The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a phenomenal compilation for fans of Capcom's fighting game history, especially considering the circumstances surrounding its release. This review covers experiences across Steam Deck, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, highlighting both the strengths and minor shortcomings.
Game Lineup:
The collection boasts seven classic 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 significant detail for fans.
This review stems from approximately 32 hours of gameplay across various platforms. While lacking deep expertise in these titles (this being my first playthrough), the sheer enjoyment, particularly with MvC2, justifies the price point.
New Features:
The user interface mirrors Capcom's Fighting Collection, including both its strengths and flaws (discussed later). Key additions include online and local multiplayer, Switch wireless play, rollback netcode, a comprehensive training mode with hitbox displays, extensive customization options (including crucial white flash reduction), various display settings, and wallpapers. A noteworthy feature is the optional one-button super move for newcomers.
Museum and Gallery:
A rich museum and gallery showcase over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While a valuable addition, Japanese text in sketches and documents remains untranslated. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a significant win, hopefully paving the way for future vinyl or streaming releases.
Online Multiplayer:
Online options include adjustable input delay, cross-region matchmaking, and dedicated settings for microphone and voice chat (PC only; Switch lacks connection strength options). Pre-release testing on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) demonstrated smooth online play, comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection but a vast improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Matchmaking caters to casual and ranked matches, with leaderboards and a High Score Challenge mode. The persistent cursor memory for character selection after rematches is a welcome touch.
Issues:
The collection's most significant drawback is the single, global save state. This applies to the entire collection, not individual games, a carryover from the Capcom Fighting Collection. Another minor issue is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction; adjustments must be made per game.
Platform-Specific Notes:
- Steam Deck: Runs flawlessly, verified on Steam, with 720p handheld and 4K docked support (tested at 1440p docked and 800p handheld). No 16:10 support.
- Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable but suffers from noticeable load times compared to other platforms. Local wireless is supported, but connection strength settings are absent.
- PS5: Runs via backward compatibility; native support would improve functionality with PS5 Activity Cards. Loads quickly, even from an external drive.
Conclusion:
The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a top-tier compilation, exceeding expectations in many areas. The superb extras, excellent online play (on Steam, particularly), and the opportunity to experience these classics make it a worthwhile purchase. The single save state remains the most significant drawback.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
