Critic Reviews
One of the best coin-op collections ever produced, not just in terms of the games included but the excellent presentation and range of options.
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.
Capcom Arcade Stadium is a perfume soaked and kiss covered love letter to the arcade. Capcom really has set the benchmark for how iconic publishers should preserve their work for future generations. The pitch-perfect emulation is notable, but it's the courage to make the necessary changes to classic games and ensure accessibility for all that is truly genius. Sure, having to buy everything in packs is a pain but you're bound to uncover a few unexpected gems in the process. Now, how about that Rival Schools: United by Fate, eh Capcom?
32 classic arcade games, improved witch rewind and save options, CRT filters and frames, and detailed menus. It is a great collection, but we miss some favourite Capcom games.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
One hell of a compilation, with new challenges and lots of customization options. But Capcom should let us buy the games one by one also.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Capcom Arcade Stadium features 32 games that remind you just how good some of the old classics are. There's something for everyone, and although they're all relatively old, some still hold up today.
What keeps Capcom Arcade Stadium of having a perfect score, is the lack of Online Multiplayer and certain beloved games, that would otherwise elevate this title to new heights. That said, it's an excellent trip to the past, with a good amount of content and tons of replayability. Certainly, a way of reminding us old-schoolers why we loved Capcom in first place and how empty our wallets were due to their arcade dominance. The Nintendo Switch received another great entry to its already big roster.
Capcom Arcade Stadium is the best way to play a few of Capcom's arcade classics. It's clear a lot of love went into making sure these games were emulated perfectly and to recreate the atmosphere of a bustling arcade. Whatever you want to play here, you can't go wrong.
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 solid mix of arcade classics and some lessor known titles. Unfortunately, there are a lot of Street Fighter games not included. Having one of the X-Men fighting games would have been awesome but the Marvel rights are probably too expensive to secure. Capcom certainly went beyond just straight porting of the games. The presentation of each game is solid with a ton of options. Another nice touch is that a manual for each game is included too. This will be a boon to newbies and veterans alike and will save players from making side trips to the internet looking for tips.
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.
Ultimately, this is a fine lens with which to get stuck into the Capcom arcade classics of yesteryear and a muscular package that understands the old school score chasing that made those games so compelling in the first place. Until the PS6 comes around and we do all this again with a different set of features sprinkled on top, Capcom Arcade Stadium nonetheless stands tall as a delectable pick and mix buffet of Capcom's golden arcade era.
All in all the Capcom Arcade Stadium is a lovely little package. Whether you are an old-timer like me who reminisces over their mis-spent youth, or someone who would like to explore the earlier days of gaming, Capcom’s legacy as a maker of fine arcade games is here for all to see.
Capcom Arcade Stadium is an essential purchase for fans of retro gaming. Loaded with a ton of content, this game will keep newcomers and returning gamers entertained for hours. Although there are a few titles and features missing, this collection is still a fantastic addition to your Nintendo Switch library.
Capcom Arcade Stadium provides a generous bunch of golden-age arcade titles (with a little too much Street-Fighterism), paired with a vast assortment of options and gorgeous presentation.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Almost three dozen games, a trip into a bygone era, and plenty of reasons to have a pocket full of coins jangling away as you peruse the offerings. Depending on your fondness for the past, Capcom Arcade Stadium has a divisive collection of charming cult classic titles and time-wasting distractions, but it's all presented in a package that lures you in with bright lights, loud sounds, and plenty of nostalgia.
This compilation is a caress to nostalgia, but also the opportunity for many younger players to know the glory of other times, simpler in technical abilities but with a lot of soul and innovation. Thank you Capcom for taking us to the arcades once again, in another way, but with the same memories.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Similar to the publisher's previous compilations, Capcom Arcade Stadium is a feature-rich collection of above-average arcade classics. The lack of true online play stings, but there are still a wealth of options for vets and newcomers alike to sink their teeth into.
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.
All in all, I think Capcom Arcade Stadium is generally worth picking up, especially if you're a fan of older Capcom titles. For those less familiar with these offerings, I would instead suggest that you look at each pack to see what interests you. If you're only interested in a small subset of the included titles, there's not much of a reason to fork out for the entire collection when you can get a single pack for about a third of the cost. There's certainly potential for a great gathering of games here, but given all of the collection's faults, it falls just short of hitting that high score.