by iPocalypse
Marvel, a name synonymous with some of the most recognizable and iconic figures in literary history, has gone on to produce and adapt said figures across a multitude of media. Some adaptations are stunning works in their medium. Capcom is also home to many an icon, with a few adaptations in other media as well. Capcom’s successful adaptations in other media serve as proof of how wide-spread and beloved its characters and their appeal are; it is no surprise that Capcom eventually adapted Marvel’s heroes for yet another medium. But this adaptation is different: this one pits the lot of one company’s iconic roster against the other. What if Captain America fought Captain Commando in an all-out fight to the death? Who is the more advanced technological wonder, Iron Man or Mega Man? Who’s more agile, Spider-Man or Strider? Players finally found out for themselves when Marvel vs. Capcom 2 was released in 2000.
Since the game’s original release, it has been re-released several times, making this the 5th iteration of the game thus far. The game has been popular enough to platform-hop through the years, giving more players the opportunity to play the game. However, not all the re-releases were successful. Some ports hold their own a lot better than others: the Dreamcast port adapted from the arcade version triumphs over the Original Xbox and PS2 ports. But does this new one stand up to the best or is it lacking in the way the others did?
Graphics. The game was released in 2000 and had what were considered top notch 2-D sprites and animation at the time. Not much has changed since then: the sprites are the same, though the game now has filters which create smoother, more crisp-looking figures. Take my advice – keep the filters on default; making the characters look “prettier” adds nothing to the gameplay. The sprites, though old and familiar, are still as playable and attractive as they are; this isn’t even an HD remix. It didn’t look bad then and certainly doesn’t now. For those of you with HD screens out there, the game will stretch backgrounds out to fill up the screen size. However the characters will still remain in the same box and will not be stretched to accommodate the new screen size.
This affects the characters that have moves which use the screen’s edge as a launching platform and those who have screen-edge introductions at the start of the match (including Jin, Strider, and Spider-Man depending on his placement on the stage). That’s not to say it has a tactical effect at all, merely that it makes things look a tad awkward when, for example, Strider hooks onto thin air instead of the edge of the screen or when Jin enters from off screen in the palm of a giant robot (when it isn’t in HD, the arm appears to come from off-screen; when in HD, the robotic arm appears to be floating far from the edge of the screen). Thankfully, this is just a setting and can be turned off to experience gameplay complete with standard backgrounds and appropriately-placed edges.
Control. There are four primary attack buttons: a light punch or kick and a heavy punch or kick. There is, however, a medium punch and kick. A successful landing of a light punch or kick followed by the same button press will make the second hit be a medium punch or kick. This isn’t to say that it’s a bad control scheme but rather a bit of a shock to the system what with all the recent fighting games out there sporting a “medium punch/kick.” Aside from this, the control scheme is easy to learn, pickup, and play. It’s a frenetic fighting game; an easy learning curve is a welcome thing with something that gets as fast paced as this.
Sound. The sound effects and voice work are well done: Strider’s sword slashes have that classic ring to them while verbal cues tied to certain special moves are at classic status by now. In this release, things in this area seem pretty unchanged and for the most part that’s a good thing. The music of the game, as it has been in every iteration, is terrible. I do, however, understand that changing the music this time around would not have been a good idea simply because it is an intrinsic part of the game and that is why it’s remembered. But it wasn’t good then and it’s still not good now. It does grow on you over time and never gets in the way of the game.
Gameplay. The game is incredibly fun and easy to get into. It features a three-man team system that may include members from either side of the cross over brawl. Each character on your team is able to be swapped on the fly during the match. The first character picked when characters are chosen before the battle is the starting member. This character can have the assistance of the rest of the team while being used as the primary character on the stage. This makes for some very interesting combos. These assisting characters can be hit, however, and they will take damage and have to sit the fight out on the sidelines to regenerate health. The same goes for the character that’s fighting: once swapped for another fighter on the team, they gain a certain amount of health over time so long as they aren’t swapped in again. On the surface it’s simple and fun; you can jump right in, have a good time, jump right out – everything is great. But this is a fighting game, and there’s always the more competitive and deeper side of things.
And with this side come the unfortunate bits, because as fun as this game is, it’s incredibly unbalanced. The game allows for infinite combos, the use of which will make you not want to play this game ever again should you run into a player who employs this method of playing. And now that this game goes online and features a lobby system, you are indeed likely to run into someone who does. The game’s core focus is not on the infinite combos and they can take away from the game when they come about. This doesn’t destroy the game; it is still incredibly fun and addictive and rewarding to get to know the moves of the three characters on your team. It’s just annoying from time to time to run into someone who only uses infinite combos, rendering you unable to do anything for the rest of the match.
Overall. Unbalanced as it is, this game is incredibly fun and now with the online multiplayer mode, it has been made even more so. A great lobby system, easy controls, and a robust set of iconic characters from both of these legendary companies keep this package from ever getting old. If you’re a fighting game fan who loves comics and video games and ever wanted to change the outcome of Marvel’s Civil War (comic book reference – look it up) then this is the game for you.
