The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a phenomenal compilation for fans of Capcom's fighting game history, especially considering recent releases. This review covers experiences on 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.
This review reflects approximately 32 hours of gameplay across the three platforms. While lacking deep expertise in these older titles (this was my first playthrough), the sheer enjoyment, especially with MvC2, easily justifies the purchase price.
New Features:
The interface mirrors Capcom's Capcom Fighting Collection, including its shortcomings (discussed later). Key additions include online and local multiplayer, Switch wireless support, rollback netcode, a comprehensive training mode with hitbox displays, customizable game options, adjustable screen flash reduction, various display settings, and wallpaper options. A helpful one-button super move option is also available for online play.
Museum and Gallery:
A rich museum and gallery features over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While a fantastic inclusion, Japanese text in sketches and documents remains untranslated. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a significant win, hopefully paving the way 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. Options include adjustable input delay, cross-region matchmaking, casual and ranked matches, leaderboards, and a High Score Challenge mode. The intelligent cursor retention during online rematches is a thoughtful touch.
Issues:
The collection's most significant drawback is the single, universal quick save slot. This affects the entire collection, not individual games, a carryover from the Capcom Fighting Collection. Another minor issue is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction; adjustments must be made per game.
Platform-Specific Notes:
- Steam Deck: Runs flawlessly, Steam Deck Verified. Supports 720p handheld and 4K docked (tested at 1440p and 800p). 16:9 aspect ratio only.
- Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but suffers from noticeable load times compared to other platforms. Lacks a connection strength option (as of this review). Offers local wireless play.
- PS5: Runs via backward compatibility; native PS5 support would have been beneficial for Activity Card integration. Loads quickly, even from an external drive.
Conclusion:
Despite minor flaws, the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a superb compilation, exceeding expectations. The robust extras, excellent online play (on Steam, particularly), and the opportunity to experience these classic titles make it a must-have. The single save slot remains a frustrating limitation.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
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