Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Review – Switch, Steam Deck, and PS5 Covered

Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics delivers a knockout punch for fans of classic fighting games. This collection, a surprise hit given recent franchise history, offers a compelling retrospective for both veterans and newcomers. Featuring seven arcade-perfect titles, including the highly-anticipated Marvel vs. Capcom 2, this compilation is a must-have for any fighting game enthusiast.

Game Lineup:

The collection boasts a diverse roster: 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. All games are based on their arcade counterparts, preserving the authentic experience. Noteworthy is the inclusion of both English and Japanese versions, offering variations like Norimaro in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (Japanese version).

This review draws on extensive playtime across Steam Deck (LCD and OLED), PS5, and Nintendo Switch. While lacking deep expertise in each individual title (this was my first experience with most), the sheer fun factor, especially with Marvel vs. Capcom 2, easily justifies the purchase price. The desire to own physical copies speaks volumes about the collection's quality.

Modern Enhancements:

The user interface mirrors Capcom's Fighting Collection, inheriting both its strengths and weaknesses. Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection features robust online and local multiplayer, Switch-exclusive local wireless, smooth rollback netcode, a comprehensive training mode with hitbox displays, extensive customization options (including crucial white flash reduction), diverse display settings, and stylish wallpaper choices. A beginner-friendly "one-button super" option is a welcome addition.

Museum and Gallery:

A treasure trove for fans, the included museum and gallery boasts over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unseen. While Japanese text in sketches and documents remains untranslated, the sheer volume of content is impressive. The official availability of these soundtracks is a significant win, sparking hopes for future vinyl or streaming releases.

The inclusion of the soundtracks is a significant addition, and hopefully, a precursor to future vinyl or streaming releases.

Online Multiplayer:

The online experience shines thanks to the well-implemented rollback netcode. PC offers granular network settings (microphone, voice chat, input delay, connection strength), while Switch currently lacks connection strength adjustment. PS4/PS5 provides input delay and connection strength control. Pre-release testing on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) demonstrated excellent performance, comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection and a significant improvement over Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Matchmaking supports casual and ranked modes, along with leaderboards and a High Score Challenge. The convenient retention of character selections between rematches is a thoughtful touch.

The persistent character selection after rematches is a small but appreciated quality-of-life improvement.

Minor Drawbacks:

The collection's biggest flaw is the single, global save state. This limitation, carried over from Capcom Fighting Collection, is frustrating. Another minor issue is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction.

Platform Performance:

• Steam Deck: Runs flawlessly, Steam Deck Verified status is well-deserved. Supports 720p handheld and up to 4K docked (tested at 1440p docked and 800p handheld).
• Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but load times are significantly longer than on other platforms. The lack of a connection strength option is also a drawback. Local wireless is a plus.
• PS5: Excellent visuals on 1440p, fast loading (even from an external drive), but backward compatibility means missing out on PS5 Activity Card integration.

Overall:

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection is a top-tier compilation, exceeding expectations in many areas. The superb extras, excellent online play (on Steam, particularly), and the sheer joy of rediscovering these classics make it a highly recommended purchase. The single save state remains a frustrating blemish, however.

Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5