Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics delivers a knockout blow for fighting game fans. This collection, a surprise hit given recent Capcom history, offers a compelling retrospective for veterans and a fantastic introduction for newcomers. My experience across Steam Deck, PS5, and Switch reveals a mostly stellar package, though with a few minor stumbles.
A Roster of Classics:
The collection boasts seven 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). All are based on the arcade originals, ensuring a faithful experience. The inclusion of both English and Japanese versions is a welcome touch, offering extras like Norimaro in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (Japanese version).
Fifteen hours on Steam Deck (LCD and OLED), thirteen on PS5 (backward compatibility), and four on Switch provided ample playtime. While a newcomer to these titles, the sheer fun, especially with Marvel vs. Capcom 2, easily justifies the price. I'm even tempted by the physical console releases!
Modern Enhancements:
The interface echoes Capcom's Capcom Fighting Collection, including its shortcomings (discussed later). Key additions include online and local multiplayer, Switch local wireless, rollback netcode, a comprehensive training mode (with hitboxes and input displays), customizable game options, a crucial white flash reduction setting, diverse display options, and a selection of wallpapers. A helpful one-button super move option caters to newcomers.
A Museum of Marvels:
A rich museum and gallery showcase over 200 soundtracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unseen. While a treat for fans, Japanese text in sketches and documents remains untranslated. The inclusion of the soundtracks is fantastic, hopefully paving the way for vinyl or streaming releases.
Online Play: Rollback Redemption:
Online play options, including network settings (microphone, voice chat, input delay, connection strength on PC), vary by platform. The Switch version notably lacks connection strength adjustment. My Steam Deck (wired and wireless) testing, alongside a fellow reviewer, showed online play comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam – a significant improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Matchmaking supports casual and ranked matches, plus leaderboards and a High Score Challenge. The clever retention of cursor positions after rematches adds a polished touch.
Minor Gripes:
The single save state (per collection, not per game) is a disappointing carryover from the Capcom Fighting Collection. Also, the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction is inconvenient.
Platform Performance:
- Steam Deck: A perfectly optimized, Verified title running smoothly at 720p handheld and up to 4K docked (tested at 1440p docked and 800p handheld).
- Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but hampered by noticeable load times. The missing connection strength option is a drawback. Local wireless is a plus.
- PS5: Excellent visuals on my 1440p monitor with fast loading (even from an external drive). Native PS5 support would have unlocked PS5 Activity Card integration.
Final Verdict:
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is one of Capcom's best collections, excelling beyond the fighting game genre. The superb extras and largely flawless online play (on Steam) make it a joy. The single save slot is its most significant flaw.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
