Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a revelation for fans of the series, especially considering the mixed reception of recent entries. This collection, a welcome surprise for many, offers a nostalgic trip back to classic arcade brawlers. For those unfamiliar with the earlier games, like myself, it's a chance to experience the titles that have garnered significant praise from both competitive and casual gamers. The iconic Marvel vs. Capcom 2 soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission!
Game Lineup
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, not a fighting game). These are faithful arcade ports, ensuring a complete and authentic experience, free from the compromises often found in older console versions. The inclusion of both English and Japanese versions is a significant plus, particularly for fans eager to experience the Japanese version of Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter and its unique character, Norimaro.
This review is based on extensive playtime across Steam Deck (LCD and OLED), PS5 (backward compatibility), and Nintendo Switch. While I lack the deep expertise to dissect the nuances of each game (this being my first time playing most of them), my experience, especially with Marvel vs. Capcom 2, has far exceeded expectations, making the purchase price more than justifiable.
New Features and Enhancements
The interface will be familiar to players of Capcom Fighting Collection, although it shares some of that collection's shortcomings (more on that later). Key features include online and local multiplayer, local wireless on Switch, rollback netcode for smooth online play, a comprehensive training mode, per-game customization options, an essential white flash reduction setting, various display options, and a selection of wallpapers.
The training mode is particularly helpful for newcomers, offering hitbox displays, input visualizations, and other tools. A new one-button super move option, toggleable for online play, caters to players of all skill levels.
Museum and Gallery: A Treasure Trove of Content
A robust museum and gallery houses over 200 soundtrack tracks and more than 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unseen by the public. While this is a treat for long-time fans, it's worth noting that Japanese text in sketches and design documents remains untranslated.
The official release of these soundtracks is a welcome addition, though the hope is that this is just the first step towards vinyl or streaming releases.
Online Multiplayer: Rollback Netcode in Action
The online experience offers customizable network settings (microphone, voice chat volume, input delay, connection strength on PC; limited options on Switch and PS4). Pre-release testing on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) showcased online play comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, a significant improvement over Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Input delay adjustments and cross-region matchmaking further enhance the online experience. Co-op in The Punisher also functioned flawlessly.
The collection supports casual and ranked matches, along with leaderboards and a High Score Challenge mode. A thoughtful detail is the preservation of cursor positions during online rematches, preventing the need to manually select characters each time.
Issues and Shortcomings
The most significant drawback is the single save state for the entire collection, not per game. This is a carryover from Capcom Fighting Collection and a missed opportunity for improvement. Another minor issue is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction; adjusting these options requires individual game-by-game configuration.
Platform-Specific Experiences
- Steam Deck: Fully verified and runs flawlessly, offering 720p handheld and up to 4K docked (16:9 aspect ratio only).
- Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but load times are significantly longer than on other platforms. The lack of a connection strength option is also a notable omission. Local wireless is a plus.
- PS5: While utilizing backward compatibility, it performs exceptionally well on 1440p, with fast loading times (further improved on an SSD). The absence of native PS5 features like Activity Card integration is a missed opportunity.
Overall Impression
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a top-tier compilation, surpassing expectations across the board. The excellent extras, superb online functionality (on Steam, particularly), and the opportunity to experience these classic games make it a must-have. The limited save state remains a frustrating shortcoming, but doesn't detract significantly from the overall exceptional package.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
