Marvel and Capcom Classics Revamped for Modern Gaming Platforms

Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics delivers a knockout punch for fans of classic fighting games. Following the somewhat disappointing reception of recent Marvel vs. Capcom titles, this collection is a welcome surprise, offering a comprehensive package of beloved arcade titles. My experience, spanning Steam Deck, PS5, and Switch, reveals a collection brimming with content and generally excellent online play, though some minor drawbacks exist.

Game Lineup: A Retro Fighting Feast

The collection boasts seven classic games: 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 are based on the original arcade versions, ensuring complete feature sets, and include both English and Japanese language options (allowing access to characters like Norimaro in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter).

My 32 hours of gameplay across multiple platforms (Steam Deck, PS5, and Switch) showcased the enduring appeal of these titles. While a newcomer to most of these games, MvC2's pre-release fun alone justifies the purchase price, and I'm even tempted to buy physical copies for my collection.

Modern Enhancements: Rollback Netcode and More

The collection's interface echoes Capcom's Capcom Fighting Collection, complete with online and local multiplayer, Switch local wireless, rollback netcode, a comprehensive training mode, customizable game options, and a crucial feature to reduce screen flickering. A helpful one-button super move option caters to newcomers.

Museum & Gallery: A Treasure Trove of Nostalgia

A vast museum and gallery houses over 200 soundtracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unseen by the public. While Japanese text in sketches and design documents remains untranslated, the sheer volume of content is impressive. The inclusion of the soundtracks is particularly welcome, and hopefully paves the way for future vinyl or streaming releases.

Online Multiplayer: Smooth and Responsive

The online experience, tested extensively on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) and across platforms, is largely excellent thanks to the rollback netcode. It rivals Capcom Fighting Collection and significantly surpasses Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Matchmaking options include casual and ranked modes, along with leaderboards and a High Score Challenge. The persistence of player selection cursors between matches is a welcome touch.

Minor Issues: Save States and Settings

The collection's main drawback is the single, global save state. This affects the entire collection, not individual games, a frustrating carryover from Capcom Fighting Collection. Additionally, the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction requires individual adjustments per game.

Platform-Specific Notes:

• Steam Deck: Verified and runs flawlessly, offering 720p handheld and up to 4K docked.

• Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but suffers from noticeable load times compared to other platforms. The lack of a connection strength option in the network settings is also disappointing. Local wireless is a plus.

• PS5: Runs via backward compatibility. Looks great, loads quickly, but lacks PS5 Activity Card integration.

Overall: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a triumph. The excellent online play, vast content, and impressive extras make it one of Capcom's best collections. While minor issues exist, they don't significantly detract from the overall experience.

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