The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a phenomenal compilation for fans of the series and newcomers alike. This review covers experiences across Steam Deck, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses.
Game Selection: A Retro Fighting Feast
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 beat 'em up, The Punisher. All are arcade versions, ensuring complete feature sets. English and Japanese versions are included, a delightful touch for fans. The inclusion of Norimaro in the Japanese version of Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter is a particularly nice detail.
Fifteen hours on Steam Deck (both LCD and OLED), thirteen hours on PS5 (via backward compatibility), and four hours on Switch provided ample playtime to experience the collection's breadth. While this reviewer was a newcomer to most of these titles, the sheer fun, especially with Marvel vs. Capcom 2, easily justifies the purchase price.
Enhanced Features: Modern Conveniences for Classic Gameplay
The user interface mirrors Capcom Fighting Collection, offering online and local multiplayer (including Switch's local wireless), rollback netcode, a comprehensive training mode with hitboxes and input displays, customizable game options, a crucial white flash reduction setting, various display options, and a selection of wallpapers. A helpful one-button super move option caters to newcomers.
Museum and Gallery: A Treasure Trove of Nostalgia
The impressive museum and gallery feature over 200 soundtracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While Japanese text in sketches and design documents lacks translation, the sheer volume of content is remarkable. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a welcome addition, hopefully paving the way for future vinyl or streaming releases.
Online Multiplayer: Rollback Netcode Delivers
The online experience, tested extensively on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) and across different platforms, is comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, significantly surpassing the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Rollback netcode ensures smooth gameplay, even across distances. Matchmaking options include casual and ranked matches, plus leaderboards and a High Score Challenge. The persistent cursor memory for character selection after rematches is a small but appreciated quality-of-life improvement.
Minor Issues: Room for Improvement
The most significant drawback is the single, collection-wide save state, a carryover from Capcom Fighting Collection. Also, the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction across all games is inconvenient.
Platform-Specific Notes:
- Steam Deck: Verified and runs flawlessly, offering 720p handheld and up to 4K docked (16:9 aspect ratio only).
- Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but suffers from noticeable load times. The lack of a connection strength option in the network settings is also a drawback. Local wireless is a plus.
- PS5: Runs via backward compatibility; looks excellent but lacks PS5 Activity Card integration. Loading is fast, even from an external drive.
Conclusion:
Despite minor flaws, the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a superb collection, offering an exceptional package of classic games, enhanced features, and a robust online experience. The single save state is the most significant issue, but the overall experience is highly recommended.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
