Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics delivers a knockout punch for fighting game fans. This collection, a surprise delight given recent franchise history, offers a compelling retrospective for veterans and a captivating introduction for newcomers. Having only played Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite previously, I was blown away by the earlier titles. The legendary Marvel vs. Capcom 2 soundtrack alone makes the price worthwhile. Available now on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation (with Xbox arriving in 2025), this is a must-have.
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). These are faithful arcade ports, ensuring a complete experience. Both English and Japanese versions are included, meaning the Japanese version of Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter features Norimaro.
This review reflects 15 hours on Steam Deck (LCD and OLED), 13 hours on PS5 (backward compatibility), and 4 hours on Switch. While I'm not a fighting game expert—this was my first time playing most of these—the sheer fun of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 alone justifies the purchase price. I'm even tempted to buy physical copies for my collection!
New Features
The interface mirrors Capcom Fighting Collection, including its shortcomings (discussed later). Key additions include online and local multiplayer, Switch wireless support, rollback netcode, a training mode with hitboxes and input displays, customizable game options (crucially, per-game white flash reduction), various display settings, and wallpapers. A helpful one-button super move option caters to newcomers.
Museum and Gallery
A comprehensive museum and gallery showcase over 200 soundtracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unseen. While the Japanese text on sketches and design documents remains untranslated, the sheer volume of content is impressive. I hope this is a precursor to vinyl or streaming releases of these fantastic soundtracks.
Online Multiplayer
The online options menu allows for microphone and voice chat adjustments (PC only offers more granular control than Switch). Pre-release Steam Deck testing (wired and wireless) revealed online play comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection (on Steam), a significant improvement over Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Cross-region matchmaking and input delay adjustments are available. The rematch feature cleverly retains cursor positions, a thoughtful touch. Matchmaking supports casual and ranked modes, plus leaderboards and a High Score Challenge.
Issues
The most significant flaw is the single save state for the entire collection (not per game). Also, the lack of universal settings for light reduction and visual filters is inconvenient.
Platform Performance
- Steam Deck: Runs perfectly, Steam Deck Verified, with 720p handheld and 4K docked support (I used 1440p docked and 800p handheld). No 16:10 support.
- Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but load times are significantly slower than other platforms. The lack of a connection strength option is also disappointing. Local wireless is a plus.
- PS5: Excellent visuals on my 1440p monitor, fast loading (even from an external drive). Backward compatibility means no PS5 Activity Card support.
Overall, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a top-tier collection, exceeding expectations. The extras are superb, online play is fantastic (on Steam), and experiencing these classic games for the first time has been a joy. However, the single save state remains a frustrating limitation.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
