For fans of Capcom's fighting games, the announcement of the Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics came as a delightful surprise, especially given the mixed reception to the more recent entries in the series. As someone who has primarily experienced Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Marvel vs Capcom Infinite, I've long been curious about the earlier titles, renowned for their acclaim among both competitive and casual players. The excitement was palpable, not just for the gameplay, but also for the iconic Marvel vs Capcom 2 soundtrack. Now, months after the initial announcement, the collection is available on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation, with an Xbox release slated for 2025.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics: Included Games
The Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics features seven titles, including X-MEN CHILDREN OF THE ATOM, MARVEL SUPER HEROES, X-MEN VS. STREET FIGHTER, MARVEL SUPER HEROES vs. STREET FIGHTER, MARVEL vs. CAPCOM CLASH OF SUPER HEROES, MARVEL vs. CAPCOM 2 New Age of Heroes, and THE PUNISHER—a beat 'em up rather than a fighting game. These games are based on their arcade versions, ensuring you get the complete experience without missing any features. Both English and Japanese versions are included, with the Japanese version of Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter featuring the unique character Norimaro.
My review stems from around 15 hours of playtime on the Steam Deck (both LCD and OLED models), 13 hours on the PS5 (via backward compatibility), and an additional 4 hours on the Nintendo Switch. Although I'm not an expert on these games, having experienced them for the first time through this collection, my enjoyment, particularly with Marvel vs Capcom 2, has more than justified the purchase. It's so compelling that I'm tempted to acquire the physical releases for both consoles.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics: New Features
The interface and front-end of the Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics will be familiar to those who've played the Capcom Fighting Collection. While it shares some of the same issues, the new features are impressive. The collection supports online and local multiplayer, local wireless play on Switch, rollback netcode for smoother online matches, a comprehensive training mode, customizable game options, and settings to reduce white flashes and light flickering. Various display and wallpaper options further enhance the experience.
The training mode, accessible per game, includes useful tools like hitbox displays and input visualization, making it ideal for newcomers. Additionally, a one-button super option caters to both beginners and seasoned players looking for a different challenge in online matches.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics: Museum and Gallery
The collection also boasts an extensive museum and gallery, featuring over 200 game soundtracks and more than 500 pieces of artwork. A friend who has been covering the collection with me highlighted that much of this artwork has never been seen before by the public. For me, it was all new, adding to the collection's appeal. However, it's worth noting that Japanese text on sketches and design documents remains untranslated.
The inclusion of the game soundtracks is a welcome addition, especially for fans eager to enjoy the iconic music officially. I hope this is just the beginning, perhaps leading to vinyl or streaming releases in the future.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics: Online Multiplayer Experience with Rollback Netcode
The options menu includes network settings to customize your online experience, such as enabling/disabling the microphone, adjusting voice chat volume, input delay, and connection strength on PC. The Switch version only allows adjusting input delay, while the PS4 version includes input delay and connection strength adjustments without voice chat options. The lack of a connection strength option on the Switch is disappointing, but players may use native PS5 and PS4 voice chat features.
My pre-release online testing on the Steam Deck, both wired and wirelessly, was smooth with another player on Steam. The online experience mirrors that of the Capcom Fighting Collection but is a significant improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Features like input delay adjustment and cross-region matchmaking enhance the experience. We tested most games and enjoyed co-op play in The Punisher, demonstrating the collection's robust online capabilities.
The collection supports casual and ranked matches, along with leaderboards and a High Score Challenge mode. A thoughtful touch is how the cursor position remains consistent during rematches in games like Marvel vs Capcom 2, allowing easy character selection and reflecting the care taken to optimize player experience, especially for those new to the games.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics: Issues
My primary criticism revolves around the single save state for the entire collection, a limitation carried over from the Capcom Fighting Collection. I hoped for separate save states per game. Additionally, the inability to universally apply settings like light reduction or visual filters across all games is a minor annoyance, despite the benefit of per-game customization.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics on Steam Deck – Already Verified
The Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics runs flawlessly on the Steam Deck, as expected from its Steam Deck Verified status. It operates at 720p in handheld mode and supports 4K when docked. I mostly played at 1440p docked and 800p handheld, noting that it maintains a 16:9 aspect ratio without 16:10 support. PC graphics settings, accessible under the PC Settings menu, allow adjustments to resolution, display mode, and v-sync toggling.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics on Nintendo Switch
On the Switch, the collection performs well visually but suffers from longer load times compared to the Steam and PS5 versions. The absence of a connection strength option is notable, though the Switch version does support local wireless play, setting it apart from other platforms. I hope future updates address these load times and add the missing connection strength option.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics on PS5
While I wish the collection were native to the PS5 for better integration with PS5 Activity Cards, it runs excellently on my 1440p monitor via backward compatibility. Even when played from an external hard drive, load times are quick, and transferring it to the SSD further enhances performance. I have no complaints about the PS4 version's performance on the PS5.
The Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics stands out as one of Capcom's finest collections, offering a wealth of extras and a stellar online experience, particularly on Steam. Experiencing these games for the first time has been a delight, though the single save state for the entire collection remains a notable flaw.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
