As someone who has spent more hours in fighting game arcades than I'd care to admit, I've developed a pretty good sense for what makes a compilation worthwhile. When I first heard about Super Gems3, I'll confess I was skeptical—we've all seen those disappointing collections that promise the world but deliver little more than poorly emulated versions of games we loved. But having spent considerable time with this latest offering from Capcom, I can confidently say this isn't just another cash grab. The selection here is genuinely thoughtful, and the enhancements are meaningful rather than superficial. What struck me immediately was how Capcom has managed to balance nostalgia with modern gaming sensibilities, creating something that feels both comfortably familiar and excitingly fresh.

Let's talk about the five features that truly set Super Gems3 apart, starting with what I consider the crown jewel of the collection: Capcom Vs. SNK 2. This isn't just a simple port—the developers have implemented a sophisticated rollback netcode that makes online matches feel incredibly smooth, something I've tested extensively with friends across different continents. The difference is night and day compared to previous releases. Then there's Project Justice, which I've always felt was an underappreciated gem in Capcom's catalog. The visual upgrades here are substantial, with character models that have been meticulously upscaled while maintaining their original artistic integrity. Playing it now feels like seeing the game through properly calibrated glasses for the first time—everything is sharper, cleaner, but still unmistakably the game I fell in love with decades ago.

Power Stone 2 deserves special mention because the local multiplayer experience has been transformed. I recently hosted a game night with three other friends, and the chaos that ensued reminded me why this game was so ahead of its time. The collection allows for seamless four-player battles with virtually no frame rate drops, which is something I couldn't say about the original Dreamcast version. Meanwhile, Plasma Sword benefits tremendously from the input lag reduction—those precise directional inputs that were sometimes frustratingly difficult to execute now register with satisfying consistency. And Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper? Well, they've included all the character variants from different regional releases, giving us what feels like the definitive version of this classic.

Now, I should address the games that don't shine quite as brightly, though they're by no means bad inclusions. Capcom Fighting Evolution shows its age more noticeably than the others, particularly when you jump between it and the more polished titles in the collection. The animation cycles are rougher, the balancing issues more apparent, but there's still charm to be found in its experimental nature. Similarly, the original Power Stone feels almost primitive when compared to its sequel, though I appreciate having both available to see how the concept evolved. Capcom Vs. SNK Pro sits in an odd middle ground—technically competent but lacking the magic of its successor. If I'm being completely honest, I've probably spent less than 5% of my total playtime with these three titles combined, though their inclusion does provide valuable historical context.

What makes Super Gems3 truly special, in my opinion, is how it respects these games as living artifacts rather than museum pieces. The quality-of-life improvements are thoughtfully implemented—save states for those of us with limited time, customizable control schemes that accommodate modern controllers, and filter options that can either recreate the CRT experience or provide crystal-clear modern displays. I've found myself particularly fond of the rewind feature, which has saved me countless frustrations during particularly difficult single-player sessions. These might seem like small additions, but they fundamentally change how we interact with these classics, removing the friction that might otherwise prevent newer players from appreciating what made these games great in the first place.

Having played through roughly 85% of the collection's content at this point, I can say with confidence that Super Gems3 represents a new high watermark for fighting game compilations. The care taken with the flagship titles demonstrates a understanding of what players actually want from these collections—not just access to old games, but improved experiences that honor the originals while making them accessible to contemporary audiences. While not every inclusion reaches the same heights, the overall package provides tremendous value, especially for fighting game enthusiasts who may have missed these titles during their initial releases. In an era where game preservation remains a significant challenge for the industry, collections like this show how it should be done—with respect for the source material and meaningful enhancements that serve both nostalgic players and new audiences. This is one compilation that absolutely deserves a spot in your gaming library.