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When’s Mahvel, you ask? Right now, that’s when! Marvel vs. Capcom is back in a big way with the release of Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. For the longest time, the fighting game community kept waiting for the classic versus titles to come back, and after decades, it was time to put that dream to rest. Everyone had accepted that the licensing issues were insurmountable, and we’d never get to see some of the greatest fighting games ever made.
But that changed out of nowhere when Capcom suddenly announced that it had achieved what was previously believed impossible by revealing a trailer for Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics during a Nintendo Direct. A compendium that includes one of the greatest fighting games ever made, Marvel vs. Capcom 2. But it didn’t stop there, the collection has a total of 7 games, including MvC2, which you can see below:
- The Punisher (1993)
- X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994)
- Marvel Super Heroes (1996)
- X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996)
- Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997)
- Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (1998)
- Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000)
The reveal was so unbelievably exciting that it resulted in FGC streamers actually throwing up while watching the trailer.
Story: It’s Gonna Take You For a Ride
If you’re really interested in the arcade mode, you’re in luck, because the collection comes with a lot of games that will keep you busy for a while. While there is no dedicated story mode like more recent fighting games, the arcade modes alone for all the games above are quite a lot to sink your teeth into.
Let’s not forget the odd one in the collection, The Punisher. If you want a strictly single-player experience, you’re in luck. The Punisher is a side-scrolling co-op beat-em-up in which you can take control of the titular Frank Castle or the infamous Nick Fury. You can also play the game with a friend and experience the whole story for the first time or relive it once again.
Gameplay: Versus Fighting Perfection
Most of the games in this collection are exactly how you played them last: the gameplay, the combos, the systems, and even the balance. But some games have changed a bit. Capcom has decided to remove some of the unintended bugs and broken stuff that slowly became part of the competitive meta of Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Some may see that as a problem because the originality has been compromised, but I see it as a great decision.
These bugs were not as big of a problem back in the day because social norms and tournament organizers could put a ban on them. Gambit, for example, was known for flying out of the match and not returning for the foreseeable future. Seeing that online against other players would definitely be a turn-off for everyone, so the decision to squash age-old game-breaking bugs like these is a smart one.
Speaking of online play, every fighting game in the collection has a robust online mode that is powered by rock-solid rollback netcode. As long as you’re on the same continent, you’re likely to have a good time regardless of the ping. The online modes include a casual and a ranked mode, so if you enjoy the online ranking grind, you’re in for a treat.
If you want to brush up on those infinities or if this is the first time you’ve played a Capcom crossover game, the collection has a training mode for each game that comes with some modern bells and whistles, even if you have to access it before you start any of the games. Although it’s not as feature-packed as a modern game like Street Fighter 6, it still has all the essentials, including hitboxes, hurtboxes, controller inputs, and attack data. And if you really are a beginner and just want to play casually (or just simply not a fighting game madman), you have the option to map supers and specials to single buttons, no judgment here.
Graphics: Back To The Arcades With You
If you’re a fan of 2D sprites in fighting games, the character models and stages have aged wonderfully in all the titles included in the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. The extremely fluid sprites are still just as smooth as they were when you were hoarding coins and battling opponents until the sun went down (or until your parents found you).
You also have the option to change how the game looks by altering its aspect ratio or applying different filters that can replicate the arcade cabinet experience to some extent. Even if the games aren’t upscaled to 4K or remade completely, they have stood the test of time and are here to stay. Anyone who disagrees can come see me in Ranked.
Conclusion: Buy It Now So They Can Never Take it Away Again
Capcom has absolutely nailed it with the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, and it is a must-buy for anyone who is a fan of the Marvel vs. Capcom games or crossover fighters in general. From the new gameplay modes to the museum and jukebox, you won’t be left wanting for much. If you want to make sure no one can ever take these games away from you again, you can wait for the physical edition when it comes out on November 22, 2024.
This gives us all hope that one day in the not-too-distant future, we will finally get to see another Marvel vs. Capcom game that has all the characters we love and will finally reclaim its throne as the best team-based crossover fighter.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC via Steam (reviewed). Even though the original trailers don’t have the Xbox logo at the end, Capcom confirmed that it has figured everything out, and both the Marvel vs. Capcom Collection and the Capcom Fighting Collection 2, will have Xbox releases in early 2025.
Review copy provided by Publisher.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Reviewed)
A collection of some of the greatest fighting games ever made, wrapped with the love and respect they deserve, hampered rarely by the hit or miss UI.
As awesome as before
- An amazing collection that doesn't miss a beat
- Great for newcomers and old-timers alike
Barely a fumble
- The UI can rarely be a bit odd or difficult to understand
