The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a phenomenal compilation for fans of fighting games, especially considering the history and reception of past Marvel vs. Capcom titles. This review covers experiences on Steam Deck, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses.
Game Selection:
The collection boasts seven titles: 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). All are arcade versions, ensuring complete feature sets, and include both English and Japanese language options. The inclusion of Norimaro in the Japanese version of Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter is a noteworthy detail for fans.
The reviewer, a newcomer to most of these titles, found the experience incredibly enjoyable, citing Marvel vs. Capcom 2 as a standout, justifying the purchase price alone.
New Features:
The collection shares a familiar interface with Capcom's Fighting Collection, including online and local multiplayer, Switch wireless support, rollback netcode, a training mode with hitboxes and input displays, customizable game options, adjustable white flash reduction, various display options, and wallpapers. A helpful one-button super option is available for online play, catering to newcomers.
Museum and Gallery:
A comprehensive museum and gallery feature over 200 soundtracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While a welcome addition, Japanese text in sketches and documents lacks translation. The reviewer hopes this collection is a precursor to vinyl or streaming releases of the soundtracks.
Online Multiplayer:
The online experience, tested extensively on Steam Deck and with a friend, mirrors the quality of Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, significantly surpassing that of the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Rollback netcode provides smooth gameplay, adjustable input delay, and cross-region matchmaking. The inclusion of casual and ranked matches, leaderboards, and a High Score Challenge mode adds to the robust online experience. The persistent cursor memory when rematching is a thoughtful touch.
Issues:
The main drawback is the single save state for the entire collection, a carryover from Capcom Fighting Collection. Additionally, the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction across all games is inconvenient.
Platform-Specific Notes:
- Steam Deck: Verified and runs flawlessly, supporting 720p handheld and up to 4K docked (16:9 aspect ratio only).
- Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but suffers from noticeable load times compared to other platforms. The lack of a connection strength option is also noted. Local wireless play is a plus.
- PS5: Runs via backward compatibility; looks excellent but lacks native PS5 features like Activity Card integration. Loading times are fast, even from an external drive.
Overall: Despite minor flaws, the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a superb compilation, offering excellent extras and online play. The single save state is the most significant shortcoming.
Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
