Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Review – A Classic Showdown Returns

Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Review

With a rich legacy in the fighting game genre, Capcom has preserved and celebrated many of its arcade classics through various collections. Due to licensing issues and other challenges, the Marvel vs. Capcom series has not received the same attention as their other famed franchises. Known for its high-octane, crossover battles, the series quickly became a fan favorite. However, its limited availability has left many modern gamers unable to experience the brilliance of these iconic titles. Aiming to address this, the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection revives these classics in a package long-awaited by fans of the genre. But does this collection honor the series’ legacy, or is it merely a nostalgia trip?

The relationship between giants of their respective industries began in 1993 with the side-scrolling adventure, The Punisher. While the game seems like an outlier in the collection, it’s a necessary one that marks the beginning of a long, storied partnership. Unlike the other games within the package, The Punisher is a side-scrolling adventure where you can control Frank Castle or Nick Fury to track down and halt The Kingpin’s crime syndicate. Much like the Japanese developer’s other outings, the game has wonderful character designs and follows conventions with bosses that culminate each level. A comic book twist adds personality to the game by pairing certain sounds with their visual onomatopoeic representations. Although a product of its time, The Punisher is one of the fine examples of the genre and adds variety to the overall package.

It’s Us or Them

Moving on to traditional beat ’em’ ups, Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics offers 6 games within the genre, each unique, offering different experiences. X-Men: Children of the Atom was the company’s first fighter set in the Marvel universe and features a combat system based on Street Fighter II. Introducing multi-tiered environments where you can fall into different parts of the stage, the game is the basis for the iconic fast-paced battling synonymous with the franchise. Unplayable in the Arcade version and accessible by cheat codes in other releases, the collection adds Juggernaut and Magneto as playable characters. This adds to the relatively small roster giving more variety and options. Although a groundbreaking title, the game shows its age compared to other titles in the collection.

Following on from the success of the Infinity Gauntlet comics, Marvel Super Heroes uses the premise to create a stunning fighter that features iconic characters from across the universe. With the ability to collect gems during fighters, you will receive boosts based on what you obtain. The clever combination of gameplay mechanics and the comic’s plot helps to make this a unique title in the series. In addition to the array of incredible characters, you can also get instant access to unlockable characters Doctor Doom, Thanos, and Anita to bulk out the roster.

Tag Me In!

The first in the series to introduce the famed tag system, X-Men vs. Street Fighter pits two of the biggest names of each company against one another. The team-up concept is now a staple in the fighter as this allows you to initiate massive Hyper Combos and Cross-Over Combinations. With its vivid visuals, the game still looks incredible and is bolstered even further by the number of aesthetic options available in the collection. Not only can you select background designs but you can also choose a bunch of different overlays so that you can personalise the visuals for your battle.

Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter continues the trend with frantic action that captures the chaos of larger brawls. This was the first title to include the Variable Assits which has become a staple in the series. This allows you to summon a character to attack your opponent without having to tag. This adds several new methods of attack and combo opportunities, expanding the notion of a multi-character brawl. While similar to X-Men vs. Street Fighter, the stronger roster elevates the title over its predecessor.

The last two titles in the collection are Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes and its sequel, New Age of Heroes. While the initial title is a fantastic fighter, its sequel is not only the best of the collection, but it’s also one the greatest examples in the genre. Introducing 3v3 battles and with a stacked roster of 56 characters, the game is nothing short of brilliant. With its smooth animation, beautiful art direction, and multiple layers of combat, it still stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best fighting games of all time.

What Else You Got?

Apart from arcade and versus modes, the games also include training features to help you develop your skills with each release. Staying true to their arcade origins, the games are notoriously difficult. To ease the challenge, Capcom has introduced save states, allowing you to quickly reload and jump back in from a specific point rather than restarting entirely. While it’s difficult to assess the full extent of online features during the review period, their availability is likely to increase the games’ longevity and appeal. With a strong fanbase, there will no doubt be plenty of players waiting to take on new challengers.

Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics includes some of the best fighters in the genre and is a must-have for enthusiasts. Packed with a range of features such as the ability to alter display filters, online options, training modes, and even a music player, the game is comprehensive. Although I would have liked to see a museum-style mode with interviews and commentary on the game’s creation, the quality-of-life improvements and rich selection of fighters make this a standout collection.

***A PlayStation code was provided by the publisher***