Capcom got it all wrong. This isn't an arcade compilation. It's actually a simulation of what it would have been like to have had a rich Daddy back in the 80's. Unlimited quarters... Lordy knows I never had enough of a budget to see the end of these games, so this collection is perfect for me.

The last collection of Capcom games from this era was cracka-lackin', so expectations here may run a bit high. Not too high, but medium height. There is a different style of game showcased here, more toward the side of interesting gameplay. The prettiest titles are the Street Fighter joints and Knights of the Round. 1942, '43 and Kai are much improved from the first Capcom collection that featured 1941. I warmed up to the feature that allows you to flip the screen and play vertical-scrolling titles by holding the PSP like a PDA. In the first release, this felt clunky. Maybe I've just matured since then, but I had no problem playing from this perspective. Good thing, because there are some fun games like Commando and Gun Smoke that look much better on the "long screen."

Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded plays to the nostalgia we naturally feel from growing up with these games by including lots of extras. Some are unlocked and others are available "out of the box." Box art and concept art is featured along with instructions on how to play and some history of the game. The histories are detailed and provide nice background information. The art and special items lend some depth to the collection and help clarify how cutting edge these games were in their day.

Rather than wax nostalgic about a few games, I'll share the entire list of games. The 1942/43 trilogy features you as a lone fighter plane during WWII and contains the rather unglamorous "barrel roll" defense. What happened to air strikes? Commando, Mercs and Gun Smoke all share the vertical-scrolling gameplay and a plucky protagonist who has to mow down yards and yards of enemies. Exed Exes and Vulgus are much like futuristic variants on the 1942 riff. Why did 1941 and its sequels capture more of an audience than one-offs like Vulgus? See for yourself. Eco Fighters is the only side-scrolling space shooter here and probably one of the better ones I have played. I can barely remember playing this in the olden days, but the theme is pretty distinctive. When bad guys start polluting the land with their heavy machinery, it's up to you to intervene and save the planet. What really makes this a neat title is the way the weapons morph and power up. Ghosts 'N Goblins may be overshadowed by the superpowered modern version that just released on PSP, but if you want to see the first three games in the series, they are here. Three versions of Street Fighter are here as well and may be the "killer app" of the compilation. Fans of this game are legion and rabid in their devotion. Buy Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded for the Street Fighter, then stay for the other goodies. Rounding out the total offering are some interesting and non-traditional games, Pirate Ship Higemaru and Son Son. Last but certainly not least are two side-scrolling slashers, Knights of the Round and The King of Dragons.

Everyone will have a personal favorite and the more dedicated enthusiasts can peek under the hood with some of the extras included here. Multiplayer is available in several titles, including Street Fighter. Being able to play co-op modes in about 40% of the titles included here is nice, but I still wish there were more online content. Cheats or add-on titles or even just high scores would be an interesting way to bundle up more replay value for these games. Capcom did expose a lot of the underbelly for each game that lets you tweak to your heart's content in a way that was never possible in the arcade.

It's been said plenty of times, but I never cease to marvel at how difficult these games can be! We're accustomed to having more firepower, more freedom of movement and more overall speed. Take those things away (the vertical-scrolling shooters are particularly stark) and today's gamer will feel somewhat exposed. Beyond the stock difficulty, you can tweak things to make it an easier or harder experience. Switching on auto-fire or changing certain parameters will have some effect, but nothing wins like unlimited continues!

The most complex thing you'll do in Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded is turn the PSP 90 degrees and play the vertical-scrolling games until your thumbs bleed. It's not like these games had complex control schemes or demanded a lot of "book learning." Pick-up & play is the name of the game here and with only a few exceptions, (Pirate Ship Higemaru and Son Son), it is immediately apparent what needs to be done after you press the Start button. Launching a multiplayer game is relatively simple and there are six games that can be shared wirelessly with another PSP, even if that person doesn't have a game disk. If collecting points weren't enough (it was good enough for kids in the eighties!), there is a kitschy mini-game that plays like a poor man's Capcom slot-machine. Not including this under "Gameplay" was intentional; it's really just a way to cash in your hard-earned points and open up some special features in the game.

Not everyone cares about the early days of gaming and I'd be quick to assert that games have come a long way and traveled a good road since these titles were on the street. Even so, there is real quality here that has influenced several generations, including the folks who are making all the awesome games we enjoy today. Would there have been Halo without Commando? Maybe. But like Michael J. Fox in "Back to the Future," I wouldn't want to deny the past and screw up the future... Without imbuing these games with mystical qualities, it is safe to say that they are a must-have companion to the first compilation. No better or worse, just essential gaming history.