As the title suggests, the newMarvel Vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classicsbrings together the products of many years of collaboration between the two companies, although some people may still be wondering if the collection itself is actually worth purchasing.Marvel Vs Capcom Fighting Collectionfeatures a total of seven titlesoriginally released as arcade games, including some that have never been ported before. However, a game cannot rely on nostalgia alone for success, and factors like the collection’s new features are key in deciding if it is worth the price.
The release ofMarvel Vs Capcom Fighting Collection, which will doubtlessly introduce many to some of the earliest Marvel fighter games for the first time, has fuelled hope for some that it help to lay the groundwork for a fullnewMarvel Vs Capcomgame. It is also worth noting that the collectionprovides people with the opportunity to explore the early roots of the crossover gaming series. This is due to the new game not only featuring the series’ first title,X-Men vs. Street Fighter, but also offering an opportunity to play several otherearly Marvel arcade games.
How Much Is the Marvel Vs. Capcom Collection?
The Price and Value Of Collection Releases Is Up For Debate
In order to judge ifMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionis worth purchasing, it’s important to first make note of the actual price and the game’s availability on various consoles. Although this is slated to change in the near future,Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classicsis currently only available digitally on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC (via Steam), and costs $49.99on these platforms. An additional Xbox One version is currently scheduled to release in 2025, and physical copies for both Switch and PS4 will be released on July 19, 2025.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classicsincludes updated versions of the following arcade titles:The Punisher(1993),X-Men: Children of the Atom(1994),Marvel Super Heroes(1995),X-Men vs. Street Fighter(1996),Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter(1997),Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes(1998), andMarvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes(2000).
It is worth noting thatthese physical editions are currently available to pre-order for the same price as their digital counterparts, and so people are not being penalized financially simply for preferring this format. In fact, a limited-edition comic will be included with these physical copies as an extra incentive for purchase. As a result, despite there being a notably longer wait to play, people who enjoy such peripheral content will undoubtedly have a strong motivation to delay beginning their time with the game until next month if they choose to purchase it.
On the other hand,the fact thatMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionis itself a successor toCapcom Fighting Collectionshould not be ignored. The latter title, released in 2022 for the same platforms, contains ten titles in comparison toMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection’s seven. This does include the entirety of theDarkstalkersseries, accounting for half of the games in the collection, but this is arguably still a broader range of content. This is significant due to the fact thatCapcom Fighting Collection’s own base price is just $39.99, making it seem like a comparatively better deal.
What New Features Are In The Collection?
Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Has Lots To Offer
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionfeatures a notable array of improvements and modernizations, changes which of course can be greatly appreciated by all. Naturally, this includes online play, with the welcome inclusion of rollback netcode to ensure a smooth gaming experience.The fighting games all allow players to engage in Casual, Ranked and Custom matches, with the side-scrolling Beat ‘Em UpThe Punisherlikewise having online co-op and spectator modes. As most of these games’ popularity is rooted in multiplayer competition, these changes are far from surprising additions, but are nevertheless a core part of their appeal to modern audiences.
Other additions include a range of challenges to complete for each game in the collection, as well as the ability to pause and quick save single-player gameplay. Furthermore, to enhance the collection’s nostalgic appeal, a range of optional filters can be applied to achieve visuals closer to what would have been seen on the original arcade displays, and the marquee cards of every game are also viewable (giving people a useful overview of the game’s basic controls).Difficulty settings have also been introduced alongside the ability to remap controls, to the point of combos being executable with a single button.
Some of the games inMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionalso now have new playable characters, providing new gameplay content even for veterans ofX-Men: Children of the Atom,Marvel Super Heroes,andMarvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter.
Despite the many clear improvements, however, not everything about this collection is perfect. Notably, its version ofMarvel vs. Capcom 2is ironically flawedby essentially being too well-polished. Many fans have longed for a new release of the classic game since it was removed from the digital stores of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2014, and subsequently became almost completely inaccessible. Unfortunately,Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection’s new port removes several glitches and exploitsthat are a crucial part of high-level tournament play for the game, arguably making it ineligible to become the basis for future tournaments.
Marvel Vs. Capcom Collection Is Worth It
Improvements Make This A Must-Play For Fans
While it may not be viable to useMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classicsin major tournaments,the myriad of improvements nevertheless make its games extremely entertaining for new and old players alike. The collection allows countless people to experience an era of gaming they may otherwise never have been able to, especially considering how inaccessible most of its included titles were beforehand. Furthermore, with additions like visual filters and marquee cards, these games are a perfect blend of nostalgic arcade gameplay and modern improvements.
Marvel Vs. Capcom 5 Can Bring Back The X-Men
A potential Marvel vs Capcom 5 should bring the X-Men back to the roster, finally fixing one of Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite’s biggest mistakes.
In regards to the game’s $49.99 price tag, although it may seem imbalanced in comparison toCapcom Fighting Collection, it’s worth noting that the properties involved do make a crucial difference. Naturally, Marvel’s involvement changes the situation considerably in regards to licensing, which in turn does make a rise in pricing understandable. In any case,the online functionality alone means that this collection can present countless hours of entertainment, making it well worth the price.
For fans of fighting games, as well as Capcom and Marvel,Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classicsbrings new life to an incredible group of classic arcade games. They have been perfectly updated for a modern audience whilst losing none of their original charm. As such, regardless of whether players are familiar with the originals (or previous ports), this new collection is certainly worth the price.
