Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Review

The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a phenomenal compilation for fans of the series and newcomers alike. Its release was a welcome surprise, especially considering the mixed reception of previous entries. This review covers experiences across Steam Deck, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses.

Game Lineup

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, not a fighter). All are based on arcade versions, ensuring complete feature sets. Both English and Japanese versions are included, a significant boon for fans.

Fifteen hours on Steam Deck (both LCD and OLED models), thirteen hours on PS5 (via backward compatibility), and four hours on Switch provided ample playtime. While lacking deep expertise in these titles (this was a first playthrough), the sheer enjoyment, particularly with Marvel vs. Capcom 2, easily justifies the price. The desire to own physical copies speaks volumes.

New Features and Enhancements

The interface mirrors Capcom Fighting Collection, inheriting both its strengths and shortcomings. Key additions include online and local multiplayer (with wireless on Switch), rollback netcode, a training mode with hitbox displays and input logging, extensive customization options (including crucial white flash reduction), various display settings, and several wallpaper choices. A helpful one-button super move option caters to newcomers.

Museum and Gallery

A comprehensive museum and gallery showcase over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While a welcome addition for longtime fans, the lack of translation for Japanese text in certain materials is a minor drawback. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a major plus, sparking hope for future vinyl or streaming releases.

Online Multiplayer

The online experience, tested extensively on Steam Deck (wired and wireless), is comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, a significant improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Rollback netcode delivers smooth gameplay, even across distances. Options include input delay adjustment, cross-region matchmaking, casual and ranked matches, leaderboards, and a High Score Challenge mode. The persistent cursor memory for character selection after rematches is a thoughtful touch.

Issues and Shortcomings

The most significant issue is the single, collection-wide save state. This limitation, carried over from Capcom Fighting Collection, is disappointing. Another minor gripe is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction. Per-game adjustments are present, but a global toggle would improve usability.

Platform-Specific Observations

Steam Deck: The game runs flawlessly, as expected from its Verified status. 720p handheld, 4K docked (tested at 1440p and 800p). No 16:10 support.

Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but load times are significantly longer than on other platforms. The absence of a connection strength option is also noted. Local wireless is a plus.

PS5: Backward compatibility performance is excellent, with fast loading times (even from an external drive). The lack of native PS5 support means no Activity Card integration, a missed opportunity.

Conclusion

The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a top-tier compilation, exceeding expectations in most areas. The superb extras and excellent online play (on Steam) make it a must-have. The limited save states remain a frustrating drawback.

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