For fans of Capcom's fighting games, the announcement of the Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics was nothing short of a revelation, especially given recent developments and the mixed reception of the latest Marvel vs Capcom title. Having only experienced Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Marvel vs Capcom Infinite, I was eager to delve into the earlier games, drawn by the accolades from both competitive and casual gamers. And yes, I'll admit, the iconic Marvel vs Capcom 2 soundtrack was a significant part of the allure. Fast forward to months after its announcement, and the collection is now available on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation, with an Xbox release slated for 2025.
Games Included in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
The Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics comes packed with seven titles. These include: 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, the latter being a beat 'em up rather than a fighting game. These are faithful arcade versions, ensuring you get the complete experience without the omissions found in some older console ports. Both English and Japanese versions are included, so fans can enjoy Norimaro in Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter by selecting the Japanese version.
My review is based on approximately 15 hours of gameplay on the Steam Deck (both LCD and OLED), 13 hours on PS5 (through backward compatibility), and 4 hours on the Nintendo Switch. Although I'm new to these classics, my enjoyment of Marvel vs Capcom 2 pre-release alone justified the purchase, compelling me to consider acquiring the physical console versions just to own a tangible copy of this gem.
New Features in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
If you're familiar with the Capcom Fighting Collection, the interface and front-end of Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics will feel like home. Despite sharing some of the same issues, the collection boasts several exciting features. It supports online and local multiplayer, local wireless on Switch, rollback netcode for smoother online play, a comprehensive training mode, customizable game options, an option to reduce white flashes or light flickering, various display options, and a selection of wallpapers.
The training mode, accessible per game, includes hitboxes, displayed inputs, and other features designed to aid newcomers. Speaking of which, a new one-button super option has been added, which can be enabled or disabled for online matches, making the game more accessible to beginners.
Museum and Gallery in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
The collection also features a rich museum and gallery, housing over 200 game soundtracks and more than 500 pieces of artwork. A friend who played the collection online with me mentioned that much of this artwork had never been publicly released before, which is particularly exciting for long-time fans. While all the art is new to me, it's worth noting that the Japanese text in sketches and design documents remains untranslated.
As for the music, having an official way to enjoy these iconic soundtracks in 2024 is a treat, and I hope it paves the way for vinyl or streaming releases.
Online Multiplayer Experience with Rollback Netcode in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
Before diving into the online experience, let's talk about the network settings. On PC, you can tweak options like microphone settings, voice chat volume, input delay, and connection strength. On the Switch, only input delay can be adjusted, while the PS4 version allows adjustments to input delay and connection strength, albeit without voice chat options. The lack of a connection strength setting on the Switch is a bit disappointing.
Pre-release testing on the Steam Deck (both wired and wireless) with another player on Steam showed that the online play in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is similar to Capcom Fighting Collection but significantly improved over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. We tested most games and even played some co-op in The Punisher, and despite the distance between us, it worked seamlessly.
The collection supports matchmaking for casual and ranked matches and includes leaderboards with a High Score Challenge mode. A small but appreciated detail is that when rematching online, the cursors remain in place, allowing you to quickly select your previous team in games like Marvel vs Capcom 2, enhancing the overall experience for both new and seasoned players.
Issues with Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
My primary grievance with Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is the limitation to a single save state (quick save) for the entire collection, not per game. This issue, carried over from the Capcom Fighting Collection, is frustrating. Additionally, the settings aren't universally applicable, and there's no easy way to toggle light reduction or adjust visual filters across all games simultaneously. While per-game options are beneficial, a global setting would streamline the user experience.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics on Steam Deck – Already Verified
I first experienced Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics on the Steam Deck, where it runs flawlessly right out of the box. As a Steam Deck Verified title, this shouldn't be a surprise, but it's always good to confirm. On the Deck itself, the game runs at 720p, and when docked, it supports 4K resolution. I played mostly at 1440p when docked and 800p in handheld mode, though it remains in a 16:9 aspect ratio without 16:10 support.
PC graphics options are available under the PC Settings menu, allowing adjustments to resolution, display mode (fullscreen, borderless, windowed), and toggling v-sync.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics on Nintendo Switch
On the Switch, Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics looks good, but the most noticeable downgrade is the load times. Switching between games is almost instant on Steam and PS5, but the Switch requires loading for nearly everything, which becomes apparent when playing across all three platforms. Hopefully, a connection strength option will be added to match the PlayStation and PC versions. However, the Switch version does offer local wireless play, a feature absent on other platforms.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics on PS5
I wish Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics had a native PS5 version rather than relying on backward compatibility, as PS5 Activity Card support would have been fantastic for quick game switching from the dashboard. Nevertheless, it looks fantastic on a 1440p monitor and loads quickly, even from an external hard drive. Moving it to the SSD would enhance load times further. I have no complaints about the PS4 version running on PS5.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics stands out as one of Capcom's finest collections to date, across all genres, not just fighting or arcade games. It offers exceptional extras, stellar online play on Steam, and has been a delight to experience these classics for the first time. The only drawback is the single save state for the entire collection.
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
