''TAKE YOU FOR A RIDE''
Developed: Capcom
Published: Capcom
Genre: Arcade Collection
Release Date: Sept 12th, 2024
Platforms: PS4/Xbox Series/Switch/STEAM
Review copy provided to me by Nintendo
Marvel versus Capcom Fighting Collection Arcade Classics is the newest compilation of fighting games on the market in one package and it is developed and published by Capcom. With titles like Capcom Arcade Museum 2 being a rounding success a few years back, Capcom now decides to bring out the big guns and pack this compilation with fan favorite Arcade fighters. However is this compilation needed or does it come off as a cash grab? only way one to find out, so its time to take you for a ride!
GAMEPLAY:
If there's one company who is forever cemented in history with the fighting game genre and has laid the groundwork to follow by all other companies, then you have no look no further than Capcom. With Street Fighter carrying the weight through the 90s and the arcade scene, Capcom decided, you know what, let me just stunt on everyone just for the sake of doing it and decided to further improve on their legendary status by pioneering the team team fighting genre by striking a deal with Marvel. I mean, they already had the strangle hold on the fighting game market, even beyond titles like Mortal Kombat, but they wanted to pull the Spider-Man ''who I am? are you sure want to know'' card on them and just dunked on everyone by releasing titles that pitted Marvel super heroes against iconic characters from the Street Fighter franchise. With the success of titles like Marvel versus Capcom, you have seen all the influence from decades ago lead to titles like recent games like Dragon Ball Fighters, a title that borrows a ton from the previously mentioned, as well as dozens of other fan favorite games on the market today - all of which honestly wouldn't be possible without Capcom setting the standard. Much like Plumbers Dont Wear Ties set the standard for F.M.V. games. Here in this collection, you are offered six games that were pivotal in the growing rise and fame of Capcom and the fighting game genre in general, with titles such as The Punisher, X-Men Children Of The Atom and even the highly sought after Marvel versus Capcom 2. This compilation showcases just what can transpire when a collaboration and partnership works out to full fruition and how with a strong partnership, can help you completely re-shape a market. Capcom and Marvel basically gave everyone the Naruto ALL MIGHTY PUSH and destroyed everyone in their way at this stage of the fighting game genre, but instead of destruction like Pain brought, they instead include a variety of features that enhances the gameplay and the nostalgia that the original versions of these titles brought.
In this compilation you are given a chance to play through 7 different games with only one true stinker if I gotta be honest with X-Men Children Of The Atom, due to its sluggish movement that hasn't really been truly improved upon from its original iteration, which was weird to me. however, luckily there's been improvements elsewhere to titles like Marvel Super Heroes where character traits are more abundant than they were previously and with the inclusion of the Infinity Stones, also adds in an element to the game that makes the game more much enjoyable for me personally. But I have a feeling people are really here for the main eventers on the scene with Marvel versus Capcom 1 and 2, right? I mean its two juggernaut of games, with the former mentioned title, flipping the formula of the genre on its head completely and improving upon the trend already set by Capcom themselves, but then the very next game with M.V.C. 2, saying ''hold my Hadouken'' and then completely blowing that one out of the water as well by offering a huge cast to play with in styles like 3 versus 3 combat. These two alone are going to give a lot of people flash backs of the days of playing in the arcades and fill you with a ton of nostalgia. Granted I'm not a huge fighting fan as most people are that are playing these games, but I do enjoy them quite a bit, even if I'm not so good at them. Even not being good at them or having the history a lot of people do, i still see the significance in what made these titles special moving from the normal 1 versus 1 to 2 versus 2 swap and jumping into the realm of 3 versus 3, and how they brought a sense of manic energy that really wasn't around at that point in time. By having these two titles alone, alongside a straight forward beat em up like The Punisher - allows users to jump back into the days of yesteryear and re-live all their arcade moments, just as the title of this compilation suggests with ''Arcade Classics''. It definitely lives up to its name. Unfortunately titles like Two Worlds ''game of the year'' edition never didnt. Like... YIKES. So much for the ''Elder Scrolls killer''.
Also harkening back to the days of old for more nostalgia, this collection via graphics, present themselves with a C.R.T. filter with the aim to try to mimic the old tube TV's that felt like they weighed 500 pounds, or trying to bring back the feeling of playing on an old arcade screen. You can turn it off of course to get a better display, but is it REALLY the arcade feel without it? not really. But to be fair, you're still missing the smell of Peter Piper Pizza and the coins in your pocket that are you're running out of and then having to whine to your parents that you ran out so they have to fork over a small fortune just to keep you quiet on your birthday. I'm not saying that was me... but.. It couldve been. Other additions to the titles are being able to adjust game settings that have to do with attack power and timer speed, training modes that helps you gauge the hitboxes and damage counters, museum mode that provides with you galleries and soundtracks, online play with a good variety of match types and matchmaking with other players. Its all great stuff that add to the replayability of every game in the compilation. The collection itself with the highlights of M.V.C. 1 and 2 as its stand outs, remind you why they're the kings of boundary pushing with their 2 versus 2 and 3 and 3 versus 3 combat, and they give you that strong sense of thrilling arcade action that might have been missing for quite sometime, and allows you to remember the more refined days of fighting when you had to try to master more complex button combinations over the more modern ''Press one button to do all'' standard we have nowadays. Granted not every title is perfect in this collection with some feeling dated or a tad bit redundant in nature, such as The Punisher being an okay offering for the beat em up experience - but even while not being as great as the other titles, it still gives you enough variety to warrant its inclusion. Or maybe we should just remove it? no? are you sure? I think we should!. Ok ok fine, it gets to stay, dont come after me Frank.
''GO HOME AND BE AN ARCADE MAN''
OVERALL:
At the end of the day Marvel versus Capcom Fighting Collection Arcade Classics with its mile long name and all, ends up a blast from the past fun experience. Is it perfect, not really, with there being some connection issues online here and there that can be a tad bit annoying, some games not feeling as refined as others in the collection like Children Of The Atom or controls on the Switch being a little hard to pull of specific moves unless you're using a controller like a Pro Controller, etc. Even so, with 7 games to choose from, great replayability for online and museum mode, great use of C.R.T. filters to bring you back to the days of old, classic sought after games like M.V.C. 1 and 2 that carry the collection to new heights, additions to the game such as adjusting settings that include things like attack power, timer speed, Coin Mode or Free Play, Boot Display, Button Assignment - it all adds up to a user friendly experience that I feel hardcore and long time fighting fans can enjoy and even newcomers who may not be as quite up to date can as well due to it being very user friendly. So with all that having been said, my verdict is clear, GameNChcik says BUY NOW
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