Marvel Vs. Capcom: Arcade Classics Reimagined for Switch, Steam Deck, PlayStation 5

Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics delivers a knockout blow for fans of classic fighting games. This collection, a surprise hit given recent franchise history, offers a fantastic opportunity to experience seven iconic titles—including the highly-anticipated Marvel vs. Capcom 2—for the first time or revisit old favorites. The inclusion of both English and Japanese versions, featuring characters like Norimaro, adds significant value.

Game Lineup: A Retro Fighting Feast

The collection boasts a diverse roster: 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 games are based on their arcade counterparts, ensuring a faithful and complete experience.

This review is based on extensive playtime across Steam Deck (both LCD and OLED), PS5 (via backward compatibility), and Nintendo Switch. While a newcomer to these titles, the sheer enjoyment derived from Marvel vs. Capcom 2 alone justifies the purchase price, prompting a desire for physical copies as well.

Modern Enhancements: A Polished Presentation

Fans of Capcom's Capcom Fighting Collection will find the interface familiar, though some of the same minor issues persist. The collection shines with online and local multiplayer, Switch's local wireless support, smooth rollback netcode, a comprehensive training mode (with hitboxes and input displays), customizable game options, a crucial white flash reduction setting, various display options, and attractive wallpaper choices. 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 remains untranslated, the sheer volume of content is a significant draw, particularly for long-time fans. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a welcome addition, sparking hopes for future vinyl or streaming releases.

Online Multiplayer: Rollback Netcode Delivers

The online experience, tested extensively on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) and across platforms, mirrors the quality of Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, a significant improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Adjustable input delay and cross-region matchmaking ensure smooth gameplay regardless of location. Co-op in The Punisher also functions flawlessly. Matchmaking supports casual and ranked matches, along with leaderboards and a High Score Challenge mode. The persistent cursor memory for character selection after rematches is a welcome touch.

Minor Issues: Room for Improvement

The collection's biggest drawback is the single save state for the entire collection, a carryover from Capcom Fighting Collection. Additionally, the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction across all games is inconvenient.

Platform-Specific Notes:

• Steam Deck: Runs flawlessly, achieving 720p handheld and supporting 4K docked.
• Nintendo Switch: While visually acceptable, load times are significantly longer than on other platforms.
• PS5: Runs via backward compatibility, performing well but lacking native PS5 features like Activity Card support.

Overall: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a triumph, offering exceptional value and a polished experience. Despite a few minor shortcomings, the sheer volume of content, excellent online play, and wealth of extras make this one of Capcom's best collections to date.

Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5