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

The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a phenomenal compilation for fans of the series and newcomers alike. Its release was a surprise delight, especially considering the reception of previous entries. 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, not a fighter). All are arcade versions, ensuring complete feature sets. Both English and Japanese versions are included, a welcome addition for fans.

Having played extensively across multiple platforms, the enjoyment derived from Marvel vs. Capcom 2, even before release, easily justified the purchase price. This review is from a first-time player's perspective, lacking deep competitive analysis, but focusing on overall enjoyment and accessibility.

New Features and Enhancements:

The collection's interface mirrors Capcom's Fighting Collection, including both its strengths and weaknesses (discussed later). Key features include online and local multiplayer, Switch wireless support, rollback netcode, a comprehensive training mode with hitbox displays, customizable game options, adjustable white flash reduction, various display settings, and several wallpaper options. A noteworthy addition is the one-button super move option, perfect 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 significant addition, the lack of translation for Japanese text in sketches and documents is a minor drawback. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a significant win, hopefully paving the way for future vinyl or streaming releases.

Online Multiplayer Experience:

The online experience, utilizing rollback netcode, is comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, a vast improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Network settings allow for microphone/voice chat adjustments (PC only), input delay, and connection strength (PC and PS4). The Switch version lacks connection strength options, a noticeable omission. Cross-region matchmaking and various match types (casual, ranked) are included, along with leaderboards and a High Score Challenge mode. The convenient retention of character selection cursors after rematches is a small but appreciated touch.

Issues and Shortcomings:

The most significant flaw is the single, global save state. This applies to the entire collection, not individual games, a carryover from the Capcom Fighting Collection that is disappointing. Another minor issue is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction; adjusting these options requires individual game adjustments.

Platform-Specific Notes:

Steam Deck: Fully verified, runs flawlessly at 720p handheld and supports 4K docked. 16:9 aspect ratio only.

Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but suffers from significantly longer load times compared to other platforms. Local wireless is supported. The lack of connection strength options is a downside.

PS5: Runs via backward compatibility; native support would have enabled PS5 Activity Cards. Loads quickly, even from external storage.

Overall:

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a superb collection, exceeding expectations in most areas. The excellent online experience and extensive extras make it a must-have for fighting game fans. The single save state remains a frustrating limitation.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5