" along the way, including a magical thief, a female warrior who knows her way with a crossbow, and a large ogre with throwing axes. It's quick, fast-paced fun.
Quiz and Dragons (1992)- At first glance, this looks like another beat-em-up title, as players select a particular warrior and embark on a quest. However, instead of physically fighting enemies, players are challenged to beat them by answering trivia questions. Along the way, they roll dice and continue on their quest, snagging occasional power-up items to help them out. The trivia might be a little dated (the game is about 15 years old), but the formula is pretty fresh for a game such as this. And it beats the hell out of those bar trivia games where all you lose is points.
Side Arms (1986)- Side Arms might look familiar to some, as it has a play style similar to Section Z from the previous Capcom Classics Collection. Players control a lone robot that can shoot in front of and behind it as various enemies fly across the screen. Different power-ups come into play, some of which will need to be used to battle the boss at the end of the level.
The Speed Rambler (1986)- This game didn't see as wide a release as other Capcom games, but it's nice to see it included here. Super Joe, the driver of a high-powered vehicle, must rescue his family and other hostages from a dangerous terrorist group. The game has high-speed racing working for it, but if your vehicle is destroyed, you can continue shooting at enemies on foot.
Street Fighter (1987)- Four years prior to the game that started the hardcore fighting genre, there was the original Street Fighter. Made up of more primitive graphics and sound effects ("All wight!"), Street Fighter nonetheless contains plenty of appeal with its control scheme, consisting of three different types of punches and kicks. At the time, its only competition was the more focused Karate Champ, made up of two joysticks. As you can probably guess, the buttons have improved the style greatly.
Street Fighter II Turbo (1992)- Those who own the Street Fighter Anniversary Collection will easily recognize this title. This particular chapter not only contains speed boosting that makes each of the bouts go faster (even to the point that it looks like everyone's hopped up on steroids), but it also gives some new moves to the fighters. This includes Chun Li's fireball, which works a bit differently than Ken and Ryu's (but still hurts like hell).
Strider (1989)- A big hit in the arcade heyday (as well as on the Sega Genesis), Strider was missed heavily in the first Capcom Classics Collection, but has made the cut for this one. Players control a powerful ninja in the year 2042 who must fight natural and mechanical enemies in his attempt to thwart a megalomaniac, lusting for power. This includes everything from mechanical gorillas to jungle natives to airborne pirates. The game can be easily beaten, but is still wonderfully designed.
Three Wonders (1991)- It's very rare to see a compilation release such as Three Wonders, so it's nice to see it in the Collection. It's made up of three smaller games- the platforming shooter Midnight Wanderers, the shooting game Chariot, and the puzzle/strategy game Don't Pull. The game gained a huge following in Japan, both in the arcades and on the Sega Saturn.
Tiger Road (1987)- In this action-packed platformer, gamers take control of a monk with a powerful chain weapon who must rescue kidnapped children from a rogue army. What makes Tiger Road stand out is its variety in level design, ranging from smacking around giants in a temple to battling floating enemies as you fly through the air. It's a bit cranked in difficulty, however. Thank God for unlimited continues.
Varth: Operation Thunderstorm (1992)- Finally, we come to another shooter that's bound to evoke some memories for fans of the genre. In Varth, one or two players can take control of high-powered jets as they take down planes, tanks, and other mechanical dangers. This game leans closer in nature to Twin Cobra than the 19XX series, but still looks great.
As you can see, there's quite a bit to go through here. Whether you like action games where you can obliterate everything in your path, or strategy games that require a more casual approach, Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 looks to be just as appealing as the first game, if not more so. The game is slated to arrive later this year for the Xbox and PS2, and we'll be back with a full review. Start saving your quarters.





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