Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

Marvel vs. Capcom is easily one of the most iconic fighting game franchises in history. With that in mind, it was a complete shame that its original installments and the titles that preceded it were virtually inaccessible to the vast majority of gamers.

For many years, it was believed that the classic titles of this crossover franchise were destined to be forgotten and would never return. When hope seemed dimmest, a ray of light appeared at the end of the tunnel.

Surprisingly, the Japanese company announced Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classicsa special bundle that brings back the retro games that brought together the comic book metahumans with the Japanese company’s characters for the first time. Was it worth the wait? Here’s our verdict.

Related video: We explain what netcode rollback is and how it saves your online games

Marvel vs. Capcom is back!

Capcom Fighting Collection of 2022 was an attractive package, but it was missing iconic games. Along those lines, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics will satisfy all those who were disappointed with the previous package.

At the end of the day, the value of a collection is measured by the quality and popularity of the video games it includes. Without a doubt, we are looking at an attractive line-up that offers a total of 7 cult gems: The Punisher from 1993, X-Men: Children of the Atom from 1994, Marvel Super Heroes from 1995, X-Men vs Street Fighter from 1996, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter from 1997, Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heros of 1998 and the acclaimed Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes from 2000.

The biggest virtue of the collection is that it rescues these titles that remained in limbo for years due to legal issues. Because they are some of the most influential and beloved fighting games in history, having the ability to play them all on modern platforms is a plus in itself. A win for preservation, no doubt.

The best part is that the games in the package are of very good quality and reflect the Japanese developer’s maturity during the 1990s. They all have something unique to offer and are extremely fun thanks to their refined combat systems and iconic cast of characters. Plus, it’s interesting to see how the relationship between the two companies gradually strengthened until culminating in the crown jewel: Marvel vs. Capcom 2which feels just as great as we remembered. Simply put, this compilation will delight fans of the franchise, genre enthusiasts, and casual gamers alike.

As the name suggests, the collection is focused on fighting games, but we were pleased that there was also room for a surprise: The Punisherthe underrated beat ’em up where we embark on a quest for vengeance against Kingpin and his henchmen. It’s a welcome addition that serves as a distraction if we tire of traditional combat.

More options to enjoy gems of the genre

The most important thing in a fighting game is that the performance is stellar and the controls are responsive. There is always a risk of ruining one of these aspects when porting to other platforms. Fortunately, the emulation work of Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection meets expectations.

First of all, the games look fantastic, just as we remembered them. We can say that the gameplay also remains fluid and responsive as always, with frame drops and stuttering conspicuous by their absence. The good performance was maintained in all titles, including the fastest and most visually intensive ones. We also didn’t identify any input lag that ruined our performance.

We were pleased that we can select from a respectable number of filters that attempt to simulate the scanlines of retro monitors. In addition to making the experience more nostalgic, they serve to disguise pixel stretching at higher resolutions. And yes, it is possible to change the screen size and choose the border art.

Just like the 2022 collection, the user interface is extremely clean and intuitive. Plus, the simple and clear layout of the menus makes it very easy to jump between games, as well as select the available options and modes. The icing on the cake is that there are practically no waiting times.

Since we’re talking about options, the collection allows you to change various game parameters: from the difficulty level and the power of the hits to the number of rounds and the speed of the timer. It also lets you choose whether you want infinite credits or if you want hidden characters to be available from the start. This amalgam of settings serves to shape the experience to your tastes and needs, so it’s an added benefit that is always appreciated.

There’s more! It turns out that all the games include both the American and Japanese versions. Besides the obvious change in language, they feature subtle differences in balance and other aspects. For example, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter has an exclusive character in its Japanese edition: Norimaro. These kinds of additions add value to the product and allow for a broader view of these timeless classics.

Furthermore, all titles offer a very useful entertainment mode that allows us to configure all kinds of parameters, just like in contemporary games. A new feature in this section is the inclusion of a hitbox viewer, which will be appreciated by the most competitive players.

Another quality of life addition is the quick save option. As the name suggests, it allows you to save and load your game at any time. While basic, it’s a useful tool if you want to take a break and play another game without losing your progress.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics It also features an online mode with netcode rollback, which is always a nice touch. Unfortunately, during the period we played for this review we were unable to find an opponent, so we don’t know the quality of the netcode. Play was smooth in the 2022 collection, so we’re optimistic that history will repeat itself.

Otherwise, we liked that we can search for casual and competitive matches in multiple games at the same time and that it’s feasible to wait while we play the arcade mode, hone our skills in entertainment, or simply explore the museum.

On the subject of that last point, the collection includes a very extensive gallery that shows off hundreds of illustrations. In addition to allowing us to see the official character art in great detail, it also takes us back in time by including promotional images from magazines and posters for all the games. More importantly, it offers a look behind the scenes by showing fighter sketches, concept guides, storyboards, and more. These extras allow us to imagine how the creative minds behind these projects worked. And yes, we can listen to the soundtrack, too.

Capcom classics returned without surprises

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics It’s a dream package, but it does have a couple of drawbacks that keep it from being the definitive collection.

First of all, the included ROMs are the originals from the arcades. This means that we can only play the arcade mode or versus mode against another player. We appreciate the addition of an online section, but it’s a shame that additional modes, such as Survival or Time Trial, were conspicuous by their absence. We also miss the combo missions and the tutorials that go into more depth about the mechanics of each game.

It’s also a complete shame that cross-play was once again omitted, even between PlayStation and PC. We assume that decision was due to technical reasons, but we still feel that it was a wasted opportunity to expand the user base and unite communities.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics It is also a very continuous product that refrained from taking the next step. Those who played the previous collection will find a very familiar environment due to the reuse of menus and user interface. As we said, no new game modes were added either.

Lastly, this re-release made us realize that, even though the games included in the package were epoch-making and worthwhile in their own right, Capcom recycled a lot of elements. That’s most noticeable when playing all the titles in quick succession, as it gets repetitive to face off against Wolverine and Spider-Man because they only feature subtle changes between projects. This isn’t a complaint or a claim; rather, it’s a mere observation.

Close to being the definitive Marvel vs. Capcom collection

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a nostalgic tribute to one of the most iconic collaborations in the gaming industry. While its greatest virtue is reviving some of the most influential fighting games in history, it also offers a respectable amount of extras that bring the experience into the modern day.

While the lack of additional modes and cross-play keeps this from being the definitive collection many were hoping for, it’s hard to deny its value. It’s certainly a great option for nostalgic gamers looking to relive old glory and new players looking to try these titles for the first time. That said, we’re left feeling like Capcom could have done more to take it to the next level.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics will be available for PlayStation 4, PC and Nintendo Switch, while the Xbox One version will arrive in 2025. Follow this link to read more news related to it.

Related Video: Franchises Capcom Needs to Revive