Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Review

Capcom’s influence on the video game industry is undeniable as they revolutionized the modern fighting game genre with the release of Street Fighter II, captivating audiences by transforming comic book characters into fighting game icons. Legendary moves like Wolverine’s Berserker Barrage and Doctor Doom’s Footdive have been brought to life, and moreover, Capcom has achieved the remarkable feat of merging its universe with the world of comics in an epic crossover.

For those who experienced it firsthand, the excitement was palpable when iconic characters like the X-Men and Spider-Man made their arcade debut with X-Men: Children of the Atom and Marvel Super Heroes. The thrill only intensified with the crossovers that culminated in the now-legendary Marvel vs. Capcom series. While recent entries have been released, the classic games remain cherished gems, previously inaccessible due to being confined to older generations of consoles.

This is why the 2024 release of the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is such a significant event, as it has finally broken free from the shackles of the past, bringing these titles back in all their glory to be enjoyed by modern gaming audiences.

Taking you for a ride

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is the history of Capcom’s Vs. series in one amazing package, with a significant beat-em-up title thrown in as an icebreaker. It may not be a fighting game, but Capcom’s The Punisher is where the partnership between Marvel Comics and Capcom began, and a precursor for things to come.

As the Punisher, you have your fists doing the talking along with a vast array of weapons that you can pick up. It was a great addition to Capcom’s library of beat-em-ups like Final Fight and Alien vs. Predator. You’ll have fun walking through various stages dishing out Punisher’s brand of justice. And you can even do it with a friend with a second player able to control head of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury.

Capcom’s collaboration with Marvel continued with the groundbreaking X-Men: Children of the Atom, also included in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. It was not only the first time fans would see iconic X-Men characters duking it out, but it had bigger stages which require a Super Jump mechanic and screen filling Super Moves. And even dynamic backgrounds that often change depending on how the fight goes. More skilled players would also bring competition to the next level through carefully crafted combos which can be done even in the air.

Children of the Atom would be then succeeded by Marvel Super Heroes, which expands the roster by adding characters from the wider Marvel universe like Spider-Man, Captain America, and Doctor Doom, while also retaining favorite X-Men like Wolverine and the previous game’s final boss, Magneto. With the new boss now Thanos, the game incorporated a new Gem mechanic where you can pick up and use any of the six Infinity Gems which will grant you a buff depending on the Gem and character.

The craziness of Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics would be brought to the next level when Capcom would pit the X-Men against an unlikely group: the World Warriors of Street Fighter. X-Men vs. Street Fighter is where the Tag mechanic was introduced and newcomers like Rogue and Gambit join the fight. Players can now form pairs and compete in tag battles using staple mechanics like air combos and super moves. Also, players can perform double devastating super moves which are needed to beat the new boss: A giant Apocalypse.

The pattern should be noticeable by now as the follow-up would be Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, which is the previous game with an expanded roster including more Marvel characters along with a few new features. It was here that the Assist mechanic was added where your inactive character can perform a move without tagging in. Apocalypse would still be a major boss, but after beating him, players will need to now fight and beat Cyber-Akuma/Mech-Gouki.

Capcom was now up against the Marvel universe, so it makes sense that street fighters were no longer enough, hence we get Marvel vs. Capcom. Characters like Megaman and Captain Commando would join in the fight in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, and Marvel would add in Venom and War Machine. Retaining past Vs. features, Capcom expanded on the Assist mechanic by letting players choose a third character not on the fighting roster. Big bosses were becoming the norm as Apocalypse was replaced by Onslaught, who had 2 forms.

It would all culminate in Marvel vs. Capcom 2, where now you can form a team of 3, and your 2 inactive characters can do Assist moves depending on the type. The grand total of 56 fighters would consist of Marvel and Capcom characters from past games along with newcomers like Resident Evil’s Jill and Ruby Heart, with Marvel adding Cable and Marrow.

While the controls were simplified to 4 attack and 2 assist buttons, the frantic gameplay was still retained and matches were still intense. The new boss Abyss would also follow tradition by being massive and this time being fought in 3 parts. And we definitely can’t forget the change to 3d backgrounds and unusual choice of a more jazzy soundtrack that’s still an earworm.

X marks the spot

While newer titles like Marvel vs. Capcom 2 were released on the Dreamcast and PlayStation 3, their predecessors haven’t been as fortunate. For many, the closest experience with the earlier games would have been on a PlayStation, which was not the optimal way to enjoy the vs. series.

Due to hardware limitations, some ports were subpar, with missing frames and even the removal of signature features like the tag systems. The best port of X-Men vs. Street Fighter, for instance, was on the Sega Saturn. This makes the release of Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics a significant event, as it faithfully replicates the original iterations without any limitations or sacrificed mechanics.

Capcom has also included a wealth of extras in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, such as a Museum where players can view high-quality artwork from all the included games. Marquee Cards, typically seen on arcade cabinets, are available for those interested in game mechanics and character moves. Additionally, the soundtracks are also included in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, featuring popular tracks like the jazzy character select music from MvC2.

Moreover, each game in the collection is playable in both their North American and Japanese versions. This is notable because there are features exclusive to each region, such as the Japanese-exclusive fighter Norimaro in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter. Players are encouraged to explore both offline and online modes, with Fighter awards available for completing various challenges.

Marvel vs Capcom On The Go

Finally, the release of Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics means that competitive players can once again engage in epic battles, while spectators can enjoy the excitement of tournament-level play. This even extends to the Steam Deck, which can handle the game flawlessly on-the-go both performance and network-wise. Even for a TDP that’s as low as 6 or 7, the game runs silky smooth at 60fps thanks to its simple yet impactful graphics.

It’s even arguable that because of its portable nature, the Steam Deck may be the best way to play Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics so that friends can join in on the fun anytime.

And for these dedicated competitors to sharpen their skills, access to Training Mode has been simplified by pressing Start when highlighting a game instead of confirm. Here you’re provided all the tools like hit boxes and attack data to practice your combos and experimenting on team chemistry in the Vs. titles.

Verdict: Buy it!

While it might be tempting to dismiss this as just another re-release, longtime fans will recognize the significance of Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. Earlier titles like X-Men and the initial Vs. Series have been largely inaccessible until now. The fact that these games still offer an enjoyable experience is a testament to their enduring quality, making Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics a must-buy.

One minor drawback is the absence of earlier beat-em-ups from the SNES era, such as X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse and Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems. Including these would have enhanced an already impressive package. Nonetheless, this collection encapsulates Capcom’s Vs. Fighting history in one comprehensive package. We are grateful for Capcom’s collaboration with Marvel, which has given rise to a legendary fighting game series.

*Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics was reviewed on a PS4/PS5 and Steam Deck with a review code provided by the publisher.