25.2 hours played
Written 18 days ago
Capcom’s Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is more than just a nostalgic cash-in—it’s a playable museum, a lovingly curated celebration of one of the most iconic and influential franchises in gaming history. Spanning three decades and 12 classic titles, this collection is a time capsule, and one that hits with just as much impact as the Shoryukens and Sonic Booms it celebrates.
The collection includes:
-Street Fighter (1987)
-Street Fighter II (and its five main iterations)
-Street Fighter Alpha trilogy
-Street Fighter III, 2nd Impact, and 3rd Strike
Right away, you’re looking at a staggering range of fighting game evolution—from the clunky but charming original Street Fighter to the crisp, competitive excellence of Third Strike. Each game is emulated faithfully, with original sprites, music, and arcade presentation intact. No remasters, no modern "reimaginings"—this is raw, authentic arcade Street Fighter.
Each game holds up differently, depending on your nostalgia level and tolerance for old-school design. Street Fighter II Turbo, Alpha 3, and 3rd Strike are still incredibly fun, tactical, and surprisingly deep, even by today’s standards.
That said, the original Street Fighter (1987) is mostly a curiosity—stiff, awkward, and best experienced as a history lesson. But that’s part of the charm: watching the franchise grow with each release makes the collection feel like a playable documentary.
Four titles—Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Alpha 3, and 3rd Strike—feature online multiplayer with lobbies, ranked matches, and spectator mode. While the rollback netcode was a major selling point, results vary: it’s smooth with good connections, but can be frustrating with lag or matchmaking issues.
It’s not a replacement for modern online fighters, but it offers a rare opportunity to compete in these classics the way fans dreamed of in the ‘90s.
The Museum Mode is a standout feature, filled with design documents, concept art, music, and an interactive timeline of Street Fighter’s evolution. This isn’t just fluff—it’s an insightful deep dive into how characters, storylines, and gameplay mechanics changed across generations.
There’s also a Character Bio section that’s surprisingly in-depth, and a music player that lets you listen to iconic tracks like Ryu’s theme or the jazzy beats of 3rd Strike.
Menus are clean, the UI is sleek, and loading times are minimal. The attention to detail shows Capcom’s respect for its legacy.
Where It Falls Short
-No Street Fighter IV or V – This is purely an arcade-era collection, so don’t expect anything post-2000s.
-Online issues – Inconsistent matchmaking and rare lag spikes hurt the competitive appeal.
-No training mode – For games this technical, it’s a missed opportunity not to have a dedicated practice space outside of matches.
-No customization or filters – Visual options are minimal. CRT filters are basic, and there’s no widescreen mode or sprite scaling.
The Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is a must-own for longtime fans, retro enthusiasts, and anyone interested in seeing how modern fighting games were born. It's part fighting game anthology, part historical archive—and all heart.
While it's not perfect, and certainly not meant to replace the newest entries in the series, it serves as a playable love letter to one of gaming’s most important franchises. If you ever wanted to trace the footsteps of Ryu, from pixelated wanderer to world warrior legend, this is the way to do it.
Rating: 7/10