As a lifelong gamer who has witnessed the evolution of video games since their infancy, I must say that diving back into the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics has been nothing short of exhilarating! These classic arcade fighters, brimming with vibrant animations and iconic characters, take me back to the golden age of arcades when I would eagerly drop my allowance into a machine for just one more round.
Capcom is enjoying a streak of bringing back beloved classic games for current gamers. In just a month, we’re getting an exceptional remake of Dead Rising, and also a fantastic collection honoring the golden age of 2D fighting games – Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. As advertised, this collection delivers a rich assortment of fully licensed games from the iconic period of 1993-2000 when arcade machines were still valued and relevant. The quality remains consistent throughout the package, both in terms of emulation and gameplay, making it a must-have for fighting game enthusiasts.
Capcom’s previous compilation offered a fantastic assortment of ’90s arcade games, albeit without some licensed Capcom titles. Until recently, The Punisher (1993) was exclusively available as a technically sound but uninspiring port for the Genesis by Sculptured Software, a subsidiary of Acclaim, renowned for their excellent Super Star Wars series on SNES. Due to expensive arcade hardware, experiencing it was limited until now. The captivating adaptation of Frank Castle’s vigilante universe in this game is a delightful addition to Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, and holds its ground with its exceptional design, diverse array of attack options and weaponry, and authentic comic book vibe.
Unlike any other comic adaptation or imitation from that period, such as Comix Zone, this game transports you directly into the gritty universe of The Punisher. Frank Castle and his occasional ally, Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D., embark on a rampage filled with revenge, accompanied by the sounds of “KRAK!” and “BLAM!”, as they track down and aim to eliminate their formidable criminal mastermind adversary, Kingpin. This game was particularly violent for its time, which aligns perfectly with the character’s nature, and it also includes mature themes – one level involves navigating a covert opium poppy field. Familiar supervillains like Bonebreaker and Bushwhacker are also present to be pummeled in this fight. The Punisher is one of the greatest arcade fighters ever made, offering an exceptional introduction to Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics.
In 1993, The Punisher served as a connecting link between the initial Capcom CP System 1 platform and its subsequent version. Five out of the six games in this collection were developed using the latter. After being granted the opportunity to extend their partnership, Capcom unveiled X-Men: Children of the Atom in 1994, which was their inaugural one-on-one fighter within the Marvel universe. The game boasted exceptional character designs based on the X-Men, fast-paced action that introduced multi-hit combos, both on the ground and in mid-air, multi-tiered stages, and a storyline reminiscent of comics to justify the violence. It was warmly received upon release. As part of the licensing agreement, Capcom could incorporate one of their own characters into the game, so the appearance of Akuma served as a tantalizing hint of what was yet to come. This version of X-Men is flawlessly emulated, includes playable characters Juggernaut and Magneto, who were absent from the original arcade release, and stands as the best home adaptation of the game ever produced.
After releasing Darkstalkers and Street Fighter Alpha in 1995, Capcom concluded this impressive trilogy with Marvel Super Heroes. This game introduced a unique strategic system centered around the Infinity Gauntlet and its diverse gems, each bestowing powers upon the wielder. Each battle transforms into not just a fight between two combatants but a quest to gather various gems that alter the battlefield conditions and abilities, with some abilities exclusive to specific characters. The roster boasts an impressive array of characters, featuring some daring selections like Shuma Gorath and an unexpected Capcom crossover character hidden within – Anita, a helpful ally for Darkstalkers’ mainstay Donovan.
1997 marked the beginning of the full collaboration series with X-Men versus Street Fighter leading the charge, a game that speaks for itself. This epic encounter pitted Capcom’s World Warriors against the legendary mutants, introducing a real-time tag system that allowed you to switch between your chosen fighter pair at any point during the action.
Instead of sticking with partner-assist strategies like its predecessor, this game randomly assigns an assistant character during the selection screen for each fighter you choose. When certain conditions are met, both fighters can unleash a powerful joint attack simultaneously, causing chaos together. This is characteristic of Capcom’s creativity at the height of its arcade prowess. The unpredictable assist characters, such as soldiers from Forgotten Worlds or Arthur from Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins, joining the fight can be an exciting surprise.
It’s important to mention at this point that these games, produced between 27-30 years ago, still hold a level of visual appeal that can’t be understated. The animations are breathtaking, and the creative interpretations of Capcom’s design team for Marvel characters remain among the most impressive renditions ever made. I’ve mostly been playing on a Steam Deck, and I must say the games look fantastic, clear, and vibrant – the best experience I’ve had with them so far. However, be aware that they are, and always have been, high-speed, flashy, and bombastic, which might feel overwhelming to those accustomed to a more leisurely pace in modern fighters. The collection offers various screen size and resolution options to navigate the waters of these ’90s titles, including the option to turn off some flashing effects.
wrapping up this outstanding collection is the game that took things to a whole new level, not just for Capcom but for the fighting genre as a whole. Leveraging the might of SEGA’s Naomi arcade system, Capcom crafted a stunning 2.5D universe with exquisite hand-drawn 2D sprites engaging in combat against alluring 3D backdrops. It reintroduces the manual tag assist from earlier versions, eliminating the randomized characters that characterized its predecessor. Various types of assists are available, including unique healing abilities. The character roster boasts a staggering 56 options, and features some thoughtfully chosen characters inspired by classic comics and Capcom games. In my opinion, it stands as the epitome of the crossover fighting genre, with only Capcom vs. SNK 2 (which fortunately will also be re-released next year!) coming even close.
In this collection, every adjustment enhancing the quality of gameplay is included as expected – features like swift saves, training modes, move input command menus, and user-friendly control schemes (though they can’t be utilized in online ranked matches). Now, rollback netcode and leaderboards are essential components for any fighting game, and this will be their first appearance for numerous games, allowing fight enthusiasts worldwide to play them online.
In this retro anthology, a gallery showcasing classic arcade game artwork is included, and it’s quite impressive. As you explore, you can see the original bezel/marquee artworks that evoke nostalgic feelings of my youthful arcade visits. There are also design sketches that reveal how characters and stages were initially conceptualized, with the Punisher being especially intriguing due to his development process. Don’t miss out on these sometimes-overlooked extras. If I could ask for more, I would have appreciated a mission-based challenge or training mode for each game, but alas, not everything can be perfect. Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is an expertly assembled assortment of some of the best one-on-one fighting games ever made, complete with a gritty vigilante revenge story as an enjoyable bonus. Absolutely essential.
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2024-09-09 18:16