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Capcom Classics Collection Remixed
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Graphics & Sound:
This title should have been called, "All The Quarters You Never Had," to signify how hard it was to beat these old games with the pocket change I could plead out of Mom or Dad back in the Eighties. Judging by my current performance, it would have taken 3-5 dollars in quarters to get me through any one of these classic Capcom titles.
Capcom Classics Collection Remixed is a testament to the grand days of gaming, and I do mean "grand." As in "grandfather," which is what most people who created these games are right now. Everyone will find or remember a favorite title in this bunch, but the overwhelming impression I had upon first launch was how dazzling all these games are, even against the current crop. And that's saying something, considering all the photorealistic jim-jam we have on order these days. No authentic gamer, new or old, will deny that the increase in realism and processing power has created some exciting new forms. But, these games packed a different type of graphical sophistication, built on cascading pixels and seriously hypnotic movement of layered backgrounds.
It's easy to laugh when you compare the full orchestral score we get in many game soundtracks these days, to the sound and music of these gems. Of course, just because a Ferrari or Lamborghini can beat the pants off an old 'Vette doesn't make American Muscle any less appealing. It isn't all about what's under the hood, folks. Once you put yourself in the context of the Eighties - especially if your formative years coincided, as mine did, with the release of many of these titles - it is easy to marvel at the catchy, original quality of the music. Stripped from the games, it is fun stuff. Capcom was kind enough to include music and art as unlockable bonus items for each game! Depending on the conditions imposed, whether based on points or certain gameplay criteria, you can unlock a jukebox of in-game songs. The image browser includes promotional art, and what looks like either hand-drawn production art or fan art. Some pieces are really rough, and others are obviously polished collateral. This adds an extra dimension to these great games. |
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Gameplay:
Twenty games. 20. All drawn from a series of classic Capcom side- and vertical-scrolling arcade hits, plus some oddities. Out of the twenty, nine are Shooters. Another nine are Fighting/Brawler or Action/Platform titles, and there are two Puzzle titles. To say that there is a lot of button-mashing is putting it mildly. The backstory on each game offers insight on the context for that title, and you begin to understand that little touches meant a lot. Just being able to mix vertical- and side-scrolling gameplay was innovative back then, for instance. A search for variety in multiplayer led to some creative solutions, such as being able to play cooperatively with someone else by controlling the same character at the same time! Other interesting styles of gameplay, such as the mix of driving and walking we now take for granted in GTA, was present in The Speed Rumbler back when people still thought pegging their jeans was cool.
Being able to play multiplayer wirelessly across two PSP systems is an amazing way to experience the fun of the Action, Shooter and Fighting games, as it was in the arcade. Since most of us will never really get to have the side-by-side experience in the arcade again, this goes down as the next best thing. Fifteen of the games include cooperative multiplayer or PvP options through an Ad Hoc interface, and the other five games allow two players to take turns. Unlike the games in the arcade, which could be unplugged, you aren't likely to lose your high scores here. |
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Difficulty:
One of the unlockable items for each game is a series of tips. These are handy, especially because they highlight secrets that would have traditionally been passed down from veteran players, or gained after investing a bunch of quarters. If the challenge level is daunting, you can dial it down or handicap the game. You can also handicap yourself or dial in more difficult settings for each game. The level of challenge is already sufficient for most gamers, and you'll be amazed at how hard these games actually were. Sure, most of it is twitch-style gameplay, but the designers of today could still learn a lot from the interesting challenges and puzzles present in the games of Classics Collection Remixed. Gathering keys to unlock doors hasn't changed much in twenty years, from what I can see... At least these guys can say they did it first.
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Game Mechanics:
Nowhere, outside of maybe go and checkers, will you find games that are so easy to learn, but so hard to master. The infinite continues help, no doubt, but only steady reflexes and a patient, determined gamer will see the credits roll on many of the games here. Classics Collection Remixed is aimed at a wide demographic, and succeeds in appealing both to fans of classic gaming and newcomers looking for more challenging fare. There's a lot to be said for buying a collection with all the bells and whistles this has, rather than try to get often quasi-legal emulation running on your PC. Plus, who wants to play these games on PC? I'd rather play on my couch, on the bus, or anywhere but hunched over a monitor. I did enough of that when I was 14...
A few things that mar the otherwise unblemished exterior of Classics Collection Remixed are visual presentation of certain games, and lack of online content. Online content, at least for downloading high scores, would have added to the competitive nature of the arcade experience. Who didn't like pushing off that last guy on the list? The biggest gripe I have is the fact that some games scale poorly to the screen ratio on PSP. One of my favorites, 1941, ended up looking really tiny in the horizontal view. So - and this is creative - you can turn the PSP on its side and play the game with a much more authentic view. This is a good way to appreciate the game, and certainly the play is easier since you can see more of the screen. What sucks is trying to contort your hands to control the fire/loop buttons while using your "down" hand to move the analog stick. I didn't like this at all, and if the vertical-scrolling games weren't transitioning well to PSP, they should have been scrapped. The side-scrollers are awesome, and Video Setup does let you stretch them across the entire screen, which is nice.
Barring a few small gripes, this is a piece of gaming history and a treasure trove for gamers who grew up on arcade fare in the Eighties. If your idea of a good time was slinking away from your family at the restaurant to pump quarters into these games, you'll love having free run and being able to finally see the ending to games that might have been too hard to beat on your budget. For me, growing up in a rural area, I didn't even get to experience most of these games, so Classics Collection Remixed is like the rerun I never saw the first time. And like they say, "if you haven't seen it, it's new to you!" Nothing here is new, but it's all good. |
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-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock |
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