Capcom Classics Remixed PSP review

Retro compilations have been around for a long time, but they're going through something of a boom at the moment from dedicated machines connected to the TV, home console collections and handheld versions like this. There are two groups pushing this boom, those that remember the games and want to revisit them (and their youth) and those that want to find out what they have missed out on in the past. Will this appeal to the two groups?

For the latter group Capcom is as interesting as any publisher, especially on its current run of form after Resident Evil 4. For those wanting to use this as a cheap time machine there are a few titles that won't be instantly familiar but with things like Final Fight, Strider and Side Arms there is plenty of well-known gameplay to remember amongst the 15 titles on offer here.

Extras! Extras! Read all about 'em

You can't release a retro compilation with just the games these days, but this is as minimal as you can get. Each game comes with a small history and dot of trivia and you can unlock tips (utterly useless since to unlock them you'll have worked them out for yourself), art and music which only feel worthwhile in a few titles. It's a minimal amount, at best but the option for multiplayer in all games with people joining at any point if the WLAN switch is turned on is a great inclusion even if it is unlikely to ever meet anyone with a PSP and the game.

There is more good news in the translation of the games with everything running smoothly and no problems with controls. The unique PSP screen has prompted Capcom to include a range of screen options, stretched horizontally and vertically as well as the original aspect ratio which is, unsurprisingly the best. Everything looks crisp and bright although it all looks a bit smudged when stretched.

The Highlights...

Everyone is going to enjoy different bits of this compilation but big titles like Strider and Final Fight are always going to be popular and both are still great. What of the other titles included though? One big highlight has to be “Three Wonders” a trio of games released at once. The 2D platforming and shooting might not be too different to the rest of the compilation but they look brilliant even after all these years.

Another (odd) highlight is Dragon Quiz where you kill fantasy dragons, zombies and skeletons by answering trivia questions. Unless you know your American sports and sit-coms of fourteen years ago it's hugely difficult but somehow that just makes it more fun.

...and the Lowlights

The worst thing about the collection has to be the loading times. It takes a full minute to get into a game after turning on the machine and almost as long to hop from one game to another. Sleep-Mode means you can quickly dive in and out of games but the loading times will never stop being annoying.

As with all compilations this is missing a few big names, with things like Ghouls and Ghosts and Mercs conspicuous by their absence and it seems inevitable they’ll follow in a later compilation. The ones that are here might not all be big names but few are terrible. The worst has to be Street Fighter that is terrible despite its brilliant sequels and the PSP controls make it worse. The other horror is Breakout clone Block Block which is as annoyingly difficult as it is dull to play.

Worth it?

Overall this is a good compilation. It might not be packed full of household names but the games that are here are good in their own right even if most of the games involve shooting without too much variety. Everything works well, the screen looks great and the games play smoothly. Extras are thin on the ground and the loading time is terrible and while the multiplayer mode is a good idea it does kill the PSP battery very quickly. Infinite continues mean you'll get to see everything in the game even if it does remove any sense or real progress.

There is a lot of retro fun here and if you only carry one UMD with you this is as good as any to keep you entertained. If you don't care about old games it is difficult to recommend but if you don't mind the 2D games of old then you'll get enough fun from this to make it worth buying. though.