The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a fantastic compilation for fans of the series and newcomers alike. 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. Both English and Japanese versions are included, a boon for fans.
This review reflects approximately 32 hours of gameplay across the three platforms. While lacking deep expertise in each individual title (this was my first time playing most), the sheer enjoyment, particularly with MvC2, easily justifies the purchase price.
New Features:
The user interface mirrors Capcom's Fighting Collection, including its shortcomings (discussed later). Key additions include online and local multiplayer, Switch wireless support, rollback netcode, a robust training mode (with hitboxes and input displays), customizable game options, adjustable white flash reduction, diverse display options, and wallpapers. A helpful one-button super move option is also included, togglable for online play.
Museum and Gallery:
A comprehensive museum and gallery showcase over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While impressive, Japanese text within sketches and design documents lacks translation. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a major plus, hopefully paving the way for future vinyl or streaming releases.
Online Multiplayer:
The online experience, tested extensively on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) and briefly on Switch and PS5, benefits from rollback netcode. It's comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, a significant improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Options include adjustable input delay and cross-region matchmaking. The persistent cursor memory for character selection after rematches is a welcome touch.
Matchmaking supports casual and ranked matches, along with leaderboards and a High Score Challenge mode. Network settings vary by platform, with PC offering the most comprehensive options (microphone, voice chat, input delay, connection strength). The Switch version notably lacks connection strength adjustment.
Issues:
The collection's most significant flaw is the single, universal save state. This applies to the entire collection, not individual games. Another minor issue involves inconsistent settings; applying visual filters or light reduction requires individual game adjustments rather than a global option.
Platform-Specific Notes:
- Steam Deck: Verified and runs flawlessly, supporting 720p handheld and up to 4K docked (tested at 1440p docked and 800p handheld). 16:10 aspect ratio support is absent.
- Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable but suffers from noticeable load times compared to other platforms. Local wireless is supported, but connection strength options are missing.
- PS5: Runs via backward compatibility. While lacking native PS5 features (like Activity Cards), it performs well, with fast loading times (especially on an SSD).
Conclusion:
Despite minor drawbacks (save state limitations and inconsistent settings), the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a top-tier compilation, excelling in content, online features, and overall presentation. The single save state is a significant downside, but the extensive extras and enjoyable gameplay make it a worthwhile purchase.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
