Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Review – Switch, Steam Deck, and PS5 Covered

The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a phenomenal compilation for fans of the series, and a great entry point for newcomers. 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 arcade versions, ensuring complete feature sets. Both English and Japanese versions are included, a welcome addition for fans.

Across 22 hours of gameplay spread across three platforms, the sheer enjoyment of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, in particular, easily justified the purchase price. While lacking expertise on the intricacies of each game (this being my first time playing most), the overall experience was undeniably positive.

New Features and Enhancements:

The user interface mirrors Capcom's 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, various display options, and several wallpaper choices. A helpful one-button super move option caters to newcomers.

Museum and Gallery:

A substantial museum and gallery showcase over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While impressive, Japanese text in sketches and design documents remains untranslated. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a significant win, hopefully paving the way for future vinyl or streaming releases.

Online Multiplayer Experience:

Network settings allow for microphone/voice chat adjustments (PC only offers full control, Switch lacks connection strength options), input delay, and connection strength (where available). Testing on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) revealed online play comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, a significant improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Cross-region matchmaking and adjustable input delay are valuable inclusions. The convenient retention of character selections between rematches is a thoughtful touch.

Issues and Shortcomings:

The most significant drawback is the single, collection-wide quick save slot—a carryover from Capcom Fighting Collection. Another minor issue is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction; per-game adjustments are cumbersome.

Platform-Specific Observations:

• Steam Deck: Perfectly functional (Steam Deck Verified), offering 720p handheld and up to 4K docked (16:9 only).
• Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but hampered by significant load times. The absence of a connection strength option is disappointing. Local wireless is a plus.
• PS5: Runs via backward compatibility; PS5 Activity Card integration would have been beneficial. Loads quickly, especially from an SSD.

Overall:

Despite minor flaws, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics stands as one of Capcom's best compilations. The excellent extras and smooth online play (on Steam, particularly) make it a highly recommended purchase. The single save slot remains a frustrating limitation.

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