Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics delivers a nostalgic knockout! For fans who missed the earlier entries, or those yearning for a return to classic brawlers, this collection is a must-have. Recent events and the mixed reception of the last Marvel vs. Capcom title made this announcement a surprise hit. Even for someone familiar only with Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Infinite, the sheer quality of the included titles is immediately apparent. The legendary 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 beat 'em up THE PUNISHER. These are arcade-perfect versions, ensuring a faithful experience. Both English and Japanese versions are included—a welcome addition for fans, allowing access to characters like Norimaro in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter.
This review reflects gameplay across Steam Deck (LCD and OLED), PS5 (backward compatibility), and Nintendo Switch, totaling approximately 32 hours. While lacking deep expertise in these classic titles, the sheer enjoyment of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, even before release, fully justified the purchase price, prompting a desire to acquire physical copies.
New Features and Enhancements
The user interface mirrors Capcom's Capcom Fighting Collection, inheriting both its strengths and weaknesses (more on that later). Key additions include online and local multiplayer, Switch local wireless, rollback netcode, a robust training mode, customizable game options (crucially including white flash reduction), diverse display settings, and a selection of wallpapers.
The training mode is especially beneficial for newcomers, offering hitbox displays, input visualizations, and other helpful tools. A new one-button super move option caters to both experienced and novice players.
Museum and Gallery: A Treasure Trove
A comprehensive museum and gallery showcases over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While Japanese text in sketches and design documents remains untranslated, the sheer volume of content is impressive. The inclusion of the official soundtracks is a significant win, hopefully paving the way for future vinyl or streaming releases.
Online Multiplayer: Rollback Netcode in Action
The online experience is largely positive, boasting customizable network settings (microphone, voice chat, input delay, and connection strength on PC; limited options on Switch and PS4). Testing on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) showed performance comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, a significant improvement over Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Cross-region matchmaking and adjustable input delay further enhance the experience. The ability to retain character selections upon rematch is a thoughtful touch.
Matchmaking supports casual and ranked matches, along with leaderboards and a High Score Challenge mode.
Shortcomings
The most significant drawback is the single save state for the entire collection, a carryover from Capcom Fighting Collection. Another minor issue is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction.
Platform-Specific Notes
- Steam Deck: Fully verified, runs flawlessly at 720p handheld, supporting up to 4K docked. 16:9 aspect ratio only.
- Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but suffers from noticeable load times. Local wireless is a plus, but connection strength options are absent.
- PS5: Runs via backward compatibility; looks excellent, loads quickly (especially on the SSD). PS5 Activity Card integration would have been a welcome addition.
Overall: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a superb compilation, exceeding expectations in many areas. The online experience, extras, and the sheer number of classic games make this a standout release. The single save state remains a frustrating limitation.
Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
