Capcom Home Arcade – Hands On

by DannixAmy & Leemo

Way back when in a time long forgotten, social gaming was at its peak when people gathered together around arcade machines. Thanks to Capcom we can all now relive these days from the comfort of our own homes. Bringing together 16 games from their portfolio, Capcom has created an arcade-style system where one or two players can replay their gaming past.

From Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness to the ionic Street Fighter II players can create a button-smashing symphony with true to life “insert coin” authenticity. Not only does this machine bring back memories from original players childhood’s, but it also encourages new players to experience the same games in a full HD setting, complete with an online leader board so you can challenge your friends.

So let’s get into the meat of this review, you already know there are 16 games included but what games are they? Here’s the complete list:

• Strider
• Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
• 1944: The Loop Master
• Alien vs Predator
• Armoured Warriors
• Captain Commando
• Capcom Sports Club
• Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness
• Dark Stalkers: The Night Warriors
• Eco Fighters
• Final Flight
• Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
• Giga Wing
• Mega Man: The Power Battle
• Progear
• Streetfighter II

What’re our thoughts? This is a really awesome piece of kit, the design is exquisite. The white, blues and yellows come together to create the Capcom logo we all know and love. Each box includes an instructional diagram of the controls so not only are they easy to learn, they’re designed to fall into place when you’re playing. Unfortunately, this is where the positives end. Yes, it is a beautiful piece of kit and it does have some of the most memorable games Capcom has ever made but it comes in at a whopping £200, a price which is a little too high for what you’re getting. Despite its WIFI capabilities, gamers will not get the online play they’re so accustomed to and there are no plans for any DLC in the foreseeable future: what you see is what you get.

Our opinion is that this won’t become a part of the furniture. Compared to the most popular gaming consoles that are available to purchase the Home Arcade has a severe lack of variety and although it modernises the traditional arcade machines, it’s not enough to compete with the latest all-in-one consoles.

If you’re a fan of Capcom arcade games (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?) then this could be for you but only if you’re willing to part with 200 bucks and a large amount of desk space. For design and aesthetics, this definitely gets a 10/10 but when you combine it with the price tag, the lack of online features and future updates and the small number of games, it brings the whole rating down to a 6/10.

But remember, a Capcom Home Arcade is not just for Christmas.

Thanks to our pals at Koch Media for giving us early access to the Home Arcade and providing us with some of the best cookies we’ve ever eaten.

Badger

Life long gamer and Geek, Considered by most to be of doubtable sanity. never seen without my trusty Stetson

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