A year has passed since iconic Japanese publisher Capcom published Capcom Arcade Stadium, a comprehensive look back at their arcade heritage. From Vulgus to Giga Wing, gamers could discover underappreciated coin-op classics, and next month will bring many more.
No licensed games like Alien Vs. Predator or Cadillacs and Dinosaurs seem to be making the cut for this edition because of concerns with the licenses. Even so, we can’t begin to hold our excitement about bringing the arcade to our living room for a series of vintage gaming evenings full of classic retro games.
It’s not just us that are pumped up for this! Capcom is celebrating the release of Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium on July 22 by giving away two fantastic vintage games.
Street Fighter II is available … for free!
This is an opportunity you won’t want to pass up whether you’re a Street Fighter fan or simply a fan of good old games in general. Capcom has made Street Fighter II – The World Warrior available for free for a short period in the previous Capcom Arcade Stadium game to promote the upcoming arrival of Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium.
As a follow-up to Street Fighter, which was developed in 1991, Street Fighter II built on several of the iconic game’s innovations, including the usage of command-based special abilities and a six-button control setup, and offered players many extra avatars, each with their very own distinct style of fighting and special abilities.
Its global popularity increased to such an extent that, 21 years later, famous slot producer NetEnt developed a branded Street Fighter casino slot. In addition to all the functionality and gamification, the game’s aesthetics, mood, and fist-pumping intensity are identical to those of the classic arcade game. Many of the new casino sites available in the United States include this title, with the developer NetEnt allowing players to test it out for free as well!
The 1984 SonSon is up next!
Anyone who gets Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium next month will be able to play SonSon for free. This sidescrolling title from 1984 is based on the ever-present Journey to the West storyline and has a main character who may be a form of the fictional Goku. In this game, players control the iconic monkey fighter as he moves over an autoscrolling landscape, periodically pausing the activity for a massive battle.
SonSon may not be as well-known as Street Fighter, but it has a lot of historical importance. For the first time, Capcom had released an arcade game in the US, and the game’s protagonist’s granddaughter is a playable character in Marvel Vs Capcom 2. It was previously released in 2010 on the Wii Virtual Console, so it’s about time for a new release on today’s technology and facilities.
The Complete List of the 2nd Stadium’s Titles
The remainder of the roster at 2nd Stadium requires a few surprises. Saturday Night Slam Masters hero Mike Haggar is a must-see, and the two Mega Man arcade escapades are a nostalgic treat. The following is a list of all the games available:
- 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: The Lord of Vampire
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium will be released on July 22 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.