Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: Switch, Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC, Playstation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $49.99 – Available Here

Overview

Before there was a “metaverse”, we got an unexpected delivery in the gaming world of Marvel vs Capcom. What started as a gimmick to attract quarters in arcades soon turned into a sensation that would take the world by storm. Despite its success, licensing, and other hiccups would get in the way of proper continuation for the franchise, as it’s been over two generations of consoles since the classic has shown itself in true form. Capcom has heard the aches and cries, however, and has delivered a large set of the classics into one set, dubbed Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. Does this answer our prayers, or is this nostalgia grab one to leave in the past? Let’s find out.

Story

I suppose there are narratives to all of these games as each features a main antagonist that our heroes are uniting in order to defeat. While X-Men kind of started this crossover with Street Fighter, the franchise would evolve over time with the additions of more Marvel heroes outside of X-Men, with Capcom’s characters also following suit to broaden the roster. By the time we get to Marvel vs Capcom 2, the roster is jam-packed, featuring characters’ household names, as well as faces that have never seen much fanfare in the West. This is how I personally discovered Darkstalkers, and I would imagine it was the same for many others out there. Sure, the narrative isn’t the strong point as that is not what Capcom is known for, however, the gravity of this compilation of characters still feels just as important today, and this collection does well to celebrate that with its hefty inclusion of titles.

Gameplay

I am not going to go through every single aspect of every single title, as most will be buying this for the accessibility to all the games – rather than just to play one. I will state however that this is a very well-compiled slab of ports that all perform identically to how they did in the past. Marvel vs Capcom 2 is still a joy to play, even though it has a few technical issues compared to other, more refined releases that came afterward. As you go back and make it all the way back to X-Men vs Street Fighter, you will notice a dip in quality as the franchise was growing, but you will also notice several mechanics evolve. Playing these titles in succession is a fantastic history lesson, as while they may play a little differently, they still keep the same foundation intact that makes them a franchise.

This collection has also taught me one thing I seemed to forget over the years, and that is that I personally suck at fighters. A lot of us do, and that’s why this genre isn’t for everyone. That being said, with Marvel vs Capcom or whichever title you pick, you really don’t have to be good. This is a button mash-fest that revolves around luck and difficulty curves, and that is kind of what made it so appealing to start with. Sure, players can learn the combos and develop superior skills, but it’s easy to just jump in and play this title without getting your ego demolished. 

As an example, I started this off with Marvel vs Capcom. I had played all of the fighters here in one form or another over the years, but this was the one I first played in an arcade. I picked a character, quickly got down the basics in the first few matches, and ended up making it to the final boss without much issue. Then I got to Onslaught. I was destroyed. Time and time again I was destroyed. That is where the strategy comes in however, as each character has their own unique feel, speed, techniques, and so on, so I mixed it up and went through almost the whole roster before finding the duo that would eventually conquer this foe. Sure, it’s a lot of button mashing to newcomers, but that becomes more nuanced and steady as you play, and then you organically learn combos and special moves without the need to mash. Has it aged well? Well, yes and no – it is an arcade fighter designed to gobble up quarters, and that hasn’t changed much, but it is a blast to play – as are all the games here.

If I had to pick my least favorite it would be Marvel Super Heroes, but rather than have complaints about the slower gameplay, my issues came down to the gem system that was never my cup of tea, as I felt balancing those gems slowed down the chaos and made it feel like I was treading water, despite my advancements in other titles played. The oddball of this collection is without a doubt The Punisher. It isn’t uncommon for Capcom just to throw in a random game “just because, and that is the role of this beat-em-up. However, it really is a gem here that acts as a pleasant break for the fingers. Players can go solo or with a friend for one of the most over-the-top brawlers in recent memory, and while the game is short, it truly is a joy to play this somewhat stiff but always charming game that I now have a special place for.

There are also the normal Capcom additions in this compilation. Galleries, jukeboxes, and so on, as well as wallpapers and filters to stylize any game to your liking. It’s quite a set and maybe one of the best in Capcom’s recent resume of re-releases, mostly due to how well these games balance each other out.

Audio

The music may be one of the most memorable elements here. From classic Capcom tunes to that infamous “Gonna take you for a ride!”, there is a lot to be happy about as the audio was preserved well and doesn’t miss a beat in keeping the experience fun and fluid. The voice work is all intact as well, and while it isn’t the best by modern standards, most will be fine with the little offerings this cast did years ago to bring these heroes to life. 

Visuals

I think this may have been my most jarring part to start with as while these games are in “HD” or at least optimized for modern sets, I kept checking the filters to see if there was a way to make things a bit clearer at first. I don’t know, maybe that is just from my own time spent with crisper visuals without that haze attached, but once I got used to that look, I was fine and right at home again, though I can see why not updating that could push newer fans away. More importantly, the animations were solid and steady, and the net code thus far has not had much slowdown in any way on the PlayStation 5 version I played for this review.

Overall

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics was really unexpected, but a very welcome sight to see. Sometimes it’s easy to forget about these dormant franchises as when gameplay evolves, they kind of get left in time. This one proves why its accessibility mattered, making for an infinitely enjoyable line of games with a lot to get excited about. The Punisher in this case is just the palette cleanser, but even it in itself is great, rounding out another solid set of re-releases from a publisher that has been really on a roll pleasing the fans that built it. Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is as great as you would have hoped it would be, and is sure to inspire another generation of fans as it dips its toe into a modern playing field. 

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